It is very common in our society today that at least one member from every family claims to have one event planner in it. Yes this could be true to some extent, however the capacity, knowledge and capability of the said individual makes a whole lot of difference. These knowledge and capability differentiate the professionals from the quacks.
Therefore it is pertinent to note that hiring professional event planners put you and your events in better positions to get value for all your investments
Hiring an event planner doesn’t have to be a daunting task, but you should make sure you spend time sourcing the best event planners and screen them carefully.
Outlined below are some steps to consider before hiring your event planners.
Follow These 15 Steps:
Most people think that hiring an outside event planner begins by determining the event’s budget, but the truth is that it’s more important to begin by defining why you want to hold an event in the first place.
Before you reach out to an external or internal resource that will help you plan that event, you want to be in a position to share the important goals of the event. Answer your own relevant questions about who, what, where, when, why and how. There will be plenty of time to make adjustments.
Once you’ve defined your objectives, a few clear ideas will begin to emerge about what theme and message you want to convey at your event. But most importantly, what activities and services do you need the external resource to handle on your behalf?
Will they help with selecting the venue? Will they build menus and make those recommendations? Are they helping with creating important communication items, such as invitations and other event materials? Do they need to source entertainment and speakers? Will they be needed on site at the event? Will they handle event registration,etc?
Based on your event objectives, it’s possible to create a general sense of how much it will cost for various elements of your program. This will vary based on the type of event you are hosting, and what it includes.
Many people who organise an event for the first time often fall into the trap of wanting to plan a champagne event on a soft drink budget (no offense intended to related-themed events—we love those, too).
And that’s why many people turn to their event planner for help.
Often, people think that word of mouth is the best way to hire an event planner for their weddings, anniversary party, breakfast business meeting, weekend retreat or another type of event. While it certainly helps, this is probably not the most effective approach.
If you’re trying to find the best event planner for your affair, it’s best to research someone who is experienced and holds a strong reputation within the community of event planners. Word of mouth provides an opportunity for easy sales for a planner wanting to find new clients, but peer reputation is very effective.
Regardless of whether it’s a social event or a corporate meeting, generally speaking, the rules of hiring an event planner remains the same. You want to hire someone who has expertise in your type of event.
Consider chapters of professional membership groups. Check with the national or local chapter of the Association of Wedding Professionals, Association of Professional Party Organisers and Event Managers of Nigeria etc.
It’s also relevant to find out who is publishing articles in their industry.
If you want to know who has a reputation for delivering services or expertise in a particular market, check with the local convention and visitors bureau. Many event planners are active members. They also maintain relationships with local chambers of commerce.
Most event planners will be eager to hear about your specific event, but provide them with brief details at first, and focus a bit more on their expertise.
Ask the event planner or their firm to share information about their business, experience with events, and how they plan for contingencies. Because you are the one who will be hiring the planner, your job is to listen to what you hear. It’s like hiring an employee. But the truth is, a good event planner will also screen you.
Good planners will walk you through a discussion to learn about your event’s overall objectives, timeline, budget, guests/attendees, and personal preferences. Good planners will ask you questions about your organization,family preferences and learn about your objectives and your particular event.
This should help your potential planner put the event or program into context, and understand your objectives and theme. This should be the same whether it’s a corporate event or a social event.
It’s not always possible to meet someone in person, especially if your program is out of town. However, depending on the budget and importance of your event, this is a very important step. And it’s a step that should be invested prior to narrowing your selected planner.
Keep in mind, the most highly experienced planner may not always be the best hire. There’s something about building a rapport with someone and listening to their ideas. You’ll gain a sense of someone’s passion and professionalism this way, too.
It’s not good enough to go on your gut instinct, the advice of your friends, or even colleagues and coworkers. This is your event, and your name and your reputation will be associated with it.
Of course, you will ask for names of clients who have worked with the planner before. And you’re likely to get favorable contacts. But do more digging. Ask the event planner to talk about where they’ve held events before, and check those sources. Read information about their business. Find your own references to check.
Based on your goals and ideas, a good event planner will present you with a plan that will help achieve your theme. If it’s a private evening and dinner for an intimate group of people, the planner should come to you with ideas that include many of the details for your program.
At this point, the event planner should present you with ideas that will make you feel like they’ve taken your budget and doubled its value. This should be apparent in the way they pitch their vision for your event.
Those ideas will come at a price, and it’s important for you to ask them to disclose all of their costs and potential sources of how their fee will be covered. Event planner fees will vary from planner to planner or event company to event company.
Ask them to disclose their terms and all fees up front. Do they charge by the hour? Will they receive any commissions from the venue directly or indirectly? Do they accept a percentage of a sale from the venue?
Depending on the nature of your event, you will be asked to provide deposits, etc., to the event planner and the event venues/services they offer. This is a perfectly acceptable way of handling business, but the best advice at this point is to seek professional advice and never sign a contract that hasn’t been reviewed by your own legal counsel—especially when dealing with private individuals who may not have the same resources of a large firm.
Most bad stories that happen related to event planning, usually a result of lack of follow through. Event planning requires the effective coordination of logistics and deferring these to a third party person sometimes results in a level of confidence or trust that should never have been given.
This isn’t to say that most event planners don’t deliver on their promised services. Instead, it means that you should make sure that the logistics have been confirmed—by checking with their suppliers and venues directly. Have they received their deposits?
If everything goes as planned, you’ll have a successful event and an excellent resource for the future. But if the planning process doesn’t run smoothly for the services agreed to in writing, then it’s important to review whether the project is a good fit with the planner.While it’s reasonable to be patient and work through logistics and any potential misunderstandings along the way, if you’re not receiving the services you want then you should be ready to have some serious discussions. If you must, be ready to fire a bad planner and have a backup option at all times.
Pleasant JayEvents is an event management company that has been providing professional services for many years in Nigeria, Africa along with rest of the world for many years. Pedigree matters when it comes to getting professional help for the successful event you envision. We have a track-record of providing superb events planning services as per clients’ custom needs and requirements, always within their financial limit. We are a reputable company that achieves great feat in managing various events for small, medium size or big events. We deliver value beyond our clients’ expectationsalways
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