Unique Corporate Events - A Day of Racing Fun For Everyone!

Do you want a corporate event that relieves stress and builds healthy competitiveness within your company? It is proven that successful teams are made up of happy employees and happy employees are far more productive. Why not increase energy in the office by holding a corporate go kart racing event?

There are a surprising amount of go karting venues to choose from in most large cities but not all are appropriate for larger corporate events and team building exercises. You need to be looking for various attributes to make sure your unique event will be a success.

You need the perfect place to hold company picnics during the day or corporate events at night and client parties year round no matter what the weather conditions are. You need a central location so that employees don't have too far to go from wither home or work and the right ingredients for a fun atmosphere that will work for your company.

Think about the facilities that are needed, not just the track. You want private rooms and meeting rooms that are primed and ready for an event that will impress clients, reinvigorate employees, and create an exciting day for all. Toilets should be well maintained and there should be ample room for the number of people who will be attending.

For more casual daytime corporate events, look for facilities that will allow you to enjoy a sunny day outside such as a big barbeque and benches, a good place to watch the go kart racing from and outdoor toilets. You may also need a small private room to conduct meetings or team building exercises in between the racing fun.

If you are planning a more formal event, you must look to the venue operators and what they are capable of. Are they able to provide staff to serve food and drinks? Can you have a sit down event with equipment provided by the venue? Are they actually able to cater the whole event for you so you can focus on your guests' needs and the fun of the night?

It is always best to opt for a venue that is owned and operated by the one company or owner. Sometimes you can have the track owned by one body and the cafe/restaurant owned by another. This can lead to difficulties in the smooth running of your event and will often end up being more expensive and time consuming as you are dealing with two different entities.

Now let us not forget the most important element; the go karting! Unique activities such as this can really make the difference, your employees will be excited about the fun and it is a different way to encourage bonding, celebration and team building in your company.

When looking for the most appropriate tracks there are a few things to consider. Remember that you are organising an event for adults, go karting can be fun for young and old but make sure the track is well maintained and will accommodate fast racing and a bit of difficulty so employees don't get too bored with it. The track should be wide to accommodate overtaking and side-by-side racing, there should be sharp corners, S curves and long straights so that racers are challenged but can also go fast.

Make sure the go karts provided are well made and completely safe. One thing to check is that they can fast; employees will quickly lose interest putting along at 40-50 km/hour. Tyr and find a track that has go karts that will reach speeds of up to 75km/hour. The venue should also provide all necessary safety gear and equipment such as jumpsuit and helmut, without the correct safety measures in place, you should not even consider the venue.

Now what would a corporate event be without some drinks? Just like out on the roads, your go karting venue should enforce a strict no drinking then driving policy, it is dangerous, irresponsible and in fact, illegal to allow it. What is a real find in a go karting venue however is facilities and a license that allows you to enjoy some drinks after the racing part is over. It is a perfect way to unwind after the race and a great opportunity to have a casual chat and laugh with work colleagues. Many venues will not have a license for alcohol so do your research before you commit.

Races are usually short and quick increasing opportunities participation and to keep the interest high but longer events can be scheduled for the endurance minded company with knock out racing and team racing being popular ways to motivate your employees. Whatever style of corporate event you choose to go with, go karting is a great day/night of incredible racing, fun, good food and bonding. Choose something different this year that your employees will love and always remember fondly.

How Catering Works

Have you ever entered an event, such as an engagement party, an anniversary, or just a friend's Bar Mitzvah, where you noticed the food, table settings, and lighting were all really fancy? If so, you probably had a great catering service to thank. While catering is the concept of serving food, it actually consists of a lot more. Many caterers try to appeal to the five senses, but when feeding a party of 50 or 500, the main goal is to satisfy the customer.

The biggest failure a customer can make is to think only of the budget. While important, a strict budget doesn't mean you can't have the type of party you want. You may have to have a less-formal, casual party. If you have an experienced caterer that you are working with, they will know the types of questions in which to ask to find the type of party that will fit both your budget and the person whom you are throwing the party for.

Take, for example, a couple that was married last year and decided to have an engagement party, but had to pay for the entire occasion with their funds. They both worked but had limited funds to pay for an elaborate engagement party. Both has full-time jobs, although they weren't making over $60,000/yr when combined.

The couple enjoyed music and concerts, friends and family were most important in their lives. When arriving at the catering company they decided to use, they were concerned about their budget; fortunately, the company was well versed in what they did, recognizing that although the couple could only afford a simple engagement party, it would be an elegant affair.

The party resulted into everything the bride had ever imagined... simple elegance that was exactly what a catering company should do: ask a list of questions to figure out the situation, and then deliver an event that is exactly on budget, as well as exactly what the person what the person envisioned-creativity at its' finest.

The couple was happy (which is often a rarity in Special Events Catering), and it resulted in great feedback. The catering business received more business from friends and family that had attended the party, due to the exquisite and elaborate affair. Good business and great customer service always equals new customers from word-of-mouth recommendations.

So how does catering work? Identifying with the customer by asking questions to discover the clients' taste, then delivering with great customer service and creative, yet effective and memorable event planning. It's all about new ideas-each client is a new idea waiting to happen. As a caterer, you have to be the one to find out what that idea is.

Hiring A Function Catering Company For Any Occasion

Any special occasion usually calls for a gathering. And when there's a gathering, there's always food and drinks, and other fun activities with guests. The problem, sometimes, however, is finding the right caterer for the event. There used to be a time when specific occasions call for specific types of catering services. But nowadays, you can search for one that is quite versatile and knows the needs of various clients.

A function catering service is what's a versatile caterer is often referred to. This company has a manager and staff that handle all sorts of possible services within the context of catering and food service. The tie-ups with other companies such as equipment rentals, party suppliers, florists, and venues make it more beneficial for both caterers and clients. Of course, a busy client would love the idea of just contacting one person to accomplish all other aspects of the party being planned. As for the function catering manager, it is keeping a tight connection with the clients and the other companies that matter to his business.

For familial gatherings, such as weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays, there's no reason not to call for the services of a function catering company. Many professional caterers can handle almost any type of family gathering and event, no matter the headcount and demand. These folks know how to please their discriminating clientele, especially those who truly knows their food and drinks, and matching ambiance.

For corporate clients, function caterers are the best to contact for the food selections, drinks, and other needs for certain company events. The clientele is quite diverse and there's often a challenge that comes with catering one company after the other. There's always an element of surprise and challenge on the part of function caterers because it is difficult to predict what the client may like or dislike. But once there's a connection and both are satisfied, it is more likely to see loyalty coming out of the corporate client. The idea is to deliver something with a 'wow factor' to always inspire clients and staff alike.

Function catering services know their networks and point persons, of course. By handling business ethically and professionally, your clients will be more than willing to seek your services regularly. Same goes with your contacts, as they too can benefit from your business. On the part of clients, it is the consistency and quality of services and products that truly count, no matter how well-planned or out-of-the-whim the events are.

Catering - Myths That Should Be Dispelled

If you're planning an event where you need to provide food for your guests, hiring catering services can be one of the wisest decisions you ever make. Certainly, the job of providing dinner for more than a few people can be a job overwhelming for one person in the kitchen. To try is to make planning this event an affair you dread, rather than look forward to. Unfortunately, there are quite a few myths surrounding caterers and hiring them for an event of this nature. If you believe in these myths, they could prevent you from making the best decision. Here are some that should be dispelled.

Food makes up the overwhelming majority of the bill.
Don't forget that there are a lot of components that go into catering that have little to nothing to do with food. If you're looking at a small plate of food and wondering why the bill was so pricey, you're probably missing the point. Some companies will provide the customer with an itemized bill, but others will leave it to a guessing game. It isn't much of a mystery, though. Labor is going to be a large part of the bill; you have to pay quite a few people to prepare, transport, serve, and clean up. If the company is providing you with alcohol and bartending service, that's going to add quite a bit to the bill as well.

The chicken is to be avoided.
Perhaps because of some bad catering companies, people get the idea that you can't expect great chicken at an event that has been catered. This is far from the case; there are companies out there that have built their entire reputation based almost solely on the quality of their served chicken. Look for companies that take pride on preparing fresh ingredients and you won't run into this problem. Obviously, any company that is cooking from frozen is going to run the risk of serving rubbery chicken. Their other dishes may not be much better. But if you find a company that has a reputation for succulent food, there's little reason their chicken should be an exception.

Preparation should be finished within an hour.
It's only natural to get a little impatient when planning an event. You have everything ready to go, so why is the catering company taking so long to get things set up? Well, it takes time to prepare a hall for a lot of dinner guests. You need to exercise patience in this instance. If the venue hasn't been set up, it will fall on the company to make sure it gets done. There is also the matter of setting out plates and silverware. Look for a company that will do a thorough job, rather than one that promises fast food service.

