Event Jobs

Ray Baron

A career in event planning is something that can be considered as a new profession. It has been little more than a decade since the event planner’s work was officially recognized as a management profession.

If you are interested in a career in event planning, you must be prepared to learn a variety of duties. The event planner must select a suitable location for the event. He or she must see to arrangements for travel, accommodation and food. The event planner must oversee registrations and plan programs.

The event planner is also called a convention planner, a conference coordinator, a meeting manager or a special event coordinator. The logistics of company meetings have become much more complicated as corporations have expanded and grown globally. A person must now train for a career in event planning in order to competently carry out all of the jobs involved in such an undertaking. Professionalism is absolutely necessary for this complex service.

For a career in event planning, you will be trained to negotiate, plan and coordinate meetings and conventions from the local municipal level to the international level. You might have to organize a small meeting for inner-office personnel, or you might have to organize a major convention attended by thousands of people from all over the world.

Some people who choose a career in event planning have their own companies. They are hired by organizations and corporations to plan and coordinate big events. Some even hire out their services for events like weddings, school reunions, family reunions and birthday parties. Many large corporations employ event planners as part of the management staff. Some people who have trained for a career in event planning are employed by large hotels or big convention centers.

Young people interested in a career in event planning should take business courses. A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, and it would be a very good idea for the student to look into professional organizations that offer certification programs for a career in event planning.

This line of work requires excellent English and communication skills. It would also be to the student’s benefit to learn a foreign language. This is a position that calls for leadership qualities and strong management skills. People who are successful in this field are very strong in public relations and have good sales and marketing skills.

This is certainly a profession in which it pays to be a “people” person. A career in event planning means you will at times be working with hundreds of people performing many different jobs, and that can mean an infinite number of potential problems.

The event planner must be able to think fast and find solutions; in short, be a reliable trouble-shooter.

Fei Lim

Careers in hospitality and tourism include the desk clerk handing you a room key at a ritzy hotel or the executive chef planning a feast for your wedding anniversary cruise. Overall, there is a never-ending list of careers and jobs within this particular industry that touches upon part-time gigs to lucrative management positions. While the bulk of such jobs require minimal training and education, there is always a need for hotel staff, casino management, theme park attendants, and event planners. To get an idea of the possibilities, consider the following employment opportunities found throughout the United States and Canada.

Hotel Staff

Whether it is the front desk person assigning you a room at the Quality Inn & Suites or the part-time lifeguard watching over the kiddies in the swimming pool – there is an abundant amount of hotel staff positions to consider. There are also plenty of establishments that range in small bed and breakfasts to 5-star accommodations. Depending on a job title, employees are paid on an hourly basis or earn a yearly salary. For example, housekeeping usually earns hourly pay, which usually amounts to between $17,760 and $24,347 per year. A high school diploma or its equivalent is suggested for this job.

Meeting & Event Planner

The person in charge of the aspects regarding an important business meeting or wedding reception held at a hotel is called a meeting or event planner. This job title will take care of all the factors associated with organizing an event. The amenities and accommodations of a site or facility become their responsibility, which calls for knowledge in contract negotiations. A bachelor’s degree in a specific area, as well as two to four years of experience in the field (or related field) is necessary. The typical salary is found between $39,355 and $74,268.

Executive Chef

In charge of the direction and flow of a kitchen, the executive chef is responsible for arranging the menus that grace the tables on cruise ships, hotels, and other tourism hot spots. An executive chef is also responsible for inventory, keeping costs down, and purchasing necessary supplies and food items. Over time, they will establish and amend the menus in order to increase profits and lower the rate of monetary loss. Most executive chefs will test out new recipes and watch over the satisfaction of customers. A thorough understanding of federal, state, and local food sanitation rules and regulations are also a must. Executive chefs usually possess a bachelor’s degree in an area of specialty and at least seven years of experience in the field in order to earn between $45,562 and $101,865.

Travel Coordinator

When companies are in need of coordination in regards to their travel plans, it is a travel coordinator that takes control. A host of duties one in this field may encounter include scheduling hotel stays and flights, as well as guiding travelers in obtaining their passports, visas, or other travel requirements. A travel coordinator makes sure that companies stay within their budget. A high school diploma or its equivalent with zero to two years of experience in the field is required to obtain this job. The typical salary is seen between $29,879 and $53,482.

Best Places to Seek Employment

When it comes to locating the best places to work within the United States and Canada, there are a few companies that shine in a variety of areas. Out of the top 100 places to work in 2007, the Four Seasons Hotels has made the list. The most common salaried position within the company pays $47,256 with the job title of Assistant Food & Beverage Manager. The most common hourly job (AM Guest Room Attendant) pays $25,842. Within the United States, there are about 12,000 employees with the Four Seasons Hotels, while 17,000 employees outside of the U.S. serve the company.

