Banners and Signs for Events

Event planners, party throwers and community event coordinators all over have found and understand the importance of using banners and signs for their events, and for good reason. Banners and signs have several important benefits that make them great for multiple events, but it would be impossible to talk about them all. It is however important to know why they are useful in some of the most popular events they are used in, including parties, community events and business sales.

Banners and Signs for Parties

Parties of all kinds are very popular for banners and signs to be used at them. Birthday parties can use both, for example - a banner to advertise the guest of honor and party theme, with smaller signs to be used for games and activities, or even where to put gifts and food. Anniversaries and graduation parties could use banners for a the same purpose or as a timeline to the guest of honor's married or academic lives, and then use signs to point guests in the right direction to the party or drinks and so on. Parties of all kinds can make use of signs and vinyl banners of all kinds, as a general rule.

Community Events

At community events it is important for banners and signs to be carefully planned out, but they can be just as useful as with parties and special occasions. Running events and street fairs are two great examples of community events that incorporate both signs and banners into their workings. Runners will probably follow signs to registration and to find their way throughout the course after starting off under a huge identifying banner. Street fairs may use very long banners to give a timeline of upcoming events and activities while using signs to help locate food, music, craft vendors and kids' rides.

Business Sales

Businesses are perhaps the form of use for banners and signs that are most common, particularly because every business wants as many customers as possible for their product or service. Grocery stores, for example, use signs to advertise particular brands or weekly sales, while using large outdoor banners for bigger sales and street-side sales on occasion. Many charitable businesses or organizations use banners to advertise the different sponsors and organizations that participated in the event and supported it. Other uses related to business sales may be to help locate business sales conferences or conventions that help bring businesses together in marketing strategies.

Simple Steps on How to Become Your Own Event Planner

Although many times in your life you will feel that the event you are trying to put together such as a party or a conference requires an event planner, you are not able to arrange one. This could be because of a number of factors. For example, the event planners you are contacting may be very busy and you might have given them a very short notice. Or, it might not be in your budget to hire an event planner. In such circumstances, whether you like it or not you have to become your own event planner. Fortunately, the process of event planning is not rocket science and most of the times it is also a rewarding and fulfilling experience. First step that one can use as an amateur planner is start writing. List up everything you can think of whether or not it is in a certain organized manner or not. Ask other people involved in the event if you are missing a certain category.

After that is done, subgroup the list by putting relevant subtopics into relevant major topics so that you have a list that looks similar to one with a guest list, party supplies, location scouting, food, decorations, music, and also a cost list so you can keep track of your budget. Next thing is to start making calls going from the more general subtopics to the more specific ones as the general ones have been knocked down. For example, if food is a general category, call your mother first to argue what cuisine is preferred for that party.

After you have an agreement, then call up all the Chinese restaurants to get rates per head for you party and see if they are available to serve on the day of your event. After you have reached a price and date agreement, then go down to specifics on which food items are to be ordered. This was just an example but I hope you understood what I meant by breaking it down by tackling the more general to the more specific pointers on your list. Multitasking is also an important part of event planning so have your self prepared for that. You cannot wait to completely finish a task before starting another- not during the planning of the event and neither at the day of so make sure you at least have personal helping hands like family and friends to make the event happen.

Event Management Company Can Help You in Promoting Your Event

These days, promotion has become a popular marketing strategy used by both corporate houses and small businesses for the purpose of image building and increasing business revenues. Companies and business houses now arrange seminars, conferences, trade shows, product launch parties and such other events to promote their products and services. With such events taking place, they need a proper planning and management for the smooth execution of the event as per the company's standard, which requires an appropriate event management company. People as well as companies and organizations these days, due to lack of time, hire professionals from event management companies to take the responsibility of organizing the program.

The event manager of the company not only organizes the event but also perform various activities to make the affair unique and memorable. They take the task of creating and promoting the event by selling tickets online, sending invitations to the target audience via emails and creating pages on various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc. From the start till the end, the event planner will keep you informed about the status of the program and will help you in identifying your target audience for the program. In fact, event management company plans an appropriate event keeping in mind the target audience and their expectations. They do a detailed research of the different brands and create event models accordingly.

Event management companies also provide interesting functionalities and features for the online promotion of the event in a unique and creative manner. Personnel of the companies take the initiative of informing the attendees about the program using customized emails. They also allow the organizer to add up logos and graphics related to their program and attract more attendees towards the event and offers you with the flexibility of managing, reviewing, adding or deleting any information online, which can be easily viewed by the attendees.

Other than this, a popular and ideal event management company also collects payments using online mode where the attendee can make the payments using credit cards, PayPal, wire transfer, etc and also helps in fundraising activities and keeps you updated about the monetary transactions. This will ultimately assist you in maintaining a secure database and calculate the returns on Investment.

To make sure that your event is organized successfully, event management companies also take the initiative of conducting research and finding out ways to improve the techniques and approaches. The assessment report enables you to identify the loopholes and figure out ways that can be followed to achieve success.

Thus, event management companies are offering several services for promoting your event which will help you both in increasing revenues and number of attendees.

Plan Out a Trendy Event With an Event Management Agency

Are you a newcomer in business? Do you intend to extend business horizon and capture new market? For both, a launch pad is required. A grand launch event is that launch pad, giving you market base and spreading a word about your company product or service.

The Focus of Event Agencies

Event agencies streamline their activities on the following:

• Event Management: On the final day of the event, dedicated professionals of the agency toil it out to provide full-fledged event support. The support is based on arranging of materials, equipment and personnel, and any other thing required for the event.


• Design Management: On the first go this seems out of sync, but a closer look will reveal the importance of aesthetic designs in event ceremonies. Creating banners, hoardings and flex are important from the point of view of promotion. Through these you can spread the message of your company in a visually evocative way. The designers team work in tandem with in-house audio-visual team, so that the audience and guests get the flavor of an unforgettable experience. Leaving the best impression on their minds matter the most - creative designs kind of hammer the brand message.


• Event Marketing Assistance: Planning an event is the first step. The second important thing is spreading a word about the event your company is about to host. You need to draw attention - otherwise what's the point in having an event with few footfalls? Large crowd will always garner massive social interactions. Hence, crowd pulling is important, which can be done by marketing the event and creating the right buzz.


• Post-Event Evaluation: This belongs to the post-event stage. Nonetheless, its is crucial to judge the success of the event; whether it has been able to pull crowd and make an impact. Evaluation is also a learning process and it creates scope for improvement. Event companies go for evaluation by collecting guest feedback as well as that of clients and staff. Scientific analysis helps in in-depth assessment of the company event.

Apart from these, event companies provide many other supporting services like planning of budget, project tracking, database management, creative write-ups services, news analysis, and liaison with end users.

Benefits of Hiring an Event & Production Agency

Event management needs knowledge and management skills. Hence, event agencies never shy away from recruiting the best talents. Event organizing team can offer you a flurry of beneficial approaches pertaining to planning of an event and tuning it up with other organizational requirements. They work to create an impact for your business on one of the most important days of your business. They create a buzz by their constant marketing efforts. Hiring an event company is also cost-effective because you get value for your money by splurging money only on effective planning and marketing of your event.

To sum it up, create an impact on your D-day with right kind of assistance from a top class event management agency.

First Steps In Event Planning

Planning a large event is not an easy task. There's a reason why people hire professional event planners to take care of large party planning. The task requires a large amount of time, coordination, organization, and networking. If you've been assigned to plan a large event, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of everything you have to coordinate. Here are a few tips for planning the big event.

First, figure out how many attendees there will be. This is vital information that you need in order to proceed with the planning. All of your plans depend on the amount of people you expect at the event. Of course it's hard to plan for an exact number. But even if you have a rough idea, you'll be able to go ahead with the planning. First, figure out what type of venue you'll need. If it's a corporate dinner, you'll need access to a large hall, tables, chairs, and catering. Make a list of what you need from a venue and call around to find out which venue has the best price for everything you need. You may find a venue that is the ideal space, but doesn't provide tables, chairs, or catering. That's OK too. Your best resource for finding the materials you need is at an event rental company. Talk to event rental companies in your area and get rental quotes for your materials. Another benefit of event rental companies is that many of them have event planners that can help you.

The Importance of Corporate Team Building

It is very important for any organization to create is an atmosphere of cohesion and a feeling of solidarity among the ones who work for it. This is crucial especially when it comes to matters of the company's efficiency and good performance and the ability to face competition from others.

In order to achieve this goal, companies try out a number of team building exercises that are aimed at keeping the moral of employees high

They try to locate and remove any issue of discontentment in a person or any complain that they have against the company management and possibly affect the faith of an employee or their performance in their area of work.

In order to enhance the ambiance and encourage camaraderie among workers and employees, there are several efforts made for team building exercises and events organised to bring them together and remove all doubts that they may possibly have.

Importance of Corporate Events

There are several types of formal and informal corporate events that are conducted within an organization. Gone are those days when there was a wall of separating the top, middle and lower ranks in a company.

