Catering Services for Businesses

The corporate world is a chaotic place to be in. There are many things occurring left and right. Business meetings along with other corporate events take place one after the other, leaving hardly any room to breathe in. Because everything happens fast in the corporate setting, organizing successful business events may require plenty of energy in as little time as possible.

Unlike social events, business functions may require the best catering services. Business occasions are attended by important people such as shareholders, clients, suppliers and other executives. Planning and managing a company event can make or break your company's future. You want to astonish all these important people. You want them to feel at home and to develop a relationship with all these professionals in your company and in your business. Having a rewarding event may improve your company's image. Successful events gain your clients and suppliers' confidence in your company making them want to invest in a relationship with you. Important business functions are attended by important people in the business industry. Because of this, it is crucial that you give your customers and your suppliers your utmost attention and care. That's why corporate catering services may be of great help in arranging corporate events.

Whether a small-group or a big-group is expected to attend your company's event, choosing business catering services will make planning, organizing, and implementing your company event a piece of cake. With corporate catering, you are sure to receive high-quality meals and services for your clients and suppliers. Catering companies who provide corporate catering services help you coordinate your corporate event in the best interest of your clients. They know what you want. They also know what your clients and suppliers need. Caterers with corporate accounts make it their business to take care of your company by taking care of your clients.

Corporate catering is a good way to provide your clients with a myriad of food selection during company events. They guarantee that you and your clients will love their meal options. The caterers set up their menu in a way that will make getting food and drinks easy for you and your clients. Catering for businesses is both functional and conventional, making your business event as smooth sailing as possible. Your clients' opinion about your company will be affected by the kind of corporate catering services they were provided with. So you only want nothing but the best in this regard.

Corporate catering works well for in-house meetings, staff acknowledgement events, training seminars, holiday celebrations, and company anniversary celebrations. Catering also works well for evening events such as company annual party, fundraising events, or shareholders' meeting. In organizing such events, it is very important that you hire a corporate caterer who knows very well how to manage such events. Hiring a corporate caterer who has made a name in the corporate catering business is the best choice to help you manage your business event. A caterer that has relevant experience in catering for the corporate world will be most suitable for the job.

Corporate Events Venue - Get a Variety of Theme Parties Organized

Many corporate events are organized in order to get work done and they are therefore very professional in nature. However, corporates do get to have a lot of fun as well as companies organize a variety of theme parties and fun events as well, especially when team building or motivational sessions are underway. If this is your requirement then you will have to select a corporate events venue based upon its ability to manage such an event with a great degree of expertise.

It is not very easy to organize a really great theme party because there are plenty of small details that have to be looked into. The d矇cor, food and entertainment should all match perfectly so that the actual event is a great deal of fun. You need to select a corporate events venue that can host theme parties well because people have a lot of expectations these days, having been to plenty of these events. There is almost no limit to the themes you could ask for and the people managing the venue should have the ability to deliver what you are expecting. Mardi Gras, Hollywood (or even Bollywood), Casino and Arabian Nights themes are just some examples of what you can organize for your big event.

The people managing the party venue should be able to offer you the exact kind of seating arrangements you require. The venue should be large enough to accommodate your group easily and also the theme settings and buffet station, bar, dance floor and the like. The place should also have a really good sound system because the party will not be a success without good music. There should also be space for live entertainment in case you wish to organize that. The employees at this place should also be competent, friendly and dedicated because this will reflect on the quality of service they provide.

Make sure that you spend some time to select the best possible corporate events venue for your theme parties so that you are completely happy with all the arrangements. Once you select a particular venue you should make your booking immediately so that you don't face a problem with lack of availability later on. If the place you like is really good then there are bound to be many more people who like it as well! Don't leave anything to chance when organizing your events in order to give your guests the best possible time.

Corporate Compliance and Hierarchy: Managing Misconduct

Prime examples of the unfortunate truth and devastating facts and consequences of scandals can be found in the media all too frequently nowadays, such as the recent events at the Syracuse and Penn State universities. However, as upsetting as these events may be, ethics and compliance individuals can find valuable lessons to take away from these stories and apply them within their own organizations.

The fact is that individuals who are highly accomplished and have a long history of good, professional relationships tend to develop a sense of invulnerability when it comes to committing such unlawful and heinous acts as those illustrated by the Penn State and Syracuse scandals. The truth of the matter is quite contrary. No one is invincible. This is becoming even truer with the increased popularity and availability of video and camera phones, where documenting someone's infractions is as easy as reaching into your pocket, making exposure of any dishonest activity a guarantee. This fact should be taken as a warning to all white collar criminals. However, it is high time for compliance and ethics departments to begin taking steps to prepare for the potential eventuality of such breaches.

At the outset of the previously mentioned university scandals, the initial responses from those being accused was one of total denial, and these claims were backed by the individuals' coworkers, who vouched for their integrity and good standing. These situations also frequently occur when such events take place within a corporate environment. The important thing to keep in mind here is that sometimes people are not entirely what they seem. Good people can do bad things. The reverse can be true as well, being that bad people can do good things.

The fact is that, wherever loyalties may lie, or whatever preconceptions there may be attached to an individual, it is imperative for compliance and ethics professionals to maintain a sense of neutrality and objectivity when it comes to investigating any accusations. While they should not be entirely relied upon, an individual's character and loyalties within the organization should be taken into account, but should also not become a hindrance. A careful balance must be struck when such potentially volatile situations arise, to ensure that the facts are viewed impartially. In order for this to be done systematically and efficiently, procedures should be in place before such issues occur. Also, if and when necessary, these processes should have preplanned punishments in place.

Administrators and managers are often all to ready to take credit for the high performance of those under their supervision. Conversely, these same leaders have a tendency to shirk any responsibility and deny knowledge when one of their employees is found to be involved in any illicit or fraudulent activity. To help regulate such issues over the long term, a scorecard system can be implemented using a few crucial compliance and ethics parameters as a means of allowing administrators scrutinize the conduct of those beneath them. Taking note of such well publicized scandals as the Penn State and Syracuse affairs can be an insightful means of planning for the future in order to avoid similar issues within corporate organizations.

Planning Company Picnics in a Down Economy

Thinking of cutting the company picnic budget? Think again.

Today's leading companies are actually adding funds to the company picnic budget.

What is it that they know that you do not?

In a tough economy many organizations are unable to offer raises, are making pay cuts, and cutting benefits. But on the flipside, many other companies are still hosting company picnic events, increasing team building budgets, and creating more and more employee appreciation events.

So why, how, and what could make this be the case?

This is because of several reasons:

Why are people planning company picnics and employee appreciation events?

1) Boost Morale - It is important to rebuild the staff who are left after cutbacks or changes in business structure. A company picnic reaffirms the relationship the company has with the existing staff members and signifies stability to employees.

2) Budget Savings - When it is hard to give raises as they ultimately end up costing an organization a huge amount in taxes, employment insurance, and liability- the company picnic is a straight expense that can easily be managed. A company with 100 full time employees that gives a raise of $1 (one dollar per hour) ends up spending well over $3000.00 per year per employee after all expenses are considered. That ends up costing the organization $300k per year. A typical company picnic for 100 employees and their families can easily cost less than $50k all said and done- (and can sometimes cost well under this) and that is a very nice event from a reputable provider. That leaves budget for several more employee appreciation programs in a year, before even approaching half of what giving raises can cost an organization.

3) ROI - Return on Investment - Let's face it- every business owner, and every person in America is trying to get the best return for every dollar spent. The ROI on Employee appreciation events is huge. There is no point in spending money on advertising, new product development, or getting leads when a workforce is unhappy or unmotivated. Showing strength in your organization through a good event, showing appreciation for your workforce, and saying a simple thank you goes a long way. A happy and appreciated workplace is a more productive workplace.

Those reasons are enough to convince many business owners and executives to keep special events in the budget, to increase company picnic, team building, and holiday event budgets.

This year our event planning companies are receiving an overwhelming amount of requests from event planners looking to say thank you to staff, employees, colleagues, and customers. It seems that one common thing has been learned in the past tumultuous years- and that is that one thing is important in this world- Being grateful for what you do have and letting the people around you know that what they do is appreciated. People respond well to positive affirmations, and giving thanks opens the world up to an organization.

Some people sum this phenomenon up with the old adage "Pay It Forward" - and others simply see the financial savings and benefits behind rewarding employees with intangible things like special events. In today's world there is more to life than money... People are glad to work for a company that cares about them, that cares about their family, and that encourages employee interaction outside the workplace.

A company that recognizes the benefits to appreciating its staff through events will see an increase in profits, employee retention, and a more productive workplace. All these things do nothing but benefit a companies bottom line- which results in growth and a stronger organization.

Event Planning and Organizing

Holding events truly does involve a lot of work done. Starting from day one of planning down to the main event itself, everything must be in place. To accomplish a demanding task as such, there are certain protocols to take in mind.

The first thing an event needs is a planner who is in charge of every department the event entails. The planner should be the one who decides on how to make ends meet with the client's preferences and their expertise. Moreover, they also must ensure that everything must be right on schedule.