Event Management Course - Learn the Art of Presentation

Delivering presentations to clients and the company board members is a challenge that many of us regularly face as a daily part of our job. Presentation skills are not just limited to typing up speeches on the Power point but also how you communicate your message across to your audience. When you have to manage an event professionally, you have to know how to host a live show or presentation. You have to know how to present the rooms or gardens where you are holding your event. These skills cannot be learnt out of the blue, the usual way to learn these either through the hard way, that is by learning through your mistakes, or the easier way would be to take an Event Management Course which won't take too much of your time and will benefit you for a life time.

Presentation skills are now considered the most important skills to be equipped with in the twenty-first century, be it a market campaign, a dinner party or just a social get-together; your social skills and your presentation skills matter everywhere. Especially when seeking out new employment, employers first judge the level of presentation skills the person has. These skills also add up as positive points in your personality as it also grooms a person. This helps you in displaying better communication skills, better personal presentation skills and also helps develop much better management skills.

The secret of success behind every presentation is to make sure that you get your point across in a well-defined manner and you make an impression on your targeted group of people.

Opting to go for an event management course you will learn the art of presentation in simple steps.

Keep it simple is the first key to a good presentation. If you are suppose giving a presentation to your boss, keep it to the point, technical vocabulary is important but then make sure that your audience is familiar with the words.

Create a professional image, practice what you have to say in case of a business presentation, and if it is an event presentation make sure that you organize the accessories beforehand, to make sure the entrance, the stage the lighting is perfect and would not need last minute urgent adjustments. Practice makes a man perfect. This is the key rule that is being followed here.

Stay on track. Focus on what you are required to do and fix everything accordingly to the event, for example a stage fit for a wedding will not be appropriate to introduce the Board of Directors at the General Shareholders meeting.

By taking a course in Event Management, you will gain more confidence in tackling situation and of course you will learn the art of presentations of all sorts.

Increase Attendance at Your Meetings and Seminars With Online Registration Software

Online registration software eliminates much of your administrative tasks by automating the entire process of creating and submitting registration forms, processing payments, and reporting. Let's discuss the ways of increasing attendance at your meetings and seminars with the help of this online registration software.

Create Registration Pages Online

Easily generate thousands of web-based registration pages or donation forms for your next fundraising campaign.

Customize the Forms

You can customize the registration forms to add your company logo and barcodes. Custom-made sign-up forms attract more people than the normal ones. It is because, unlike in paper forms, here you can win the attention of your target audience by matching the color and layout of your form with your own company portal.

Save Data Entry Time

If you want to reduce your data entry time, then you should start using this Cloud-based registration service. You can get all relevant data and accounting reports in your computer database automatically with the online service.

Secure Payment Methods

Majority of event planners find it hard to process registration fees or donations on time. To tackle this problem, the Cloud-based registration solution offers secure multiple payment methods. You can use any of these to allow the registrants send you money on time. Additionally, organizers can prevent financial frauds and modify their pricing systems with the help of an online payment service.

Increase Your Meeting or Seminar Attendance

Using this service allows you to offer group registration facility, whereby a person can complete signing up for several individuals. People can also register for multiple events simultaneously without taking the pain to visit any registration booth. Thus, the features provide a boost to your function attendance.

Automatic Confirmation Emails

You will automatically receive confirmation emails once individuals complete the sign-up process. Organizers will no longer have to worry about attending phone calls of customers concerned for not getting any registration confirmation.

Promote Your Meetings & Events

The online events and class management solutions come with an in-built marketing tool. You can use this tool to promote your functions and festivals on one or more social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus, to mention a few.

Flexible Ticket Pricing

You can take the help of an online ticketing portal to let probable attendees buy tickets after completing their registering process. Offer them flexible ticket rates with special discounts in terms of 'Early Bird' pricing. You can also provide gift cards before any function to enhance your sale.

Easy Making of Custom Reports

You can create one-click custom reports based on your ticket sales, event attendance, attendee participation history, and so on. You can easily organize each report to fit in your needs and then share it with your fellow employees or management. You can even store the reports automatically in a secure database and update it in real-time.

Corporate Entertainer - Motivate, Educate and Boost Your Employees

Corporate entertainment can play the role of uplifting the working atmosphere to enhance the performance of a company's bottom line to march towards greater success. A typical comedian gives the picture of the usual television performers who give humorous speeches. But corporate entertainers are more specialized compared to normal funny speakers. They offer the cleaner speeches yet at the same time they appear to be hilarious as well. In their talks they would include appropriate facts that blend into the corporate workplace. They usually go for training before becoming potential speakers to give the entertaining approach towards employees to help them in their working productivity.

Corporate entertainers perform in numerous events; conventions, seminars, interactive sessions or motivational talks. Some may organize their entertainment program in the form of a party. As they are specially tailored for corporate entertainment purposes, they should first understand the business world beforehand. Most talented comedians started giving corporate speeches as well. They provide witty and amusing jokes to entertain employees. A successful performer never fails to gain attention of the audiences.

Most of the entertainers will first have an in-depth understanding about your company before they draft out their speeches. This is to ensure they deliver the right goods in relevance to your company's business mission. Their talks are not only designed to entertain and create a stress-free environment for employees, they are meant to motivate as well. Your employees will have the chance to learn about the new strategies in sales or productivity besides being able to enjoy the humor.

Corporate entertainment is a great idea to enhance a company's business, especially during low economical times. This acts as a reminder that despite the hard moments and heavy workload, it is still alright to enjoy themselves. Perhaps with the implementation of such events, a company's business will improve. The act of a corporate organization to carry out these programs will make the employees be more committed into their jobs and feel being appreciated.

How To Choose A Corporate Event Company

Organising a corporate event involves a huge amount of planning and work. It is common practice to hire a corporate event company to handle the majority of the work for you.

When looking for a corporate event company it is important you decide on the type of event you want to host, the location of the event and how many people will likely attend. That will allow you to choose the right company with the right expertise.

Is your event:

• An exhibition


• A conference


• A seminar


• A party


• An awards dinner


• A product launch


• A charity fundraiser


• A press day


• A staff party

All of these and more can be handled by a good events company but some specialise in specific types of events.

Do you want to host the event:

• At your offices


• At a hotel


• In a bar


• Outdoors


• In a marquee


• At a specialist type of venue


• Abroad

Is your event for:

• Your staff


• Your customers and clients


• Prospective customers and clients


• The local community


• The press


• Any combination of the above!

You will also have to have a budget in mind. An events management company will be able to advise you on what you can and can't achieve with your budget and then you can adjust accordingly to ensure you organise the event properly.

Once you've made these decisions you can begin researching and contacting corporate event companies.

A Google search for "corporate event company" will give you a long list of potential companies. Take a look at their websites, see what they specialise in, read any testimonials they may have and make a list of the ones that you think will manage your event best.

Those companies should have experience in organising events of the type, location and size you have in mind. This is where testimonials will be especially useful. Successfully organised events on behalf of well-known, blue chip companies will give you the confidence that this event management company can do the same for you.

A corporate event company should be able to provide venue finding, catering, lighting, d矇cor, entertainment including band or disco and any other musical entertainment, audio/visual equipment, marquee hire, drinks and hire of bars, photography and video services, all necessary event staff and even florists, security, transport, valet parking, hotel reservations and invitations.

Once you have your list - three to five companies should be enough - contact each of the companies and invite them to discuss your requirements and provide a quote.

Meet them in person so you can judge how well you will work together in the planning of your event so that on the day you can concentrate on your guests and not worry about the event itself.

The corporate event company you eventually choose will require an upfront fee on booking confirmation (usually around 10% with further payments due as the event gets closer) as they will incur costs right from the start.

They will begin using suppliers who will require upfront payment themselves, so don't think this is unusual.

The chosen corporate events company will work within the budget you set anyway and ensure your event goes to plan so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the day.

Limousines For Corporate Events

If you are looking for transportation to impress your business guests in style, try the luxurious Denver airport limousines, in either of their colors black or white, with comfortable seating & inner space that helps your guests unwind from their flight to start getting ready for your meetings.

Denver airport limousines are affordable & the drivers are always on time, regardless where the pick up is; from major or private airports of Denver and Colorado. Inside the limousines there are excellent sound systems to play your guests' favorite relaxing music or news, depending on their interests.

DIA limousines insure the service that will please you and leave on your guests the professional impression you want to convey. It is a service that you surely can trust to use more than once, pleasant and priceless.