With Marriott International, the available training and development programs are quite impressive, especially through what is called the “Hotelkeeper’s Living Our Core Values” initiative, which includes ESL classes. Within the company, there are more than 3,000 Marriott managers holding hourly positions. In the United States, there are 124,350 employees with the company, while international workers total 17,000. The most common salaried job with the company is Sales Manager at $54,274, where the most common hourly position is Housekeeper at $23,407.

As for the hospitality and tourism positions associated with common tourist sites, the Station Casinos in Las Vegas may have a base pay of $15,000 for their dealers, but supplementation is quite amazing, as an average of $40,000 in tips is added. Additional perks to working for this company is discounted child care and 100% health care coverage. The most common salaried job with the Station Casinos is Casino Floorperson at $43,427, while Table Games Dealer make a total of $55,688 with their hourly position.

Dawn Fields

Let’s say that you have discovered your purpose but you don’t know how to go about obtaining God’s purpose for your life. You don’t know what to do next. How do you start? How do you go about changing from your present occupation to finding a career using the purpose God gave you?

Let’s say God blessed you with the talent to sing. You know that you can sing and so do others. But how do you become a singer?

Well, the first thing you must decide is on what type of music you are interested in singing. Do you sing country music? Gospel music? R&B? Pop? Classical? What type of music do you like to sing?

The second thing you must do is find someone that is doing what you want to do and contact them.

Let’s say you want to be a Gospel singer. What gospel singer do you admire? Find a way to contact him or her and ask for suggestions on what you should do to become a gospel singer.

OK, now the question comes up, how do you go about contacting a well-known singer? Isn’t it hard to talk with them? No. It isn’t. There are six degrees of separation between you and anyone you would like to meet. Buy the album and see what record label they record on. Call the label and ask for the publicity department. Find out if they have information on who manages the singer or who is the publicist. If there is no manager, ask for a book agent number. Call the booking agent and ask for the manager’s number. Call the manager and let them know what you are interested in finding out. Keep trying. Be persistent and you will be able to talk with whatever artist you are interested in talking to. You should be able to get in touch with them through one of those channels: record label, booking agent, manager or publicist.

Let’s say you want to write a book, or a news column, or an article. Find the publication you would want to write for and call them. Tell them you want to submit an article or a news column and ask what you will have to do.

Look at the name of someone who submitted an article. A lot of times the last paragraph will give you additional information on the author. Contact him or her and ask them what they did to get published. Let them know you are interested in writing and would appreciate any pointers they could offer.If you want to be a fireman, artist, fashion designer, comedian, policeman, politician, whatever, simply contact someone who is presently doing exactly what it is you wish to do and ask them any questions you may have pertaining to entering their field.

It basically works this way for no matter what you are interested in pursuing. Find someone who’s doing it and ask him or her how they went about it and follow their example. Do whatever they did.

Suppose someone tells you that in order to get into the field you are interested in, you must have a certain degree from college or a secondary school. But you don’t wish to go to school. What can you do?

It’s simple, ask if they know of anyone who did it without a degree and get in touch with that person and see what he or she did and do the same.

Monique wanted to be an event planner. She had planned events all of her life for her friends and family. She was really good at it and thought that she would make a great event planner for a corporation.

She didn’t know how to start or what she would have to do in order to become an event planner. So she went on the Internet and looked up corporate event planning companies. Most of the sites she went on listed the email address of the employees. So, she contacted them to find out information she was interested in finding out. She wanted to know :

1. How to become an event planner?

2. What should she do to start?

3. What is the average pay?

4. What is required of event planners on a daily basis?

5. What type of events planners are there?

6. What is the best industry to work as an event planner?

7. Are there organizations or associations for event planners and if so, what are the best?

8. Are there newspapers, magazines or newsletters catered to the event planning industry, if so what are the names?

9. How should she go about getting a job as an event planner?

10. Would you be able to give at least three more names of people she could contact?

This tactic will work with any career you are interested in pursuing. Regardless of what you want to accomplish, what field you are interested in pursuing, it will work.

Natalie Aranda

Team building, leadership quality, and different management skills are what most corporations are concerned about. Driven by a motive to maximize the out-put from the employees, corporate events are planned to hone these skills of their employees. Indoor and outdoor corporate events are designed in a way that is entertaining as well as rewarding for learning experiences.

