Understanding the Event Planning Industry and Where You Fit In
You've heard about it. You've seen it in movies. You think you want to be one. But, if you really think about it, you have no clue what being an event and meeting planner is really all about.
What exactly IS event planning, and what kinds of event planner jobs are there?
It's a great question. In an industry that is so dynamic, so enormous, and varies so greatly with its endless opportunities, there are many answers.
Basically, an event planner is a person who organizes, pre-plans, and coordinates all the countless elements that are required for an event, and then manages all of the elements on-site at the actual event.
Before we go any further, it's very, very important to understand the difference between being a "party planner" and an "event planner." You might not see the distinction, but to those in the industry, there's a big difference!
Click here to read about Party Planning vs. Event Planning.
Before you can go racing off to search for event planner jobs, you need to understand the events industry.
Many people who are just beginning in the industry just know that they want to be an event planner. But do you know what type of planner you want to be? Just as someone who decides to be a doctor needs to pick a specialty, it helps if you narrow down what niche you're interested in.
You need to consider your personality and interests when narrowing down what event planner jobs to look for. For example, do you also enjoy sports? Then sports event marketing would be for you. Do you enjoy knowing that you are helping people? Then planning fundraising special events would be perfect. Do you have a corporate background? Then corporate event planning would be a natural next step in your career.
Let's look at the types of events that need planners to plan them (click on the links to learn more about each type of event):
Nearly every company holds meetings during the year, that range in number of people (from 20 to 20,000)....and they all need planners! There are usually more opportunity for meeting planner jobs, and they are much more lucrative than party planner jobs and many event planner jobs.
Conventions and conferences are a huge piece of the event industry pie; with everything from huge computer and software conventions to hobby-themed conventions (think Star Trek), the job opportunities are endless!
Incentive programs are truly one of the most exciting parts of corporate event planning. Travel the world to five star resorts, go along on fun excursions, and host some of the grandest events in the business! This is one of the most competitive event planner jobs to land; but if you are able to, it's worth it!
This is a great option if you don't want to travel as much (although you can definitely travel with this specialty too). Every major city and most local communities have special events and festivals throughout the year. Just a few examples include: food festivals, wine festivals, beer festivals, Oktoberfests, music fests, concerts, shows, theater-in-the-park, product promotion parties, and so on.
On a larger scale, this can include any "Bowl" event; Super Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, etc. On a more local scale, this can include bike races, golf tournaments, triathlons, marathons, ski events, the Olympics, Special Olympics, horse races, car races, etc.
If you have any non-profits of any size in your area, then they need to raise money! This can include fundraising galas, silent auctions, marathons (think "Race for the Cure"), political events, church events, or any event associated with non-profits and fundraising. While not as lucrative as other event planner jobs, it can be extremely rewarding.
Trade shows are where customer interaction and "big business" often takes place. With over 2500 trade shows bringing in billions of dollars each year, maybe this is where you can find your niche!
Wedding planning is a multi-billion dollar industry. While it is possible to find opportunities in the wedding planning industry, on this page I discuss why I discourage you from pursuing a job as wedding planner.
Once you gain a little experience, it is easy to start your own event planning business!
....and this is only scratching the surface. As you can see, there are literally countless opportunities to find your niche and therefore narrow down your search for event planner jobs.
....and begin your path toward finding your dream career!
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