Nowadays,
there are more parties and events than ever before.
They can be big or intimate, happy or solemn, and for
business
or pleasure. And whether they're planned or last-minute,
entertaining has become a feature of contemporary life.
What's more, guests expect parties to be more polished and
exciting.
Some people host parties because they need to - to mark life
transitions or to entertain clients or bosses. And some have
parties just for the sheer joy of it.
There
are the domestic events, such as surprise birthday parties
and children's parties.
There's no shortage of events!
- Cocktail parties
- Sit-down dinners
- Reunions
- Bachelor parties
- Engagement parties
- Events honoring a promotion
- Holiday celebrations, such as Christmas.
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Not
to mention the milestones: christenings, weddings, and
baby showers. Plus anniversary parties, graduation parties,
and even memorial services.
Then
there are the commercial events. Companies need product launches.
Cities and communities need celebrations and ceremonies. And
stores need splashy opening events.
Plus
there are political events, municipal events, and charity
events.
In
fact, more activities and occasions call for a party
or event than you could imagine. |
And
that means a big opportunity for the event planner - if you
know where to look.
Wouldn't you like to work as an event planner?
Imagine yourself, elegantly dressed, visiting swanky
hotels, and checking out the food (for free!). See yourself
approving the decor and the service, cool and in control,
making notes on your clipboard.
Imagine being followed meekly around by a hotel manager.
He wants your business, and knows you have four or five
accounts - each worth a small fortune, and hopes you'll
give his hotel the work.
Think of the bands you'll book, the orchestras you'll
hire, and the fireworks you'll arrange.
Picture yourself at the nightclubs,
restaurants, and dance parties. Imagine getting paid
to be at all the "edgy" hot spots, places where most
people spend their evenings waiting in line for the
doorman to let them in.
And think about talking casually to celebrities
- people that now you only read about in magazines.
This is a job where your sense of style and your common
sense will be appreciated at last.
And when you collapse exhausted into bed after another
amazing day, you'll know that you've created an event
that your clients and their guests will remember for
the rest of their lives.
And you got paid well for doing something you enjoy.
For going to parties! Wouldn't that be a great way to
live? It's a way of life that most people can only dream
of. But there's a way for you to make it actually happen.
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What's it like being an event planner?
Being an event planner is hard work. There are real skills
to learn, if you want to be a professional. It will take
time to get known and find clients. But if you're determined
to succeed, there are so many advantages.
1. You get to be your own boss. No one is looking over your
shoulder. No one can tell you what to do.
2. You work only the hours you need to. And it's certainly
not a boring 9-5!
3. You can fit the work around your other commitments. So
you can pick up your children from school, or spend time with
your spouse. You can care for an elderly relative. Or just
relax.
4. It's your business, so you keep the profits. The more
you work, the more you earn. You're not watching the clock,
and you're not working endlessly dull hours to earn money
for bosses who may not even value you.
Event planning is very flexible. And unlike most businesses,
there are very few set-up costs. All you need is a phone and
a list of contacts - plus your own talent, enthusiasm and
the knowledge that we'll teach you.
How not to start out as an event planner
Some people think you can learn from another event planner,
by becoming their assistant.
Sadly this isn't true.
Most event planners are self-employed. And they don't take
on more work than they want to.
So they don't have a need for assistants.
Moreover, they aren't eager to delegate work to other people.
Because they don't trust others to do it right.
And they don't want to train someone else who will then become
a competitor in their area.
They get deluged with requests from people who want to become
their assistant. (So if you applied, you'd get trampled in
the stampede.)
So the fact is - you can't learn from other people.
The good news is, that it keeps a lot of people out of the
industry.
No, you have to set up your own event planning business from
scratch.
But that's OK, because you already have the experience, aptitude
and interest, right? Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this
page.
And you know in your heart of hearts that you want to be
an event planner.
Can't you just pick it up
as you go along?
Some people believe
they can become an event planner all on their own.
They think they can call themselves an "Event Planner",
take out an ad, and wait for the phone to ring.
Unfortunately, that's not how it works.
You need something more. There are the business methods
you need to learn. Skills, techniques, facts. Event
Planning is the business of serious fun. You'll need
to study to do it right. So you have to learn somewhere.
But where? Read on to find out. |
Study online
When you study with us you'll access all of the materials
online.
Once, you've enrolled we'll provide you with login
details and the name of your tutor. And as soon as
you have these details you can log straight into the
system and get started on the course.
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Is there a lot of competition?
Surprisingly, given the number of events that are held, and
the growing number that are outsourced, there's little competition
- there are really very few event planners.
Moreover, few event planners learn how to promote their business
in their locality. Fewer still learn how to properly publicize
their business on the Internet. All of this we teach you on
the course. So you have a real advantage, a head start.
Your future as an event planner
And what an exciting life! You'll be mixing with celebrities
(for many corporate events, an after-dinner personality
is essential). You'll see the thrill of people getting
married. You'll enjoy great parties in amazing, gorgeous
venues. And each one of them will have been your inspiration.
You'll arrange all kinds of events, from small intimate
ones - perhaps a weekend for a couple in romantic Italy
- to major launches, with hundreds of people in tuxedos
getting out of limousines, flash bulbs popping.
High pressure? Certainly - but you like that! Great
fun? You bet! |
Who signs up for the course?
All kinds of people decide to register for the course. But
typically they are:
1. People who are good organizers. They are "doers",
people who enjoy making things happen. They mostly have some
experience already of running events, however informally.
They're the ones who always end up planning granny's birthday
party, knowing the right restaurant to take out-of-town relations,
or how to get fliers printed for a themed event at the local
club. They know how to have fun.
2. People who want to supplement their income by working
from home. Many want to fit their work around other commitments,
and to be in control of their own time. Some people do event
planning full-time, some part-time, and some as an addition
to their role as a full-time parent.
3. People who are creative, and fun. They're often frustrated
with their current occupation. They have a feeling there's
a better way they could use their gifts to benefit themselves
and their families, and to make a contribution. Sometimes,
after a birthday party or a dinner, their friends tell them,
"You know, you could get paid to do this!"
4. People who want to make their dreams come true, and who
need a practical way to do that.
What you'll learn from the course
By the end of the course, you'll have acquired the following
skills:
- You will understand exactly what an event
planner does, and be able to do those things.
- You'll have learned the skills, techniques,
and "tricks of the trade" of the professional
event planner.
- You'll know how to confidently get profitable
business.
When you complete the course
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Once
you complete the course, you’ll receive your Diploma.
It’s the formal recognition you'll have earned
of your skills and knowledge. You
also get to use the letters ‘Dip.EP (Inst.EP)’
after your name.
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You can get a free logo (like the one
on the right) to put on your website and your note paper.
This logo gives potential clients added confidence in
your skills. |
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We
look forward to helping you succeed.
With
best wishes
Kit Sadgrove
Course Director |
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