Special Event PlanningSpecial Event Planning differs from Meeting or Conference Planning in that Special Events are most often centered on a single program or activity and generally limited to a short period of time. Planning Special Events has become the “Glamor Profession” of the professional Planning world. Considering the high profile nature of many events and the celebrities used to add marquee value, it is not surprising the profession has attracted thousands of wanna be event planners. They think Special Event Planning their perfect profession. They love parties and think planning special events would be easy. Why not be paid stacks of money by wealthy clients… essentially be paid to party with the stars…?!! It doesn’t take long for reality to set in. Special Event Planning is a lot of long hours, managing thousands of details, constant problem solving and the clients paying the bills have high expectations and ZERO tolerance for mistakes. Nevertheless, Special Event Planning has spawned a multitude of specialized high profile professional planners in niche events:
When it comes general Theme Parties, just about everyone considers themselves a Special Event Planner:
Where to start planningNo matter what kind of special event planning you are considering, before you can organize a truly “Special” special event, you must figure out…. “What will make your event more special than any other special event?”The easiest way to answer that question is begin at the end of your event… reverse engineer. Picture your guests talking as they leave, discussing your event while driving home, talking about it around the water cooler Monday morning, relating it to friends and colleagues who didn’t attend… what would you like for them to be saying about your event? Consider other events you have attended (not planned). What did guests candidly say about them? Did you know the person who planned any of those events? Did you and other guests tell the planner what you really thought? Probably just told the planner what you felt they wanted to hear didn't you? If you had planned the event what is the one thing you would have done differently and why? When you actually do the research, the things you “Think Guests Remember” and what “Guests Actually Remember” end up being two very different lists. The “Guests Actually Remember” list should be given priority at all times during the planning process. Unfortunately, most planners give priority to the “Think Guests Remember” list! As a guest, you can always tell which list was used to plan the special event. The list planners “Think Guests Remember” includes things like: The things “Guests Actually Remember” includes: Start PlanningNow that you know the reason for your event and know what you want people to remember about your special event, start arranging everything necessary to make it happen.Planning a successful special event is like most successful things, the devil is in the details. You must understand your attendees. What kind of people will be attending? Ask demographic questions: The more research you do at the planning stage, the more successful your event will be. Do your homework then plan, but continue to research and be prepared to change your plan as new information is collected... right up until your event starts! Now… imagine the conversations as guest travel home from your event and the day after at the office… and the year after... Betcha anything they aren't talking about the pallet cleansing taste of the sorbet or the color of the napkins. If you focus your energy, budget and attention on the important devilish details, you’ll be the angel in the end! What guests Actually Remember determines the success of your event and ultimately whether you are hired again.
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