Corporations take their entertainment part seriously. Due to this event, managers have prepared to accommodate their corporate event entertainment in their portfolios. Tour operators and vacation operators are increasingly eager to cater to corporate event entertainment. Simply having a dinner to the accompaniment of music and dance is only a part of what is offered for corporate entertainment. Many facets are included in corporate event entertainment. To develop the quality of risk a company may decide to send its top management on a sky diving trip. Alternatively, if the idea is to develop a sense of humor for its customer service department a company may plan for screening of comedy movies, jokes by stand up comedians and workshops to encourage the participants to narrate humorous incidents, among other things.

Corporations are aware that their culture is instrumental in deciding their productivity and profit as much as their product. Most of the corporate events are aimed at instilling a desired culture or acquaint new staff to the existing culture. So when a merger takes place, it becomes necessary for the weaker company to be acclimatized to the acquiring company’s culture. This can be done easily through entertainment rather than passing strict official rules that may be met with resistance. In addition, what better way to get to know one’s colleagues than through fun events?

Magicians, clowns, jugglers, balloon artists, stilt walkers, dance instructors, caricaturists all can be part of a corporate event. Interactive comedy shows are now a rage in corporate event entertainment circles. The variety of interactive games is designed to improve communication skills and other management skills in a fun way.

The choice of location is also important. For a company that puts a premium on ideas, an open and natural setting is preferred to trigger off creative ideas. Horseback riding, trekking, mountain climbing, parachute jumping, canoeing and river rafting are some outdoor events, which aim at improving team spirit among corporate clients.

Music has always been the life of any event. Corporate events are no exception. A manager who is known for his tough exterior can lead his executives to have a glimpse of his humane side by the choice of songs to be played by the DJ in a corporate party. Live music entertainment is also the central theme of many corporate events. Music can really loosen up people to relate better with each other.

Copyright @2006, 4th Media Corporation

You have permission to publish this article electronically free of charge, as long as the bylines and links in the body of the article and the bylines are included.

J Stone

To start out on a realistic note, working as a professional in the hospitality industry is no easy living. You are going to work long hours around the clock. You will most likely work weekends and holidays, because that’s the busiest times. And, even though most people are at least pleasant, there are those guests who are so rude that they give the others a bad name.

It takes an iron will to face all this and more. You’ll need to have a selfless, sacrificing nature to see your kith and kin have the time of their life holidaying while you slog to please others. And you’ll be expected to never be without a perpetual smile on your face. But the offered perks, the potential for good tips or attaining a high-ranking position, and the benefit of working in a recession-free industry draws potential workforce towards it. If you have all that, you can set up a pretty nice life for yourself.

Enjoying being among people is the first and foremost requirement to be able to chart a course of success in the hospitality industry. The job of a person serving in this field requires one to be people-friendly, adaptable, and energetic. Other traits that will come in handy include the ability to work in a team, problem-solving capabilities, and working in a customer-centric atmosphere. If the smiles on your guests’ satisfied faces make you forget all your difficulties – including the pressure of working on your feet for late hours without the weekends for yourself – you are probably tailor-made to suit this profession. On the contrary, a reclusive, introverted personality who likes keeping to themselves, working in a cubicle for a stress-free job, or likes a typical office-hours shift is a complete misfit.

If you know your calling in life lies in the hotel and hospitality industry, you need to take a path that will provide you an edge over the others as far as employment is concerned. You could go in for any of many educational paths to take your plans forward.

Though not always necessary, enrolling for a full-time course is an option. Identify your area of interest and enroll for a full time program affiliated to a specific industry. Choose a program depending upon the eligibility and the time you wish to spend on your education. Chefs, especially, will need some form of culinary school, and those aiming for management will probably be best served by a simple business degree.

Another option is a company-sponsored training program. Join a program that is conducted by an employer or an agency that is associated with employers in your target hospitality industry. Such programs are generally the blend of theory or off-site training at a community college or institution, and practical or on-the-job training at affiliated businesses, similar to an internship.

Finally, you find an employer who will hire a first-timer. This is your ‘break-in’ period, and it’s wise to remember the old Chinese saying, “The temptation to quit will be strongest just before you succeed.” The first year will arm you with the necessary and invaluable experience.

Though it has been recognized as a full fledged industry relatively late in history, the hospitality trade is as old as scriptural times. The current trend of globalization, coupled with the exponentially rising spending power of the new world economy is at the core of the boom that the hospitality trade has received in the past few years. But, people who are short-sighted about the many dimensions of the trade fail to see the myriad hues that this industry offers its workforce.

A mere mention of the hospitality industry brings to our mind the images of chefs with high white hats, or pleasant, tidy front desk executives and alert, courteous waiters. It is helpful to be aware of the deluge of other opportunities that await a young hospitality industry graduate. Amusement parks, resorts, golf courses, spas, gyms, retreats, bed and breakfasts, and casinos all fit under the wide umbrella of the hospitality industry.