Depending on the size of the event, the event planner must have teams with designated managers. These teams are going to be the event's main needs. Commonly, these are the most needed departments on certain events.

Sounds and Lights Committee

Every event needs a sound and light system most especially if it involves a performance. For concerts and speakership occasions, sound and light engineers are needed to configure the acoustic capacity of the place of the event. Now for small scale events, sounds and lights definitely add up to the mood of a successful happening.

Stage Setup

Stage rentals are useful for large events. If ever you need a stage, it's best to hire people who can set it up without any complications. The stage setup team must be coordinated with the lights setup. Usually, stage providers come along with light setup experts so the work would be easier and lesser of a hassle.

Security Crew

To ensure the safety of the crowd, you must be able to provide a security crew that would stay in charge until the end of the event. Along with this are the guards, bouncers and medics who will stay on top of things if ever problems and complications arise.

Caterer

A must have whenever there's an event that involves dining. The caterer must be able to deliver the right amount of food for the number of guests not to mention it should be clean and of high quality. Along with this, the service must involve waiters who will assist with the servings, depending on what the client orders. An optional choice would be to hire a mobile bar on the event as well.

Decorations Staff

For an extra flair on themed events, decorators would be a huge help. From the little details such as centre pieces, banners, balloons etc. up to the whole theme of the event, the decorations gives a whole new meaning to the occasion where people can remember.

For a fruitful event planning and organisation, it's best to find a location where everyone can coordinate accordingly. A great place to brainstorm and share ideas are cosy and sleek meeting rooms that are fully equipped with the gadgets you need. With service providers who are offering meeting room rentals for an affordable fee per hour, this would be able to cross out a huge chunk of the hassle and work in the making.

Tips on How to Hire a Wedding Planner

It used to be that wedding planners were considered a luxury for the wealthy and/or celebrities. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you are recently engaged, or even one month from your wedding and need a little help, here is a sensible, intelligent and real guide to finding that special someone who can get you down the aisle to your other special someone with style. These are the quick, crucial bullet points you need NOW:

1) Talk to friends, vendors and look at blogs and sites that you trust. Ask their recommendations. Schedule meetings with at least three highly vetted consultants/planners after checking out their websites and seeing their work. Come armed with questions and use this as your guide. Most of all, follow your gut and see who you click with. Those consultations should be by appointment only and of course, gratis!

2) First question: do you like their style (of manners, humour, dress, organization)? Does he or she make you smile/feel calm? If so, that's a good sign you'll be a great team. Remember, a wedding planner is part budget guru, part organizational ninja, part shrink, part style consultant and part family therapist. He or she (and their team) will be your sanity, your laugh, your respite and your guide. Choose wisely!

3) How long has he/she been in business? How many weddings has he/she executed? If the answer is "I planned my own wedding and it was SO much fun" or, ditto, "I planned my daughter's wedding and it was so fulfilling!" then, run. These are called hobbyists and there are hundreds of them masquerading as experienced pros. Taking a class in wedding planning does not make a wedding planner, either. You want to make sure your planner has done at least 50 weddings. A good rule of thumb is also at least three years in business. Do they have any lawsuits filed against them? Bad sign. Do they get lots of local and national press? GREAT sign.

4) Do they have a variety of ways to plan, such as full-service (best for most brides), weekend of and hourly? Are they reachable during most business hours and some after hours? Don't abuse it and call at 3 am in a panic, but expect that they will get back to you promptly when you have burning issues. Planners live on their smartphones, so text and email as well. They are super organized!

5) If they charge extra for rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, that's a a red flag. Great wedding planners will also take care of that and brunch the day after. Your ideal planner may even offer to pack you for your honeymoon and make sure a car take you to the airport. Soup to nuts is why you pay a premium for excellence! If you opt for a more abbreviated planning experience, expect great attention and excellence as well. "Day of" is never really "Day Of" - your planner should start meeting with you a few weeks prior and know your wedding like the palm of his/her hand, double checking contracts, drawing up timelines, vendor lists and being on-site for the big event, setup, breakdown and other parties.

6) Speaking of money - cheaper is never better with wedding planners. A great wedding planner will pay for him or herself given they have the relationships with all the best vendors - they buy in volume and will get MUCH better prices for you on cakes, site rentals, floral design, stationery, photographers, caterers. They know the BEST vendors in the business and will offer you many choices for each facet of your wedding. Sadly, to a vendor, YOU are a one-trick pony (I know this seems harsh, but you only get married once, right?), but that planner is their bread and butter and they will go out of their way to please a planner. What may seem a little steep is actually going to come out as a budget saver for you. Great wedding planners will follow your budget to the letter and keep you there. Awesome!

7) To that point, a wedding planner who takes kickbacks from vendors is NOT ethical or for you. He/she is your advocate and charges you enough money. This also means he/she will use the same vendors over and over, without regard for your personal style. Double-dipping to line their pockets? Run away. It's a valid question to ask. It is unethical and immoral.

8) Can your ideal candidates get you coveted appointments for the bridal fashion shows? Get you a last-minute tasting at that great caterer? Take you out to see a coveted band or DJ? Get the most elegant papery quickly, without drama? Create the favors of your dreams and deliver them to the hotel or on a plane to your destination? Go with you to fittings and help you with your registry? They must be able to do this! They should also encourage you spend real time with your fiance and even order you to get massages, go to dinner with your beloved sans wedding talk and get your exercise and nutrition on track.

9) Does he/she quickly provide you with references, a plan of action, an outline of his/her services that is crisp, professional and aesthetically pleasing? Are the contracts easy to read and decipher? All good signs.

10) Does he or she take more than one wedding or event per weekend? Ideally, you'd like to be the only one. Also, in looking at their online portfolio, do you see many different styles of weddings? The wedding should be YOURS, not the planner's style. This is so very important. It's YOUR day - we are the hired help!

11) Finally, don't be a diva. Having a planner doesn't mean you can order her around or belittle him or her. That's just bad manners and taste. He or she is your partner and holds your big day in his or her capable hands. If you have concerns, air them with grace and class. A planner wants to please you, ensure a fantastic and gorgeous wedding experience and she usually has the answers you seek! Now go and find your dream planner!

12) The right planner should make you feel like his/her only client. Without a doubt. You may see that they are busy, but you should always feel like top priority! Also, follow them on Facebook and Twitter to get some creative ideas! Great planners love social media and put great stuff out there for YOU!

A great wedding planner can be a lifesaver. Do you really want to stand there in your gown and wonder if the cake arrived while getting your false eyelashes applied and listening to your mother ask about the escort card table? A great wedding planner will no doubt have a huge suitcase filled with just about everything to ward off dress tragedies, hangovers, broken nails and annoying relatives. They will order umbrellas if a monsoon blows in. They can bring heaters if a cold snap comes. They will dry your tears and deliver a gift to your groom. They will make your beautiful day just beautiful.

To find a great wedding planner, go to the websites of your favorite wedding magazines, blogs, ask friends, check out online guides in your area, ask the receptions site that you think you love for the wedding and other vendors. If you keep hearing the same names over and over those are the "go-to" folks.

Happy planning, beautiful wedding readers!

Corporate Team Building and the Positive Effect to the Organization

Small and big companies need a group of employees that are united and do work well together as the main ingredient for its success. It is important that each and every person in the team coordinates well with each other. Yes, team building is an important factor that the head of the organization should consider if they want to achieve the main goal of the company. It is an event in the organization that will revamp teamwork from the employees.

Somehow, it is difficult to achieve unity because each member of the group is unique and has their own different battles to make. Although, it may present as a difficulty for the company but when treated will be very useful for the company's main goal to be successful. Team building activities may consist of diversified exercises but it is designed to motivate team unity and teamwork at its finest. This will help resolve differences between employees just to make sure that flow of realizing the target of the organization. The designed activities are made sure for employees to participate in it despite the differences as a person, as an employee and of the hierarchy of the organizational chart. Corporate team building binds the group into one goal and mission by rebuilding the communication between each other. When communication and trust is improved then there is a surefire progress for the output of the group. When the group overcomes the gap which is an obstacle for a smooth relationship then success is the only way to go.

It is divided into two types which aims to develop the competence of each working group. First is the outdoor team building activities wherein the employees will be able to use their physical strength to be able to engage with the group. This type can eradicate negative vibration from each other because it will increase the inner strength through the exertion of energy to be able to conquer different challenges. When working in a group, teamwork is developed because the more you communicate with each other, the more you can overcome the challenges since you have a smooth flowing relationship going on. Remember that the most advisable kind of activities to be chosen should be more of an activity that binds than grinds with each other.

Indoor team building focuses on the proximity of working with each other and the level of concentration to be given in this type of activity. Since it does not require too much space, the indoor type can be done in the office during office hours or can be mixed in with outdoor depending on the situation and how you collaborate the two types. Some of the example of an indoor activity may be social events, workshops, training, seminar, discussion with the group, charitable events, skills based, etc.