In addition, when transporting larger number of people as in corporate groups, here comes the Denver airport transportation with the best maintained buses or vans, which are air-conditioned and insure a lovely drive to any of your requested destinations within Denver & Colorado;

In a hurry when you cannot wait to go down the street and wave for a taxi to pick you from the airport to your destination, call a Limo Company ahead of time to get the best Denver airport taxi cabs, it will pick you up on time of arrival.

In the case you want to save your time picking your business partner from the airport, use our Denver airport taxi cabs; you will find them ready for your booking anytime day or night.

Whether you, your business partners or guests are new in town, not knowing your way around, the same Denver airport taxi cab can stay under your instruction or your guests' to go to any destination within the state.

DIA transportation, whether airport limousines, taxi cabs, cars, vans or buses, are always clean, affordable & ready to give you the most punctual, luxurious service you could find in Denver. With an easy access to us either by email, website or phone whichever works best from the phone you're using.

Try DIA transportation today, and all the other services are here to give you a safe, successful & comfortable experience worth remembering.

Choosing The Right Catering Company

When you need catering services, it is probably because you are hosting some kind of event. It could be a wedding reception, corporate dinner, luncheon event, birthday party, or anniversary party. Some celebrations are very large, and there might be hundreds of people invited. Other types of occasions are smaller. There might only be 15 to 20 people at a small event. In all of these cases, catering services are available.

One of the factors that people look for in a business like this is their reputation. This is a great way to judge a business. You can look at how long they have been operating and whether they appear professional when you talk to them. You can also think about any details you have heard about the company. If you have heard negative things, you might want to think about hiring a different company.

One thing that sets some companies apart from others is their view on the environment. Although this is not an important factor to everyone, it is extremely important to some people. There are now companies that offer environmentally friendly services. This can mean many different things, but here are a few. A company that is environmentally friendly will use containers that are not harmful to the environment. They will avoid Styrofoam and things of that nature, and they will try to find ways to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill. You can also look at what they do with their leftovers. There are many things that can be done with leftover food and this is something that can affect the environment. For example, there is one company that actually gives all of the leftovers to their pet elephants. This is a great way to get rid of food without harming the environment.

Another important element of choosing a good company is the prices of their services. Most catering companies charge by the person. If you are expecting 20 people, you will pay for 20 people. If less than 20 people show up, you will still pay for 20. If more than this amount shows up, you will pay extra for the extra people. If more people show up, you are taking a risk of running short on food. Many places will plan for extra food. This is worked into their prices, and they do this to ensure that everyone gets enough food. This is really important if the food is all-you-can-eat. If the food is served by the plate, they will usually never run out of food.

You can compare the costs of several catering companies when you are choosing which one to hire. Keep in mind that the prices will be affected by your choices in food. For example, a sandwich lunch will obviously cost less per person than a three-course dinner meal.

Reward, Recharge and Increase Productivity With Corporate Massage

Corporate massage is performed on employees being fully clothed and no massage oils used while recharging team members to increase productivity and focus on decreasing absenteeism with maintenance of health, a corporate health care system. A healthier wellness option to have in the work place than a coffee machine for that three thirty-itis.

It is estimated that 90% of disease is stress related, perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage can help manage stress while eliminating anxiety and pressure. This information translates into decreased anxiety, enhanced sleep quality, greater energy, improved concentration, increased circulation and reduced fatigue.

Research shows that massage in the work place increases team members motivation, allowing them to feel valued and respected for their contribution to the company. Their has been significant evidence to show that corporate massage in the work place reduces work cover claims and shows a reduction in stress and tension in the work place by reducing musculoskeletal discomfort and increasing joint range of motion in office workers.Assisting employee's to be more balanced, focused, mentally and physically, workers report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage.

All it takes is 15 minutes per employee, the employee feels relaxed, reinvigorated and more motivated, Corporate massage is an excellent gift for staff on their birthdays, as a 'thank you' or rewards for reaching targets. Does your company/ association hold seminars, conference's? why not incorporate massage, it keeps staff focused and motivated during a long day of training and seminars. Corporate massage promotes your company's commitment to its employees.

Massages are performed by qualified, professional practitioners who are committed to professional development and have representation to health funds. Want to spark up your next company event? On-site massage could be the missing ingredient for your next workplace event.

Have you considered massage at company golf tournaments, family picnic day, sporting events and awards ceremonies. Or for product launches or corporate gifts to valuable clients. Add a hidden spark to your next corporate event by providing a refreshing, recharging and revitalising on site massage. Increase the energy and enthusiasm in your office today.

You'll have everyone smiling at your office with this package for corporate seated massage. Incorporate it into your office on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis to see the benefits to your company.

The massages can be sponsored in three ways Company sponsored, company pays 100%. Co-pay sponsored, company and individual halve the cost. Employee sponsored, employee pays for their massages.

Event Planning - Let Event Planning Companies Take the Worry Out of Arranging Corporate Events

You've been tasked with organising another major event: a conference, training, a roadshow or specialised corporate entertainment. What are the main steps to consider when planning it and how can event planning companies save you time and money and take the stress out of running successful events?

Determine the event's purpose

Without a clear idea of what your event must achieve it's hard to start planning. Once you've decided on this (and prepared a brief to guide you and your suppliers) your decision will determine the subsequent course of events - whether you handle the planning yourself or outsource it to special event planning experts.

Choose between in-house or outsourced event planning?

Depending on the time and budget available you may choose to manage the events planning process yourself ('in-house' planning) or outsource to a professional planning company. The latter is popular because it frees your time for other business activities and takes the pressure off overloaded internal departments. What's more, for the same reasons that you'd outsource accountancy or other professional services, outsourced planning can deliver a better result more efficiently than trying to do this yourself.

Find a suitable venue

Next comes your choice of venue. Maybe you already have a preferred venue. If not, your corporate event planning partner can help - and some event planners even have their own venues. Whether you need a well-equipped conference suite or a mud-spattered quad biking day on a Welsh hillside, event planning companies can find exactly the right venue for you.

Organise the event

With the venue agreed, event planners can save you lots of work on the run-in to the event. Event marketing, delegate management, booking speakers or facilitators and managing event finances all have to be co-ordinated and managed. With the event date and venue set, the clock's ticking, your event budget is on the line and there's no room for delays or oversights. Specialist suppliers are used to managing the complexity of event organisation - and have the experienced teams to do so. Compare this with the time and worry of handling this yourself on top of your normal duties...once again, independent help makes perfect sense.

Run the event

Events planning leads seamlessly into running the conference, meeting or corporate event. Leading event planning companies can handle all aspects of this, as well as event catering, on-the-day co-ordination and tasks such as delegate reception - it leaves you with more time to spend with delegates, customers or colleagues on the day.

You may ask yourself though, do I have the time or skills needed for the management of a major conference or one-off corporate entertainment? With so much at stake and growing demands on managers' time, organisations increasingly outsource event management. Below are some of the things to look for when choosing a professional planner.

How to find professional planners

The decision to hire professional event planning is a vital one. The right supplier can save you valuable time, ensure a better event than would otherwise be possible and build your reputation. Buying-in these services needn't be prohibitively expensive either. As with any specialist service, the cost of hiring event planning services is often low compared to going it alone - and you get priceless peace of mind from knowing your event is in the hands of professionals.

Disc Jockey Acts As a Wedding Event Planner

In today's busy world, the bride and the groom are so busy that they barely have time to plan for their own wedding ceremony. Despite the Internet and social networking, it's barely possible for the bride or the groom to arrange and coordinate between the different wedding vendors such as a photographer, make up artists, the florist, the decorators, the caterers, the cake vendor etc.

So what does the wedding planner do?

This is where the event manager or a wedding planner comes in. The wedding planner knows, arranges for, plans and coordinates between the different wedding vendors like a supervisor or a movie director. Their experience and knowledge of vendors catering to the needs of a wedding event is their trade. However, the services of a wedding planner are not cheap especially in today's tough economy.

Can we replace a wedding planner?

It depends. With the right combination of professionals, the expertise of one wedding planner is either distributed across multiple professionals or maybe a single professional who looks after multiple jobs. On person whose roll is undeniably important throughout the duration of the wedding is the DJ. As long as the music and the announcements continue so does the wedding. Once that stops, the wedding comes to an end. A wedding planner is usually right behind the DJ guiding the DJ on the announcements and the music as per a time line. An experienced DJ can and in today's economic times easily takes on the responsibility of a wedding planner as well saving both time as well as money.

Does it really work?

Yes, there are companies that provide the best professionals that double up as wedding DJ s and planners both. The biggest benefit here is the price advantage. Though a low price tag of $600 for such a person surely makes this look like a misprint, but it's rather a steal.

