I am happy I chose this field as my career. I feel as though I will never be working again becuase it is something I enjoy doing so much.
The first benefit of being an event planner is that EVERYONE, at some point in their lives, will have something to celebrate. It may be anything from a birthday to a religous celebration to a work social. The list goes on. Someone will always have a reason to celebrate which leads me to my second reason.
The second benefit is that this career is nearly recesion-proof. Some parts of the year may be better than others but for the most part, celebration is really popular in the American culture.
There are many other reasons that I am sure that I can think of but these two really stook out to me while deciding on my career.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sorority Soiree
The event that my partner and I have been planning is finally only three days away. We were able to expose this event all over campus and to the Houston Panhellinic Council (HPC), who is our target audience.
After weeks and weeks of planning and collaborating with the president of the HPC, we found the best way to benefit the boutique and the sororities.
The sororities can use this event as a social to get to know one anohther. This has been a goal for the HPC. Instead of the groups being rivalries, they can all come together.
My partner and I learned that not all sororties on campus are under the HPC. Some are under the National Pan-Hellinic Council. The two separate groups would like come together and form a stronger bond. This event and the activities at the event will make that happen.
Our goal as the planners is to create a relationship between us, the sororities and the boutique. We are learning many ways to make that possible.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
After weeks and weeks of planning and collaborating with the president of the HPC, we found the best way to benefit the boutique and the sororities.
The sororities can use this event as a social to get to know one anohther. This has been a goal for the HPC. Instead of the groups being rivalries, they can all come together.
My partner and I learned that not all sororties on campus are under the HPC. Some are under the National Pan-Hellinic Council. The two separate groups would like come together and form a stronger bond. This event and the activities at the event will make that happen.
Our goal as the planners is to create a relationship between us, the sororities and the boutique. We are learning many ways to make that possible.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Monday, April 19, 2010
Media Kits
Planning this event at the Boutique has not only been about the planning and the decorative aspects. It has involved putting together a media kit which contains press releases, biographies, pictures, historical sheets, contact information, schedule, published news stories and etc.
I have had the opportunity to interview the managers, write press releases and do a lot of research on the store.
I am learning that planning an event is not all glitter and gold. It is hard work and it takes a lot of time to gain media exposure.
These media kits that my parter and I have been putting together is such an easy way to get the writers' attention. It is also an easy way to pitch the event to reporters so they can have everything they need to write about the event.
We have found it very helpful. The hard work is completely worth it.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
I have had the opportunity to interview the managers, write press releases and do a lot of research on the store.
I am learning that planning an event is not all glitter and gold. It is hard work and it takes a lot of time to gain media exposure.
These media kits that my parter and I have been putting together is such an easy way to get the writers' attention. It is also an easy way to pitch the event to reporters so they can have everything they need to write about the event.
We have found it very helpful. The hard work is completely worth it.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Successful Event In a Bag!
Tote Bag to Success
Wish Boutique will be hosting an event for University of Houston Sororities. Planning this event has taken lot of time and great planning techniques. Let me tell you what I keep in my tote bag to help me remember our techniques for the planning and programming of this event. The tote bag represents the shopping bag for Wish Boutique. What goes in it is what makes the event successful.
First step to planning and programming is to define the problem or opportunity. Wish has the opportunity to hold an event at their store for sororities. The events and activities that will be going on at Wish will provide them with the chance to sell more clothes and make more money. That is what the wallet in my tote bag represents. Many companies and organizations find opportunities to make money whether it's for them or for charity. When they have that chance, more than likely they will take.
The second step is the situational analysis. I carry a small agenda in my tote bag to remind me of what we plan to do for Wish Boutique. An agenda consist of a plan just like the situational analysis. You always have to have one!
The third step is to program the goal. My mirror in my bag is what represents the goal. When people look in the mirror sometimes they may set goals for themselves based on what they see. When Wish Boutique looks in the mirror they see a successful clothing store that can be improved. They set a goal for themselves to increase awareness of the store among UH student population by presenting this event to sorority members.
The fourth step is to create the strategy. My phone in my bag represents a very important part of our strategy. We need to reach out to the sororities and promote and advertise the event. We will be using a lot of social media for this. This will involve twittering, posting the event on Facebook and most of all communicating with presidents and leaders of these organizations. All of these strategies can be done from a little thing I like to call my phone. Don't you just love technology?
The fifth step is to decide on the target publics and objectives. This is where my I.D. comes in. The I.D. represents demographics which is what we needed to look at to decide our target audience. An I.D. has everything on it from race to height to age. In your bag you will also need a spare tape measurer. This tape measurer represents the objectives. All objectives must be measurable. The tape measurer in your bag will remind you of that every time! Keep it handy!
Live*Laugh"Love*Learn
Wish Boutique will be hosting an event for University of Houston Sororities. Planning this event has taken lot of time and great planning techniques. Let me tell you what I keep in my tote bag to help me remember our techniques for the planning and programming of this event. The tote bag represents the shopping bag for Wish Boutique. What goes in it is what makes the event successful.
First step to planning and programming is to define the problem or opportunity. Wish has the opportunity to hold an event at their store for sororities. The events and activities that will be going on at Wish will provide them with the chance to sell more clothes and make more money. That is what the wallet in my tote bag represents. Many companies and organizations find opportunities to make money whether it's for them or for charity. When they have that chance, more than likely they will take.
