Event Planner

What is an Event Planner

An event planner arranges every aspect of an event.  At times, their duties do not end once the event is completed. They could also arrange cleanup of the event if it isn’t arranged by the venue. 

Other post-event duties include getting feedback from clients which will help event planners improve on their services.

Type of Events

Events take place in almost every industry. It could range from small office gatherings, to international sporting events such as the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Knowing what types of events there are will help you in determining in which field you want to specialise in. Some of the events include:

Social Events and Celebrations

These are special occasions celebrated by family and friends. Examples of these events include: 

• Birthday parties
• Wedding ceremonies and anniversaries
• Gender reveal parties, etc. 

Corporate and Business Events

These events are planned for the business, be it team building or celebrating company goals, to formal lunches for clients.

• Office meetings
• Award ceremonies
• Conferences
• Business dinner, etc.

Entertainment events

These are large scale events which could be attended by thousands of people with similar interests. 

• Concerts
• Parades
• Music festivals
• Theatre
• Movie screenings

Duties of an Event Planner

There are many tasks an event planner needs to fulfill in order for the event to be successful. Each part of the event needs to be planned perfectly in order to prevent any problems which could hinder your services. Some of the primary duties include:

• Determining client needs
• Researching 
• Proposing ideas to clients
• Booking venue 
• Arranging entertainment
• Setting up a budget
• Booking Caterers
• Arranging decor
• Arranging cleaning services if needed
• Booking transport if necessary
• Arranging photographers and videographers
• Organising invitations

For public events your duties will include the above mentioned as well as the following:

• Arranging medical services
• Organising equipment
• Arranging media and news services
• Obtaining necessary permits

Benefits of This Role

There are many advantages to being an events planner. Below are some of the benefits included in this field.

You Won’t be Stuck in an Office

When planning events, the only time you will be in an office will be when you’re meeting clients, doing research or doing bookings. Most of your days are spent going around to venues or booking the services for your events.

 You have the freedom of moving around between duties and not feel stuck in one place.

Meet Different People

Being an event planner is quite an interesting job. You meet different people everyday that keeps your job fun and exciting. With excellent services provided by you, your clients will recommend you to their family, friends and colleagues. 

High Demand

When people plan events, they are generally too tired to enjoy the event themselves. Due to this, there is a high demand for event planners. Also, event planners save their clients time and money, making their services worthwhile.

How to Become an Events Planner

Skills Academy will teach you everything you need to know about being an events planner. Our Events Management courses will teach you the fundamental skills needed to be successful in this career. 

Think you’ll need to attend classes to complete our courses? Not at all! We are a distance learning college, so you can study from the comfort of your home with many added benefits. 

Skills Needed

Although your parties and clients may differ, there are skills needed to be able to complete every task. Below are the skills needed to be successful in this field.

Technical Skills

These are the skills you learn through experience. These include:

• Computer skills
• Customer service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• Ability to set up budgets for planning
• Research skills

Soft Skills

These are the qualities needed in every event planner.

• Organisation skills
• Attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills
• Leadership skills 
• Interpersonal skills

Salary Expectancy

As an event manager, your monthly salary depends on many factors. These include how many clients you have, the industry you are in, and your level of experience in the business. The average monthly salary of an event planner in South Africa is R16 000.

Related Event Planning JobsWanna get This Party Started? 

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