But before you conduct a corporate team building activity, you need to evaluate the lacking character of the group and what activities can boost their weaknesses. There is no need to rush in engaging in these activities without getting ready on how and what to target to the characters of your subordinates. Team building is like a refresher course, it makes them think in the first place, why they are standing there with the entire group that works in the company. This will enable to boost positivism and awaken the best of their skills to commit to the organization.

A Gay Wedding Planning Agency

I would like to share the unique idea that a friend of mine came up hypothetically when in conversation with a group of other wedding planners. Because of the continuing discrimination against gay rights and not allowing equal marriage rights, he mentioned how successful a wedding planning company would be that - to celebrate equal rights for all of humanity- does wedding planning only for gay couples. Hypothetically, such an event business would root in those states where gay marriages are legal. Because the gay couple is already getting married in a very limited area, they would definitely prefer to celebrate their freedom of living however they want and choose a wedding planner who only celebrates and caters to their needs.

A gay wedding planning company would definitely work in unconventional ways as they already have a task away from the traditional bride and groom wedding and would have to have a wedding occasion plan where both brides and both grooms could fit in without having to seem like they are forcing themselves to fit in to the traditional marriage style. Since all the gay couples around the country who want to get married will only come to this state to do this, it will also catch a lot of business by the power of idea monopoly. With the success of such a company, other states and agencies would also want to have a gay wedding planning division in their company and that demand of starting a new type of venture would maybe even put pressure on the government to ease up on laws that do not allow same sex marriages. Because a gay marriage in general breaks from the norms and is not considered traditional marriage in general, the wedding planning company can also play around with many different ideas on themes, locations, foods etc; just because there is no standard wedding occasion procedure that they need to follow.

This will give them a lot of publicity and even more business because in most cases same sex couples would enjoy breaking away from the norms that try to tie them down and control their personal life decisions. It could be an exciting platform to start new traditions and trends that show the world that if people could just live and let live, everyone will be happy and find happiness in their own ways doing things the way they want to do with what makes them most comfortable.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - 6 Ways to Expand Your Wedding Planning Business

Once your wedding planning business gets established, you may want to expand and offer additional services and products so you can help your couples with more of their wedding needs, create long term relationships with them, and bring in additional revenue.

Here are 6 ways you can expand your current business:

1) Plan wedding related parties

You may already be doing this. While you are planning a wedding, you can plan the engagement party, bridal shower, bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridesmaids' luncheon, rehearsal dinner, after-party or post-wedding brunch for the couple or their families and friends. You can also plan receptions for couples who have gotten married at city hall, eloped or had small destination weddings and want larger celebrations when they return home.

2) Social events

Don't think that planning a wedding is the only event planning your clients could ever want. Many people hire event planners for anniversary and birthday parties, retirements, graduations, bar and bat mitzvahs, quinceanera celebrations and large holiday parties. Keep in touch so they remember you when they need help planning events for these milestones in their lives or the lives of their families and friends.

3) Teach wedding planning to do-it-yourself brides

There will always be some brides who want to plan their weddings themselves. Why not help them by holding classes and sharing some of your expert advice? You may even turn some students into clients when they realize how difficult it would be to plan their weddings on their own.

4) Offer products

Carry a line of invitations, favors or gift items. There are companies that sell these items and allow you to be affiliates and dealers. You can sell on your website or, in the case of invitations, you can carry wedding invitation albums to show your clients and sell them just like they do in stationery stores.

5) Rent out party items

Small venues and party rental businesses in some cities do not have the appropriate high-end chairs, china and other items you need for weddings. Therefore, you may want to purchase the items and rent them to your clients yourself. However, if you do decide to do this, make sure you have the ability to transport the items to your events and have the space to store them. If you have to rent space, do some homework and make sure you are able to recoup the monthly costs involved in renting a storage unit.

6) Plan destination weddings and honeymoons

If you have done a lot of traveling and have knowledge of wedding venues and romantic vacation spots in other states and countries, you might want to learn the travel business and help couples plan their destination weddings and honeymoons.

Remember that you do not want to stretch yourself too thin when you decide to add services and products. Your couples deserve your full attention for their weddings, and you should not be busy offering services that you do not have the time or the expertise to do with excellence. Also, if you are beginning to think about expanding, it is also time to think about adding employees to your business.

Make an Organized Team Within Your Event Management Process

You might have successfully achieved prized contract of dealing with a great event and have already convinced your clients by explaining your success stories of handling shows, but this is only a stressful beginning, if you lack organizing skills. Once you have secured the contract, you need to deal with the event planning and event management activities. This obviously means that you need to work as a team which might include suppliers, vendors, food serving teams, venue owners, etc. Your team will comprise of all these people. Thus, you need to be very careful while managing people with their proper skills.

Assume that your team is already picked out and you start the planning process. Will it be possible for you to manage and organize them and assign them proper task? How will you know that who are specialized in which field, so that there is no wrong assignments or duplication of task? For avoiding all these situations and making an organized team for planning an event, here are a few tips:

繚 Group in proper categories:

Group your members into activities, they are specialized in and can perform efficiently and offer the best results. For instance, you might hire additional resources for helping and put them into a group that is short-staffed, so that they can perform the said task. Thus, rigorous selection must be done to ensure that they will not let you down. If you are ignoring the careful selection process, it can result in a stressful working condition for your team as well as team members.

繚 Track activities of each member:

While assigning duties, you will have to keep a track of their performances and must communicate directly, if anything goes wrong. Each team member must understand the allocated work properly and must be responsible for providing updates of the daily work, so that you can track the progress.

繚 Maintain datelines:

Maintain a dateline for the work delivery of each member. This is very important. The team members must know their deadlines for delivery. It becomes intolerable, if at the last stage of the event they come and say that they were unable to follow the instructions or meet the delivery date. Thus, it is extremely essential to monitor any team members' issue or problem. Attentive reporting is a vital factor for maintaining a good team and successful work delivery.

Your event can take place at any part of the world, but what matters is an ideal and organized team and good delivery to host a successful event.

Top 5 Tips to Promote Your Events With Pinterest

Amongst the clutter and craziness of the social media explosion, Pinterest has experienced exponential growth over the past few years. With Pinterest, you can "pin" your favorite things onto separate "boards", which is a productive strategy for large-scale promotions. The visual appeal of Pinterest coupled with its collaborative nature presents an interactive platform that event organizers may utilize to initiate brand communication for events.

With possibilities galore, this massive social media forum has now become a steadfast platform to create and maintain a relationship with the audience. Here, we have shared key tips to help use Pinterest for your event's success.

1. Create an account of your brand and event

While promoting your event through Pinterest, keep the company's brand image in mind. You need to separate your personal Pinterest account from your company account. Making your company a brand in its own right is definitely easy with a stimulating platform like this. Present the dynamics of your brand to its prospective customers and create a personality that will resonate with the users. For your upcoming event, you can create a separate board with a corporate theme that matches your company or brand. It helps to attract people and get themselves engaged in discussions on the event. Thus, you access a convenient way to make your event popular long before the actual occasion takes place.

2. Maintain relevance in your Pinterest activity

By just merely being active on Pinterest will not reap the fruits of success, unless your activities do not comply with the mission and vision of your event. Post, like, and repin things which are in line with your event or your company's operation, products and services.

For example, if your upcoming event is a concert or a rock-music gig, you have to post pictures related to the artist, music genres or the venue of the show. Simultaneously create boards, which are appropriately relevant with the event or your company's brand.

3. Research about the target audience

It is true that the majority of social media users belong to the age group of 18 to 30 years. Many a times, they are not the target audience of your event, unless it's a rock-music show or a similar kind of concert. Thus, identifying your target demographics is crucial. Once you know who is talking about you and wants to attend your event, it would be easier for you to determine the kind of posts that will attract them. In other words, you must know how to cater to your audience and their diverse behaviors.

4. Create pins that your followers will share

Pinterestis all about creating a buzz in a virtual world. Moreover, it is visual and collaborative by nature. Thus, when you are promoting your event through this platform, make sure that your actions speak for themselves. You need to create colorful photos and posts, so that people find them interesting enough to share. Thus, you can get your event promoted in a fun and interactive way.

5. Attract followers with catchy phrases

Pinterest is not only about images; catchy tags and interesting titles have a lot to do with it. You will be more likely to draw followers if you use clever, witty and short phrases along with the picture you pin.

Thousands of users are using Pinterest as a promotional platform. Thus, it is extremely difficult for you to stand out amongst the millions of other boards unless you are offering something unique.

Organising Corporate Events Such As Clay Pigeon Shooting in Ireland

Many organizations are increasingly opting for Ireland as the location of choice for some sorts of corporate events, especially those that require some degree of quietude - like for instance 'company away' and 'fun' days. The serenity of the Irish countryside, combined with aggressive marketing (mostly by the Irish event organizers and the authorities) have over the last few years seen Ireland emerge as a leading destination for corporate events such as company away and fund days - to an extent that entering a search term like 'corporate events Ireland' on any search engine is likely to give you scores upon scores of relevant hits, a considerable number of them being favorable reviews of Ireland as a destination for corporate events, especially those that are best done away from the work environment.