It is clearly understood that there has to be healthy work environment among all sections so that there is nothing that can weaken the company leadership.

Team Building Events

There are different informal events that can help in building a team spirit and strengthen the bond between different groups of people within a company.

Activity Days

The people of an organization can be brought together by making them play team building games.

• Treasure Hunt - They can be put on a treasure hunt by forming groups across different departments. They will coordinate amongst themselves and find the treasure based on clues and hints.
• Team Games - There can be a football match or a game of cricket that is a game of a team.
• Tug of War - This is also a fun game but a proof of group effort that can be used in building team strength.

It may be noted here that the positive effects of such activities are best felt on a working day itself by breaking the monotony of everyday work. It may tend to be exacting and tiresome on a weekend resulting in lack of enthusiasm and interest.

Team Building Challenges

Apart from team building games there is a need to assign responsibility to employees and make them display their real potential.

Companies may decide on allocating a challenge to a group of contenders and test their team building ideas and cohesive performances that can be reviewed with gravity for later.

There are several team building ideas that can be incorporated as challenges to different groups of teams.

• Charity Causes where different groups can be assigned to formulate ideas to garner maximum charity collections from outside sources or even plan theme parties and corporate events for the same. The events could feature some of the artistic creations of groups of people within the company that may be inclined.
• To organize and form ideas for an annual activity day for the company.

These are some of the ways that can help to build a team in your company. You can also avail services of specialized professionals in this arena who can help you with different ideas and how to work on them as well.

Event Planning - A Worthwhile Tool to a Successful Event

In today's world where everyone is in a rush with not enough time on their hands for most of the things they want to do, event planning has become a popular recourse for people who do not want the headache of having to organize a special occasion or a business event. Event planning has recently enjoyed a boom as more people have come to rely on event planners to organize anything from a wedding to a music festival.

The planner of the event takes care of all the details involved in organizing an event. His job description will include selecting possible sites for the event for the client's approval and then reserving the venue for the required date, getting the necessary permits for the event if needed, establishing a budget with the client, booking musicians, speakers, lecturers, entertainers and photographers necessary for the event, arranging for furnishings for the event such as tables or chairs, tents, lighting, sound systems, catering, and the decor. The planner will also take care of hiring security and health care professionals if required and also arrange for parking, signage and even cleaning up after the event is over. They will also take care of invitations, menus, souvenirs, programs or any printed material needed for the occasion. For business events open to the public they will also take care of advertising the event.

With this scope of work that an event planner covers, it is definitely an advantage to a client to secure their services for all kinds of events. The planner takes out the tediousness, aggravation and stress usually connected with planning and organizing an event. All the client has to do is to give his approval to the choices presented by the planner, shell out the money and then show up to the event and enjoy himself without having to worry about anything. At the end of the occasion, he goes home without having to think who is going to clean up afterwards.

Many people have gotten the services of event planning for weddings, baby showers or bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries, office parties, book signings, product launches, corporate events, bazaars, fundraisers and even election campaigns. By hiring these highly trained and efficient organizers, you are ensured of a successful event with the minimum of stress and a maximum of satisfaction.

Consider This When Selecting a Briefcase Bag

Selecting a briefcase bag to give away at a promotional event or corporate retreat is not as simple as one would think. There are those event planners that would casually shop on price point or production time, prioritizing project management issues rather than the elements that make an effective custom printed bag giveaway. Modern promotional briefcases feature a selection of key aspects that can make them into valuable tools for all who receive them. From bottle holders to laptop sleeves, these briefs and messenger bags accommodate the necessities of today's commuter. Being sure that the bag used in a giveaway includes these features is critical to ensuring the effectiveness of the promotion.

Laptop Protection - Unlike classic briefcases, a modern messenger bag must accommodate for a laptop computer. Business people today carry their office around with them, bringing a laptop to and from the office. The briefcase that is given away must feature a pocket that creates a suspended nest for these delicate pieces of electronics. Padding and Velcro fastenings help secure the laptop during the commute and while migrating from meeting to meeting.

Accessory Space - Those laptops and tablets that are getting toted around require a selection of accessories that had never been needed till now. Power cords, adapters, Bluetooth keyboards and mice all complement the mobile office allowing proper setup in any location. Briefcases can accommodate these accessories in large gusseted pockets. These pockets provide ample space to store these items, as well as allow easy access when they are needed.

Cups & Bottles - The business professional can now be found with a beverage at their side almost constantly. Bottled water, coffee drinks and tea can be found in every meeting room, conference room and office. By incorporating a pocket to hold travel mugs and sport bottles, the briefcase bag carries the complete compliment of meeting essentials.

Strength - With the transition from paperwork and pens to laptops and drinks, briefcase bags are expected to hold a significant amount of weight. Beyond a simple handle, these briefcase bags need to feature a reinforced grip as well as a strong shoulder strap for easier carrying positioning. The result of a drop or failure of these straps can cost thousands of dollars in damaged computer equipment, creating a need for security while carrying.

A briefcase or messenger bag that features these elements will be much more likely to be appreciated and used by recipients. While other bags may be lower cost or fit a production schedule that allows event planners to procrastinate, the full featured bags will persist after the event, carrying a custom printed logo or message as it is used.

Sustainability Issues and Organizing Eco-Friendly Events

There is a need to be more concerned about the environment when organizing events. Recent publications show that Greenland's glaciers are melting at a rapid rate and the increased volume of fresh water is flooding nearby rivers resulting in giant wave formations. Moreover, glaciologists have revealed that in July, New Zealand's legendary Franz Josef Glacier has been reduced in size. Other New Zealand glaciers are also vanishing one by one with each passing day.

The reason behind my making you aware of these environmental changes is to impose on you the severity of the times that we currently live in. Hence, event managers can definitely do their bit by hosting eco-friendly, green events. To save planet Earth from having these extreme climatic conditions, we need to organize events that best utilizes renewable energy resources. There are 2 main advantages of hosting green events -

· Cost saving

· Usage of recyclable products

How efficiently can you arrange eco-friendly meetings and conferences? Let's find out.

Choose a Natural Location

Instead of booking a hotel room or a banquet to host your sales seminar this time, pick a site such as your local park or the neighborhood garden. If there aren't any such venues available in your locality to suit your requirements, then opt for a location which at least supports your go green mission. A location which requires a lot of travelling to reach, for example, multiple changing of transports or flights (if your attendees are flying in) poses a direct threat to the environment and only results in increased carbon emissions.

Lighting and Decoration

Instead of using light bulbs that consumes high wattage of energy; try having solar energy bulbs that receive their source of energy from the sun. With regard to decoration, use potted plants, orchids, and blooming flowers to adorn the event area. You can event attach the name of individual guests in each potted plant to be gifted to them after the event gets over. It will be a beautiful way to make your participants aware of the sustainability issue without spending much per plant.

Paperless Invitation

Instead of sending paper-based invitation letters, why not do something different and be creative by writing on maple leaves. You can also use cardboards to write on as well. Emailing is a very good option to send multiple invites at a reduced cost.

Local Food and Beverages

You can order locally grown farm-fresh fruits and vegetables to prepare the menu for guests. Ask the vendors of the local market to provide poultry and dairy products plus tell them to supply locally prepared beer. Get wines from the nearby winery. Try to avoid using disposable glasses, plates, and such other materials during your meeting or seminar.

Go Online

Start using the online registration solution to let potential attendees sign up their names over the internet. It saves on the cost of buying paper and printing registration forms and is quickly accessible.

Online generation of reports enables you to do the necessary calculations on excel sheets which can be saved and downloaded to be emailed at any later date.

You can use Facebook, Twitter, and such other powerful social media sites to promote your green events online. These sites help you to reach out to a wider audience resulting in increased attendance at your events.

Does Your Organization Have a Learning Disability - Disability # 4 - Fixation on Events

Disability 4 - System what system?

Think systems not events.

When we first came to this earth it was important to feed ourselves every day, not get eaten by the local saber tooth tiger and, more importantly, grow the population in leaps and bounds. Life was simple, eat or be eaten. This only required the ability to understand each separate event and have a means to handle the event. Learn to hunt and enjoy ourselves. There was no need to appreciate the larger systems at work or be able to connect events.

Life, however, has become more complex and our survival is now dependent on understanding gradual processes such as global warming, a slow decline in sales, a growing obesity problem in the US, a loss of market share. Each is caused by a complex array of systems and events that interact with each other causing even more complex outcomes and effects. We know we cannot hope to keep track of all these events so we select a few that make sense and focus on them. Does business have it right?

We usually choose to see our lives in terms of events. Board meetings in companies are dominated by what to do about last quarters sales, the latest product the competition has launched, how to finance the latest deal, etc. Each is an event that we think has a single solution. We seek single solutions for single problems. We do not see how the latest product that the competition launched affects our sales. We do not see that bad employee relations lead to a low morale which in turn affects design quality and therefore the final product that we attempt to sell to our customers.

