Month: December 2018

BLOGS Events Planner

December 27, 2018
Events Planner
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By Elizabeth Wilson

Source: Entrepreneur

Startup Costs: Less than $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home
Part Time: Can be operated part-time
Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Business Overview
What: Work with the happy couple on an hourly basis; lend advice on a few issues, or plan and orchestrate the entire event, from deciding how many guests to invite to helping choose a site and someone to officiate on the big day.
Advantages: Start part-time without making a big investment; it’s creative and challenging, with a lot of split-second decision-making.
Challenges: Must be organized, creative and able to meet challenges. Advise the bride and groom on what they can get for their budget and provide them with resources and price ranges for everything from invitations and photographers to orchestras. And because weddings are emotional for everyone involved, it’s vital to stay cool, help soothe ruffled feathers and suggest compromises.

The Market
Clients are couples eager to make their wedding the event of a lifetime or brides and grooms seeking a “day of” coordinator.

What You’ll Need to Get Started
All that’s really necessary to get started is a calendar, a planning book, a phone and your list of resources and contacts.
To get attention:

  • Attract business through ads in the local Yellow Pages, in the society or wedding section of your local paper and in special bridal supplements.
  • Establish a relationship with local wedding-oriented vendors–florists, photographers, bridal shops, videographers, caterers, hotels and country clubs, bakeries and cake decorators, jewelers and musicians.
  • Leave your brochures with all contacts and ask for referrals.

Q&A With Planner Lisa Vorce

Entrepreneur.com spoke with industry professional Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming , about how she started her successful wedding design and consultation business. She offers valuable tips on what it takes to help a couple’s special day go off without a hitch.

What would you recommend people do first if they’re interested in wedding consultation? I would highly recommend they intern or shadow an established event planner so they can really understand the nuts and bolts of the event-planning world. It’s not always as glamorous as many people think it is, so it’s extremely important that prospective event producers truly understand what they’re getting into.

How did you get started? I did the exact opposite of what I’m preaching. I jumped in headfirst with little experience. Through a family connection, an insane drive to succeed and hours upon hours of hard work, I built a brand and a successful international event production company. I do consider myself one of the lucky ones, and I don’t recommend my approach to anyone looking to get into the industry. There is too much liability involved in what we do to jump in without fully understanding what you’re getting into.

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BLOGS 10 Must-Have Tech Tools for Producing Better Live Events

December 20, 2018
10 Must-Have Tech Tools for Producing Better Live Events
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By Jonathan Blum and Alex Dalenberg

Source: Entrepreneur

Social media, mobile devices and video-conferencing technologies are making it easier to attend important industry events virtually — or skip them altogether. But for some industries, nothing beats a hands-on experience at a trade show or the sales opportunities created by face-to-face interactions.

Live-event promoters and tech innovators have responded with a wave of new tools aimed at giving live events a fresh pop. From major confabs such as Austin, Texas-based South by Southwest to others put on by small-business owners, these tools can help simplify the process of producing events, and might even entice more companies and individuals to attend and sponsor them.

There’s no event too small for a custom, app-driven experience. Eventbase, by Vancouver, Canada-based Xomo Digital, can be used to offer free mobile event schedules and maps for conferences, trade shows and festivals.

Setup is painless — simply a matter of filling out online forms with your event information. Users can then access your event via the Eventbase app available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry. Basic event sites are free to build and distribute.

A premium version, including your event’s own native app, social features like photo sharing, branding and interactive maps, is available starting at $750 per month.

If you’re selling or giving away tickets to your event — whether to make money or to know how many people are coming — Los Angeles-based Flavorus is the ticket.

Flavorus can help manage RSVPs and offers a brand-specific ticket and payment processing options, with tools for incorporating your company’s logo and messaging. Users can purchase tickets online or via mobile devices. Advanced features include the ability to set up a will-call option, offer custom discounts or establish payment plans for pricey tickets.

