Event Management While Working Part-Time in Network Marketing

How to manage the events in our lives once we get home when we are building our internet marketing business will and does determine how fast we will grow. Time management is nothing more than event management.

How and what we choose to think about and focus on determines just how creative we become. Did you know that time management is not about managing time at all. It is about managing the events that occupy your time. How we choose and implement the events that occupy our day determine our results, satisfactions and efficiency. So, choose the events wisely.

If we think about and visualize where we want to be and look at and hold in esteem those that have gone before us and hold a specific title or achievement level that we are striving for. For those of us that do hold down a full-time job and are working on our dreams have to be very careful with the events that occupy that time.There are many tools available to help you do that.

Some things that I have learned is that we must keep the main thing the main thing. If you are going to be writing articles then write. If you are going to be making videos then make them. If you are going to be calling leads then call them.

Remember this that nothing really every happens in NETWORK marketing until you put in the work. This does involve picking up the phone and calling people who you have identified as a prospect for your service, product or business or they have some way let you know that they wanted to connect with you. Some events that need managing in my life are:

• Just getting started doing something.. anything other than re-organizing the dust on my keyboard.


• Managing my thoughts by focusing on visualizing what the outcome is that I am wanting to occur.


• When I need to exercise.


• Where to research an article or what to write about today.


• When important calls or webinars are and tell that to those who can benefit the most.


• Focus on money making activities for at least two hours a day introducing a minimum of two new people to what I am doing.

These are just a few that I pulled out of the air at the moment but we must understand that these are events. Not Time.. So Time management is event management. We all are given the same amount of time each day it is the events that we choose to fill up that time that will make us or not. Event Management while working part-time in Network Marketing is what will determine the speed of which you will achieve.

Remember that thoughts are things and everything that has ever been made or created started with a thought. Choose wisely the events in your day that will cause you to think about something. Everything that we do I hope we are at least thinking about it.

In future articles I am going to be working on some visualization techniques and am considering hosting some online master mind workshops geared to help create and formulate your vision for your future. Would that be of benefit to you? Let me know by connecting with me on my Facebook page or just get in touch with me and let me know if you find event management difficult and need someone to mastermind with on the subject. Contact me and let me know if this article was beneficial for you.

Marquee Hire

A marquee is like a portable venue. Where your marquee goes, your party goes! These flexible structures tend to be very versatile in terms of style as well as functionality. They can cater to any kind of event, including weddings, birthdays and other family functions, as well as corporate events, markets and fairs.

There are a number of advantages to hiring a marquee. It is a flexible structure, so can be placed absolutely anywhere. It is a venue that you can dress up as you like, so you are free to create any interior design you require. No matter what the theme of the event, you can create the appropriate atmosphere inside a marquee. They are available not just in a choice of sizes and shapes, but also a variety of styles as well, from exotic Bedouin tents to modern wireframe structures.

Before hiring a marquee, it is important to know exactly what is needed. Two factors are integral to what type of marquee you will need. Firstly, the number of people it needs to accommodate, and secondly, the site where it will be place. The reasons for this are that people need to fit inside the marquee and that marquee needs to fit on the site!

Traditional marquees, the ones that are pitched using guy ropes, tend to require some leeway around the actual structure to pitch. Frame marquees, however, do not need any more space, as there are no ropes involved - a frame made of poles is what holds the structure up. Apart from these, more stylised marquees such as Bedouin tends, Tepees and exotic Arabic tents are also widely available and becoming more and more popular.

A marquee is like a blank slate, or should we say a canvas, upon which one is free to create anything by way of interiors and other embellishments. Many suppliers combine marquees with other services, providing options for flooring and furniture, as well as lighting and soft furnishings, which is very convenient.

It is advisable to book early, as marquees are quite popular. Many good suppliers have bookings for up to a year in advance, so it's best to start searching as soon as the date for your event is finalised. Like with most things today, a good place to start looking is online. Local event planning companies may also have a useful database of suppliers. Suppliers should be able to offer useful advice about the interior layout, size of the marquee etc.