Research to get the best professional wedding DJ

The only thing that you need to do now is to research and interview properly to find such professionals that will make your wedding ceremony the way you have been planning it since your childhood. The good thing is that social media sites like Facebook, MySpace etc are very handy in helping you narrow down to companies that provide such services. Start with references from friends and colleagues. Then have a look at their portfolio and previous events on sites like 800dj.com. If possible attend some upcoming wedding. If not then try and get some feedback from their older clients. Finally, interview the actual person to be absolutely sure that you and your wedding guests will have a memorable time together.

Event Planning Careers - Help Planning Corporate And Family Events

If you have indulged yourself in making arrangements of any event then you would be aware of how much hard work and stress it takes to make the event come to life. A location has to be decided that is affordable yet approachable for the guests, a food menu that has to be picked up and delivered on time, decorations have to be made at the place of event, catering and lighting services has to be hired and the list goes on. All of this cannot be handled by an ordinary person unless he is skilled in event planning.

And to become skilled you need to have a good experience and some certifications in this field. Therefore, most people do not arrange parties or business meeting on their own; they appoint event planners who organize their event in the best manner.

Some events are really important for people that they want to make them last forever. For example, wedding is a type of occasion that has to happen at least once in everybody's lives and they all want it to be memorable. They want every arrangement to be perfect, the cake, food, lighting, catering etc if anything goes wrong the whole arrangement is ruined. Besides that, many parents wish to make their kids' parties exciting and fun but unfortunately they cannot as they are so busy in their professional lives that they do not get enough time to do so. In today's world there are millions of companies that have expanded so much that they need to keep organizing different events time to time so that they can maintain their status. All these people depend on event planners because they trust their capabilities and become relieved that because there work in the hands of professional, it will become successful.

We can see many famous event managers who have done splendid jobs that is why, more and more people are diverting towards appointing event managers instead of organizing their events themselves. Event managers can transform their events into something that they never imagined. They can create an impressive image on their guests and provide them excellent experience. Whatever your budget is an event planner will try to fix everything in it because he has all the knowledge that is needed. Thus they also save your precious time.

Event planning careers have become highly reputable and demanding, so if you want to pursue career in it then you should not hesitate do so. However the requirement is that you need to be systematic, creative and interested in this field.

Corporate Event Planning and Organizing for High-Decibel Impression

Whether it's a corporate event or business meeting, sales meeting, business fair, or dinner party, event planning and management firms can handle all. Irrespective of the nature of event, event managers handle and organize events in a flexible and flawless manner. Indeed, for successful events or corporate parties, people engage event management firms for complete peace of mind. Event managers perform everything in style and transform a simple corporate event into an elegant piece of art that is worth remembering.

Corporate event managers know how to transmute any ordinary space to spectacular with their experience. They make exclusive use of decorative items, colors, fabrics, lighting, caterers, and much, much more in order to make the event simply awe-inspiring. They can custom design an environment that is discretely passionate. Their professional staff blends fabulous decor with exclusively fresh floral arrangements and audio and visual effects as an integral part of the event.

Moreover, event planners also suggest the best place for the event or party as per the date and programs to be carried out. They then arrange for its registration and other vital aspects. They inspect the party and meeting space and make several arrangements according to the party theme and its objective.

For a first time conference, it is always good to seek for a professional company, having enough experience and expertise in handling crucial task of planning and arrangement. Only an experienced company can handle the task of annual general meeting, product launch, merger and acquisition or any special conference. Most of the reputable companies also indulged in doing expense analysis and market research, in order to offer exquisite and uncompromising services. Expert meeting planners and strategists help you determine what the best rate is and how you can make the event worth resounding.

If your corporate meeting has large magnitude and needs special attention, then special arrangements are needed to make it even more engaging. Meeting planners can yield a better site along with theme development, music and light arrangement, better cuisine and other arrangements like programs, dance and engaging competition.

Most of the companies first discuss the basic needs and objectives of the corporate meetings, event or party and then plan accordingly. They tailor their services and offer the best suitable solutions for different occasions. In essence, they magnify the overall experience of the corporate party event and establish your reputation in the market. It is also helpful in snatching the quick attention of the targeted audience.

10 Step Guide to Planning Corporate Events

If you've been put in charge of planning a corporate event, such as the office Christmas party or a client-focused gathering, you may be unsure of where to start. Here is a 10 step guide to planning corporate events.

1. You need to decide what type of venue you want for your event. If it's a conference, you'll need somewhere with plenty of space and large rooms. While if it's more of a social event, a bar or restaurant may be more suitable.

2. Creating your invite list should be step number two. It's a good idea to ask someone else to check over it, too, as you don't want to miss anyone out.

3. Choose a date that doesn't clash with any other events that your guests may be attending or any sporting events that are televised. For instance, organising a Manchester event on the night of a United or City game could see a poor level of attendance.

4. Think about where you want the venue to be. You may want it close to where you work or the town or city most convenient for your guests to get to. You may even have a decision to make over whether to choose a venue inside the city or one outside.

5. When shortlisting venues, find out which ones would be able to cope with a guest list of the size you want. If the venue is too big or small it could have a detrimental impact on what your guests take from the event.

6. Most of your guests will anticipate some form of food provision, so consider what type of catering you want and ensure the venues you're considering can meet that requirement.

7. Find out the charging methods of the venues. Some will require a payment for the room, others will be happy with the takings from the bar. If you're providing food, you may have a cost-per-head that you need to make sure fits into your budget.

8. You also need to make sure the venue is available on your preferred date or be willing to move the event if the venue is too good not to use.

9. When you're happy with a venue, get it booked to avoid disappointment. Once this is sorted, the lion's share of the planning is done.

10. All you need to do then is invite the guests and have a database or spreadsheet set up to manage their responses.

If planning corporate events such as a corporate party for clients, follow these steps for success.

Online Registration Analytics Tips For Event Planners - Privacy is Paramount

Topping the list of privacy concerns associated with doing business on the internet is payment information and personal information. Payment information is sensitive for obvious reasons: an unscrupulous person with access to credit card or banking information is quite dangerous.

But personal information (name, address, mother's maiden name, etc.) can be equally as dangerous with identity theft being one of the top concerns. It is the fear of losing control of this information which has led many people to oppose various technologies that make life easier on the web, but that might not necessarily be good for personal security.

But what about tracking programs that use cookies?

There has been much discussion regarding what information website cookies reveal to the website owner about users. While most web users are not particularly concerned with the practice of using cookies to collect information, there is a group of users who are very suspicious of websites that use cookies.

However, improvements in event registration software are bringing analytics to the event professional and it is important to understand how your registrants' privacy is impacted by the implementation of web analytics on your registration form.

First, it is very important to note that the point of web analytics is to study the behavior of web users in aggregate. This means that you won't necessarily be singling out registrants to gather information.

Sometimes the intent of analytics isn't enough to deter critics, and so you should also be aware of what information is collected by your system. To give you a few examples, Google Analytics protects users' privacy by not logging individual IP addresses. RegOnline's Analytics Reports do not allow the event planner to view any personal information about users unless they complete a registration.

To further insulate yourself against privacy complaints you should carefully evaluate the registration software you plan on using. Some things to look for include HackerSafe security checks, Payment Card International certification and a verified privacy policy.

By taking a little time up front to understand how analytics and cookies work you will be able to patiently explain to registrants that their data is being handled responsibly.

A Complete Plan for an Event Management Business for Startup Individuals

Event management is seen as a new career now-a-days with companies making it large, and the huge returns that are making it a lucrative profession. Even though managing events is not a new arena, and right from the beginning, we all are experts in planning, organizing and executing events in our personal lives. Just remember how exciting was your mom's surprise party you gave on her birthday, or the outing your family organized for your cousins. Normally we do it with such an ease, that it is hard to think with the same ease when it comes to the business. This may be because in business it is seen as a success and failure or money is involved, rather than seeing it as just another party.

Let us take this as an option for our start-up and check whether it will suit you or not. As Valentine's day is approaching and people are going gaga about celebrating love, it is the right time to venture and check your possibility as an entrepreneur. All you need for organizing a Valentine's day party is a place to gather all the couples, food, drinks, decoration, and some exciting and romantic games.

First imagine and note down on paper of how you want to organize this party. Let me help you in designing the theme. Valentines day represents Love and Love is symbolized by roses and flowers. A theme must be selected which represents the Love, usually Red and White. The decoration should be made with heart-shaped red and white balloons, Roses and candles (as you know the scented candles create the aroma of love among people). The seating should be in a way that should give the guests the view of the stage and also provide them with the necessary privacy. The next important thing is to select few good games that keep the evening exciting and at the same time romantic. Games such as Propose your spouse, How much you know about your partner, Tell your story, Best romantic dance, Best couple, etc will help the evening go with the ride.