As long as we try to find one single reason for each problem we will never get to the bottom of our problems. As long as we fight fires, concentrate on operations and ignore the big picture we will never see any improvement in our business.

Learning is never sustained within a business that has managers focused on short term events. By focusing on events managers, at best, become predictive so as to react optimally. Most business and econometric models are developed in this manner. This however means that business really never learns to create, to think holistically defining the systems in the business.

Concentrate on strategy, think in terms of systems. Learn.

How to Access the Computer Management Console Event Viewer in Microsoft Windows Vista

So your new computer is acting up and you want to find out why. Today, I will show you how to access your computer management logs and see what is going on behind the scenes of your operating system.

1. Click on the start menu to the bottom left of your screen.


2. Right-click on computer (a menu will now show up with several options)


3. Left-click on Manage


4. If UAC (User Account Control) is turned on, you will need to click Continue to allow Windows to access your computer management console


5. You will now see the computer management console - double click on "System Tools" on the left of the management console


6. Now double-click on "Event Viewer'


7. Next, double-click on "Windows Logs"


8. Finally, single-click on "System"

In the middle of the computer management console, there is a list of events that can be sorted by date and time, level, source, event ID, or task category. Level gives you an idea of the severity of the event. There are going to be many events in the "Information" category. These events are just information on common tasks that are occurring behind the scenes. There are other events that are classified as "Warning" and have a yellow sign with an exclamation mark in the middle. There are yet other events in the "Error" category which have a circle with an exclamation mark.

Each event has a description of the event in the details field on the bottom portion of your screen. If you are having a particular issue, research the different events that hare happening in and around the time frame of when the issue at hand occurred. If you are unsure about what an event means, copy and paste the details into a search engine and see if you can find out some more information like that.

Planning Extraordinary Corporate Events

When planning a corporate event, choosing a unique location may be the solution to creating the perfect ambiance for your company function. Are you looking for a themed environment? Do you want a hip, trend-setting location? Will ocean views inspire your team? Maybe a historical setting with elegance and charm will fit the bill?

When planning your next event, consider some of the creative options your city has to offer.

Museums

Museums are one of the well-kept secrets in the event planning industry. With built-in themes, you can surround your guests with sports memorabilia, classic cars, airplanes and spacecraft, magnificent aquariums, science exhibits and many other historical elements. Most museums have a preferred list of professional caterers that can create a magical event that incorporates the venue, food, beverage, decor and many other elements.

Entertainment Venues

If a fun experience is ideal for your next sales meeting, teambuilding event or party, consider having your event at a location that has the entertainment built in. Treat your employees to stock car racing or flight simulators followed by a day of meetings. There's nothing like some head-to-head video game combat to get the adrenaline and creativity flowing. Bowling with your team or conducting a cooking class together can foster the feelings of camaraderie. Hold your annual sales meeting at a vineyard and then go wine tasting. Most of these locations not only include the entertainment element, but also have ample function space to conduct productive sessions or host a reception.

Yachts

Coastal communities are known for their incredible ocean views. Why not maximize them by hosting your next event on a yacht? With varying capacities available, yachts can host everything from intimate, exclusive gatherings to full-blown parties with hundreds of guests. The experienced catering teams are able to customize an event to meet your needs and create a one-of-a-kind affair. 

Historical Sites

With many sites to choose from, selecting a historical site is a great way to go back in time. Many classic locations have undergone renovations to modernize their amenities while still maintaining their timeless appearance and charm. Historical sites are often non-profit organizations as well so you can feel good about selecting them as an ideal setting. Sites can include historic mansions and buildings, naval bases, antique ferry boats and more.

Nightclubs

Nightclubs are not just for the twenty-something set any more. Companies who are looking to "knock the socks off" their employees and clients will love the cutting-edge backdrop that nightclubs can provide. State-of -the art lighting, decor and audio visual equipment are trademarks of these trend-setting clubs. Most have a dedicated event staff that can handle all of the details for your event and customize it to your needs.

Event Planners Must Understand Their Group

As a conference, convention, and event planner, negotiator, and organizer for well over thirty years, I have never ceased to be amazed by the large percentage of individuals involved in these activities that seem to follow the "one size fits all" type of philosophy. The greatest and most effective event planners understand that every group has its own needs, philosophies, priorities, demographics, financial needs, and goals that must be addressed prior to even commencing the actual planning phase for any event. It is important to remember that what may be a great idea for one group is not so for another, and thus all event planning must be individualized. Of course, there are certain rules of negotiating, as well as organizing details that is generally transferable from one event and group to another, but those will have limited value unless the event is first tailor made for the specific group.

1. What are the needs of the group for this event? Is it solely fundraising in nature, or completely social, or to perform some sort of essential business? Or, is this event a combination of these needs? An event planner must fully understand and have articulated these needs before beginning the process.

2. What is the organization's philosophy? What is its culture? What specific things are needed for this organization, and this event?

3. How would one state the top priorities? If there are multiple priorities, how would you balance (or prioritize) these?

4. What is the organization's demographics? What are the demographics of previous attendees? If these two differ significantly, then perhaps there is a need to clearly understand why the same demographics do not apply to both the organization and the event attendees? How might that difference impact how the structure and nature of this event could be evolved or tweaked, in order to broaden the appeal, without turning off those who currently attend?

5. Never proceed before the first four items are addressed seriously, and then create a detailed budget, including conservative revenue projections, and worse- case scenarios regarding expenditures. Is this event for fundraising, and if so, what is the goal? How might that impact decisions made? Event planners must prioritize and create both value and perceived value, by effectively negotiating all details. There is rarely a situation where financial success is based entirely on one item, but rather it is necessary to address multiple small savings possibilities to optimize the success of the event.

True event professionals work fastidiously to address all areas and potential obstacles. One of the major reasons that some events end up with better results (and that is defined by the specific needs of the particular event, group, etc., as discussed above) is because of the attention to detail, in an organized and proactive manner.

Top 9 Ways to Improve Your Fundraising Event

Try to promote your fundraising event to as many people as possible. Utilize the latest online strategies to host an affordable, yet influential fundraiser for your organization.

Allow me to share with you the top ways to improve your fundraising event in 2012.

Plan Your Fundraiser Properly

The earlier you plan your fundraiser, the more is the chance of raising lots of money. You will get a lot more time to reach out to people, both offline and online. Although it's never too late to launch your campaign, planning a bit early offers you ample time to get organized.

Create a List of Potential Donors

It is very important to shortlist potential donors who can be approached at the earliest. You should invite the shortlisted donors first and then proceed to other attendees in your list.

Have a Personal Fundraising Page

Try to provide a personal fundraiser page to each of your attendees. The page should contain your messages, event schedule, and previous event images. Your potential donors can open the fundraising page to see the amount they can donate as well as post favorable messages in support of your campaign.

Online Registration Software

You can take the help of online registration software to streamline your signing up process. The registrants no longer need to be physically present at the venue to fill up the donation form or pay the registration fees. They can access the registration pages online and fill up their personal information anytime, 24x7.

Simplify Payment Options

The online payment management software lets you send and receive money via major credit cards, PayPal, and standard payment gateways (Authorize.net, CyberSource, and others). The software offers a secured, trusted way of online transactions, eliminating the chances of credit card fraud.

Get Hold of an Email Communication Module

Most of the online event management solutions come with an email marketing module. You can use this module to upload your own set of customized lists for marketing and invitation purposes. The list will grow automatically as you add more and more email IDs of potential attendees to it. Thus, the module helps you easily import, edit, merge, and manage your attendees' email list.

Use Different Social Media Tools

Event organizers can use social media tools to promote their fundraising events online. It helps you reach out to more people, thereby increasing the scope of enhanced event attendance and higher profit.

Online Silent Auction

Web-based silent auctions allow your donors to submit an item for auctioning directly on your fundraising website. Individuals interested in buying those items can bid as well as buy them through online money transfer.

Add a Sponsors' Page

A sponsors' page helps fundraising event organizer collect money for the advertisement that went in the fundraiser ad-book and banners. The page offers a cost-effective mode of payment collection.

With all these tips, your next fundraiser event is going to bring lots of donations and support for your cause that you have been fighting for.

Meeting Agenda Format

A fixed meeting agenda format is hard to find. Also, it is not recommended that you use a stereotyped agenda structure for your meeting. That is because your meeting might need a different kind of agenda than what is prescribed in the format. So, open your mind and be flexible. There is really no need to stick to a hidebound format that is not tailor-made to suit your needs. If you do not stick stubbornly to a redundant and rigid format, I assure you that you shall do much better. You shall be able to generate relevant and useful conference agenda that will make your conference a whopping success!

A Quack's Prescription

Most meeting or conference agenda formats tend to sap a meeting organizer's creativity. A meeting or conference agenda format urges you to formulate your meeting agenda according to a strict and invariable pattern, which might be totally irrelevant for you and your company. The makers of most conference agenda formats think that they have done a wonderful thing by devising one solution for all companies, one medicine for all patients. The fallacy in their thinking is pretty self-evident. There cannot be one single cure for the maladies of different organizations or even for that matter, for the different maladies that ail one particular organization. So, a standardized format is not only useless, it can also be harmful as it tries to offer blanket solutions for diverse issues that require individual attention and separate treatment.

