things to look out for when choosing an event planner
Choosing an event planner for your big event can be tricky because most of us don’t have enough insight into the event planning process to gauge if we are being taken for a ride by a bumbling service provider or hit the jackpot with a professional who knows what they are doing.
Looking for the easy route
Whether you want to throw a Sweet Sixteen or an Artificial Intelligence conference, your event planner needs to be aware of the goals that need to be achieved. If your event planner allows details to fall through the cracks it can have a catastrophic effect on your event. A lazy event planner will more than likely take shortcuts and you can’t be sure these shortcuts won’t be with your budget, using cheaper vendors or event tech.
Know your planner’s score
Everything we do these days is online and it should be the same with event planners. Does your planner have a website, social media pages or a digital presence? These are all important factors to consider as you don’t want to work with someone who is clueless about the digital world. EventerScore allows you to test an event supplier’s commitment to their client by checking the quality of their digital user experience.
Planners who promise the moon and the stars but don’t deliver
Before planning an event it is likely that you will do a fair amount of research before approaching an event planner. However, some event planners may pull a disappearing act once you have signed on the dotted line so it is essential to make sure your event planner knows what you want from the start.
When you have a personality clash
Unfortunately, it is childish to think that you’ll get on with everyone you meet or work with. You may have already met with your event planner and everything went well, but sometimes things are just not meant to be.
How to choose the right event planner
Only great event planners produce great events. Whether you are planning a corporate event or a social event, large and elaborate or even small and intimate event, the greatest favour you can do yourself is to have a great event planner organise the event for you.
Event planners are both planners and producers of events. Whether or not you know what type of event you are trying to produce, that is the theme, venue, guests, entertainment and the overall atmosphere, a great event planner has what it takes to create the perfect mood and atmosphere and to make a lasting positive impression in your guests’ minds.
Here are a few quick guides to choosing the right event planner for your next event.Service: If you know what type of event you want to hold, you should first list out your event needs, all the vital components to your event’s end result before starting the search for an event planner.
A good event planner will work closely with you, listening to your specific needs and helping to create a clear vision for your event. A great event planner builds confidence in you similar to that which you have in your doctor or lawyer.Friendship: A great event planner is one who is genuinely interested in you and in helping you solve your event problems.
He/she displays a great sense of commitment toward you and delivers nothing short of high quality services to you. So, when selecting an event planner, please find the one that shows you that care and that you can have fun with, not one who is only out to make as much money as possible from your event.
Event Planning Tips Every Budding Coordinator Needs to Know
Across every industry, meeting and event coordinators are some of the hardest-working people out there. They’re expert planners and communicators, and, ultimately, they’re responsible for creating experiences that bring the client’s vision to life.
Become best friends with data
Every decision you make can and should be supported by data. That means you need to identify ways to quantify and learn from your efforts as a planner.
Creativity is key
Communicator…check. Organizer…check. Artist…? We put the time and effort into event design because experience matters. Stay creative by looking for inspiration outside of the events world
Think like an anthropologist
If you manage events in cities across the country (or across the globe), you need to understand the culture and people in that location. Planning an event in LA? You better have a good grasp on the traffic situation. Consider the nature and demographic makeup of the city your event is in to avoid any serious oversights.
Pics or it didn’t happen
How do you know you’ve designed a memorable event? One way is to find out if attendees are sharing photos or using your event hashtag on social media.
How To Choose the Right Wedding Planner For You
Deciding exactly how to choose a wedding planner is no small feat. While every couple certainly wants a planner who’s experienced and professional, it’s also important to find someone you personally click with from the get-go. Finding the right pro who fits all of the above—not to mention, works within your budget—might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but take a sigh of relief because we’ve got you covered.
Utilize your resources.
Whether you’re looking for a new hair stylist or a dress tailor, there’s nothing like a personal reference within your own network to put your mind at ease. When it comes to how to choose a wedding planner, turn to your friends and family for recommendations and you might be pleasantly surprised by the number of quality leads that come your way. You can even expand that network to include your online connections and put a call out on social media.
Research their online presence.
Found a wedding planner who might be a good fit? Take the next step with some online sleuthing to check out their website, portfolio, blog, and social media. This is a great opportunity to get a solid grasp of their aesthetics and style, along with their “brand voice” and style of communication. Has their work been published in any blogs or online magazines? Look for those coveted “As Seen In” badges on their website as another indication of great work.
Meet up in person.
While virtual communication is a perfect starting point, you can only get so far via email. In thinking about how to choose a wedding planner, you should definitely try to meet face-to-face before hiring. If you’ve thoroughly vetted their work online and want to move forward, suggest an in-person meeting as the next step before booking. Just like any job interview scenario, a face-to-face meeting will give you a much better sense of their personality and whether or not they’d be a helpful addition to your vendor team.
Ask great questions.
Once your schedule that aforementioned in-person meeting, be sure to come with a list of questions that address any and all of your concerns. Going into a wedding planner interview with zero preparation is bound to leave you flustered, so take time to jot down what matters most to you and your fiancé. For example, does your planner have experience working at your particular venue? How often will your meet and communicate throughout the planning process? Also, does your planner work solo on the day-of or with a team of assistants?
Point Checklist to Choosing Your Event Venue
Who is your target audience and what is the guest list size?
Before creating a short-list of event venues to look at, know who will attend your event and how many people you’ll invite. You’ll want to make sure that your venue can accommodate your expected guest list and is suitable for the audience.
Know how to cater to your target audience
Knowing the demographics of your audience is vital to the selection of your event venue. For example, know the average income of your attendees, what their likes or dislikes are, what they are accustomed to, etc. If your audience is a group of CEOs then your venue should reflect their tastes and needs
What is convenient for your guests?
Selecting an event venue location in proximity to where your guests’ live or work often reflects on the number of people that will attend. Something to consider is alcohol consumption and transportation
Weather
Keep an eye on the weather and adjust your needs accordingly. For example, if you’re organizing an event and it’s supposed to rain then have umbrellas on-hand or tents available for outdoor events.
Venue knowledge and experience
Before you decide to hire a venue for your event, ask them for a list of events they’ve planned, ask to see pictures of those events so you can see the various layout options, and ask for references