Also, before you hire, it is useful to know exactly what it is you're paying for. For example, would the cost of hire include heating services, transportation fees, as well as service to erect and dismantle the marquee? This can avoid last minute glitches, which are usually caused due to simple misunderstandings.

Events can be great fun to plan, but they can also quickly turn into a nightmare, especially if things start snowballing out of control. While some things are out of our control, more often than not, the root cause of the problem is poor research. So lastly, make sure all your suppliers, whether it is for the marquee or anything else, are reliable and have good track records!

4 Popular Sporting Events Hosted in India

India has always been a great country for the sport lovers, as people here are engaged in various sports that are being played since a few decades. However, Hockey and Cricket, being the two most prominent sports in India, the later has gained much popularity compared to the former, which is the national sport of the India. With the increasing popularity of sports in India, events are being hosted every year, particularly for the sport lovers. Let's have a look at the top sporting events, which has always been loved by the people of India.

繚 Indian Premier League (IPL):

The IPL is perhaps the most talked about sporting event, hosted in the country. With more than 60 matches being scheduled for 45 days, the IPL has evolved as a phenomenon, with times. Formed in 2008, with a proficient league of 20 teams and promoted by the Cricket Board (BCCI), the IPL Players are the second highest paid athletes across the globe. The IPL, an overexcited passion in India, is the first globally recognized sporting event, which has been broadcasted live on YouTube. Thus, you can envisage the popularity of the event.

繚 Snake Boat racing In Kerala:

The snake boat racing is a very popular event, designed and prepared throughout the year, where boats (120m long) and the rowers get together every year, during the festival of Onam. Spectators from various parts of the country visit the place and line up near the banks of the Punnamada Lake, for watching the crew of rowers accompanied with singers, racing through the stirring waves. The traditional sport event, which was first organized in the year 1952, for honoring the Prime Minister of Independent India, has been able to retain its recognition and popularity in the lands of India.

繚 Kila Raipur Sports event:

An event, which was started by the farmers and peasants for impressing maidens with their muscle power, gradually became an internationally recognized event in Kila Raipur, a small village near Ludhiana. Hosted in the month of February, more than 4 thousand people gather here every year, for taking part in the extremely popular rural Olympics. Spectators, from far and near, visit the place for enjoying the rustic athletics. The event has become so popular that even foreign teams come here to get trained and compete.

繚 Jallikattu ( an event hosted In Tamil Nadu):

Jallikattu is a bull taming traditional sporting event that is about 3,500 years old. The sport, which was previously known as "hugging the bull" event in ancient Tamil Nadu, is hosted during the festivals of Pongal, in January. People flock to the place to enjoy the event, where players chase down the bulls and snatch the money tied to the horns.

Whether it is a rustic sport like kabaddi or a modest game like cricket, the vibrancy and enthusiastic energy of India is always reflected in the sport events.

The Best Melbourne Conference Venues

As an international business centre, Melbourne is often host to exhibitions, expos, conferences and corporate events. The choice of conference centres in Melbourne is extensive and ranges from small boutique hotels with function rooms right through to huge purpose built exhibition centres. Each of these venues has a different combination of facilities and services, different capacities and different price points. Choosing the right Melbourne conference venue will depend on the size and style of the event.

Large Melbourne Conference Centres

The award winning Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the first '6 star green star' environmentally rated convention centre in the world and is a leader in innovation and sustainability. The huge purpose built convention centre boasts 52 meeting rooms, a grand banquet room, a 466 seat auditorium and 30,000 square metres of exhibition space. The world class food and wine have won awards and the technology is state of the art. Although, the MCEC is capable of hosting the largest of exhibitions or events, they also cater for small to medium meetings and conferences in their flexible meeting rooms. Located just 5 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and overlooking picturesque Albert Park Lake, the Sebel Albert Park Melbourne is a Melbourne hotel offering an excellent Melbourne conference venue and a large flexible event space. The Sebel also has the added advantage of on-site accommodation in its 242 stylish and contemporary guest rooms. The Grand Ballroom has a capacity of 1400 cocktail style or 900 for a banquet, while rooms such as the Lake Rooms are suited for small meetings boardroom style, for 10 or less. The Sebel provides specialist event planners to help planning and organisation run smoothly for corporate events.