A Specialist's Touch

However, there are some meeting agenda formats that offer customized solutions to the process of agenda framing. These formats are based on a broad framework of topics, most of which apply to and are valid for all meetings. Fortunately, such conference agenda formats also make way for variations and deviations peculiar to each company and each meeting. Despite following a structured approach, such meeting agenda structures give enough scope to managers to lay down meeting agenda as per the particular needs of their companies. These meeting or conference agenda formats are not sheets of paper charting out a course but consist of sophisticated software to help company managers to plan for events and in the task of goal setting. They are an integral part of high-end meeting planning software that facilitates event planning and management and makes the job of managers easier.

The Choice is Yours

Modern meeting planning software is made using state-of-the-art technology and helps managers to plan and organize meetings in a jiffy. From helping you to write meeting agenda to prompting you to deliver the valedictory, they are capable of transforming you into an expert in the meeting management and event management processes. They are equipped with meeting or conference agenda formats that aid managers to set meeting agenda. However, you have to be careful in choosing a meeting planning software. Most of them cannot keep their users' data secure even if they guarantee information security. So, make a judicious choice. Selecting the wrong meeting planning software will cause you endless sorrow as your confidential company information will be hacked into and publicly distributed. But if you select the right meeting planning software, there will be no end to the rich dividends that you will receive. Sky will be your limit if you use the right meeting planning software with its right meeting agenda format.

Comparing Tent Rental Proposals

When planning an event that requires a tent, people will often request proposals from several tent rental suppliers. When comparing these proposals, it's important to consider all the elements of the proposal and not just the price. Would you compare the prices from different car dealerships without knowing what car they were selling? The quoted price can also end up being very different than your eventual bill and the services and structures you receive can represent a very different value proposition. Here are a few elements you should consider.

The structure you are renting can be brand new or used. If the tent is used, make sure the condition of the fabric is specified so you receive a structure that is compatible with your expectations. A tent that is used, but in excellent condition, will look much different than one that is rated as fair or grade B. Also, ensure that the tent rental company is supplying you with a clean tent since some providers may not clean their equipment after every event.

Standard side wall heights vary by tent renal company. Some tent rental companies use a 7 ft. standard sidewall while other use 8 ft. Larger tents look and perform best with even taller side walls. Insufficient sidewall height can make a structure look cramped and doesn't provide enough air flow for larger tents. Make sure the side wall height is specified and comparable.

Sometimes, tent rental companies will use multiple tents to provide the square footage specified in the proposal. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but for some events, this can mean working around the securing structures of the tents in what would otherwise be usable event space. Check that the number of tents and the tent styles are specified in your proposal. This will help you avoid last minute adjustments to work around wires and stakes or weighting systems inside your tent.

Rental periods can vary widely among tent rental companies. Depending on the size of the tent, some companies may provide you several days on either side of the event period to allow for installation and removal flexibility. Other companies may have very little flexibility and charge fees for early installation or late removal, regardless of the reason. Make sure you understand any extra fees associated with the rental period terms and exceptions to their contracts or proposals.

Events seldom function perfectly and how you respond to the minor and sometime major mishaps can have a big impact on your event. Occasionally, you will need the services of personnel from your tent rental company. Your agreement should specify the availability of tent rental company personnel during your event and if they have 24 hour emergency service. Responsiveness to your urgent needs is part of the service a tent rental company should provide, so ensure it is documented and that you are aware of any charges associated with that service.

It can also be very important to know how much appropriate replacement inventory your tent rental company has available. Sometimes having a suitable replacement tent, in case of a setback, can prevent you from having to cancel your event.

Insurance is always an important consideration when dealing with, installation crews, large structures and many guests. Request certificates of insurance for workers' compensation and liability coverage and compare all coverage amounts, terms and limitations. Make sure you are satisfied with the coverage and note any differences between the providers. You could end up being responsible for any shortfalls in coverage if an accident occurs.

Take the time to read and compare the terms and conditions in the fine print. It will contain many important provisions that will affect your service and determine your final bill. There can be a great deal of variation in these legal stipulations. If you find something you don't like, ask that it be altered.

A recurring theme in this discussion is ensuring that all important considerations are documented in your agreement. If it isn't included, ask that it be included. And, provide each tent rental company with the same comprehensive information for their proposal submission. If they begin with the same information, they are likely to be much closer to presenting comparable proposals which means fewer significant differences for you to resolve.

The proposal price is very important. However, it may not be the final price and could include some risks and service limitations that make you uncomfortable. Take the time to fully understand and compare your tent rental proposals and make the choice that is best for you.

New York Event Planners For a Rocking Party

New York is a major tourist destination and major center for world trade and commerce. Every year it draws thousands of visitors, businessmen and corporate professionals from all over the world. Social events, corporate parties, product launches, trade shows, wedding parties and fashion shows are a constant part of the New York culture. Accordingly it has several world class hotels and restaurant offering great service and all the modern amenities to the visitors. These hotels also provide great event spaces to host successful and fabulous events.

Event planning has been a very popular business over the years with several event planners located throughout the New York. Event planning can be very frustrating and tedious with lots of thinking given to every aspect involved in organizing an event. Negligence on any part of the event planning may result the event to fall flat on its face. It is always better to leave the task of event planning at the hands of some New York event planner. There are several New York event planners offering the service of some highly experienced professionals to look after your planning needs. Some of the most popular New York event planners include: Creme de la Creme events, Catering Guy.com, EMRG media NYC, and Maven Events. One can easily find some New York event planner that suits his needs and budget.

The event planner is required to be very creative and must have a clear understanding of the requirement of the client. These professionals look after every detail to ensure that the event is very successful. The biggest constraint in organizing any event is the budget. Most of the times, the requirements are not met within the set budget. The New York event planners ensure that the budget doesn't shoot up beyond expectations and all the things are taken care of within the budget. They have contacts with decorators, vendors and caterers and are able to get the best deals for their clients.

New York event planners come at a fee but they ensure that every minute detail had been taken care of to ensure a memorable event. The event planner professionals look after all the operations until the event is over. They are much better prepared to handle any crisis that may arise at the last minute rather than having the client to deal with it. They wouldn't compromise on the event thereby guarantying its success.

4 Steps to Follow While Undertaking an Email Marketing Campaign for Your Events

The much hyped about social media platforms have forced event organizers to set aside traditional, powerful means of event promotion and take on a modern approach to online advertising. Email marketing is one such effective method that can lead to efficient event promotions. Though, it might sound like an old school marketing method in this social media era, it is still considered a frontrunner when it comes to sending direct messages or an exclusive invitation. Executing a successful email marketing campaign is simple if you keep few things in mind like sharing valuable information, adding value and avoid spamming.

In this article, I have outlined a few tips that will help you to undertake your email marketing campaigns successfully.

Preparing a List and Choosing an Appropriate Timing

Even before you think of making a head start with an email marketing campaign, prepare a list recipients that you would like to target. Based on the type of event that you are hosting, you must also choose an ideal time to send out your message or invitations. If you are organizing a large event then you can start with an early 'save the date' email campaign as it will give your prospective attendees the date on which the event will be hosted. They can block the same on their online diaries or calendars. Emailing this information early on will have a direct impact on your ticket sales.

Deciding On the Content

You need to decide on what you want to promote via your email. Planning beforehand actually helps. Make the content interesting and engaging by adding insider information relevant to your events. It will help in quenching the insatiable curiosity within most people. While delivering such information you must be careful and diligent enough to send information that holds some relevance to your recipients. Information that you think may be relevant is sometimes considered unnecessary by others; so choose judiciously.

Resorting to an Automated Email Marketing Tool

Nowadays, there is a number of Cloud-based software that helps in effective streamlining of the various events related administrative tasks. Such software facilitates organizers with an email marketing tool that enables email blasts of individual invitations, reminders, or newsletters to thousands of contacts. It can even assist in tracking the success of your email marketing campaign by monitoring the email open rates.

Sending Repeated Reminders without Spamming

It is quite obvious that all of your recipients will not check their mails as soon as they are sent. Out of thousands of emails sent, may be 20-50% of your recipients will make an effort to check it on first receipt. It is therefore important for you to send repeated reminders from time to time. However, make sure that you don't send them too many emails with lousy content which may lead to spamming and force people to even take a look at what your mail is all about.

With proper strategy an email marketing campaign can lead to maximum exposure for your events.

Vancouver Party Bus - Vancouver Limousines

Vancouver Party Bus and Vancouver Limousines by Seasons Event Group offers the largest selection of limousines and party buses in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Visit our website for more details on the fleet we have to offer plus other services and rentals we offer.

Seasons Event Group Inc. staff have been in the business since 2004. Since then we have grown at unprecedented speeds yet continuing to maintain the same quality, professionalism, and one on one support we gave our very first client.

