How to Retain Your Sanity and Host the Perfect Event
Gail Wise
Gail Wise worked in the movie business for many years on such films as Jerry Maguire, American Pie, Twister and others. After leaving the film business she returned to the event industry and now operates an Event Vendor Referral Service Match Me Event Services. http://www.matchmeeventservices.com
View all articles by Gail Wise
Imagine this. Your company is planning to host an employee awards dinner and you're in charge of managing the whole event and of course The Boss is expecting everything to be perfect. Or maybe your company is planning on hosting a dinner and dance party for two hundred of their most important clients and guess what you're in charge of setting the whole thing up.
Or maybe it's your parent's 5oth wedding anniversary and you want to throw a big party for family and friends.
Maybe you have an idea of how to organize and produce the event and maybe you don't. If you're having doubts about managing
the event it may be a good idea to call on the services of a professional event planner.
What an Event Planner Can Do:
An event planner can help you from the beginning stages of planning your event and can work with you up to the very moment the guests are saying their goodbyes.
They can help you with the theme, the décor, hiring reputable vendors and organizing every little detail.
Or maybe you've already done most of the planning, hired most of the vendors and just need a planner a couple of months prior to the big event to tie up all the loose ends.
Or maybe you just want someone to be there the day of the event to help you organize everyone and everything so you can actually spend time enjoying the event and mingling with your guests.
If you decide that you do need the services of an event planner keep a couple of things in mind in your search for the perfect planner:
•When interviewing planners really focus on what's going on when you're with them. It's important to find a planner with whom you
can develop a good working relationship.
So in that first interview be aware of how you feel about the planner: Are you comfortable talking with them? Do they really listen? Do they understand what you want for your event? Are they open to your ideas for the event? Do they seem knowledgeable? Some things to discuss when interviewing the planner:
• Ask about their experience as an event planner: how long have they been planning events, how many events have they planned recently, what was the size of the events and what types of events have they coordinated.
• Ask about references from former clients.
• Ask about what and how they charge for their services: By the hour, flat rate, or a percentage of the overall cost.
• Do they offer Planning Packages? If so what are the specifics about each package: what services are provided and what's the total cost for that particular package.
You may be worried about the extra cost involved in hiring an event planner but what you may save in costs and worry can more than make up for the additional money you put out in hiring a planner. Unless you've coordinated an event of any size you may not be aware of what it really takes to pull off a well-coordinated cost effective event.
Why put yourself through the stress and headache of coordinating the event if you can hire someone who can help you find the most cost effective and reputable vendors and coordinate all the details so that nothing is left undone.
So if you're planning on hosting an event consider pulling out your wallet or purse and forking over the extra bucks it may cost to hire an event planner. Retaining the services of an event planner may result in a close to perfect event and even more important you might just be saving your sanity.
Or maybe it's your parent's 5oth wedding anniversary and you want to throw a big party for family and friends.
Maybe you have an idea of how to organize and produce the event and maybe you don't. If you're having doubts about managing
the event it may be a good idea to call on the services of a professional event planner.
What an Event Planner Can Do:
An event planner can help you from the beginning stages of planning your event and can work with you up to the very moment the guests are saying their goodbyes.
They can help you with the theme, the décor, hiring reputable vendors and organizing every little detail.
Or maybe you've already done most of the planning, hired most of the vendors and just need a planner a couple of months prior to the big event to tie up all the loose ends.
Or maybe you just want someone to be there the day of the event to help you organize everyone and everything so you can actually spend time enjoying the event and mingling with your guests.
If you decide that you do need the services of an event planner keep a couple of things in mind in your search for the perfect planner:
•When interviewing planners really focus on what's going on when you're with them. It's important to find a planner with whom you
So in that first interview be aware of how you feel about the planner: Are you comfortable talking with them? Do they really listen? Do they understand what you want for your event? Are they open to your ideas for the event? Do they seem knowledgeable? Some things to discuss when interviewing the planner:
• Ask about their experience as an event planner: how long have they been planning events, how many events have they planned recently, what was the size of the events and what types of events have they coordinated.
• Ask about references from former clients.
• Ask about what and how they charge for their services: By the hour, flat rate, or a percentage of the overall cost.
• Do they offer Planning Packages? If so what are the specifics about each package: what services are provided and what's the total cost for that particular package.
You may be worried about the extra cost involved in hiring an event planner but what you may save in costs and worry can more than make up for the additional money you put out in hiring a planner. Unless you've coordinated an event of any size you may not be aware of what it really takes to pull off a well-coordinated cost effective event.
Why put yourself through the stress and headache of coordinating the event if you can hire someone who can help you find the most cost effective and reputable vendors and coordinate all the details so that nothing is left undone.
So if you're planning on hosting an event consider pulling out your wallet or purse and forking over the extra bucks it may cost to hire an event planner. Retaining the services of an event planner may result in a close to perfect event and even more important you might just be saving your sanity.