subject: Three Most Common Mistakes Made By New Event Planners [print this page] Being an event planner can be a fun and rewarding career, even a glamorous one, depending on your clientele. But to do this job well you have to be quick-thinking, innovative and personable. Event planning is not for the weak of heart! Here are three common pitfalls that budding event planners should be aware of:
1. Research
Research means more than just knowing as much as possible about the vendors and services in your area. Research also means knowing how to conduct a thorough interview with your client and being able to really listen to your client's needs and vision. Remember, the events that you plan are not for you they are for your clients, and they should be a perfect reflection of your client's vision. Make sure you come prepared with a complete list of questions, and take the time to write down all of your client's ideas. Having a book of sample venues, color schemes and area vendors will often help you to get a better sense of what your client envisions.
2. Budgeting
Many new event planners, in hopes of landing those first clients, underbid on projects in order to secure them. This tactic will turn around and bite you at the end of the day, when you find yourself having to make a quick (and expensive) change in plans. Learn from the pros, and bid accordingly. If you don't already have a mentor in the field, find someone who can walk you through the crucial aspects of preparing and presenting a bid for a job.
3. Back-Up Plan
Veteran event planners know that if something can go wrong at an event, it probably will. Being prepared with a back-up plan for almost every aspect of your event is crucial to maintaining your client's happiness and securing your reputation in the field. The best event planners are always on their toes, know how to improvise in any stressful situation and have many friends in the area they can rely on to come through in a pinch.
Be sure to interview your clients and your area's resources thoroughly, don't fall into the trap of underbidding for a project and be prepared to face any disaster calmly with a back-up plan. If you can avoid these major pitfalls, you'll do very well in the world of event planning.