The service starts at 2.5 percent of the ticket price, plus $1 per ticket. Big plus: It’s free for free events, which is the smart bet to test drive the service.

Keep in mind that live events do happen in-person, so it is worth investing in well-designed, low-tech items such as credentials, name badges and lanyards.

There are a number of affordable options for creating slick-looking event materials, but Evanston, Ill.-based Bags Tags Inc. stands out, with attractive around-the-neck event credentials for as low as $2 per badge. Custom lanyards start at about $3.60 each for 500 or less. Another plus: The company can handle last-minute orders.

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BLOGS The Perfect Party Playlist for Your Holiday Get-Together

December 18, 2018
The Perfect Party Playlist for Your Holiday Get-Together
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By Tim Kennedy

Source: Man Crates

Whether you’re hosting a friends-and-family gathering this year, or you just want to be a standout guest, it never hurts to have a great holiday party playlist ready at a moment’s notice. But striking the right tone for such a mix is no easy task. With large groups, one must avoid a few obvious pitfalls. Include too many ancient carols and grandpa Percy might doze off before dessert. If the tracks are too upbeat, you risk amplifying the sugar highs of a half-dozen kids. Luckily for you, we baked up the goods.

Our carefully curated holiday party playlist has something for everyone, from Bruce Springsteen and Mariah Carey to Andy Williams and Nat King Cole. (And no, we will not apologize for the number of Michael Bublé songs.) Just hit ‘play’ below and enjoy two-plus hours of timeless classics and refreshing pop twists on the traditional hits.

Ultimate DIY Boombox: Ammo Can Speaker Kit 2.0

Is someone you know in need of a grand sound vessel worthy of showing off at the party? For the best (and most insanely durable) way to enjoy the songs of the season, check out our new-and-improved Ammo Can Speaker Kit 2.0. It’s battery-powered, nearly indestructible, and includes everything he’ll need to assemble it. With two four-inch speakers, a JAB2-50 Amplifier Board, and Bluetooth capability, it’s the ultimate combination of quality and convenience. Put this thing together and party guests won’t just be marveling at your great taste in music.

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BLOGS How to Plan an Amazing Employee Holiday Party From Start to Finish

December 14, 2018
How to Plan an Amazing Employee Holiday Party From Start to Finish
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By Rob Hard

Source: The Balance

If you’ve been tasked with planning the annual employee holiday party for your company, follow a few basic guidelines to get the most out of your special event and can help you reduce costs without impacting its quality. By carefully evaluating the best way to approach and execute this holiday party, you can create an experience that not only boosts company morale but also increases employee satisfaction and retention levels across the board.

It’s important to start with the basics—what theme should the party have, where should it take place, how many people are coming, when should it happen, and what food and drinks will be served during the occasion—before moving on to specialized planning and eventually event execution.

The Basic Elements of a Holiday Company Event

Of course, like any other event or project, you need to create a project plan that identifies the event details for the employee holiday party. Theme, venue, time, date, guest count, food and beverage selections, decor, and event agenda must all be considered before you begin to execute your event.

Every good party needs these core elements to be successful, but not everything has to be set in stone before you begin to execute on getting your needs met (like securing a venue, booking a caterer, or planning an agenda).

Although there are many ways to approach these decisions, and decisions for higher-level ideas like theme and timing often fall on executives of the company instead of the event producer, it’s best to work with a team to decide which details are right for your specific company.

Choose the Most Effective Time to Hold Your Event

The best time to hold an employee holiday party is probably during the lunch hour. Historical holiday party data from Winston Battalia shows a growing trend to this decision, reflecting that more than two-fifths of corporate events take place during the lunch hour.

Unfortunately, not everyone may have the opportunity to participate in the event because someone must stay back and answer customer calls and inquiries. But a lunch hour event allows the organization to control costs and reduces the obligations on employees’ personal time and commitments.