Apart from the games and decoration, you will need Flowers, cakes, food, drinks and prizes. A personal menu which includes cake, wine/champagne, dinner that can be selected by the guests while booking will give it a personal touch. Find a local florist where you can find the flowers and bouquets at a wholesale price, and the bakers who can make personalized heart-shaped cakes with the guests' names on them. A good chef or a caterer who can make a specialist menu that keeps the romantic mood on will be a best choice. Find one from your contacts or talk to your mom. As a start-up getting help from our own people will help cutting costs and get more support. Apart from this try for some small sponsorships that can cover your costs.

Once you are confident about the list and the costs you worked out, it is the turn to design the event and print it. Use your own PhotoShop skills or get it from a DTP operator who will help in designing the poster with the title, event, ticket price and the contact details on it. Create an online form for registration (create a blog with a registration form in it). Include the personal details, Dinner menu options, names of the guests, their preferred choice of songs, and wine, in the form so that you will have a clear idea of the guests and can make the event more personalized for every couple. Make few copies of it and distribute as many as possible. Use community sites like Facebook, orkut and email options to make use of the electronic media apart from the physical distribution. Tell your relatives and friends, market your event to as many people as possible.

Once you get enough response and get the details of the guests, it is the time to gather all the information and get in to real work. First you need to confirm the venue and make arrangements for the decoration and designing of the seating. Then order the cakes at your selected bakers and provide the names to be imprinted on the cakes. Next order the bouquets and flowers at the florist and buy the wine, drinks and other items for the caterers. Make a list of everything and check the list from time to time.

Just before the day of the event, call all the guests and confirm their arrival. The allot the decoration people at the venue and then confirm the caterers with the preferred choices of the guests, and finally, the gifts need to be personalized with the names of the guests, and the prizes need to be packed.

Sit with your anchor who is to conduct the evening, and design the evening with the most powerful quotes on love and relationship, and selecting the songs that add to the mood of the valentine. Select games and concepts that keeps the evening enjoyable. Make a minute to minute action plan and distribute copies of it to your team members.

Once everything is done, allocate each task to your team carefully and monitor them from time to time. Now its the time for action and it all depends on how efficiently you carry on this event. Make your mind, Think positively and Go ahead. You will find an entrepreneur in you.

Organise Conferences With Ease Using Event Management Software

Organising a conference can be a daunting and time consuming exercise. Whether it's a small one day event for 20 delegates or a huge three day event in Earls Court, the general process and common problems are the same.

So what are the stages of planning a conference?

1. Booking a venue


2. Sending invites to a targeted list of prospect delegates


3. Organising and booking all the resources, such as catering, collateral printing, promotional items, A&V etc


4. Dealing with presenters and guest speakers


5. Taking registrations


6. Taking payment


7. Sending reminder emails to delegates


8. Printing badges


9. Organising staff on the day


10. Managing the budget throughout

This is an extremely basic and simplified list to indicate the general check list event managers must consider. This process can start from 6 months before an event or even as long as 12-18 months before for really large, national events. Managing all these steps can be extremely complicated and it can be very easy for event managers to make major mistakes.

To avoid costly errors, and to ensure conferences are organised in an efficient manner, many event professionals are looking to employ the use of an event management software solution. These solutions have the tools and capabilities to manage and track activities throughout the whole of the event and conference planning process, as well as the activities carried out as part of the event follow up (such as post event surveys and the creation of reports for intelligent analysis).

Taking the above steps in planning an event, here is how an event software solution can help:

1. Booking a venue

Control to an event manager is key; whether it's a meeting/conference room in your own office or a larger external venue, event software can help by ensuring the allocation has been made and that payment has been taken. For more complex conferences which require multiple rooms across multiple days, event solutions include a comprehensive planning, resource and scheduling venue software tool. A highly configurable and fully customisable function sheet and a multiple calendar feature which will give you the ability to manage your resources and venue from one central and flexible application. This helps to simplify the normally complex process of booking and managing the venue.

2. Sending invites to a targeted list of prospects

The event manager may know the exact number and names of the delegates they are targeting or in some cases they might have been told to invite a certain demographic (based on relationship, job title, location etc). Managing the selection of delegates to invite is made easy with event software, since it is able to be integrated their CRM package. Meaning that all corporate records and data can be accessed easily and records automatically updated, so others looking at that record will know that the contact have been invited and whether or not they have registered and paid.

Event software also comes with sophisticated email marketing tools. Event managers are able to easily build and filter a selection of targeted delegates from their CRM and put these into a custom-made, HTML email which can be sent out. From the event management software platform, event managers will be able to track opens, clicks and other recipient activity.

3. Resource management

Event software will come with a Resource Management Module which is where event managers can track and control all the resources needed to manage an event. External suppliers can be given access to this module so that they can keep track themselves, rather than dealing with the event manager directly. For example, caterers can be given access so they can easily see current, up-to-date information on delegate numbers and any specific dietary requirements. Giving them direct access to this module in the event software means that event managers can deal with one less person and one less phonecall! Mistakes are also reduced since a layer of communication has been removed.

Resource modules also contain multiple and powerful calendars enabling conference managers to manage numerous resources on these various calendars; this is all accessible from one central location ensuring all updates/amendments/additions are recorded in real time. From the information collated through this Resource Module, event mangers can run bespoke reports providing details such as the number of pods available, number of brochures etc. Event managers will no longer have to juggle multiple spreadsheets across multiple calendars which will ensure fewer errors.

4. Dealing with presenters and guest speakers

Event software can also manage this process. Emails can be scheduled automatically to remind guest speakers about the event and to request certain information such as a bio for the marketing collateral and presentation slides for delegates. Speakers can also be given direct access to the Resource Management Module, where they can manage and update their own profile, and upload materials and other items. Again, this takes away the involvement of the event manager, freeing them up to work on more strategic activities.

5. Taking registrations

A convenient way to take registrations is online. This suits both delegates and event managers. It is a fast, effective method and is increasingly becoming the standard method of event registration. But there are good and bad ways of taking registrations online. Ideally event managers should want to direct prospect delegates to their own website, where a specially created page, with the branding of the company and the event have been included. Taking registrations on your own website plays an important part in increasing delegate sign up rates - delegates will be more trusting and more likely to sign up if it's on the same site, whereas taking them to an external site may cause trust issues. It's also important to be able to amend the information requested at the point of registration. Some events will just require a name, telephone number and email address, whereas others may require more detailed information. Event software can easily handle these changes.

6. Taking payment

Having a registration and payment process that is easy, straightforward and efficient is vitally important if event managers want to ensure a high level of delegate attendance. Event software gives event managers the ability to take payments online, via a secure web portal - giving delegates an easy, trustworthy method of payment. Since the event management software can be integrated with the back end finance application, payment can be easily accepted, records updated and receipts sent out automatically, without any intervention from the event manager or accounts payable staff. If payment isn't taken online, the event software can automatically sent out invoices to the delegate. For an even smoother payment transaction event solutions will include connectors allowing seamless integration with your internal finance system.

7. Sending reminders to delegates

The email marketing tool included in the event software can have emails created which can scheduled to automatically be sent to all delegates. These can be reminder emails, or emails with updates or event amendments. They can be created in advance and then forgotten about as the event software will manage the rest.

8. Printing badges

The production of delegate name badges is a small part of hosting a conference, but is one that can be extremely time consuming for event managers and can cause real issues on the day of the conference if any mistakes have been made. Event software packages will come with easy to use, effective badge production tools. Not only will the creation of custom badges be easier, but the section of delegate names will be done automatically since the event software will be integrated with the CRM - so it'll know exactly what names and details to print.

9. Organising staff on the day

The effective Resource Management Module enables all staff to be accurately managed - it will be easy for event managers to delegate activities to individuals and log it in this Resource Module. Staff can access this module anytime and from any location (via the Internet) so they will always be aware of what their responsibilities are and where they need to be.

10. Managing the budget throughout

Event software is an excellent tool for managing finances and budget. All costs can be taken via the integration with the finance system. These can then be easily tracked and monitored, with alerts to warn the event manager if there are any issues or if costs are rising fast. Reports can be instantly created, with a click of a button - useful for event update meetings and if event managers need to compile any statistics for senior management.

So we can see how event software can revolutionise the stages of planning a conference. Without event management software, a lot of these tasks would be manually created, tracked and organised via huge spreadsheets. There would be high chances of errors and mistakes and the whole process would be time consuming, stressful and ineffective for the conference manager and those associated with the event.

Tips on Planning Your Corporate Christmas Catering or Work Christmas Party

Are you in charge of planning your work Christmas party? Are you a boss who wants to provide your employees with some good Christmas catering? Or do you simply want to know what to expect from Christmas functions? Whatever the reason, this article will give you five tips to make your corporate Christmas catering go perfectly.