Small to Medium Melbourne Conference Venues

The list of hotels offering conference and function rooms in Melbourne is endless, although the standard can vary dramatically. The Langham Hotel in Melbourne CBD is one of the best luxury hotels offering conference and meeting facilities in Melbourne. The hotel itself is 5 star and boasts outstanding accommodation in a central location. The conference centre houses 16 flexible meeting rooms suitable for as few as 6 or less delegates or up to a maximum of 400 guests reception style. The Langham was awarded the annual MICE hotel award (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) at the HM Magazine Hotel & Accommodation Excellence Awards 2011. The outstanding facilities and excellent service will ensure a corporate event to remember. The Como Melbourne Hotel is another centrally located Melbourne hotel offering excellent Melbourne conference centre facilities. The Como is a sophisticated 5 star boutique style hotel and its meeting rooms reflect this style. Located in the trendy South Yarra region, the Como specialises in contemporary functions and has the audio visual and technology to reflect this. The hotel has 107 contemporary guest rooms, an indoor/outdoor heated pool with retractable roof, gymnasium, sauna and spa. Little extras such as a complimentary daily newspaper, signature Como rubber duck and dry cleaning and laundry services make the conference experience an enjoyable one.

There are numerous other excellent conference centres in Melbourne, although the four mentioned above are tried and tested and excel in all areas from services and facilities to accommodation and location. A tour of the hotel and facilities is always the best way to determine the suitability of a venue for your needs.

Event Successful! How To Throw A Great Event?

If you're planning a party or successful event, you'll have a lot to think about and do over the coming weeks. Being responsible for everything from the location to the party favors can be intimidating, but never fear. Here are some basic steps that will help you plan and host a successful event.

1. The Plan is the Party!

The most single important aspect of having a successful event is to plan successfully. Consider all the scenarios - best, bad, and really bad. Now build your event plans to address your best dreams and worst nightmares. First, what is your goal? Are you throwing a bash for a long, lost friend? Are you selling a service or product to your customers? Are you raising funds for a charity? Your purpose for having the event should be the framework for everything you do from here on out.

Plan not only what you want to happen, but what you will do if it doesn't go that way. Give yourself lots of time to do your research, arrange for services, get the accessories, and encourage great attendance. Start with the big picture items like the location, the date and time, your theme, and your goals. Work your way down to the details including, but not limited to, table decorations, menu and specific dishes, space layout, coat storage. Plan flexibility into your schedule, and you're more likely to have a successful event.

2. Get and Stay Organized

Once you've established your plan and schedule, stick to it. Of course, there will inevitably be problems and changes. But make it a point to keep personally organized. There'll be a lot you can't control, but you can control your own time, your health, and your attitude. When you start wandering away from your plan, things will become chaotic, harder to manage. Don't let the ankle-biters distract you. Be flexible, but keep your overall goals and schedule at the front of your mind. Keep your planning materials, contracts, and correspondence organized in folders. Use a day-planner to keep track of your appointments and commitments. And always, always plan "me time" to maintain your energy and interest in this project. Staying organized as a critical part of planning and executing a successful event.

3. Make the Venue a Driving Decision

Once you have your plan laid out, your first big decision will be where to locate the event. How many people do you expect to invite? What type of entertainment are you planning? (A keynote speaker will use a lot less space than a 10-piece chamber orchestra.) Are you serving a sit-down dinner, a buffet, snacks? How much space will you need for seating? Do you want to be in a facility where other services are available? How far are you willing to make people travel to get there? Do you want an elaborate, expensive setting? Or will a casual, relaxed environment be best? When you know what type of place you want to use, identify at least three candidate locations and visit each one of them personally. Talk to the facility managers. Ask lots of questions. Find out what they'll provide as part of the contract and what you'll need to provide on your own. Ask for detailed formal bids from the candidates, and be sure to let them know they are competing. That will bring in lower bids. The investment of time and effort in selecting and securing the perfect facility will pay off big time on the night (or day) of your wildly successful event.

