Skills and Qualities to Become a Professional Events Planner

If one wants to embark on becoming a professional events planner, the three starting points to do are careful planning, market research, and self-evaluation.  Here are the basic requirements to become a professional events planner:

Define what type of events and target market you want to focus.  Here are some types of events:
1.  Corporate Events. Trainings, seminars, workshops, exhibits, company Christmas parties, product launchings, promotional events, and other marketing events.

2.  Private Celebrations Events.  Occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holiday occasions like Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween and  alike.

3.  Other Events.  Educational tours, graduations, fashion shows, concerts, awards night, beauty pageant, sports events, political rallies

With a wide type of events events, there is a big  market for professional events planners.

Define what specific services you want to offer your market.  An event planner may  offer three different  types  of services or any of  these types depending on skills and capacity to handle the event.

    * Full service planning and management.  This includes the over-all management of the event from stage one up to the day itself of the event.  The client may choose to have a “worry-free” event by just giving their  basic preferences and final approval of the details  leaving the events planner to do the full management of the event.  
    * Mid- service management.  On this type of service, the client already made the initial planning for the event and hires a professional event planner to execute the plans.  On this type of service, the client and the events planner are working closely during the progress of the management.
    * On-site service management. This type of service are for clients who prefer to do the full planning and coordination of the event. Events planner is hired only to oversee and monitor the flow of the event on the day itself.  Clients with a  tight  budget may choose this type of service where a minimal fee is charged rather than the other types of services.

Prepare for a large  network of  suppliers.   The outsourcing of suppliers according to the needs and budget of the client is a major  key  on evey event.  With a large network at hand, there will be many options to choose from and be able to get the best at the lowest price rate.

Knowledge of the industry and  expertise are needed for each type of events.  Being well versed with the detailed requirements of the event is important for every events planner.  Expertise and knowledge on different areas of the event  will give an extra edge from others giving clients better perspective, pros and cons, suggest  better options to derive at best decision  to  reduce budget requirement.

It is important to be adept in modern communication.   With the aid of technology,  faster coordination is mostly done through  email, mobile, and Internet communications.  Likewise, canvassing and other research work easily be done through the Internet.  Social networking nowadays also play  an important role in coordinating details with clients and suppliers.

Skills and Personality traits requirements :

    * Ability to multi-task
    * Time management skills
    * Communication and human relation skills
    * Highly flexible
    * Highly organize
    * Creative and Resourceful
    * Detailed-oriented
    * Optimistic