What We Do!

We are a universal event planning company specializing in start to finish organization of events. Weddings, birthdays, corporate parties, and sightseeing tours are just a few of the long list of planning and coordination we can do for you!

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff members understand that any event which you require assistance in planning or coordinating is a very special one which is why we'll make sure you are treated with the utmost care and professionalism every step of the way.

Business Hours!

We can provide service to your event year round at any hour of day or night with our 24/7/365 service hours. Office phone, email, and fax support or inquires may be restricted to a typical 8am - 10pm type of service. Please contact us anytime to find out our current seasonal office hours!

Limousine, Party Bus, Limo, Limos, Limo Buses, Limo Busses, Night Club, Bus Crawl, Prom, Graduation, Bachelorette, Bachelor, Stag, Staggette, Disco, Dancing Vehicle, Awesome sound system in all of our limousines and party buses, nightclub on wheels for sure, port moody, chilliwack, surrey, langley, richmond, coquitlam, port coquitlam, mission, abbotsford, aldergrove, langley, north vancouver, west vancouver, ladner, delta, blaine, western washington, burnaby

Call us at 604-200-1444 or visit seasonseventgroup.com today or call 604-200-1444 for more details!

Importance of Promotional Conference Folders in Corporate Events

Importance of products is increasing day-by-day and nobody can deny this fact. Companies are looking for new and unique gifts to impress the people they usually deal with. There are many different types of items that can be given, like printed pens, yearly calendars, wallets, mouse pads, table clock, etc. Among them promotional conference folders are making its market higher in a rapid manner. While promotional products are given to the people on perfect occasion, then it becomes perfect giveaway on demand.

Promotional conference folders should be such that it can impress the recipient by its look. It should be given in neat and assembled way, so that the recipient can easily access files and papers. If these printed conference folders have company name or logo embossed on the cover then they leave a deeper impact in the mind of the viewer while exhibiting them in any trade show or any corporate event. This requirement can be fulfilled by online stores, as this one-stop shop for items design each folder as per company needs and budget. The importance of promotional folders really works at the time of seminars; it should carry the effective message to the targeted dealers.

When these items are distributed during corporate events or in seminars and conferences, a strong relation is created between the firm and the treasured customer or prospective client. These products are the most useful item for the person who attends conferences very often. These promotional gifts help to take your business to a new height and strengthen your relations with the prospective customers or valued business partners. Conference folders have many pockets to hold important papers, business card, CDs for presentation, and other stationary items like pen and pads.

Promotional conference folders [out] while distributed in corporate events, with company name and logo, they solve the purpose of advertisement and subsequently, company name stays in the mind of the event attendees. Promotional gifts [out] should be such that they fulfill all the maximum requirements of the customers. Online stores serve the whole range of such printed conference folders. If your business has small budget, then you can have plastic folders. If you have higher budget then you can take leather folders with booklet and other stationary items. For more information about folders and other products, just get online.

Planning an Important Event

Whether your event is a conference, wedding, party or celebration of some sort, there are some serious considerations to make and aspects to plan. More than likely with a wedding you will need a year or so just for planning the event alone. For most events the considerations are fairly open standard i.e. most events will require a venue, catering, entertainment and some sort of general organisation for the big day itself. In this sense there is an industry that is growing quite largely in the UK and it is the event management industry. Hiring an event manager can be the difference between a successful event and a non successful event.

Let's face it event managers are in this profession for a reason and have a vast amount of experience with small to super large occasions that they should be able to cater for all your needs without any problems. An event management company will essentially be able to take care of every aspect of your event from catering to security guards if the need arises. Just imagine trying to organise your wedding over a year's time and the considerations you have to make like:

• Photographers
• Invites
• Numbers
• Seating plans
• Flowers
• Music
• Food
• Clothing

Realistically there is only so much one person can do and depending on how busy you actually are on a daily basis you may not have the time for all these shenanigans. Hiring a company to take care of all this responsibility and headache for you may be the best decision you ever make, because in addition to the actual organising you will have the added benefit of utilising the many contacts an events firm will have. Again remember they do this all the time so if you want an ice sculpture to make a red carpet entrance on your event then they could more than likely make it happen.

You may also require staff for on the day, as for example who are you planning on getting to serve your guests the food and drinks you are supplying whether it's a wedding or conference. Do you want your own guests to fend for themselves? Highly unlikely as this will get out of control by the minute. Take your time considering an events company, it is not a decision to be made lightly and you should consider all options.

3 Top Unique Places to Host a Conference

Organizing a conference is not a cake walk. It requires a lot of proper planning and strategic thinking on the part of the organizers. The most challenging task however remains in venue selection. Choosing a suitable venue is important as it not only reflects your organization's professionalism but also helps you to make the right impression. You must keep few things in mind while selecting a venue for your conference. The first and foremost thing that you need to keep in mind is your venue location. Choosing a prime location ensures easy commutation. Besides, your selected venue must be able to easily accommodate all.

You can however think a bit differently by choosing unique venues options that will help you to make an ever lasting impression. Instead of choosing the conventional venue spots why don't you try something innovative by organizing your conference in an historic building, art gallery or museums? Let me now give you quick look at some of these venues:

Buildings with a History

To give a competitive edge you can think of such kinds of buildings as a venue for your conference. Nowadays, most of these buildings have opened their doors to organizers for hosting events. Since the buildings have a historical look and feel so it also makes the conference experience memorable among the employees. If you are unable to find it then you can seek the help of a venue finder agency.

Museums or Art Galleries

Another great venue option can be museums or art galleries. There are many museums as well as art galleries that allow you to organize events. You just need to consult the venue finder agency to locate an ideal one to make that suits your needs. Some of them also provide special dining facilities. With museums or art galleries as your venue options your conference can be an instant hit and thereby help you in earning good reviews.

Farm Houses

Though choosing farm houses as conference venue will require you arrange for transportation as most farm houses are located in the outskirts of the city. But the efforts are worth the price. There are many farm houses that are especially designed for conducting conferences. Some of the farm houses have exquisite location that can instantly impress your delegates. If you however cannot get hold of one, you can any time look forward to the venue finder agencies for help.

Choosing the venue is as important as organizing a conference. The right choice of venue not only leads to maximum attendee turnouts but also leads to your events success.

Team Building Events Build Leadership and Responsibility

Leadership and responsibility are two very important aspects of a team within the workplace. Employees tend to respond to the work situation better when they are given specific responsibilities rather than wonder what they are going to do next or if they are going to constantly be under the thumb of someone else.

Another thing that is important to an employee is leadership. When given some sort of leadership responsibility, they feel more like an important part of the company rather than one amongst many just doing a job.

One way to really instill leadership and responsibility into employees is through team building events that can be arranged by other companies. These corporate events use certain activities to make your employees feel more like a family. Thus they are able to improve their communication skills, the way they see each other, and how they trust one another.

A team building event has the following attributes:

Set team standards
Make a plan for success
Increase overall productivity
Improve judgment
The ability to respond effectively and efficiently to change

When the entire team is able to acquire these attributes together, they become a force to be reckoned with. And with responsibility and leadership, the employees are given some sort of ownership within the business. When they feel like they have ownership, they are more likely to care about what they are doing. Their job becomes more than just a way to acquire a paycheck.

Basically, team members are better able to work together when they have certain standards to go by and when they feel like co-owners in what it is they are working to achieve. They are more likely to help one another. For instance, when a team member sees that another team member is having a problem, they are more likely to offer help. The competition within a team is non-existent, which is something else that can be achieved through team building events. A completely different mindset is achieved.

As for how these company events are effective, they use effective activities and techniques to teach employees the best ways to work together. For instance, you can arrange for your employees to have a day out together. You can do fun outdoor activities while also learning about teamwork, instilling motivation, and learning about how to motivate. The employees learn a lot about each other through these activities. They are able to be themselves, which is something that is important when working in a team. Many individuals will hold back because they have a certain work persona, but they could actually let loose and be more imaginative if they were just themselves.

So team building events are very important, especially in these tough economic times, in helping your employees feel secure about their job and feel needed within the company. With some responsibility and some leadership placed on each team member, production will increase dramatically, as will their enthusiasm to do the job and do it well. A team working on a project is much more effective than an individual doing it alone.

ROI on Events - The Crucial Planning and Execution Phases Required to Maximize ROI on Events

If business is unable to demonstrate ROI on events, the question begs to be asked, "Why would they be held in the first place?" We know that well planned and well executed events add tremendous value and by removing them we would be perpetuating the very result we are trying to avoid, loss of market share and loss of revenue. Cutting out events is not the answer. Changing the way they are planned and executed is! In this article we consider the crucial planning and execution phases required to ensure ROI on events.

In support of the argument for well planned meetings and events, the survey results below outline the value derived from personal engagement with key stakeholders:

1. A survey of 401 executives at companies with more than $50 million in annual sales was commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association and conducted by APCO Insight in February 2009.