Alcohol - if you are going to have a festive time over Christmas then you will almost definitely going to supply alcohol to your guests, what work Christmas party would be complete without a few drinks? It is advisable not to provide 'hard liquor' or 'spirits' to your guests, beer and wine are good enough for a work function. The reason for this is because it stops people getting too drunk, too quickly. Generally, the staff will see the free alcohol from the boss or the firm as an invitation to drink a lot and quickly. By limiting the amount of alcohol they can drink in a short time, reduces the problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Remember, you are the host providing the alcohol and so you bear some of the responsibility associated with serving the alcohol.

Theme - A themed Christmas party is always good because it unites people in a common goal. There is no staff/boss relationship if everyone is dressed as superheros! A theme is a great ice-breaker too, it puts guests at ease right from the start of the party and provides a focal point and direction for the event. If the stress or financial constraints associated with sorting out a great costume are too much, consider a 'bad taste' theme or a colour theme for your Christmas catering function, we all have clothes in our closet considered 'bad taste', right?

Hiring Equipment - If you are having a work Christmas party then chances are that you will need some equipment hire? If you live in the northern hemisphere then you might need some heaters for functions outside. In the southern hemisphere you might need to hire shade cloths so that it doesn't get too hot. As well as those items you might need trestle tables, bar tables, bar serving equipment, adequate seating and a lot more besides. Your Christmas catering company will be able to help you with all of these needs and more.

Staff - You might be lucky enough to have some willing people to serve drinks and help set-up and break down of the staff Christmas party, if not, then it is a great idea to hire some service staff to take care of all of this. Professional catering staffs are trained in the service of alcohol and will have the training and experience to be able to handle most situations should they arise. Service staff should cost between twenty five and forty dollars per hour which means that for a few hundred dollars they are a great investment. We recommend one wait/bar staff per thirty guests, to ensure that all of the staff get the correct attention.

Catering - Lastly, if you are planning a corporate Christmas function or staff party it is important that you get the right caterer. You need to engage an experienced catering professional who has experience with staff functions. Talk with your caterer to assess your exact requirements based upon your budget, you might not want to go for a sit down, roast turkey style of function but opt for a barbecue or canap矇s with noodle boxes instead. You must make sure that there is enough food, especially if there is going to be alcohol served, because guests will get drunk, more quickly on an empty stomach than a full one. Also, it is a good idea to provide some food right from the start of the staff Christmas party so people don't consume alcohol first with catering served two hours later. A few platters scattered around, gourmet breads, crackers and dips is an example of how to get the guests eating food as well as drinking alcohol.

If you follow these simple Christmas catering tips then your staff party should be a fun, festive and fantastic affair. The last thing anyone wants is to make a fool of themselves, lose their job, drink and drive or worse. It is important to be safe as well as having fun.

Managing An Event Center

The investment plan, goal and magnitude of a facility are what determine the management style to be adopted in running the affairs of an event center. There is no written law or rules and regulations that can be said to be the guiding principle in this business. So, what we need to understand here is that we are simply discussing on the management aspect of an event center. By this, we are referring to the act of running or controlling the business, or the personnel that are saddled with the responsibility of managing or controlling the activities of a business, for the purpose of making profit, or for whatever purpose that the business was set up.

So, managing an event center, is all about taking care of a facility that has been set up, investment wise, for the purpose of taking care of the activities organized by other people, in exchange of cash payment for using the facility. So, it can be established here, that managing a facility is more of the investment goal of the facility.

There are different levels and categories of event centers; depending on the type and magnitude of the event center. A multipurpose event center cannot be at the same level of management like the general way of managing an event facility. A typical multi-purpose investment center combines many investment options into one investment goal. We shall briefly discuss them one by one.

1) EVENT CENTER WITH GYMNASIUM: If the location of the event center is in an area with mixture residential and commercial developments, then the investor has to strategically invest to maximize his profits here. This can be achieved in many ways, and one of the ways is to incorporate a gymnasium with all the necessary facilities here. If the investor can afford to fix all the necessary modern facilities for work-out here, then he is sure of a profitable investment here, even before the outfit becomes fully operational. In order to achieve the maximum result, the investor must be sure that the percentage of people that reside here is higher than those that just come to do business, but live at other destinations.

Investments in an event center could be a money spinner if the right things are done first, and the center is managed properly. Any property investment with a proper laid out maintenance policy will definitely achieve the desired result.

Invest wise.

Party Planning - Elements of Designing the Right Atmosphere For Your Event

There is No Business like the Party Business! The right venue will always lend it self to the right design as you begin your Party Planning process. Knowing that this is such a touchy subject as the very nature of Party Planning is the creativity that each individual Party Planner and their team brings to the Event, you must be aware of the pitfalls that lie in you path. Throw in the client who thinks the Party Planner is nothing more than someone that carries out THEIR orders and you have all of the makings of a crisis management situation that may even need the SWAT team called in. Too dramatic? Probably, but those Party Planners who have done their fair share of events, you know exactly what I mean.

There are many elements in doing a boffo Event and at the core of it all is the Party Planners ability to create a vision for the Event that takes the clients needs and wants and puts them into the total vision. Notice I said needs and wants. Two different criteria here but both need to be included in the Vision Quest for the Event. Needs are those elements that must be included for the Event to have even a modicum of success. Wants are those things that are nice to have but will usually hinge on a budgetary element in the Party Planning Process. The challenge is to use teachable moments to assist your client in knowing the difference. From any practical standpoint of an Event, the basic elements that you will be required to manage are the Goal of the Event, the Venue you will use and the Audience you are targeting. These three elements are at the center of all Events you will manage and will make all of your decisions mold themselves into these three factors. It is not to say that your creativity will ever be hindered, as it should not be as no matter what the venue and the budget you should always be able to create a great event because that is what Party Planners do.

In many ways, they are like great set designers, they can transform spaces you never thought possible into magnificent and magical realms. The key here is to manage each of these three factors superbly and if, at all possible, you can create a team for each to oversee, this will get you very far into the process of creating a great Event. How do to this is another entire article for each point, but know that these are the elements that never change. Lose control over one, or allow your client to have control over one or more of these three parts of your Party Planning and you may be relegated to nothing more than a freelance order-taker. The point is to have a battle plan for each part and be ready to show in detail to the client how you are going to manage these factors. The impressive nature in which you handle each part of the Event Planning process; The Goal of the Event, the Venue and the Audience, will garner you far more respect with your clients than any lavish marketing campaign you can market. In the end, the way you set your course at the beginning will play to your professionalism and garner your image as a Party Planner extraordinaire long into the future. Remember, Life is a Party, you just have to know how to Plan it!

Limo Company Makes Event-Planning Business All the Rage

Vampires. Werewolves. They're all the rage. So when someone wanted to promote the launch of an event planning business to the great city of Los Angeles, they made sure to invite lots and lots of vampires and werewolves.

Because nothing says "fun" like a theme party with mythical creatures.

The person's crazy friends all jumped at the chance to dress like vampires and werewolves, but what kind of vehicle is appropriate for the undead and the intermittently furry?

A limo, of course.

This person knew the kind of effect they wanted the event to create. Vampires and werewolves would get people -- potential clients -- looking. Vampires and werewolves slipping out of a line of limos would get their jaws to drop.

They wanted the promo party to tell the world that they could pull off a huge, crazy event without a hitch and with lots of class. They couldn't have done it, though, without the help of a limo company.

They started calling around to get price estimates. Their budget wasn't huge because the business hadn't opened officially. They discovered there are all kinds of prices out there. The key is to get the ball rolling early so you have time to hunt down the best price. But -- and here's the good news -- there are plenty of businesses who aren't out to suck you dry or tear your budget to threads. (Okay, promise, no more cheesy puns.) Lots of limo companies see themselves as partners of the business community. They want to help businesspeople succeed at what they do best, and offer a wide range of packages that fit their needs and budgets to a T.

The limo company this person chose listened to what they needed. They wanted all the vampires and werewolves to arrive at the same time, in a long line of classy, black limos. The company helped coordinate the event so it all went off without a hitch. The new company made a huge splash. Hundreds of people, many of them part of our target market, saw the team all arrive at the same time and were floored. They couldn't stop asking "What is all this about?" and "Is Edward here?" The team was able to pitch the business over and over again. Plus, several sales happened on the spot.

Sure, they could have all rolled up in hatchbacks and sedans and bicycles. They would have gotten some stares, and maybe even lots of questions. But a straggly hodgepodge of vehicles and a sleek line of limos don't say the same thing. One says, "I have lots of good friends who are happy to dress up and help me out. Aren't I lucky?" The other says "This is a professional event. I am a consummate professional. You can -- no, should -- trust your event coordination to me."