If the organization isn’t hosting a lunch program, then they will host an evening event, which allows more employees to attend, but can often come with higher costs, depending on which evening of the week the event is held.

So how do you get the biggest bang for the buck? While some may think that Friday is the best day to hold the event because most employees will be off for the weekend, Friday is the most popular day of the week at restaurants and other venues—the most expensive time. Few organizations will want to consider Sunday evening, so it seems the next best option may be Monday night.

Consider Hosting a Party in the Off-Season

Instead of defaulting to the annual Christmas or Thanksgiving party, why not consider hosting an event that’s specifically for employee appreciation, when no other holiday is coming up on the company calendar?

Early October and late January are great times to hold an annual appreciation party as you can find an increased availability of off-site venue options, save money on catering expenses, and potentially get better deals on party packages during this event off-season.

One drawback to creating an annual appreciation party instead of celebrating the common annual holidays is that employees might not remember this as a tradition as well as they do Christmas or New Year’s parties. You’ll want to make sure to build hype around the event if it’s not a traditional holiday party.

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BLOGS 3 Secrets of Mastering the Art of Event Planning

December 12, 2018
3 Secrets of Mastering the Art of Event Planning
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By Sarah Hill

Source: Bonjour Events

When imagining putting together a successful event, most people think they’ll have to be a big ball of stress and juggle thousands of little details in order to make the event a success. That’s why good corporate event planners are always in such demand, and why so few people actually make it in the business.

But the truth is, that the people that do succeed in putting together great events aren’t some super-humans, capable of perfectly executing every detail without breaking a sweat. In fact, everyone, outside of some relatively minor differences, have the same basic abilities to put together events, and the rest comes down to experience and contacts.

The good news is that anyone can be great at organising events, you just have to know the important “short-cuts” that allow you to sort through the millions of tasks and get to the very essence of what each event needs to be in order to turn out a success.

So here are three of the most essential secrets that go into the craft of event planning – each of them are essential to master if you want your events to be a hit each and every time.

Keep Communications Open

A common mistake that inexperienced corporate event planners make is thinking that they have to carry the entire event production and theming process on their shoulders. And while it is true that a big part of the development process relies on the expertise of the planner, in the end it is the client who has the best idea what he needs.

So a great way for an event planning company to make life easier is to ask the client as many questions as possible – having a clear idea of what the client wants will not only help you develop concepts around the event, but will also help to avoid situations where you have to re-do parts of the event because your and the clients’ visions were non in sync.

Also, don’t forget to consult with the client not only initially, but throughout the event production and theming process as well. While you may not always go with his exact vision, since you are the expert after all, communicating ideas usually generates the best results.

Leverage Time

While most people would probably agree that being able to manage time is important, actually applying good time management principles when organising events can be really difficult.

Usually, to really get good at leveraging your own time, experience in the field is required, but a good start is to track your activities, plan them ahead, and, perhaps most importantly, to pinpoint key areas that you are truly good at and focus on them, building everything else around them.

One thing you can (and always should) do when taking on an event management project is make sure that you have enough time to execute everything properly. Giving yourself a head start to put the event together is perhaps the most important detail that can mean the difference between success and failure.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

Finally, as you’ll discover as soon as you start crafting your first event, you can’t handle every little detail of the event yourself. In fact, it’s a fair statement that while you may be in charge of the “big picture” of the event, the lion’s share of the grunt work actually gets executed by the people that you employ.

So an essential skill every event planner simply must possess is being able to efficiently delegate tasks while still ensuring that everything gets done right. This basically boils down to selecting the right people for each job and giving them clear, concise and precise directions at what needs to be done. It doesn’t matter if the florist is world-renowned – you have a vision of what you need, and the florist needs to execute it, or else he/she is not the right fit.

An additional perk of delegating tasks is actually being able to focus on the things that you feel you need to do yourself, or just the things that you really enjoy doing and/or are really good at.