Some of the results were as follows:

• 81% believe that more client contact is necessary in a slow economy


• A strong majority (59%) strongly agree that in-person contact grows their business

"It's a classic trade off between short term cost-reductions and long term value," said Kellogg Business School Professor Daniel Diermeier. "During times like these, many companies will go too far, and actually cut back on the activities that would best position them to compete in the future."

2. The results of EventView 2009 North America, shows that event marketing accelerates and deepens relationships and is the marketing discipline that provides the greatest ROI.

The call for an athletic approach to the planning and execution of meetings and events

It is now common knowledge that top athletes depend more and more on mental agility to achieve record breaking results under current, unprecedented competitive conditions. By the same token, business leaders across all industries are being called upon to sharpen the saw, innovate, think differently and be totally focused on their goals. As a result, meeting and event planners need to be vigilant about ensuring a measurable ROI on events for their clients. The bar has been raised and the ability of an event planner to generate economic value through meetings and events has become an entry level requirement to succeed in the industry.

How do we maximize ROI on events?

Through a strategic but engaging process that incorporates the following planning and execution phases:

1.Trimming and Streamlining
Engaging with business heads to identify and plan only those business events that will contribute to the overall business strategy.

2. Strategic Focus

• Identification of the business objectives of each meeting or event


• Defining the business value or outcome that is required


• Setting measures that will determine whether the desired outcomes were achieved

3. Personal Engagement and Customisation
Personal and meaningful engagement with all participants before and during the event will ensure guests do not just feel like a number. Aspects of an event that allow for customisation to particular guest preferences will go a long way in making guests feel special.

4. Strategic and Creative Design Process
The design process comprises two elements:

• A strategic focus to ensure all the meeting or event objectives are met


• A creative process that ensures all the sensory aspects of the event meets and even exceeds guest expectations (i.e. innovative decor and entertainment, unusual setting or venue, exceptional cuisine, surprise elements etc.). Rather than bored meetings, a bit of creativity can inject inspired energy into the meeting process.

5. World Class Execution
World class delivery is so much more than ensuring logistics run smoothly. It means unprecedented service levels and the highest quality on all event elements. Over and above this, it means that great care has been taken to ensure the needs of the guests are met. This personal touch is often the differentiator from a guest's perspective and always leaves a lasting impression.

6. Delivering Results through Continuous Improvement
After the event, a thorough assessment must be conducted to gauge whether the objectives were met. This is a crucial aspect of the process as it enables reflection which leads to learning and continuous improvement. A well presented document that details your assessment of ROI and ROO will be well received and completes the event cycle.

The business landscape is changing and so are the rules of engagement. Meeting and Event Planners that respond appropriately and effectively will set the industry standards and ultimately capture market share.

Wedding Planning Certification - Things To Include In Your Checklist

Wedding is the most important event in a couple's life; everyone would want to celebrate this event in a perfect way. So when you plan a wedding event you should start working on it a year and a half before that. You can prove your hidden skills through wedding planning certification; you might have arranged many home events but to get recognition in the professional world, you can opt for wedding planning certification. Whether you have done any course in event planning or not, you must be aware of check list to make, before setting any event; this helps you to make an event go smoothly.

There are certain things you should consult with your client before working on the event; it is better to book the event a year and a half before the wedding. Do not for get to include these things in your check list. When you go for wedding planner certification, you might be asked to make a perfect checklist for wedding in a specific time frame.

Date; if you know the exact date you can proceed to your work accordingly; ask about the date from you client; you can suggest a date that suits you.

Guest list; ask your client to create a guest list; it is important for you to know how many people are coming; you are going to arrange seats, food and printing invitation cards. Collect their postal addresses and confirm their phone numbers.

Budget; budget is one of the most important issues for arranging any kind of event. You can plan further by having a certain budget in mind.

Venue; confirm the venue for the ceremony and the reception to think about the decor; you can estimate the time and distance of the venue from church and plan accordingly.

Theme; plan a theme to make the wedding more memorable; it would help you to decide the decor, food and music.

Print Invitation cards; make sure you get the invitation cards timely; send them on time as well.

Book the florist, band and photographer; arrange meeting with them and discuss the event; ask them to coordinate with each other to make the wedding ceremony go smooth.

Caterers; book the caterers at least 8 months before the event.

Wedding dress; select a perfect wedding dress and place order for that.

Wedding cake, wedding favors, and flowers should be considered on time.

These things should be included in your checklist when you plan a wedding; you can become a good wedding planner by keeping these things in mind and managing them properly. Before going for wedding planning certification, you must note down these points to get certified.

Wedding Planning Certification Becoming the Industry Standard

The world of wedding planning has changed drastically in recent years. Movies and TV shows have raised awareness about the importance of having a Certified Wedding Planner to help with the thousands of details involved in planning for the big day. It is important to note that what you see on film is a Hollywood version of the business and barely scratches the surface of the real life challenges that go into being a successful wedding planner. It is one thing to plan a wedding for a friend. It is a completely different thing when you start to charge for your services and take on real clients.

Countless new wedding planners have entered this exciting field only to be out of business within months because they lacked the training and experience necessary to survive in this very competitive and challenging industry. This turns out to be a negative experience not only for them but also for the unfortunate bride who chose to hire someone who wasn't fully prepared for the task. This scenario also tends to cast wedding planners in a negative light with fellow vendors who often find it more challenging to work with an inexperienced wedding planner than if there were no planner at all. For this reason an increasing number of brides are making the decision to seek out a Certified Wedding Planner. There are a number of options available for those who are seeking certification.

Many local colleges and universities offer event planning classes. These courses may touch on weddings as part of the curriculum but in many cases the class will be focused more on corporate events. If you plan to enter the job market at a hotel, resort, cruise ship or other venue then this type of course would serve you well. Keep in mind that you will still require more focused training on weddings before you will have the skills necessary to take on wedding clients. Having an independent Wedding Planning Certification will enhance your resume.

When doing an internet search you will find several organizations who offer "Online" wedding planning certification. This type of course can take between nine to eighteen weeks to complete. The student is given course material either by mail or online and progresses through the training at their own pace. The cost of most of these programs will start at a thousand dollars and additional fees could be added depending on the package you choose. While online classes may be more convenient you will want to consider that this type of course will not offer the personal interaction with an instructor that only a classroom setting can provide.

There are many independent organizations that offer certification. Most of these programs will take about a week to complete although there are some that offer weekend courses. Programs like this are offered in select cities nationwide so you will want to find one in a city near you to avoid any additional travel expenses. You can expect to pay about a thousand dollars for the initial course although some are available at a more reasonable rate. Avoid organizations that require you to pay ongoing membership dues for your certification to remain valid. That would cost you thousands of dollars over the span of your career. Also beware of any organization that claims to be "The only way" to achieve your certification. There are several valid ways to become a Certified Wedding Planner. Every organization that offers certification does so based on its own criteria and most certificates are recognized nationally.

There are some organizations like The Bridal Society that offer special discounts to students at select colleges. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to find a course in your local area for as little as four hundred dollars. This organization offers Wedding Planning Certification but does not require that you pay ongoing dues for your certification to remain valid.

It is important to choose a certification program that best fits your schedule and budget. No matter which program you choose it is well worth the money to gain the expertise and training that will set you apart in the highly competitive world of wedding planning. If you plan to be in business for the long haul then you owe it to yourself and your clients to become a Certified Wedding Planner.

Planning a Company Picnic - A Comprehensive Guide

Are you planning a company picnic? Would you like an easy to follow guide that will make your planning a little easier? I have helped plan company picnics for the past 10+ years, and I've begun to get a sense of the most important objectives to meet when planning a company picnic.

Follow this guide when planning your event and you'll be on your pathway to a successful company picnic!

Know your Budget

First, get to know your budget. Your budget is your parameter in which you can operate for your company picnic. It lets you know how much you can spend on entertainment, food, and park or area rental (we'll get to that).

Decide on Date of Company Picnic

Begin to get a general sense for the date of your company picnic. Choose a date where most people will likely be around and not away on vacation.

Find space to hold party

This goes hand-in-hand with deciding on entertainment. You will need plenty of space for all your employees and their families, as well as any activities, games, or entertainment options you decide upon. You can usually find great spaces at local parks.

Decide on Entertainment/Activities/Games

What will you and your employees do? What will be fun and exciting for them and their families? You need things for them that will be compelling enough for them to come and have a good time. In my experience, carnival rides, inflatables rentals and other high-tech games have proved to be a guaranteed success.

Will you be serving Food/Beverages?

Besides fun activities, having a meal option is a great option for employees and their families and it's something that will keep them sticking around. It is a picnic after-all!

You don't have to pull out a full-course steak dinner, but you do want to give them something good. Popular options are pizza, hot dogs, burgers and barbeque sandwiches. You can serve lemonade, soda, juice and water for beverages.

Reserve Space on Chosen Date

Lock-in your date at the place you'll be holding your company picnic. Do this sooner rather than later to guarantee your spot for that date.