Another considerable portion of the results you get from a search term like 'corporate events Ireland' will be made up of companies that offer to organize such events for an organization on an 'as a package' basis. This way, having paid for the package, all that the company staff or team members (as may be the case) have to do is to hop onto a plane and get on with whatever corporate event is taking them to Ireland, unencumbered with intrusive thoughts about what they will eat and where they will sleep. Now this is attractive to corporate event organizers because after all, one of the aims for organizing corporate events that take place in off-site locations is to give the company members the opportunity to get away 'from it all.' And when you say that you are giving your company's people the opportunity to 'get away from it all', and then you encumber them with concerns about where they will sleep and what they will have to eat, then far from getting them away 'from it all', you are actually getting them 'into it all.'

The beauty of taking corporate events to Ireland is that the Irish countryside, which is normally the setting for such events, offers participants the opportunity to engage in activities they have never engaged in before - like for instance clay pidgeon shooting - a popular pastime in rural Ireland. Engaging in activities like clay pidgeon shooting, which will almost inevitably be a completely new activity for anyone who has never been to Ireland will make whatever corporate event in question is to be remain etched in memory of the participant. Now getting a corporate event - like a team building event for instance - etched into the memory of the participant is one of the things that the event organizers in the company yearn for. This is because it such deeply etched memories which make people come to feel a part of the 'company family.' This is because when all is said and done, what makes you feel a part of your natural family, the family you were born into is nothing more than memories you have of the times you spend together and the experiences you had with that natural family. If people are to feel part of the 'company family' then, there is need to create for them indelible events in their minds for them to 'show for it.'

Corporate Events Really Can Be Fun!

Team building events can take advantage of the traditional western lifestyle and great fun can be had by being involved in a range of activities from line dancing to mechanical bull riding. Experiences can be shared by the entire workforce and relationships developed within the corporate structure whilst the participants have a tremendous time. Memories will be based on the fun times in a rodeo arena rather than on any pressures to build or strengthen relationships within the working arena. Dallas corporate events such as this give a wonderful platform for bringing your team together.

There are some superb ranches which include pavilions, ranch houses and trails and incorporate all the aspects of life in the traditional west. Events at a ranch house and conference center give you opportunities to immerse yourself in all the spirit and atmosphere of the Texan life of the era but with all the comforts and safety precautions of a modern venue. You will find event spaces with performance stages and dance floors with wonderful access to scenic ranch land right on the door step. Being in Dallas, corporate events such as this will guarantee you an authenticity which can only be imagined outside the rolling hills and open pastures of Texas.

If you are keen to arrange an event at a western venue, you will find some which are able to offer horseback trail rides, line dancing and country and western music, gun fighters and overnight accommodation. Your team can really learn their strengths and weaknesses whilst sharing an evening around the campfire out on the trail. In addition you will find some which go further and offer well designed specific team building events. A team event that incorporates a rodeo challenge will bring your team together into a high performance and cohesive unit. Life on a ranch made many demands on team work and although participants will be having the time of their lives, they will be playing to win in interactive group competitions which will rely on strong team values. Events which include activities such as trail riding during the course of a conference can really bring a team together.

Team building events are becoming increasingly popular as companies realize the importance of communication, cooperation and creativity. A venue where the teams are able to benefit from facilitated presentations with a view to leadership and team-bonding at the same time as having huge amounts of fun is guaranteed to be a winner. Corporate events at an authentic Texan ranch are truly an experience to get excited about.

Planning a Chicago Sweet Sixteen Event

Aside from a wedding reception a Chicago Sweet Sixteen Birthday can be one of the biggest moments in your son or daughter's life. Putting together an epic event like this can be overwhelming and frightening. This is why we've created this guideline to layout some proper steps in planning your Chicago Sweet 16. We'll cover each aspect of your party and walk you through each area correctly.

1. Determine your Budget: The very first step of any party would be to set a realistic budget for your event. Setting a budget can often be rather difficult, especially when money is tight. Before setting any budget you should contact some of your local Chicago vendors and see what their average rates are. You may think party favors cost $40, but in reality they could turn out to cost $200. Many vendors usually have minimums; you should try to get this information up front.


2. Choose a venue: After you've set a realistic budget you'll want to begin by looking at venues. There are tons of different locations in Chicago where you can host your event. Often time parents will begin by looking at reception halls and banquet facilities, but will find these places can be more than their budget allows. You may also want to look into local facilities like recreation departments or VFW halls. These facilities tend to be much cheaper and you're able to bring outside food and drinks. This will help save on the costs. You'll always want to keep in mind that the venue where the party is held will dictate all the details of your party including the decorations and costs.


3. Select a Theme: Not everyone chooses to theme their Chicago Sweet Sixteen birthday party, but lately this is becoming more of a trend. There are several themes out there and we recommend doing a Google search on "Party Themes. Some of the more popular themes we've seen are masquerades, highlighter parties, pretty in pink, and of course the night club theme. Once you've selected a theme you'll want to choose colors that complement the theme. Lighting can also be an important aspect of your Chicago Sweet Sixteen. It can turn your ugly VFW hall into an all out night club experience if done properly. Check with your local entertainment company and see if they can help you pick out lighting that will match the colors of your event. Your entertainment company may also be able to add your son or daughter's name into their computerized lighting. Lighting is often overlooked when planning a Sweet 16, but it can really make your party shine! (No Pun intended)


4. Choose Your Entertainment: The key to party success is often your entertainment. There are several different types of entertainment, but most people choose to use a mobile DJ route. You'll want to choose your entertainment based on your son or daughters personality and style. As stated before, the entertainment can make or break your party. You'll want to search for an entertainer with a high level of energy as that may be needed in the beginning of the night to get the party started. You'll also want to choose an entertainer with some style and an up to date music library as the kids will demand it.


5. Choosing a Cake: Will you have a cake at your event? Will it be homemade, custom made, or store bought? You'll want to choose a cake that fits into the theme of your Chicago Sweet Sixteen and of course you'll want it to taste good!


6. Photography or Photo booths: Having a professional photographer is becoming quite a trend. Of course you'll want to try to stick to your budget as photographers tend to be expensive. Not only will a photographer grab all the special memories that night, but they can make your son or daughter feel like a true celebrity. When choosing a photographer you'll want to hire a professional and see if they've shot a Sweet Sixteen party before. You'll also want to see what kind of style they shoot (traditional, photojournalistic, artistic, etc). Often times your DJ or entertainment company can provide you with photographer referrals. Having party professionals who work well together will really make your event come together smoothly. Another option would be to rent a photo booth for the night. These can be a lot of fun for the kids and everyone will have a photo keepsake to take home from the event.


7. Grand Entrance: Often time people will choose to have a grand entrance for the birthday boy or girl. You'll want to know how they will enter the room. Who will handle the introductions? Will there be music playing? Will you have a red carpet entrance? Will they come in by themselves or with a VIP or closes friend? Maybe a paparazzi entrance with pictures everywhere? This is when having a professional entertainment company will come in handy. They'll be able to help you with planning the grand entrance and they may have some creative ways of doing this too.


8. Choosing an Outfit: Picking out that right outfit can crucial, especially for the girls. You'll want to try to match the colors or theme of their event. Some even choose to do something brighter or completely different so that they'll stand out from everyone and look their best.


9. Will there be an After party: So the official party is over and it's time for the after party. This party may be for your son or daughter's closest friends to hang out afterwards. Often time people choose to get hotel rooms or have a sleepover back at the house with food, drinks, and a movie. Having a solid plan for after the party will make sure your day is complete.

As you can see planning a Chicago Sweet Sixteen birthday party can be a lot more work than you anticipated. Not everyone chooses to go as elaborate and detailed as others. The thing is there really is no right or wrong way to throw a party. The key is to try to be completely unique. With the help of this sweet sixteen planning guide, you'll now have the building blocks to throw a one of a kind Chicago Sweet Sixteen.

55 Creative Entertainment Ideas For Your Next Event Or Meeting

1. Hire a comedian who can poke some fun at your CEO, do an impersonation of him, or even make light of your industry as a whole.

2. Hire a magician that can incorporate your sales message into his magic, or cut your CEO or receptionist in half. He might even be able to vanish the CEO, much to the delight of the employees.

3. Book a vocal improvisation group to take requests and spin them into a funny performance.

4. Have a musician write a song about your company and play it at the event.

5. Hire a celebrity impersonator to come to the event and sign autographs and take pictures with guests.

6. Book a caricature artist to draw personalized sketches of each employee at the company. These are fun souvenirs as well.

7. Book a digital caricature artist who composes his or her photos digitally on a computer right in front of your eyes. They can even personalize the backdrop to reflect the company
or event. This is a great souvenir for the guests to take home.

8. Book a balloon artist that makes the life size figures such as Disney characters, scenery like palm trees, huge company logos, and more. The balloon artist can do these figures with everyone watching making it an experience to watch the balloons being put together.

9. How about a strolling juggler who can mingle through the cocktail hour.

10. Book a stilt walker to make a big announcement for your company at an annual conference or meeting. It is a fun and guaranteed way to get everyone's attention.