Face it, vampires and werewolves can be campy. Throw in a sleek line of limos, and they sell.

Top 10 Event Planning Tips

When planning an event it is useful to have a checklist in place so that you can ensure that all things are covered and that all necessary preparation is done.

Events can be very expensive when you consider the cost of the event, the cost of the marketing, the time spend out of the office and the staff downtime that will happen over the event, you need to ensure that the results are as good as possible so as to maximise your ROI.

Top 10 tips for a successful event:

• Properly prepare for the event (pre planning)


• Properly market the event to your customers and potential customers


• Ensure you have the best stand for the event


• Ensure you have all your marketing material


• Ensure you have goodies to give away


• Ensure your staff are prepared and know what to do


• Make sure your staff are presentable and available


• Work the event


• Have USP's on the stand or reasons for people to hang around


• Have marketing follow up after the event

Success at an event can be broken down to three very basic components:

1. Successful pre planning


2. Successful event


3. Succesfsful follow up

So many companies tend to focus so much on the actual event (number 2) that they miss out steps 1 & 3 and miss 2/3 of the potential of the event.

Preparing for the event

This would involve ensuring that you organise with the event planners what space you want at the event and if that space is the best possible site. Choosing a stall that is close to the drinks area/chill out area is good - as there will be more footflow. Equally, choosing s stall near the entrance of the event will ensure that everyone walks past your stand at least twice. Organising for all facilities to be ready (lap tops, communications, food for staff/staff rotas etc.)

Properly Market the event

Letting people know you are going to be at the event is very important, rather than it being a surprise let your customers and target customers know that you are going to be there. Maximise your exposure by putting a link on your e-mails so that the word can spread. Put the event on your twitter/Facebook page. It costs nothing but could double or triple your customers. Invite people to your stand for a drink or a free gift. Hold a raffle and get people to come to present their tickets to win a trip/PlayStation/car etc.

Getting the best stand for the event

There are lots of exhibition stand designers so shopping around for the best stand at the best price is advisable. There are lots of different sorts of stands, so choosing the right one for the right event is good. If it is a key event and you want a lot of exposure, it may be best getting a larger stand to maximise your presence. If it is a small event and you just want a presence - then a small stand and small floor space is possibly best.

Get your marketing material ready

Many companies turn up to an event with insufficient marketing material to give prospects or no marketing material. We have seen some exhibitors giving out old out of date material that they need to scribble a new address on, or a new website or for services that are not available. Very embarrassing and does not give a good impression.

Goodies

Having freebies is all part of an event and they are normally inexpensive but leave a lasting impression. Something related to your industry is clever (if you are builder, a stress ball in the shape of a wrecking ball or hard hat) but normally something that the punter will keep is better (like a pen, mug, clock or something similar). Bags are good but are thrown away so do not last.

Prepare your staff

Getting staff on the stand and working the event giving out flyers/brochures, goodie bags will get a buzz going. Hiring models to walk around giving out freebies or snacks will create more effect. Organising staff to attend the event for scheduled times will keep them focused (as opposed to 2 people for the whole event.

Staff working the event

Many times staff have been on a stand talking to each other, looking bored, talking on their mobile phones and ignoring customers. This is the best way to kill the event and wast money. Having staff smiling, talking to people, bringing punters onto the stand, looking smart will double or triple your enquiry numbers.

Working the event

This is important, as it is maximising the small amount of time the event is on. Having staff networking with other exhibitors will get you to know your industry, competitors and customers. As you are known, you are giving off an image - which is good PR (if it is done right). Have staff approaching visitors with freebies and gifts. Bring passers buy onto the stand and engage in conversation. Models work well at events as they give off a professional and friendly impression and tend to be approachable. Branding the models with your corporate image will give you great exposure.

Have USP's on the stand

Have a unique selling point on the stand. Something that will bring people in. This can be anything (a sports car, a games console with a plasma screen, a bar, a swimming pool) as long as it draws attention and gets people involved and hooked. A few seconds is all you need for the message to sink in or for them to be picked up by your hunter sales staff.

Marketing Follow up

Once the event has been and gone, people will forget you. Therefore all the hard work and resource you put into the above is gone, wasted and forgotten. That is unless you do a follow up. Organise a mailing or an e-mail campaign 2 days after the event. Call up prospects after the mailing. Get the conversations going again. Send more freebies in the post to prospects (chocolates work well) and ensure that everyone that visited was scanned (events normally provide scanners so you can see anyone that you have scanned and grab their contact information).

The follow up as mentioned is the main thing, if you do not do this then the great event will become a memory that disappears very quickly.

If you would like help or advise in organising an event or finding an exhibition stand designer just let us know.

Events can be expensive so you do need to ensure that the event is as successful as possible and more often than not, they are as successful as you make them. Many events are getting quieter these days with the introduction of the internet, they are sometimes overlooked for a cheaper alternative - however they are still a powerful marketing tool and used correctly, can be very successful.

Advantages of Hiring a Corporate Comedian For an Event

Laughter as we all know is a great therapy. There is nothing better than laughter to diffuse the stress, break ice between people and cheer up the overall mood at a gathering. A corporate comedian specializes in the art of making people laugh. Almost all corporate events have attendees who are intelligent, educated, refined in manners and conscious of others' feeling. Hence a clean comedian who can appeal to the sense of humor of the employees and employers present at an event is the best bet for making the event a memorable one.

Award ceremonies, lunch and dinner banquets, felicitations, annual meetings, releases and conferences are corporate events that demand some entertainment that helps the attendees relax. On the other hand it shouldn't be too distracting or distasteful. For example, it would be a bad idea to have a rock gig between meetings involving top brass of a company.

A corporate comedian can adapt to the audience's taste pulling out performances that are contemporary and view the political, economical and social scenario from a lighter and humorous side. A corporate comedian can conjure a clean comic act without hurting the sentiments of anyone. Cheap comments, irresponsible remarks and sarcastic quips at different groups of society can often be dangerous given the composition of the audience is diverse and one cannot be sure about their inclinations or backgrounds.

A good comedian can carry the entire burden of an evening on his shoulder without the organizers having to worry about audio visual systems, artists, makeup, costumes, stage and lighting etc. as is the case for general entertainment events. A corporate comedian can leave the audience roaring in laughter, thus keeping them involved and feel part of the whole event. Most entertainment events let the audience drift off into their own thoughts which is not what the organizers would want, especially if there is an agenda for the gathering and alertness and focus of the audience is required for it.

There are many shows like Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show etc. which feature popular comedians. The way they talk and pull out witty remarks at their own will is very much what they do as part of a corporate comedy gig. The brand of comedy that a comedian presents is refreshing and innovative, with a tangential and humorous perspective of incidents, remarks and actions of celebrities that have received public attention. The wit and sensible humor also speak a lot about the refined taste of an audience that might help impress the guests and potential clientele too.

Starting an Event Planning Business

I love entertaining so I frequently host gatherings which include the casual dinner party and BBQs to the more formal anniversary parties. Getting my family and friends together for gourmet food, good conversation and laughter brings a warm feeling of satisfaction to my heart. From personal experience I know how planning even the smallest of gatherings can be very time consuming. There is the planning of dates and times, getting the guest list together, shopping for food and decorations, checking out venues, hiring entertainment, etc. Think about starting an event planning business so that you can offer your clients the benefits of hosting a great event with the convenience of one stop shopping for all of their event planning needs.

Skills you need with you start an event planning business

Knowing how to throw a great party is a valuable skill when starting an event planning business. It will help you to have an idea of what your customers will be looking for. It will also help you to offer ideas and tips to clients looking for valuable resources for their event. Having an eye for detail and a fun personality are a great asset to any event planning business. Good time management and organizational skills are helpful as well. Being on time, keeping invoices, orders, client information, vendor lists, venue information and any inventory you choose to carry such as party supplies organized is a must for your business to succeed.

How do you get started?

Starting an event planning business takes a little time and research. The best way to get started is to offer to plan events for your family and friends. This will give you experience in planning a variety of events as well as build up your portfolio for future clients to see your work.

Education

Read books, take classes and attend workshops to help you to grow in your field. Join the International Special Events Society (ISES), to stay on top of events and happenings within the event planning industry.

Target market

As an event planner there are many types of events that you can plan including private parties, fundraising events, corporate events, wedding, business launch parties and more. Start off by putting real thought into what type of events you would be best at planning. Even though you may be good at planning all types of events to be successful it is always best to choose one area of expertise and add to that if you choose to as your business grows.