Book entertainment

Book your entertainment for your company picnic sooner rather than later. As with reserving your space, if you wait too long, someone else might swoop in and get their business before you do.

Get the word out about your event

Spread out the word and utilize any channels of communication you have available to let your employees know when, where and why they should come to this year's company picnic.

Have a back-up plan for rain (if it's outside)

If you're holding your picnic outside, it's a good idea to have a back-up plan in case the day of your event is overtaken by poor weather like rain.

There you have a smart guide to planning a company picnic. Follow these main pillars and you'll be on your pathway to an outstanding event!

Political Event Planning: Do Convention Host Cities Benefit?

In case you haven't noticed, we are in full campaign season as we approach the presidential elections in November. And, as part of that process, the event planners are busy organizing each party's respective convention. The conventions are a great vehicle and opportunity to showcase the party's platform and, of course, the star performer - the candidate. While many of us are probably very well aware of who those candidates are, they are officially unveiled at their conventions. The Republicans will be first up with their convention taking place in Tampa week of August 27th. Next up will be the Democrats with their convention in Charlotte the week of September 3rd.

Political Event Planning Has a Very Strong Focus on Security
With political parties, in addition to the program itself, the event planning is heavily focused on security. After all, for presidential elections, one of the candidate is the current sitting president. No doubt there will be protesters at both the Democrat and the Republican conventions. That's just something that goes with the territory. However, with protesting, there is always a security concern. A lot of the money that is allocated by the federal government and the local municipalities has to be spent towards ensuring that all of the delegates, and especially both of the candidates, are well protected.

The Pros and Cons of Hosting a Political Convention
Obviously each of the cities that bid to host these political conventions think that the benefits far outweigh the hassles. After all, we are still stuck in the middle of one of the worst economic downturns in our lifetime. But, there are definitely some issues that need to be addressed in the planning stages.

Political Event Planning-the Cons
Security. Not only from a cost perspective but from a coordination aspect as well. After all, because of the delegates involved, there needs to be coordination at the municipal, state and federal levels as well as with the Secret Service. And just trying to determine the hierarchy (save for the Secret Service) can be a logistical nightmare. And with both Florida and North Carolina having concealed weapons laws (which allow their citizens to carry concealed weapons with the permits) this presents a security nightmare, to say the least.

The City's Image. With protesters often comes damage and destruction. Tourism officials are always concerned when images are published in the press that show their respective cities in a negative light. Not that anyone will be blaming the municipalities themselves for any demonstrations that occurred during the conventions. But we are humans after all and when we go to book our vacations those images may pop into our minds and have an effect on whether or not we decide to visit those cities.

Political Event Planning-the Pros
Infrastructure. As cities prepare to host the conventions they all want to make sure that everything is spruced up and looking great for everyone arriving. And their cities are also on the national stage from the media's perspective as well. So the cities are currently receiving a lot of attention to their infrastructures. Pretty safe to say that a lot of this work would not be completed by these municipalities except for the fact that they are hosting these conventions.

Revenues. Congress allocates $50 million to each host city to help them prepare for the big events. Now, admittedly, most of that will go toward security for the conventions. But, if history is any indication, Tampa and Charlotte both stand to see between $150 to $170 million pumped into the local economies. Certainly nothing to sneeze at given the current economy.

Tourism. According to Hotel News Now, current hotel occupancy rates in Tampa are 69.5% and 63.1% in Charlotte. Confirmed bookings indicate that during the convention Tampa is expected to have a hotel occupancy rate of 82.7% and Charlotte is expected to see an occupancy of 88.4%.

From all indications, there will be some PR issues that Tampa and Charlotte will be dealing with. City officials recognize that there will be logistical issues that need to be dealt with, namely transportation and security. But, factoring both the pros and the cons, CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau ) officials in both cities are considering the conventions to be a win-win for the local economy.

How to Throw a Terrible Party! - The 5 Most Common Mistakes That Party Planners Make

Don't ruin your party with a mistake that could so easily have been avoided! Read on to find out the 5 most common mistakes party planners regularly make and how to avoid them!

1. Unremarkable entertainment
The last thing you want at your party is a dull atmosphere where guests are bored! This can easily happen if you choose the wrong type of entertainment for your party. By choosing something a little different to the norm you can keep your guests amused and having fun, regardless of their age! If budget is a concern, simple suggestions such as a DJ and background music from an Ipod can work perfectly as long as they are tunes that will get everyone up dancing and not Dad's soft rock favourites! Alternatively, a giant Jenga will ensure fun for all ages. If your budget can extend further, consider going all out with human canapé tables, a carousel, living statues, ice sculptures, a contortionist, a comedian, ice cream van/bike, firework show, stilt walkers, a baroque orchestra, or even circus performers...to name but a few!

2. Is there any more champagne?
It's crucial that you have enough food and beverages to satisfy your guests. The last thing you want is to run out of booze or nibbles half way through the night! If you are using a caterer or a party planner, they should be able to advise you on how much you will need, based on the number of guests you are expecting. If you're planning this event yourself, remember it's always best to over estimate rather than get caught out on the night, even if it means leftover party food for lunch and dinner the next day! And make sure you buy sale or return booze to ensure the drinks keep flowing!

3. Where are we?
Choosing a venue for your party will usually be hugely dependent on one thing, budget. But this doesn't mean you have to settle for something that is not right for your party! Consider the number of guests you are inviting, and the type of party you are throwing...can you host it in your home by re-arranging some of your furniture? If your home is not big enough - or you can't cope with the mess - think about venues in your local area. Perhaps there is a local art gallery, or unusual location that could add a bit of excitement to your party? Think out of the box for this one!

4. Cringe-worthy decor
Decorating your venue is usually something that is considered less important than the other factors e.g. catering, venue, entertainment (unless you are throwing a themed party, in which case decor should be at the forefront of your party plans!). However it is one of these elements that can really add to the atmosphere of your party, and a small budget doesn't have to equal tacky decorations! Be clever with your budget and use it for elements that will have the most impact on your guests, for example, maybe all you need is some creative lighting to enhance the venue. Or if you are having dinner, consider some coloured table linen and candlelight table centres that will transform your guests' dining experience!

5. Fantastic night, but where are the memories?
People are often so busy planning the party that they forget about how to capture the essence of the night for long-lasting memories. Hire a good photographer and/or videographer, or appoint a friend as the dedicated 'snapper' of the night. When it's all over you'll want to remember the fun of the night and there's no better way of doing this than through photos and videos!

9 Benefits To Outsourcing Your Small Business

Have you ever asked yourself "If I could start over again, I would... ?" It's like the saying "If I knew then what I know now" kind of thinking.

I can tell you, through my own experience, If I could start over again, I would outsource, plain and simple. It was not fun doing it alone and it certainly took up a lot of my time. While I did learn a lot and can use my new skills to help others, I realized you can't be an expert at everything. That's when I realized the need for outsourcing.

When I first got started, I spent the first year learning everything and spending hours upon hours learning how to do all the techy stuff like, how to set up my blog, my Facebook, my Twitter, email marketing, and everything else that goes with setting the foundation for your solo biz. I spent so much time on the technical aspects of the business that the overwhelm took over and the confidence and enthusiasm started to fade.

Lesson learned.. I don't have to do it alone, I can get help through outsourcing.

I started to realize there are so many benefits to outsourcing so I put together these 9 Benefits to outsourcing for the solopreneur and small biz owners. Many newbies or established business owners don't recognize these benefits can really help them move forward in their businesses.

9 Benefits to Outsourcing Your Small Business

O = Opportunity to collaborate. This is where you can find experts for the techy part of your business that you don't have time to learn or you don't have time to do it.

U = Understanding You Can't Do It All. Solopreneurs can't do it all so outsourcing helps you find the experts so you can concentrate on doing what you love to do.

T = Team - Yes, now you can work as a team. Just like working any job, there are always people who concentrate on what they do best while others do what they do best.

S = Solutions - This is a perfect opportunity to find solutions. We all want to find solutions to our daily struggles.

O = Opportunity to Organize your thoughts and your biz plan. When you hire someone to help you, the two of you can brainstorm to move you forward.

U = Unload some of the busy work to an expert. It takes so much time to do it all. Let others help you.

R = Release the stress of doing it all by hiring a virtual assistant.

C = Concentrate on other areas of your business while your assistant is doing the things you don't have time to do.

E = Event Planning and Speaking arrangements can build your biz and hiring an event planner can help you find locations, fees and get you the information you need for your event.

Even though you are a solopreneur, you don't have to do it alone. Why not hire the experts to help you get more time, more clients and more money in your pocket while outsourcing those tasks that take up to much of your time?

The Steps to Organizing an Event

The best events are those that are planned. Regardless of the size or budget, if you are prepared you can take the stress out of event planning.

So what do you need to consider when planning an event?

The first thing to do is to find out is what the event is for. The purpose of the event effects the other steps. Is this a wedding reception? A business meeting? Graduation? Or Festival.