11. A clown is a great option for events with children or families. There are also evil clowns for events with no kids or around Halloween.

12. Book a palm reader to make psychic predictions about the future of the company or to tell people's fortunes.

13. Hire a reality TV star to interact with guests. They are far less money than big time Hollywood celebrities.

14. Book a tribute band to play the songs of an artist that is popular among the guests.

15. An a cappella group can perform on stage or stroll through the event during a cocktail hour or dinner.

16. Hire a symphony orchestra to play at the event. You will need to consider space requirements for this type of an act.

17. You could have a mime act out a corporate message to employees or event customers.

18. Book a DJ to play only requested songs or songs from a certain era such as the 80's

19. Break dancers can be lots of fun. They are generally young, hip, and add a sense of youth to an event.

20. How about a mariachi band for some festive music.

21. A steel drum band can be a nice addition to a high end gala event.

22. Booking a fire eater can be a great way to kick off the launch of a hot new product or service.

23. Carolers can be nice addition to any holiday event.

24. A living statue can be a great idea for almost any event. Make sure you ask for a living statue that matches closely to the theme of your event or meeting.

25. Booking a cirque act is a great idea when the event needs something remarkable or to get a buzz going. Make sure you can accommodate for the space some of the cirque acts require.

26. A snake charmer is a unique way break up a meeting or attract a crowd at an event.

27. Hire a mentalist to read the minds of the guests. This is creative way that the performer can interact with the audience.

28. How about an ice sculptor who can sculpt the company logo or a corporate message live while people watch it being carved.

29. Acrobats provide a lively addition to an event.

30. Singing waiters are an a cappella group dressed as formal waiters. This catches guests off guard and is an offbeat way to infuse entertainment into the dining experience.

31. Ballroom dancers can be popular with all the dance themed TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and others.

32. A barbershop quartet is an a cappella group where all the members wear red and white costumes, similar to that of a barbershop pole. This has a nostalgic feel to it.

33. Dueling pianos are a fantastic way to get the audience involved with nonstop entertainment

34. You could have your employees put on the entertainment by having a talent show and getting everyone in the company involved including the CEO. You will want to record this so everyone can watch it later on, or you may even want to send them all home with a copy, or mail it to them afterwards. You could also post them on YouTube for all to comment on.

35. A marching band can be an official way to introduce somebody special at the event. It can also be a way of showing that the company does not take themselves too seriously if they book a fun themed marching band.

36. Book the 60 second novelist. He comes with his own table and a manual typewriter and asks guests a few questions to get a sense of who they are, and he types out a short life story in one minute. He even binds it so guests can take it home. The story is funny, imaginative and true. This is a fun way to get people to open up and share their stories and get to know each other.

37. Face painters are a neat way to entertain the younger kids.

38. A choir can be a nice way to make a grandiose statement.

39. How about an opera singer for a classy event or gala.

40. A graffiti artist that can create a painting of someone or something with a large crowd watching. Some artists do this type of thing super fast, making it intriguing to watch.

41. Book hula dancers to mingle on the dance floor with guests.

42. How about Polynesian dancers to inject a unique culture into the event.

43. A ventriloquist can be a great entertainment choice that can play well for kids or adults depending on the performer.

44. Hire a dynamic storyteller who can weave a message about the goal of the event or meeting.

45. An escape artist is a dramatic way to convey messages such as, escaping or breaking free of limiting beliefs and constraints. This can be a nice way to motivate employees to achieve a goal.

46. Booking a hypnotist can provide a serious element or a comedic one.

47. A rapper could perform a comedic rap specifically written about the company. Some rappers can even improvise this on the spot.

48. A puppeteer is another option for younger children to keep them entertained.

49. Hire a sword swallower to attract the crowd or if it fits into the theme.

50. You can always hire a real Hollywood celebrity to attract the attention and buzz you need or try booking a couple of smaller celebrities to make better use of your funds and get more celebrity drawing power.

51. You might want to book a political impersonator that is popular such as Sarah Palin or Barack Obama.

52. A harpist can add a light musical touch without loud music. This would be nice for a laid back, high end atmosphere.

53. How about having multiple celebrity tribute artists on stage performing a bunch of hits songs from the various artists they impersonate.

54. Have a stage where different executives from the company do karaoke for a variety of songs.

55. Finally, the best way to guarantee a creative entertainment experience is to have the performer or performers customize their acts to your event or meeting. This creates a memorable experience guests are sure to remember for a long time.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - 3 FAQs About Wedding Planner Certification Courses

You don't need a wedding planner certification to work as a professional planner or to have a wedding planning business. However, if you have very little expertise and experience with planning weddings, or if you are finding that brides in your target market are asking if you are certified, then not hiring you because you are not, you definitely want to consider investing the time and money into completing a program.

Many potential clients like to hire planners who have certificates and degrees in their profession. They feel more comfortable with someone who has taken the time to get formally educated.

Here are answers to 3 questions about certification:

1. Will I need to get my high school diploma or GED to begin wedding planner certification classes?

Some certificate programs are part of a community college or online school and would ask you to show a high school diploma or proof that you passed a GED exam. If you are getting a certificate from a local wedding planner or a wedding and event planner association, you may not need to have graduated from high school but you should definitely ask what their requirements are.

Personally, I feel that it is important to complete your high school education. You need to have good oral and written communication skills, be able to do some bookkeeping, understand contracts, and be familiar with art and design so you can understand a bride's vision. Completing high school will give you some of these skills or at least point you in the direction in which you can learn more on your own.

Also, if you ever want to start by working for another wedding planner, caterer, or florist to get some experience with weddings, chances are good they will want at least a high school graduate.

2. Prices for wedding planning courses range from $500 to $2000 or more. There are 6 week, 12 week, 6 month and 12 month courses. How do I decide what to take?

Assess the knowledge and skills you currently have. Decide what you still need to know in order to be a great wedding planner and a successful business person. Then select some offline and online programs that you can afford and thoroughly read through their descriptions to find ones that can meet your needs. (Be careful about spending more money than you can reasonably afford.)

Don't be afraid to call a school or association to ask about their curriculum, teachers, the level of support that they offer when you have questions and the success rate of their former graduates. You also might want to search for comments about them on the Internet to make sure they are reputable and don't have a lot of complaints against them.

Before you sign up you should also be sure you have the commitment it takes to complete the course within the time frame they require. It's a waste of time, money, and energy for you to start something you will not finish.

3. Does a school help me network or market myself after I complete training?

Generally, no. The programs usually train you in the basics of setting up a business and planning weddings. It is up to you to figure out where to keep learning more to increase your knowledge, get the experience you need, find places to network and learn how to market your business.

If the training is from a wedding or event planner association, they may offer you membership in their organization for a few months as part of your course fee. If so, you will have access to the list of planners and vendors who are also members and be able to attend local meetings and conferences where you can meet others.

No one school or program is perfect for everyone. If you feel you need to get a wedding planner certification, do some research before investing your money and remember, a certification is not a guarantee that more brides will hire you. You need continue to study, get experience, keep up with wedding trends, and take the time to market your business to get all of the clients that you want.

10 Corporate Event Planning Tips You Can Use

If you're arranging a corporate event on behalf of your company, then you might already know what you need to do. Alternatively you might want some corporate event planning advice. Here's what you need to consider.

1. You'll need to establish why you're planning the corporate party. Is for a product launch, to try and attract new business or to thank your staff for their hard work?

2. Once you know why the event is being held, you'll to establish what sort of corporate event it will be. Does it need to be formal? Do you need to send out invitations? Do you need to stress a dress code? Will you need to send out invitations?

3. You'll also want to make sure that the party theme and ideas are appropriate for your target audience. A party aimed for staff will be different from a new product launch, or a formal event where board members will attend.

4. The venue you choose will also need to be suitable, and able to meet your requirements. You might have to stick to a certain date, or finding the right venue might be more important.

5. You'll also need to know whether you'll have additional facilities such as a PA system, lights, internet access or a large TV screen. If you're launching a new product, then you'll want everyone to be able to see.

6. The food you organise will be important too. Perhaps you'll want a formal sit down meal with several courses, or you might want to have a finger buffet so that people will be more inclined to talk to each other.

7. As well as the food, you might want to make sure that there is some entertainment for after your meal. Depending on the venue, you might be able to choose from lots of different type of entertainment, and really impress your guests.

8. You'll want to make sure that there is accommodation available, so you might also want to book some hotel rooms for everyone who wants one.

9. You'll need to make sure that guests are aware of whether you're providing transport to the corporate event or not. If you're not providing transport, you can still make sure that everyone has the phone number for a local taxi company, so that they can get back home, or to their hotel safely.

10. Even though you might have a budget for your corporate event, you can't organise your venue, food, entertainment, transport and accommodation on cost alone. As well as providing the facilities that guests need, you'll need to ensure that your guests, whether they are clients or colleagues, have a good time. By economising you might change the opinion of your clients, but by being too indulgent your clients might think that you charge too much.

Now you know more about what you need to think about, you'll soon be an expert at corporate event planning.