You might not think of working in a restaurant waiting tables sounds like a fun career, but have you been to Disneyland and seen that restaurant they have inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? Or perhaps you’ve thought of working your way up to head hostess at Ceasar’s Palace? Or have you figured how much a wine steward at a South American beach resort makes, all under the warm equatorial sun and drenched in the ocean breeze all day? See, there’s more options available than just slinging hash in a truck stop!

Contrary to the common perception, hospitality most definitely does not pertain merely to hotels. We tend to overlook the fact that hospitality has entered our lives in more ways than we can think of. Small and big eateries, coffee shops, ice-cream parlors, lodges, cinemas, workplace canteens, and event management agencies are as much a part of the hospitality industry as hotels and restaurants.

A qualified hospitality professional might have a choice of working as a hotel manager, concierge, front desk manager, food and beverage manager, housekeeping manager and sales and marketing professional. Apart from this, openings in restaurant management, catering, event planning, consulting, and research firms beckon the trained graduates with a modest run of experience.

A common question that comes up: What matters more in the hospitality trade, qualifications or personality? Since employers believe that success in the hospitality industry isn’t always related to the qualifications that you have, personality and charisma is more of a score over the list of qualifications of a prospective employee. Outgoing people focused on business goals are always the most sought after. Qualifications are definitely a value addition, but not a must-have. Some believe in the credibility provided by these qualifications but nonetheless fervently advocate the performance-oriented nature of the industry, since you can always pick up an extra certificate while you’re working.

But really, a winning attitude, a positive personality, and excellent people skills are most important, and in many cases will be all you need. And what school could teach those? You’re either born with it or you aren’t. If you were born with it, it’s yours to put to work for you.

Suzanne Daykin

How to become a wedding planner, where do you start? Firstly you have to be passionate about organising parties and love all the little details, if that is you then you are in the right place.

I started my wedding planning career in 1997, a month after I got married and found I just loved talking weddings and helping others plan their big day. I was working in a big 4 star hotel and had graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management. Since then my event management skills have taken me to working in Europe and the UK, I have organised huge corporate functions to small family events and loved every minute of it. In 2006 I decided to go it alone and set up my own event company it was the best decision for me and now along with planning exhibitions I also get the chance to help brides and grooms plan their big day, and save them money!

My advice would be to get as much experience as you possibly can before you launch yourself as a wedding planner. Help family and friends organise their celebrations, it doesn’t have to be a wedding, all event management experience helps. Keep notes on all of the ideas that come up, I find it best to have seperate files on suppliers, venues and procedures. I have a checklist that I use for all of my weddings to ensure I don’t miss anything.

While you are gaining experience and contacts think about whether you need any professional training. Check out local colleges and online event management courses, there are even wedding planner courses – these are specific to weddings and if you want to build on your confidence they could be worth investing in.

As with all business start ups it is worth writing a business plan to see if this is a viable option for you. You don’t want to pay for training and spend valuable time if this is not going to provide you with an income.

Questions to ask yourself are;
How many weddings can you manage in a year? There are 52 weeks in a year but the summer wedding season is the busiest. Will you be able to organise and manage more than one wedding a week? Remember it is best to start off planning fewer while you build up your business.

Can your local economy support a wedding planner? The national average wedding cost is over £20,000, a wedding planner normally charges around 20% but an average is just that, what is the average cost of a wedding in your area? How much will your local brides and grooms pay for your services? Don’t know – then ask them, most brides and grooms love talking about their wedding day!

How many weddings are there in your area in the year? Gain stats from your local registery office.

Have a think about what your unique selling point (usp) is, mine as you can see is cheap, are you an expert of jewish, christian, hindi, muslim weddings or humanist or gay weddings. Would your usp provide you with enough business?

Your costs will be pretty minimal as you are not having to buy any goods before you pay for them – all the costs will be your clients. Your biggest cost will be your marketing/ advertising, I have found being online really helps my offline business. The great thing about being online is that you can generate extra income on top of your usual wedding planning business with adverts and an online shop!

Other ways to advertise your business are by building relationships with other local vendors, word of mouth is one of the best ways to get bookings. Ask existing clients if they have any friends or family that are getting married soon. You could attend wedding fairs but I don’t find them cost effective for the amount of business that you get, however when you first start out it is worth going to build public awareness. Write articles for local publications, become their expert on weddings, this all increases your profile. Register with local wedding directories. I have found all these help my business grow!

Now then what are you waiting for? You are ready to fly, you know how to become a wedding planner!