become an event planner

Hello to all aspiring event planners!

I’ve worked in the Event Planning Industry for over 15 years. Yes, it’s exciting, yes, it can have its glamorous moments. But the reality is that it is hard, hard work. The biggest problem with people who want to be event planners is that they confuse the attendees’ experience with what it is like to be the planner. Two totally different worlds, I promise you! If you think being an event planner is all about partying, drinking wine, and hanging out at great events, you should look into a different career.

However, it IS a rewarding career, and I wouldn’t change one moment of the last 15 years if I could. And I know how frustrating it is, to want to do something so badly but you don’t know where to start.

It is a very competitive industry, because EVERYONE wants to be an event planner. So, if you have no experience, you need to put in some effort. It can be done, but you must want it!

My number one advice is to get a mentor. Number two is to volunteer for some events in your community. And Number Three is to LEARN ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.

I have started a web site for this very purpose. No, I am not selling anything. I just had some very helpful people in my past, and so I am using technology to “pay it forward.” Read through every page of the website, especially the “Career Planning” and “Is this for Me?” pages, and you will have a better idea if this is the right career for you. It will also help guide you in the steps to take toward becoming an event planner.

The website is: www.careers-in-event-planning.com

For those who want a quick fix and an overnight job, I’m sorry. Good luck. For those who are willing to plan their path and do what it takes to create a great career, then congratulations! This is a great place to start.

Good luck, and I wish you happiness and success!
Sirena

I work at an agency where I help many people start thier own businesses. I started my event planning business 2 years ago. It is slowly growing. But I am able to plan events through my work.

Honestly, it is going really well. I have my first seminar course on the 25th, I start the internship on the 29th, and now all I have to do is work on deciding which associations it would be best to join (and start saving up for them). Then I can get my accreditations, while working on my 2 internships to gain the “hands on experience.” All in all it’s going AWESOME!!!
My current job is letting me go part time while I work all of this out, but eventually I’ll be quitting to pursue it full time while working with my MIL at her decorative painting company.

My dream is to become an event planner/coordinator! I’m attending school and will hopefully graduate in 12/08! This has been a dream of mine for several years now!

I don’t know what the next step is for this. Does anyone have any advice?
This is what I’ve done so far:
talked to all my friends about wanting to do it and got their advice
emailed my college event planning department
emailed hospitality professors
emailed and called the local festival
called a boarding schools alumni affairs and offered to help
called the chamber of commerce and offered to help with their events
called a political campaign and offered to help
called two country clubs
called an event planner in my town
read entrepreneurs guide to being an event planner
called a musical festival about helping out

the problem is I keep getting voice mails and I haven’t gotten many responses to my emails. I’m not ready to join the professional organizations yet, I just want some experience in the field. Does anyone have any ideas for the next steps? Thanks.

I have been a tech girl for the last 7 years and have planned over 50 events. I will talk about my events all day and seek exciting ways of creating the biggest grandest event ever. Just finished my masters and now I want to work on my own as an event planner! No more tech girl for me~I want to live my dream, starting today!

I am a very creative person. To say that I am a photographer would limit me and negate the fact that I am many other things. That is the frustrating thing about having a very creative nature. You can be very good at many things but sometimes unable to find which one you want to settle down with.
Well…I refuse to settle. And I refuse to conform to other people’s ides’s about what I should do.
I have been doing photography and planning weddings for many years. Whenever the community/church has a big event or party to plan, I am always immersed in it’s planning.
I cover everything from the beginning formations to photography to design details, to entertainment details…
It is ALL in the details.
I read another blog on here regarding event planning and the woman stated, that it is a job you do not leave at home.
It could not have been put any other way.
For the past two years I have put everything to the wayside and just went about daily life. I started to follow my dream. only to surround myself with people that wanted to kill that dream. That redefined my definition of friend.
But I am now realizing that I have a passion for doing these types of things and that I am very good at it. I do not want to waste anymore time trying to figure everything out. I like it…I am good at it..I’m doing it!
So, I guess there is the answer to the title of this blog…Realizing! LOL! :)
Don’t EVER let anyone tell you you cannot do what you feel called to do. NOT EVEN YOURSELF!
If you can dream it, you can do it. Now…I will keep telling myself that. LOL!

I have been planning parties before high school. All my friends say I am good at it but I have never put much thought into it. I have given birthday and baby showers to my friends and family. On year while I was in still in high school I invited all my friends mothers, grandmothers, and aunts over to my grandmothers house over for a mothers day party. Lately I have had feelings that my current career is nice but not what I love. Its not my passion. My life is no longer exciting to me I feel strange saying that because I am so young. But I know I have to do what I love and I feel that I would be good at it.

Well I have a degree in Communication and I took event planning classes and have an e.p. internship under my belt. But is it just me or are all jobs for people who have more than 5 years experience or else you have to start w/ doing promotions or something for nearly min. wage. GRRR. I am sticking w/ my job for now…maybe an opportunity will arise at my work.

I am in a job that i must do because i am a single mom who needs benefits but its not my goal. Because of me age i feel like i can’t achieve this task im about to be 38 next sunday and i feel so dormant. I love creating the illusions of fantasy and fun. I love just being so creative but im so afraid of failing its driving me crazy because my finances aren’t the best. even if i could just hook up with so one who could mentor me that would be great.