A Conference Organiser - The Best Service Provider in Event Management

Companies and/or persons who are planning to seek the assistance of a Conference Organiser need to initially know their capabilities and the extent of responsibility they can carry out in organising a conference. The success of a conference is always evaluated on the publicity it generates and the reputation that it can bring in for that particular company, institute, organisation or persons who hold the event. In order to attain this success, the following is required:

• Immense amounts of organising


• Unlimited Resources


• Experience in Event Management


• And most importantly - Patience

All of these services are made available as one package - at a company that deals with Event Management or a Conference Organiser.

Given below are some areas of responsibility which are handled by these organisations or persons who handle these events:

- Program Planning, Design and Implementation
- Cost Analysis, Budgeting and Financial Management
- Interior D矇cor
- Registration of Delegates - online or on arrival
- Preparation of welcome packs with all the required literature
- Offering the right advice - suggestions for eco-friendly uses
- Publicity and promotion of conference if it is for an external target audience
- Record keeping of all details - bid presentations, accounts, supplier details etc of the entire conference
- Selection of the most suitable venue and ideas for the conference theme
- Arrangements for Insurance Cover to Internet access
- Total supervision and management of the conference - from start to end
- Catering arrangements
- Hotel accommodation (if necessary)
- Transport arrangements
- Recreational activities
- Liaising with other organisations
- AV arrangements

Given above are just a few of the responsibilities that a Conference Organiser will handle. These organisers are very competent on the job and have the expertise to look into every detail of the entire event. Once the initial negotiations and details have been discussed, most of these event organisers offer their fullest assurance to their clients for a successful event.

In this busy world, where most organisations don't employ specific staff for event management, these organisations are a great asset as they are able to simplify your life by managing any local, national or international event - from beginning to end.

In order to achieve a complete success of the event, the client will need to work closely with a Conference Organiser to furnish all the required details. They will need to work closely with the committee nominated to work for this conference. A good working relationship is vital for a successful conference.

Event organisers of today are more likely to promote eco-friendly methods, in-keeping with the present trend of the global environmental condition. They are more committed to improve their reputation and event sustainability towards "greener" events and meetings. Conference Organisers are made aware of the environmental impact that is associated with all events and conferences, and are more likely to promote less hazardous methods for conference organising.

In the long run, it will be a good and wise idea to have eco-friendly methods, as this will be a good opportunity to prove to your delegates your own concern towards the protection of the environment. It will bring in a good and lasting impression of your company in the business world.

The Advantages of a Good Marketing Agency for Your Event

Most event organizers and planners find it hard to make their services known to the public who they wish to target. It is always important to reach the wider majority if one is to reach the goals of his business or organization. Without the right marketing tools and the right marketing strategy, an organization could end up suffering and be left to languish without many people knowing that it exists.

There are various marketing companies and organizers that are dedicated and committed in helping event planners advertise their services and events. A good company will handle your ideas with interest and keenness and give its best to make it prosper. You should hire a company that knows the right media in which to advertise your message and one that has a marketing strategy that will work for you and your company.

When you choose to market your services, go for an agency that will deliver your services and goods to the target market directly and effectively thus bringing you good results. In this sense, the marketing, branding, media acquisition, public relations and even communication methods such as visual demonstrations are essential in ensuring your services are well received. A good marketing company should be able to give you positive results and continue to maintain giving you all the value you are looking for through the entire process.

Marketing activities can be great driving forces in making your services and goods known to the public and therefore it is only fair that you go for a marketing agency that offers the very best activities which are sure to reap the very best results. The agency should be there from the initial stages of your campaign and still stand with you long after the campaign has finished in order to evaluate how the market reacts and whether the marketing strategies put into use really did work to your advantage.

If you are an event organizer or planner and deal with events like conferences, festivals, conventions and expos among others, you need the right direction in dealing with such to make the public aware and what other better way to do this than to hire the services of a marketing agency? There is no single organizer who would want his event to lack attendees or, worse still, lack any sponsors. A good marketing agency should be in a position to help you reach the wide majority making your event a success

Hire a Professional Event Planner to Ensure Success

Planning a successful event can be an enormously time-consuming task. Even the smallest detail overlooked can result in an event not running as smoothly as it should. Without experience, those details are easily missed with assumptions made that someone, somewhere, will be handling them when the time comes. Those assumptions are too often wrong. The experienced event planner has seen it all and knows where those problems are likely to occur, attending to them long before the event to assure that everything goes as intended.

Choosing the right venue for an event and negotiating the terms is where most inexperienced event planners get into trouble. Hotels and convention centers are in the business to make money and they will always construct contracts in their favor, too often springing "surprises" at the last minute that can be very costly. An experienced event planner will understand this and will both read and understand that fine print, negotiating every point to protect the event party. Additionally, professional event planners have worked with these venues before and know what they are willing to provide at discounts.

Having professional Boston event planning done for you will save you money in other ways as well. They have relationships with vendors, such as caterers and florists, with whom they do repeat business. To maintain that business, vendors offer these good clients discounts for savings that will be passed along to the event parties.

A professional event planner will save you money and considerable time while ensuring that your event meets or exceeds your expectations. You can feel confident that every detail has been attended to so you can relax and fully enjoy your event.

Get Wedding Business Clients Now

Lots of wedding planners get stuck when it comes to marketing. Here's how to grow a successful bridal business.
 
The quickest way to land a wedding client is by personally connecting with a motivated buyer. The more sales conversations you have with people who urgently want and need to hire a wedding planner, the greater your chances of success. If you can come across as a trustworthy professional who fully understands their needs you will almost certainly land the business. The trick is finding ways to have more of these conversations.
 
So how do you connect with highly motivated wedding shoppers?
 
It all depends upon your goals. If you are only looking to land one or two wedding planning clients this year you can probably do that by effectively networking with your circle of friends and family, but it's hard to scale this approach. If you need to make a full-time income from wedding planning you need a scalable marketing solution.
 
The very best marketing plans are not complicated. There seems to be a great temptation amongst MBA's to make the process of marketing convoluted and difficult. If you're marketing budget is in the millions of a dollars you will need fairly complex systems. But you don't need anything near that for the average wedding planning business.
 
First, get very clear about the type of clients that you want to work with. I see too many wedding planners try to be everything to everyone, and ultimately, they fail. The market values expertise and specialization.
 
Keep your target audience in minds at all times. Keep all your marketing "on message," on clear value proposition. If you happen to do general event planning, don't confuse your potential customers by advertising corporate event planning or any other extraneous services. The bride-to-be ones to work with an expert who is perfectly matched to her needs. Send brides to a weddings only site.
 
Next, discover what your ideal clients really want. Don't assume. Simply asking around can be helpful, but don't be misled. Often times people will tell you one thing and do another. Identify your ideal client type and carefully watch exactly what they are actually spending money on.
 
Don't forget what the bride is ultimately buying from you. She's not buying flowers, food, music or transportation. She' buying the fulfillment of a dream. Remember to engage your customers on an emotional level. Not in a manipulative way but in a way that honors their intentions. Work hard to truly understand the wants, desires, and years that your potential customer habits. Honestly address their concerns and always look for ways you can better serve them.
 
Wedding planning is a wonderful business. There's plenty of opportunity for creative, ambitious and organized individuals who want to make a difference. Don't let your lack of marketing skills stop you from living your dreams. It's possible to build a thriving wedding planning business when you start with a solid marketing plan.

Tips for Renting Limousine Services

We all have events in our lives that standout. We want to make these events special and memorable. One way to do this is to rent a Limousine. Arriving at a Prom, Birthday, Wedding or other special event in a luxurious Limousine would make those events even more special. When booking a Limousine service there are several useful tips you can follow that will save you money and ensure you hire a quality service.

Hire a Company that can Provide the Right Car

When hiring a Limousine service you want to hire one that has a large selection of different luxury vehicles. Depending on the event you are attending you may want different types of cars. For instance, you might prefer a luxury SUV for a bachelor's party, then a Rolls-Royce for the wedding day. If you are throwing a sweet sixteen party for your daughter you might prefer to rent a stretch Limo. You also need a company that can provide a wide selection of Limos to ensure they have one that will accommodate all of the people in your party.

Modern Cars

Cars, even Limos, have advanced a lot over the last few years. Make sure the company you hire has updated cars. Their cars should feature all of the most modern conveniences such as satellite radio, DVD players, and HD stereo systems to name a few things the cars should have. Another thing you need to do is ensure that you and your guests have control of all of the entertainment systems. Do not depend on the taste of the driver. With many Limo rentals only the driver can control the CD player, DVD player, and other entertainment devices. You do not want to listen to another person's music for an entire trip, make sure you can listen to the music you want to hear.

Pre-Plan your Rental

One of the key things you should do when renting a limousine for a special occasion is book your Limo as far ahead of schedule as possible. This will allow to get the best deal and ensure that you get the car you want for your event. Planning ahead will also give you more options when talking to the rental company. You can plan the route you want to take to your destination, the beverages you want served during the trip, and any stops you would like to make along the route. There will also be other plans you can make, renting your Limousine at the last minute could limit your choices.