Once you have an idea what the event is you can go on to choose the venue. Here the possibilities are endless. Most states have event centers set up for various kinds of events, but you could also consider hotels, parks, reception halls or convention centers.

A factor in deciding where to hold the event is the budget. Reception halls, and Event Centers, will have sliding scale prices to suit your budget. Parks are great for birthday parties and even wedding receptions and for those on smaller budgets.

The time of the event is also crucial to effective planning. For example if your planning a Christmas party, parks or outdoor areas might be out of the question. Another consideration for the date of the event, is the locations availability. Make sure the location is called in plenty of time.

Delegation - When you organize an event it can be surprising just how much work there is to be done. Make sure you have plenty of people to help out. Booking dates, ordering cakes and catering, arranging invitations, this can easily drain upon one persons resources.

Decorations - One part of event planning is a theme. Whether this planning for a wedding or a festival a common theme will be relevant. Choosing appropriate decorations (balloons, signs, napkins, plates and cups) can help the event look professional.

Accommodation - If this is birthday party for a few friends in your local park, then this isn't going to be a problem, if you arranging a festival, a conference or a wedding, making sure that accommodation is available could be vital for guests and speakers. Taking time to properly research your guests needs will help take all the stress out of the day of the event.

There are also other factors that need to be co-ordinated. For example Transportation. Booking Taxi's, coach's, limos or hummers also needs to be arranged. If your event is at one place but the accommodation is ten miles away, then you will have to make travel arrangements. Health and Safety. If you are planning an outdoor event, will you need event security, first aid staff or friendly helpers to advise guests. Some events may also require permits.

Alternatively you could hire a party planner to take care of this for you. These are people paid to take the hassle of an organizing an event out of your hands. They will arrange every aspect of your event from location to catering. Like any business there are good and bad event planners, so make sure you ask for there credentials and maybe contact some of there old clients to make sure they were happy with the service they received.

Set the Stage With Exciting Corporate Entertainment

Getting some entertainment in life is really important from time to time as there are going to be many moments when you will get exhausted with the daily routine of life. Additionally, you will be required to arrange some really great entertainment options for various work related events too. There are a wide variety of options that you will be able to consider for your events but getting some really good entertainment will be an easy task once you get some comedy entertainment options for your corporate events.

Your work related events don't have to be boring and this is exactly what you will be able to prove once you get some interesting corporate entertainment for an upcoming function. There will be many advantages that you will be able to experience once you decide to spruce up your corporate events with some fascinating entertainment options. Without a doubt, you will be able to lay out a fantastic event if you get one of the many entertainment options that will keep your guests entertained at all times.

One of the most entertaining options that you will be able to choose for your corporate events are comedy shows that will be able to ensue a laugh riot which will have your guests entertained at all times. There are a wide variety of comic acts that many professionals offer and you will be able to choose their acts in order to ensure that you have some interesting corporate entertainment lined up for the evening. The comic actors will be able to offer something new for your events with a wide variety of comic themes that won't be monotonous and will offer something new every time.

It is not just the events related to corporate affairs that need such kind of entertainment options and you will be able to use these hilarious services for wedding entertainment options too. You will have a lot of fun planning and executing these wedding entertainment options too for your loved ones by offering them something great on their special day. These entertainment options can be used for various events like corporate affairs, weddings, birthdays, parties and more. You will be able to use them for a wide variety of events in order to make the evening spectacular.

Events will keep on coming in your life and in order to create an event that people will remember you will need to take some efforts to make it special. A wide variety of options are now available at your disposal and you will be able to plan exactly the kind of event you want with these fascinating options at hand. With the kind of options that you will have with corporate entertainment options, there is no doubt that you will be able to create an event that all will remember with a big smile on their faces for a long time ahead.

An Award Winning Location For Your Next Corporate Retreat

Whenever you receive an invitation for an event, one of the first things that comes to mind is location. While you need to know where you are going, your expectations for the event are immediately altered by the knowledge of the destination of said event. This is especially true for retreats that are lasting more than a couple days. You want your guests to be excited by the location and excited to be apart of a wonderful and unique experience.

One sure fire way to ensure that all guests have a great time is by holding the event in a location where they'll be mesmerized by the environment and services. Few places on Earth are as beautiful as the Bella Coola Valley in British Columbia, as this area in the Central Coast is a section of the planet that has not been altered by human evolution. This means that nature flourishes undisturbed all around you in the majestic Rocky Mountains, a place where the air is mountain fresh and Grizzlies still pick off salmon during the annual run. A place where you can enjoy the finer things in life.

When you combine an environment like this with warm, friendly hospitality and gourmet home cooked meals, you are offering a good location for any kind of event. When all of this is combined with a number of daily activities and the means of comfortably housing a large group of people, you have an excellent location for a group or corporate event, and Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is a prime example. In the heart of the Bella Coola Valley, Tweedsmuir can make planning your next corporate event as easy as a mountain breeze.

Simply put, Tweedsmuir offers everything that you would need for a corporate getaway including team building excursions and activities in the majestic Rocky Mountains. The common activity area and dining hall ensure that the group will spend ample time together, while lodges are private enough to provide an intimate log cabin setting for the evenings. This stunning lodge can accommodate a broad and diverse range of groups, teams, and organizations, meeting the needs of businesses large and small, not-for-profits, boards of directors and government bodies alike.

Critics and past guests seem to agree. Tweedsmuir recently has been included in the very prestigious 'Signature Experiences Collection' by the Canadian Tourism Commission. The Canadian Tourism Commission described Signature Experiences Collection members as "the best attractions that Canada has to offer and help show the world why our country is such an authentic and engaging place to visit". Making this list is a distinguished honour in the tourism industry and demonstrates Tweedsmuir's dedication to hospitality and nature conservation.

While praise from critics is always welcomed, knowing that past guests have enjoyed their experience is arguably just as important when researching locations for group gatherings.

Trip Advisor offers the "Certificate of Excellence" award to resorts that consistently receive 5 out of 5 ratings, and this award was also recently bestowed upon the lodge. When hospitality and picturesque settings are combined, the result can be extremely memorable for guests of any type of getaway, especially corporate and team building retreats. Tweedsmuir can make planning your next retreat a breeze while offering guests the experience of a lifetime.

Lovely Ideas For A Vintage Wedding Event

For couples who love poking around antique malls and paging through old sepia photographs, a vintage style wedding is a perfect fit. Tea-dyed table linens, delicate hand-tatted lace, and dropped-waist dresses are just some of the lovely retro touches that infuse a modern marriage ceremony with old fashioned panache. Contemporary couples planning such an event should consider these lovely but simple ideas for a vintage wedding.

Bridal Attire

Before selecting accoutrements for the bride, groom and wedding party, the couple should decide on a specific era that will integrate their choices into a single theme. Victorian, Turn of the Century, Roaring 20s, and Fab Fifties are some examples. By researching their era of choice, the bride and groom can get a clear vision of the fashions and feel of the time period.

Vintage style wedding clothes set the tone for the ceremony. Many upscale vintage clothing stores stock a selection of lightly used retro wedding gowns and men's dress suits. Several online shops showcase one-of-a-kind vintage wedding attire for sale too. Happily for the bride who prefers something new, contemporary retro designers offer a variety of vintage inspired styles from different eras.

Accessorizing clothing with vintage type touches further reflects the retro wedding theme. For example, for a Roaring 20s affair, the bridesmaids could wear long, knotted strings of pearls and feather hair adornments to accessorize their flapper style dresses.

Invitations

In many cases, the wedding invitation is the first encounter guests will have with the big event. Therefore, the invitation should reflect the ceremony's retro flavor. Ideas for a vintage wedding can be easily translated to stationery. If the event is Victorian, for instance, the invitations could employ elaborate script for the lettering. Scroll work borders adorned with little cupids could provide period flair. Adopting the phrasing from an authentic invitation from the Victorian era would make a lovely introduction to the themed event.

Photographs

Photos can take center stage in a vintage wedding. Using vintage photographs to decorate at the reception recreates an atmosphere of bygone days. If the theme is Turn of the Century, each reception table might have a centerpiece that features a sepia-toned photograph of a different period scene, such as a cyclist on a tall velocipede or couples strolling in their period costumes.

Creative photographers can capture the essence of an era-themed wedding through their use of poses and props. If the retro theme is the 40s Big Band Era, the photographers could use a music stand with a clarinet or trombone as a backdrop. The way the bride and groom interact in their wedding photos could reflect the theme era too. For a Fab Fifties themed photo, for example, they might strike a jitterbug pose.

Music

Selecting appropriate music for the event is not as difficult as other choices, given that each era has its own distinctive musical style. For a Jazz Era wedding, a jazzy version of the wedding march incorporates the theme in a witty and sophisticated way. Of course, the couple's favorite jazz tunes would reign supreme on the dance floor at the reception.

A vintage wedding is a fun project that instills the intrinsic beauty of the ceremony with a personal glow. From designing the invitations to choosing the music, a vintage event conjures the magic of bygone eras.