The second step is the situational analysis. I carry a small agenda in my tote bag to remind me of what we plan to do for Wish Boutique. An agenda consist of a plan just like the situational analysis. You always have to have one!
The third step is to program the goal. My mirror in my bag is what represents the goal. When people look in the mirror sometimes they may set goals for themselves based on what they see. When Wish Boutique looks in the mirror they see a successful clothing store that can be improved. They set a goal for themselves to increase awareness of the store among UH student population by presenting this event to sorority members.
The fourth step is to create the strategy. My phone in my bag represents a very important part of our strategy. We need to reach out to the sororities and promote and advertise the event. We will be using a lot of social media for this. This will involve twittering, posting the event on Facebook and most of all communicating with presidents and leaders of these organizations. All of these strategies can be done from a little thing I like to call my phone. Don't you just love technology?
The fifth step is to decide on the target publics and objectives. This is where my I.D. comes in. The I.D. represents demographics which is what we needed to look at to decide our target audience. An I.D. has everything on it from race to height to age. In your bag you will also need a spare tape measurer. This tape measurer represents the objectives. All objectives must be measurable. The tape measurer in your bag will remind you of that every time! Keep it handy!
Live*Laugh"Love*Learn
Are You Meant To Be An Event Planner?
I am reading a book called "How to Start a Home-Based Event Planning Business" and at the beginning there is a self assessment to see if Event Planning is really the field you are supposed to be in.
1. What would you rather do... watch a play or be in one?
2. One a rainy day... redecorate your room or read a book?
3. Drive or be driven?
4. Plan the menu for holidays or let your sister bring the food?
5. Host a party or attend one?
6. Do masquerade parties frustrate you?
7. Can you juggle several tasks at one?
8. Do you enjoy solving problems?
I'm sure you can decide which answers mean you would fall in love with the industry. Let me know if you think this is something you would enjoy.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
1. What would you rather do... watch a play or be in one?
2. One a rainy day... redecorate your room or read a book?
3. Drive or be driven?
4. Plan the menu for holidays or let your sister bring the food?
5. Host a party or attend one?
6. Do masquerade parties frustrate you?
7. Can you juggle several tasks at one?
8. Do you enjoy solving problems?
I'm sure you can decide which answers mean you would fall in love with the industry. Let me know if you think this is something you would enjoy.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Why Event Planning?
Why do I want to be an event planner and when did I decide that this is what I wanted to do?
Someone recently just asked me that question and I remember the VERY day I fell in love with event planning.
I was a sophomore in high school and was asked to join the homecoming committee. I was not involved in any organizations at school except sports. My life goal then was to play in the WNBA.
I went to the first meeting and we had to discuss themes and other ideas for the the event. I literally stood in-front of the class and planned the entire event. It came out of nowhere and that was the first time I have ever felt confident standing in-front of a crowd. I ended up leading the whole committee and planning and planning the event more than I was doing my school work. Basketball wasn't even as important to me anymore.
The day of the event came and people had dates, they were dancing and having a great time. I was barely a part of any of that because I was working the event. Normally I would have loved to be out there with my date dancing and having a great time, but I realized it was more excited for me to see how many people were enjoying the event that I coordinated with my team.
That day I learned that I am very passionate about this field so I joined student council right away and became Event and Fundraising Chair and loved every minute of it.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Someone recently just asked me that question and I remember the VERY day I fell in love with event planning.
I was a sophomore in high school and was asked to join the homecoming committee. I was not involved in any organizations at school except sports. My life goal then was to play in the WNBA.
I went to the first meeting and we had to discuss themes and other ideas for the the event. I literally stood in-front of the class and planned the entire event. It came out of nowhere and that was the first time I have ever felt confident standing in-front of a crowd. I ended up leading the whole committee and planning and planning the event more than I was doing my school work. Basketball wasn't even as important to me anymore.
The day of the event came and people had dates, they were dancing and having a great time. I was barely a part of any of that because I was working the event. Normally I would have loved to be out there with my date dancing and having a great time, but I realized it was more excited for me to see how many people were enjoying the event that I coordinated with my team.
That day I learned that I am very passionate about this field so I joined student council right away and became Event and Fundraising Chair and loved every minute of it.
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Just As Planned
So far so GREAT!! Everything for the boutique event is going perfectly. The feeling of having everything fall into place that you planned is a great feeling.
Now that we have everything for the event set in stone as far as a photographer, food, give-a-way gifts and the invites...we can finally reach out the sororities with facts about the event and start to get them excited about coming.
My partner and I have been brainstorming on the different approaches to get started on spreading the news about the event.
After a little researching, we came across the name and information of the president of the entire panhellenic.
We are going to approach her first by taking her out to lunch and proposing the event to her.
My parter and I have learned that face to face communication is the best way to go to get everything on the ball and rolling!
Wish us luck!!
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
Now that we have everything for the event set in stone as far as a photographer, food, give-a-way gifts and the invites...we can finally reach out the sororities with facts about the event and start to get them excited about coming.
My partner and I have been brainstorming on the different approaches to get started on spreading the news about the event.
After a little researching, we came across the name and information of the president of the entire panhellenic.
We are going to approach her first by taking her out to lunch and proposing the event to her.
My parter and I have learned that face to face communication is the best way to go to get everything on the ball and rolling!
Wish us luck!!
Live*Laugh*Love*Learn
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