Hire a Quality Service

Possibly the most important consideration when hiring a Limousine service is to hire a company with a good reputation. You have to consider that their driver will literally have your life, and the lives of your party members in their hands. Before you hire any company or sign any contracts ask the Limo company to show you proof of their licenses, insurance, and other paperwork. If any rental company declines to show you this proof you should walk out the door and find another rental company to work with.

Developing Client Relationships at Sporting Events (Corporate Hospitality)

In today's age of hyper connectivity, it's easy to assume that we are all a little bit closer to each other in our business relationships. Our clients are all just one mouse click, SMS or phone call away. We may keep top of mind with each other via Twitter or LinkedIn. All this connectivity, whilst affording more regular and convenient contact, is slowly eroding the amount of face to face time we spend in our business relationships. It also means that your competitors have the same easy access to your valuable clients. But how can you and your organisation rise above the digital cacophony and be the one your client wants to do business with?

Corporate Hospitality encompasses the age-old tradition of breaking bread with someone. To break bread is to affirm trust, confidence, and comfort with an individual or group of people. Is is something that cannot be replicated over the phone or in a business meeting sense, no matter how charming you or your competition happen to be.

Sharing a special moment at a popular sporting or cultural event whilst enjoying a nice meal and a few glasses of wine can solidify your relationships with your clients in a way that very few other settings can. Should you choose to undertake some client entertainment, it is vital that you choose the right setting for this. For example if you take your clients to a restaurant and secure some general admission tickets in the stands, your client might not feel so special. This would especially be the case if you were seated near unruly or intoxicated people at the game, concert or show. You might not get to spend much time talking to your guests as you are continually lining up to get drinks for them. A corporate box however provides a private and comfortable setting, where your guests are able to relax, ensuring that you are afforded time to talk and get to know your client a little bit better. Being served food and drinks to you in your seat means you don't have to worry about the little things, as someone will be there to take care of it.

In essence, when it comes to corporate hospitality at sporting events it is crucial to choose the right package so that the exercise doesn't become counter productive. Packages such as corporate boxes will ensure that you are in a position to strengthen those important client relationships.

Business Planning - Issues Facing Strategic Planners Today

Different companies hire strategic planners internally or as consultants to guide them towards profitability. These strategic planners do thorough research using the company's SWOT or Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analyses. They use these kinds of information to be able to predict how to react to future problems or obstacles.

Having a strong and effective strategic plan is like having a strong weapon in achieving success in your business. However, strategic planners are facing some issues these days that might hinder them in coming up with a successful plan for the future of the company. To be able to understand more, here are some of the issues that strategic planners are facing today:

1. Lack of information - Researched information is basically the bread and butter of strategic planners. They usually get information from the competitors to have a comparison but most of the times these competitors are protecting their business so they do not reveal much information.


2. Fear of losing a job - Another way for strategic planners to create a successful plan that will help the organization dodge bullets or storms for that matter is by asking current employees with some questions that will make the case study stronger. Of course, the voices of employers shall be heard too but most of the times, these employees are afraid to tell the truth because they are afraid that they might lose their jobs. How are you going to develop a plan when employees are picking the good words to say about the company? This problem is indeed one of the major headaches that strategic planners go through.


3. Predicting the future -Another issue that strategic planners is facing is the ever-changing trend in the market. This problem becomes worse because of the presence of new technology that can easily improve a man's way of living.

These are the challenges or issues facing strategic planners today. It would be best to get as much and as accurate information that you can get to be able to create an effective and strategic plans. Since you are now aware of the problems that might hinder in the development of an accurate plan then it is best to act on these problems. Here are some examples:

1. If you find it difficult to gather accurate information about the competitors then you might want to consider doing another approach like hiring another person to get this information for you.


2. If you were having trouble because some of the employees do not want to reveal the truth because they fear losing employment, then you must explain to them that you are conducting this research to help them secure their employment.


3. If the competitors were being proactive planner then be sure to distinguish a campaign that is worth your time - i. e. the campaign that will help you determine their actions towards the future. You need not chase them all throughout. Planning based on potential threats could be more reactive than strategic planning so you need to be selective with the information that you get too.


4. Well you cannot do much about predicting an accurate forecast because if you are just basing your research from potential strength, possible weaknesses, opportunities and threats then you will not really produce a plan with 100% accuracy.

Ideas From Corporate Event Planning Services - Create Moral Boosting Staff Meetings

The ideas corporate event planners use when planning their events keep those at the event interested. Consider using these same strategies in your staff meetings to keep these events light and informative. It is a proven fact that happy workers are more efficient and have a lower rate of error than those who are unhappy in their position. Use this concept to keep employees interested in the information you have to share, get creative, and build the energy your business needs to succeed. Here are a few great ideas from corporate event planning services to consider:

Change Of Location

If staff meetings are held in the same place all the time, consider some ideas corporate event planning services have for changing locations. Consider moving into the company cafeteria or outside in the parking lot or local park. Add food to the event and you have a winning combination. If moving to a different space isn't an option for your next staff meeting, consider adding some decorations and other items to the room to spice things up. Some corporate event planners have even created a monthly theme that combines with the company brand.

Fun And Games

Even though staff meetings often don't last long, schedule in time to include games and fun activities that everyone can enjoy. Make everyone into teams and give each group a 'project' to complete, which might be building something from building blocks or it could be a trivia game. The winning group could then get a prize. Appropriate music or simple games like Pictionary or charades can have a company touch.

Employee Recognition And Awards

Corporate event planners recommend taking time on a regular basis to show appreciation, encourage company loyalty, and enthusiasm with small awards ceremonies at the beginning of an event. They don't have to be for company changing feats, but even for small things. Some ideas corporate event planning services often use include things such as 'idea of the month', 'top team member', or 'go-getter of the month'. The idea is to demonstrate some sort of appreciation and acknowledgement of individuals from various levels.

Give Employees A Say

Although this can be difficult with a larger staff, give everyone a chance to offer ideas or bring up questions and concerns. One of the main reasons staff meetings seem like a chore for employees is because they feel as if their thoughts don't matter. Give them a portion of the meeting that is used to explore the company from their side. If you need to, divide the staff into groups by their departments or into sizes. This can also be highly effective at solving problems or issues your company may be experiencing.

These are ideas corporate event planners use to increase the level of energy and creativity at various events. Using the same ideas and concepts as corporate event planning services in staff meetings will stop the boredom and open the lines of communication. When you connect well with your staff, your company will flourish as a result.

7 Tips To Successful Event Planning

Planning an event can be a stressful time. With these helpful tips for event planning, hopefully it will make it less stressful and you can actually enjoy the event.

1. Plan In Advance. The sooner you begin to plan, the better. Think carefully about the event you would like to organise before you start and put an action plan together. Work out how long it will take you to complete it, who you could contact to help you out.

Here are some Planning Questions you can go through:

- Is the date suitable or does it clash with any major or national event in your area?

- Who can help?

- Do you need a committee?

- How much do you expect to make?

- Is it worth doing - will you bring in three times as much as you spend?

2. Pull Together A Team. The bigger the event, the more people you are going to need to help you plan. Once you have put together and written down the plan, go over it with your team. Delegate what you can and stress the importance of each person doing their job properly. The last thing you need, is an unreliable person to pull out on the day of the event and leave you hanging and even more stressed.

3. Work Out A Budget. Think about how much you or the organisation has to spend on the event. Costs include postage, printing, photocopying, equipment and hire charges. Try and see if you can get individuals or local businesses to donate some of the things you need, especially if it is a fundraising event. Your income might include ticket/entry fees, sponsorship, donations, raffles, auctions, advertising, sale of goods and refreshments.

4. Lists, Lists, Lists. Keep lists of what you need to do so that nothing gets overlooked. I find it handy to keep a notebook and pen beside my bed because when I am just about to fall asleep I begin to remember all the things I have yet to do. I write them down there and then so I will not forget them.

5. Marketing. The success of any public event rests how well it is marketed.

Here are a few questions to help you put together a good marketing plan

- Who are you trying to attract?

- Do you need any flyers or posters? How many? Who will design and print them?

- Where will you put them?

- Do you need to send a press release to local papers or local radio?

- Do you need to print invites?

6. Venue. The venue you choose is crucial in the success of your event. It effects who attends, the age range, how long they stay.

Here are a few tips when picking a venue for your event

- Is the venue available on the date and at the time required?

- Is it big enough?

- Does it have disabled access?

- Is a deposit required?

- Are there enough seats/tables etc?

- Do they provide catering facilities? How much, what choice, and is there a vegetarian option?

- Is there a cloakroom?

- What toilet facilities do they have and do they have disabled access?

- Do you need a TV, video, CD player, microphone?

- Do you have adequate insurance?

7.Finally, in organising an event, the worst thing that can happen, is all your hard work being flushed down the drain by bad weather. Add a wet weather contingency plan into your overall plan. And do not forget to have fun!

