Here’s a very basic, but thought provoking question that we're asked all the time - What is Event Planning? We polled our industry experts to get their perspectives and opinions. Here are four of the most interesting and candid responses we got:
Event planning is the process of managing a project such as a meeting, convention, tradeshow, ceremony, team building activity, party, or convention. Event planning includes budgeting, establishing timelines, selecting and reserving the event sites, acquiring permits, planning food, coordinating transportation, developing a theme, arranging for activities, selecting speakers and keynotes, arranging for equipment and facilities, managing risk, and developing contingency plans.
The "Official definition" (US Dept of Labor)
Event Planning consists of coordinating every detail of meetings and conventions, from the speakers and meeting location to arranging for printed materials and audio-visual equipment.
Event planning begins with determining the objective that the sponsoring organization wants to achieve. Planners choose speakers, entertainment, and content, and arrange the program to present the organization's information in the most effective way. Meeting planners are responsible for selecting meeting sites, prospective attendees and how to get them to the meeting.
An optimist’s view
Event planning is the energizing art of choreographing people and activities in order to create a show that creates memories of a lifetime. Designing and producing an event, whether it‘s a meeting, corporate event, fund-raiser, tradeshow or any other event, is in many ways comparable to directing a live stage performance. An added bonus, for those who love to travel, it provides an amazing opportunity to travel to luxurious hotels, interesting new places and meet speakers and attendees from around the world. All of this, while enjoying a high level of autonomy and independence!
A pessimist’s opinion
Event Planning is the stressful work of planning meetings or events, and can be a very demanding career choice. Planners must multi-task on several things at one time, face numerous deadlines, and orchestrate the activities of many diverse groups of people. Meeting planners may need to travel extensively to attend meetings and to visit prospective meeting sites. Work hours can be long and irregular, and working more than 40 hours per week is fairly common, especially during the time leading up to an event and wrapping up after the event. Finally, be prepared for some physical activity - long hours of standing and walking, carrying of boxes of materials, and is just the beginning!
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