who is a event planner ??

People might be forgiven for thinking that the only job in event planning is the role of an Event Planner. It is imperative that people begin to realize the scope of this industry and the millions of jobs that this sector of the economy really has to offer.

Consider or then ponder over this: other than their creative thinking skills, most people who work in events management have strong and proven organizational skills. That is because of the sole reason that they are expected to juggle a full range of logistics to execute and implement various programmes.

Most event planners handle anything between 35-150 events in a calendar year and are solely responsible of the entire gamut of operations including: planning the event, creating event budgets, designing and sending/handing out of event invitations, planning seminars, handing out and collecting speaker evaluation forms, designing or then hiring requisite or required event related software (s) and last but not the least the compilation and due distribution of an event binder.

For those who have strong organizational and office skills, the truth is that administrative assistants and office managers are more often than not busy in organizing a full range of corporate events in the corporate world. While the human resources department may be in charge of the company picnic or holiday party, the administrative assistants are providing the much needed logistical support including lining up of vendors and formalization of time bound agreements for delivery of services and a wide variety of much needed goods.

Liasioning with travel agents and domestic/international airlines and tour operators for the best possible deals if the picnic/event entails to and fro travel. Finalising and putting in place all stay and catering related arrangements and nailing down transportation arrangements within the city or resort that the company executives and their families would be staying at and last but not the least ensuring that the who’s who of the company/organization are always kept in resounding good humour.

The profession is not always all about blood, sweat, tears, filth, grime and short fuses; but like all professions does have it’s flip side too: the crème de la crème of event managers do get to hobnob with matinee idols, royalty, political icons, page 3 elites, beacons of the world of sports, enticing and beauteous fashion models and many a society’s movers and shakers.

Pay packages are meant to keep your body and limb together and the ability to put up with starry tantrums and abuse, eccentricities, whims and fancies and exalted senses of self importance is a pre-requisite, the job might entail getting down right and dirty, is more often than not totally thankless and you might be left to fend for yourself more often than not.

If you’ve got the infinite patience of a Maddona and the impermeable hide of a rhinoceros you’ve certainly got what it takes baby. Logging onto NPO.net, Association Forum or INLEAD.in might be a good idea.