Facing Problems While Managing Events? Here's the Planner's Guide

Organizations situated around the world host events to strengthen the bond with their existing customers and build up networks with their target audience. Social events as they are popularly known is really very important for companies as they work towards developing trust and greater confidence of potential consumers in their brand, organization and namely their products and services. Managing events is as crucial as planning one. Event planners need to hire people to work in different areas, manage inventories, look into logistical requirements, and book a venue if it's a large scale social event. Even after years of experience, many event organizers face problems in managing events successfully. It is here that an event planner's guide can be of great help. Let's see how!

Prepare Your Event Checklist

You should create a checklist for all the essential areas where you need to work upon whilst planning the event. A week before the event, ensure you recheck everything; from invitations to ordered supplies. In case you find discrepancies, you will have time to fix the issues. Also, make note of the things that may go wrong on the D-day and develop backup plans to avert the crisis.

Invite People Early On

While you book the event venue and start hiring staff, it is important to keep the invitation aspect in mind and not miss out on sending an invite to any important dignitaries whose presence is expected. Make a note of the people you have invited and the names of those who still await your invitation card. A faster way of inviting guests is via emails. If you want to convey the same message to all, just a design single email and send it out as a bulk message. You save on time and manual labor. Moreover, you can free yourself from doing any paperwork since you can now generate electronic invitations.

Arrive Early at Your Conference or Event

Get all your team members to arrive at the event venue early. In case any changes are required to be made, it can be done easily before the arrival of the guests. Keep a meeting room ready and summon the staff to sort out problems, if any.

Hang Up Signs for Easily Locating the Event Venue

You should post signs directing guests and suppliers to the event site. Absence of any signs may create confusion regarding locating the place. Hanging up visible signs makes it clear to event attendees easily locate the route to your event venue from the nearest bus stop or train station.

Welcoming the Guests

Choose 3 to 4 team members to welcome the guests cordially and show them to their allocated places. After they get settled in, ask them if they need something; perhaps a glass of water to wrench their thirst. These little gestures go a long way in making the attendees happy and eager to participate more in your events.

How To Successfully Manage An Event

Events of any type are very important for a business. Whether it is a marketing campaign event or a conference, proper event planning is required to make the event successful. The success of the events brings a positive change in the business. Event planning is not an easy task, people without knowledge and experience can make the event become negative for a business instead of positive. Due to non-professional event planning many exercises to make a business better has been wasted and a lot of money has gone down the drain. These steps are involved in successful event management.

1. For successful even management you need full support and authority to turn the event into a successful one. Without full authority and proper sponsor backing the event can not be as good as it can be.


2. For successful event management, the goals and the objectives of the event should be properly determined and defined. The goals should be realistic because if you try to reach unrealistic goals you end up compromising on the quality. For example: If the event is aimed to increase employee motivation, then it should be clear in the event managers mind that they have to achieve it and even report it. Reporting can be done by conducting a survey through which one can gain knowledge about employee morale.


3. Proper planning should be done before implementation. If you have designed a plan, you should follow the plan. If the plan is not followed during the original event session then uncontrollable problems can take place which can be damaging for the business. Budgets are important and should be followed as a budget is a copy of the real thing.


4. One of the most important part or the part that makes an event successful is the type of employees working on the event. Event managers should be fully sponsored so they can easily higher the best people available in the market. With the best people working on an event project, positive result expectation can be high. The best people know their jobs and have the experience to carry out work under pressure situations.


5. Everyone should be updated with any changes in the events; there should be proper communication between the team managing the event. Any communication errors can be very negative for the event. Before going for the final take, a test run should take place. In the test run every body should be clear about their goals and a step by step guide should be provided to the entire team.

Leaders Must Proactively Anticipate

You are not a leader simply because you hold some title or position, or ascend to some position of power and authority. True leaders always plan ahead and determine needs, not only in the present, but in the future as well. They realize that their actions, or lack of taking actions ultimately have ramifications, and they are prepared for these by anticipate needs and necessities, and doing so before there is a crisis or are forced to take action. They participate and anticipate proactively. The hockey legend, the great Wayne Gretzky worded it this way, "Skate to where the puck is going, not where it is." When this is adapted for leadership, it is important not only to anticipate where things are going instead of where they are, but even more so to not become overly fixated by where they may have been in the past.

1. Things change, and when someone in leadership is unwilling or unable to adapt, or in some cases to even understand that change is to be expected, welcomed and planned for, an organization will ultimately suffer often dire circumstances. Every leader not only needs a dream directed, vision led, set of goals and priorities, but he needs an action plan. This plan must not be simply one way to do something, but must examine alternatives, set priorities and preferences, understand how to evaluate progress made, never be intimidated by the inevitable road blocks and obstacles, and create a series of plans. These plans should be prioritized and all should aim toward the same goals and results, and not be satisfied with under- achievement. While it is both acceptable and logical that a leader would have a prioritized and preferred course of action, her must always have back- up or contingency plans. Leaders must commit to accept the Boy Scouts, "Be prepared," philosophy, and never be overwhelmed by an obstacle or challenge that may come up. Planning is a process and only through commitment to that process, can someone be ready regardless of circumstances.

2. In addition to having consulted and trained leaders for over thirty years, I have also been intimately involved in the preparation and planning of hundreds of events during that over three decade period. Often, the difference between a great event and a mediocre, run of the mill (or worse) one, is the level and degree of planning. When it comes to planning and organizing events, event planners must not only have back up plans, but contingencies for the contingencies. I have so stressed that issue, that a hotel food and beverage/ group department gave me an engraved flask, that read, "The Ultimate Back- up Plan."

True leaders proactively plan and anticipate. They look positively and hope for the best results, but are prepared to use different methods or approaches to achieve the ultimate goal (effectiveness and greatness) by always anticipating, so as to dramatically reduce the negative impact of any scenario that may come forth.

Top 10 Conference And Event Venues In North West England

The North West of England boasts numerous event venues suitable for conferences, exhibitions, weddings, parties and more. Manchester and Liverpool in particular offer fantastic locations to suit all kinds of events, whether commercial or private.

The best way to source a venue in the North West is to use an event management company in Manchester or an event management company in Liverpool.

Here's a rundown of the 10 most popular function venues in these two cities.

The Lowry, Manchester

The Lowry is located on the waterfront in Salford Quays, just outside Manchester city centre, and opened its doors in 2000. It offers several function rooms to suit any kind of event, large or small. As a visual and performing arts centre it is completely suited to holding conferences, dinners and even weddings.

Manchester United Football Club, Old Trafford

Perhaps the most famous football club in the world, Manchester United's Old Trafford ground holds over 75,000 and in addition the world class facilities include various suites for conferences, events and weddings. Some overlook the pitch for those wanting the feel of a sporting venue, while others offer different views, making Old Trafford a versatile venue to suit most occasions.

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Bridgewater Hall in Manchester city centre is an international concert venue offering five different spaces to suit conferences, meetings, exhibitions, dinners and receptions. It is one of the most stunning buildings in the North West, let alone Manchester, so attendees will feel that little bit more special.

Imperial War Museum North, Manchester

Another waterside venue not far from both Old Trafford and The Lowry, the Imperial War Museum is a stunningly designed building that offers function rooms for all kinds of corporate and private events. In addition it boasts free parking for 160 cars - and you don't get that often!

Lancashire County Cricket Club, Manchester

Another sporting venue boasting impressive function suites, Lancashire County Cricket Club is a more sedate setting, as you would expect. Nevertheless, the ground - confusingly called Old Trafford, just like the football ground! - offers a unique venue in that they use their new addition to the ground, The Point and configure it to suit your needs through the use of partition walls and the like! Definitely worth a look!

Echo Arena, Albert Dock

The Echo Arena on Albert Dock is a brilliant Liverpool event venue with 7,000m2 of exhibition space, a 1,350-seater auditorium and 18 break out rooms. It is ideal for conferences and exhibitions but also lends itself well to other events.

Knowsley Hall, Prescot

A grand venue for conferences, team building days, weddings and private functions, Knowsley Hall sits in a 2,500 acre privately owned estate which includes not only the hall and the facilities it has to offer, but also a safari park, accommodation and a spa! Something for everyone at this venue.

Haydock Park Racecourse, Haydock

Not strictly Liverpool, but still in Merseyside, Haydock Park racecourse is much loved by horse racing fans and it offers fantastic facilities for corporate events and even weddings. A variety of suites and bars of varying sizes are available in the course's stands, including a sports bar and the grand Horseshoe Suite.

Victoria Gallery & Museum, Liverpool

A beautiful building in Liverpool, the Victoria Gallery & Museum is suitable for recitals, conference receptions and dinners and provides a great setting for the more formal event. The venue is licensed for weddings, too, so you your event can be planned all in one place.

Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Just outside Liverpool city centre and situated on the waterfront, the Floral Pavilion is an ideal venue for conferences, seminars and trade shows. The modern venue is state of the art and completely geared towards corporate events of all types.

Event planning in Manchester and Liverpool is made simpler by these and other world class facilities. Both cities also offer numerous hotels with suitable function rooms for any event.

So next time you're considering an event, give the North West of England a look before you choose your venue.