A good business and marketing plan

Sitting down and writing out your business and marketing plan even if it is only on a single sheet of paper to start with will really help you to start your event planning business off on the right foot. Who will your clients be? What services will you offer? What will you charge for services rendered? How will you market? Are some of the questions to keep in mind when starting your business.

A quality vendor list

A major key to event planning success is to develop a rolodex of reliable vendors to work with, like caterers, musicians, photographers, videographers, party suppliers, venues, etc.

Starting an event planning business is the perfect choice for someone who is detail oriented and enjoys working with others. Research your industry well and learn how to market yourself to prove your credibility. Be patient and your hard work will eventually pay off.

Online Webinars: The Best Way to Reach Out to a Global Audience in Less Time

Businesses in different parts of the world organize online webinars more often these days to easily reach out to their target audience who are geographically dispersed. It is quite a hassle-free task to set up an online webinar; all you need is a computer or laptop, internet connection, and speakers if you are opting for an audio-visual presentation. The webinar participants also need a web-enabled device; plus speakers to participate in the live, online event.

Event planners after designing the webinar upload it on their dedicated event website to let interested people log onto the portal and access the same. However, in order to get people to participate in a webinar, you need to open up the registration process at least a few weeks in advance. By opting for an online webinar registration software, chances are that you will get maximum participants in less time! The online platform allows any interested candidate to be able to register for the webinar via accessing an online registration form, 24 hours a day. You can utilize a cost-effective Cloud-based webinar registration solution to create single or multiple webinar, conference, and such similar sign-up pages for these kinds of events. You can customize the pages (without shedding off an extra penny) by inserting your organization's logo and including sign-up instructions for people to follow the same while filling up a form.

Using a computer, participants can log into your webinar hosting site in order to access the webinar. They can hear the presenters through the attached speakers and see them through webcams. Many event organizers use Skype as a platform to host online presentations and training programs. ReadyTalk is another well known name in the audio-video conferencing industry. The company provides the necessary services to conduct successful online meetings, seminars, etc.

While planning face-to-face meetings you are required you to book a venue and invest considerably in areas, accessories plus on personnel; online meetings need no such investments. It is quite economical in that sense and thus is favored by organizations primarily focusing on various cost cutting measures. Online webinars are time saving; being conducted over the internet means potential attendees can join in such presentations from their home or after work, without travelling to any 'brick and mortar' site.

As already mentioned, the greatest advantage of arranging webinars is the ability to connect and interact with individuals located in other cities and countries virtually. No travelling plans and expenses are involved, no booking a hotel room for accommodation purpose or managing time out from your busy schedules just to make it to the event in person. A webinar helps you communicate with your audiences in real time. In the process, such online events help in developing a mutual bond leading to high conversion rates and increasing upon your initial return on investment.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - 8 Questions to Ask Before Investing in Wedding Planning Certification

I get a lot of questions about wedding planning and bridal consultant certification courses. You don't need a certification to be a wedding planner in the United States or many other countries. Most brides look first for wedding planners who have had experience planning the type of weddings that they want and who have a network of high-quality vendors.

But if you want to enroll in either an online or offline certification program, here are 8 questions you need to ask before you invest your time, energy and sometimes well over a thousand dollars of your money:

1) Are you ready to commit to attending classes or do you have the self-discipline and motivation it takes to complete online or home study training?

Before you do anything else, decide if you will take the time to complete a certification course. You will need to get to classes, work on online projects, read chapters in books, do homework and take tests. You probably already have work and family commitments so be sure you can take the time to commit to this also.

Doing classes online might be an advantage for you if your schedule is unpredictable, because you can complete the work according to your own schedule. Just make sure you can finish the course within the allotted time, usually six months.

2) Is the course by a reputable school or wedding planner and bridal consultant association?

In the United States, there are online and home study wedding planner schools that are accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a legitimate accrediting agency which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the US Department of Education. However, that doesn't mean that any of the courses will be approved by your local colleges if you are also trying to get a regular degree. Check first, if this is important to you.

Other online and home study courses are offered by wedding and event planner and bridal consultant associations and although they may not carry accreditation, many are well respected in the industry.

You'll find offline programs offered by colleges and experienced professional wedding planners. Some local colleges have partnerships with online schools and you get a combination offline and online education.

Find a few schools and courses that interest you then do some research and investigation. Call and ask questions and get references. Google the school or course names and look for testimonials and complaints.

Caution - be careful when doing research, some names of wedding planner schools and associations are very similar. Make sure you are getting information on the correct one.

3) Who are the instructors?

You want instructors who are or have been wedding and event planners or are in the industry, for example, florists and caterers, who might give special training in their areas of expertise.

4) What level of support do they offer to you?

If you are someone who likes to ask a lot of questions and you are thinking of taking an online or home study course, find out if the program allows you access to an instructor or professional wedding planner when you want help. If not, check sites such as Facebook to see if there are any active online forums with students who offer each other support during the learning process.

5) Does the course cover the subjects that you need?

Some wedding planning courses are specific to one area of wedding planning, such as design or green weddings. Or, I've seen courses that include classes not only about planning weddings but also children's parties, sweet sixteen parties, almost any celebration you could name. Read course descriptions carefully and take notes to compare one to another. Make sure you will be getting the education that you want.

6) Do they offer hands-on experience, internships, and apprenticeships or support you after you have received your certificate?

Both offline and online courses with ties to local professional wedding planners may offer the opportunity for you to get experience. Wedding planner associations may give you membership after you complete your course so you can take advantage of some of their member benefits and attend their conferences.

7) Does it have a payment plan?

This might be a deciding factor for you. Some schools allow you to make payments as you complete the course, others may ask for your investment upfront.

8) Do they have a refund policy?

Find out if they allow you to change your mind after you have enrolled. Some may allow you to do it within a short period of time, if you have not yet utilized any class materials.

There are no regulations regarding wedding planning certification courses. Decide the type of training that you want to receive then take the time to do thorough research before you make your investment. And, don't forget, a certification is not a substitute for experience.

Planning a Christmas Party During the Recession

In the current economic climate, many company directors and owners may well be questioning the value of staging a Christmas celebration for their staff with a party being the first place for the business to make savings. However, many companies have found that the value in entertaining staff far outweighs the cost in terms of loyalty, networking, motivation, team spirit, bonding and enjoy the side effects of higher productivity after the annual Christmas event. So if you're in the position of deciding whether to have a full company Christmas bash or not (or even to justify it to a manager or director), consider the following as part of the decision:

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  The benefit of a yearly event can be enhanced by having the MD or senior management address the staff during dinner. This could include some annual recognition awards, which are an ideal way to celebrate success from the past year.


• 
  Many venues are ideally suited for afternoon conference or presentation before the evening gathering, therefore increasing the business content of the event overall. The Christmas party element could then run in the evening with a meal and dance floor, or turn into an informal drinks and buffet with canap矇s.


• 
  While the recession may be a sobering experience for your business, it's important to keep in mind the better times and you should attempt to see this year's office gathering as a opportunity to relax, bond and network with colleagues.


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  The UK government allows a certain level of tax to be written off against Christmas parties, set at a limit per employee. It may be beneficial to consult with the company accountants to determine what this spend level is and if consider it as a tax benefit of holding an event.

Reducing costs

Organising and paying for a big Christmas party during a recession is one of the strongest motivators for cancelling all together. However, it doesn't necessarily have to blow the bank and below are some money saving measures that can reduce costs but still give staff the chance to let off steam and celebrate as a group:

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  The costs may seem high, assuming costs of around 瞿80 per guest and the average salary in a company is 瞿40,000, so this only represents 0.2% of the salary bill.


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  Limit the company Christmas party to employee's only, therefore removing partners from the cost element. This is standard practice at many companies and given these times of recession, employees are likely to understand.


• 
  Consider having a full or part pay bar or reducing the costs by taking a Monday or Tuesday, when venue prices are often lower due to lower demand.


• 
  Organise a party to deliver a great night without the unnecessary upgrades that may be available as extras to a package, e.g. champagne, live entertainment or pre-dinner canap矇s.


• 
  Having the party at the office itself, if space allows, and paying a professional to decorate the venue to fit the Christmas or chosen theme and hiring caterers can greatly reduce costs. Make sure to consider the extra cleaning that may be required with this option however.


• 
  If budgets are very tight, consider allowing staff to organise and pay for their own Christmas party to which the company can contribute a fixed budget towards food or drink. Offering the flexibility of a half day for employees the morning after the event also shows flexibility from the company, even if it can't cover all of the costs.

In the current marketplace, when there may have been recent redundancies and/or pay freezes, a very extravagant Christmas party may well be viewed as inappropriate. Remember though, as long as you have a suitably decorated Christmassy venue, good food and great music, you are assured a great night with minimal damage to the company finances.