Events are one of the best ways to bring people together, celebrate special moments, and even grow your corporate business. For an event to be successful, you need a great event planner to take care of all of the details.

If planning events sounds like your dream job, it’s time to make it a reality! But how do you get started? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how to become an event planner.

What is an Event Planner?

An event planner is a professional who strategies and organizes a variety of events. Businesses hire event planners to plan corporate meetings, conferences, trade shows, seminars, retreats, and more. Personal event planners organize parties, gatherings, and big celebrations. 

Event planners can choose to work for a specific company or work for themselves as freelance or as an entrepreneur.  

Qualifications

If you’re looking to get into event planning, there are some essential skills employers look for. Event specialists need to be organized and have strong communication skills. It’s also important to have great time-management skills, flexibility, and strong attention to detail.

A bachelor’s degree in a related field is usually recommended. If you want to stand out, consider obtaining an event planning certificate. These courses will help strengthen your skills and give you insight into industry trends.

Responsibilities

An event coordinator is responsible for everything before, during, and after the event. Some other responsibilities include:

• Strategizing with your client on specific event wants and needs
• Booking venues, talent, vendors, and any essential equipment ie: lighting 
• Negotiating contracts 
• Event decor
• Sticking to a budget
• Monitoring the event and being the main point of contact for any issues

It’s also important for an event planner to think outside of the box and anticipate a client’s needs. For example, instead of booking a traditional venue for a party, you might want something more intimate like a Yurt Hire, Yurt for Hire. 

How to Become an Event Planner

Now that you know what qualifications you need and the responsibilities of an event planner, it’s time to start your new career path!

Hands-On Experience

After getting your bachelor’s degree and certificates, it’s important to get hands-on experience. Consider internships or volunteer work. You can also work as an assistant to a full-time event planner and shadow them to see all of their responsibilities. 

Try planning events for your friends and family to get a better sense of what’s involved. Real-life experience will also help you learn the different technologies you’ll need to know. This would include project management software, Excel, financial services, and more.

Choose a Niche

Do you want to be a corporate event planner, a personal event planner, or a wedding planner? Choosing a niche will help you focus. The more focused you are in one niche, the stronger your skillset and the bigger your network will become. 

Create a Portfolio

All event planners need a portfolio to show off to prospective clients. These portfolios can include photos of events, press clippings, event brochures, invitations, and testimonials. You can also showcase any problem-solving skills you worked through with tight budgets, vendor issues, and more. 

Event Planning

If you’re wondering how to become an event planner, you first want to look at what qualifications you’ll need in this role. You also want to fully understand your duties and what you’ll need to start getting your name out there. 

If you need more information on event planning or other career-related information, visit our blog today!