BLOGS 13 Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining

December 7, 2018
13 Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining
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By Margaret Bristol

Source: Good Housekeeping

‘Tis the season to eat, drink, and be merry, but sometimes playing hostess can feel more like a burden than a blessing. We asked our Good Housekeeping Institute pros and a few party planners for advice on how to throw the perfect holiday soiree — minus the headache.

Mix Self-Serve Cocktails

Forget stocking a bar cart with endless supplies for everyone’s favorite drink. Decide on one or two festive picks (like spiked apple cider, Moscow mules, or Cranberry 75 punch, pictured) to prep ahead and let guests serve themselves from punch bowls.

Opt For No-Cook Appetizers

Put together beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards instead of fussing over hot hors d’oeuvres. They’re delicious and can be assembled in minutes on pretty wooden, slate or marble cutting boards, says our Kitchen Appliances Lab. Include an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, olives, crackers, grapes, spiced nuts, and spreads!

Create a “Quick-Chill” Station

Make a tub of salted ice water (one cup of salt per gallon of H2O) to chill bottles of wine and other drinks. It will also free up fridge space — just keep a few bar cloths by the tub for wiping drippy bottles.

Stock Up On To-Go Boxes

Get new containers that don’t cost a ton (like those from Lab favorite Glad) so you can send everyone home with leftovers without raiding your own supplies.

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BLOGS The Art of Entertaining: How to Plan the Perfect Holiday Party

December 3, 2018
The Art of Entertaining: How to Plan the Perfect Holiday Party
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Source: The Study

Tree lightings, caroling, gift giving. This time of year brings a lot of time-honored traditions with it, but none so treasured as the holiday get-together.

Still, as any seasoned party host will attest, planning the perfect holiday celebration — with decor that looks like it could have been ripped from an issue of Architectural Digest, and a menu that rivals something concocted by Thomas Keller — isn’t a walk in the park, and living up to expectations set by the ghosts of parties past can be daunting.

Looking for some tips and tricks on how to elevate the annual at-home holiday party, we asked some of our friends (each an expert entertainer) for advice on everything from decor to flowers to menus to music. Consider this your guide to making your holiday party the coveted invite of the season.

Set the Scene

Bronson Van Wyck has planned bashes for the likes of Chanel and the White House, and, no surprise here, an invite to one of his personal holiday soirees is about as coveted as it comes. His key piece of advice for setting the right tone in terms of holiday party decor? “There are seven colors in the rainbow, so don’t feel limited to red, green, or white when it comes to Christmas lights,” he says. “I love to use deep blues, ambers, and golds to really give your tree a unique glow.”

Texture is also a key component. “If you’re hosting a holiday party at your home, use natural textures to dress up the living area,” Van Wyck advises. “Organic elements like wreaths and garlands are also a good way to add a festive and fragrant touch. Juniper smells divine!”

Don’t be afraid to add a personal touch, too. “Whether it’s a tartan from your clan or a family collection of bells that come out each season, incorporate your memories into your decorations,” he says.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to make room for fun. “Always make room for the impromptu late-night dance party,” he says. “Your favorite chairs might take up too much space, so try to move out any cumbersome furniture beforehand.

New York City-based interiors stylist Carlos Mota is trusted by Architectural Digest to make spaces look just right. And, according to Mota, flowers are essential. “I love using amaryllis, peonies, carnations in deep colors like red, purple or even white,” he says. “I [also] love using moss and different types of foliage, like lemon and magnolia leaves, mixed with different types of pines.”

Once you’ve selected your flowers, Mota says, “Use black glass containers to add a touch of glamour and drama. I also like silver metal containers, and copper is a great addition, too.”

As for how this interior design guru dresses up his tree, the key he says is to think organic. “Real and dry flowers and fruits,” are a mainstay, Mota says. “I also use vintage ribbons in one or two colors like lavender and green.”

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