4. Develop a Detailed Schedule for Event Activities and a Program

You probably already know the theme of the event if you've established your goals and you've selected an appropriate location. Now you need to plan activities that are consistent with your theme. The larger the event, the more carefully each activity must be planned. For big events, will you have speakers and presentations? Ceremonies? What types of activities are you planning? As a first step, sit down and make a list of every activity you want to happen. Then order them in a logical way that flows. Plan for some unstructured social mixing time at the beginning and end of your successful event. Decide how long you want to allow for meals, speakers, announcements, and entertainment. Allow extra time for your guests to leave for a smoke or a bathroom break. Keep your guests busy, but not so busy that they feel stressed or overloaded. Build in time for fun and relaxation as well.

5. Now Turn to the Details

The first major part of your detail planning is food and drink. Food arrangements range from the very complex sit-down multi-course meal to the pot-luck munch-n-go party. You'll need to decide whether you and your helpers can provide the food or whether it would be easier and more appropriate to hire a caterer. If you do decide on a caterer, go through the same process as you did when securing a location. Select candidates, interview them, and get formal bids. Decide what menu you can afford and want to serve you want the caterer to prepare. When you've made a decision on the caterer, sign a contract with your agreements outlined very specifically. Have costs broken out into line items so that, if you have to, you can make changes to adjust to your budget.

Many caterers also provide beverages. Do you want to have an open free cash bar or will you ask guests to make for their own alcohol? Do you want to have alcohol at all? If you decide on serving booze, you may also need to consider hiring some security guards to make sure things don't get out of hand. Again, whether through your caterer or as an independent service, get formal bids and sign a written contract for the beverage service. (Some locations will provide non-alcoholic beverages as part of the rental agreement.)

6. Focus on Entertaining Your Guests

Once you are settled on the facility, the theme, and the food and drink, you'll need to pin down your entertainment. For more serious gatherings, you may want to hire a keynote speaker or ask for presentations. For more social gatherings, you should consider a band or orchestra, a DJ or comedian, or other entertainers. Will your entertainment involve dancing? You'll need to be sure you have the space for that. If you're using an emcee, DJ, or comedian, a small podium will probably work. But if you're having band or group of entertainers, you'll need a stage. You may even want to have structured games or entertaiment (ever heard of the murder mystery party?) that your guests can participate in. If you're holding a fund-raising event, you might consider an auction or competition designed to get bids. Whatever entertainment you choose, make sure it's appropriate for you theme. And time the presentation of entertainment after dinner or snacks. If you have a keynote speaker, have them start their presentation about half-way though the meal so that they don't have to compete with the hustle and bustle of getting people seated, early dinner conversations, and the tinkle of glassware and silver.

7. Cultivate your Providers

To have a successful event, you must develop and maintain positive, productive relationships with your vendors. The first step is selecting reputable, dependable vendors that come with good recommendations. Avoid vendors who can't or won't get you in touch with their other clients. Be very clear with them about what you need and what your expectations of them are. Always get your agreements down in writing to avoid confusion and disappointment later on. Be kind and considerate with them. Don't think that because you've hired them, you can treat them without respect. Your successful event may well depend on the nature of the relationships you've built with them. Remember that important point as if your successful event depended on it ... it does.

8. Take Care of Yourself

No matter how busy you become or how difficult the job may be, you absolutely MUST take care of yourself. Stress can cause illness, and the last thing you'll need is a bad cold or the flu as your planning is underway. If you can afford it, hire an assistant to help you with the smaller details. Or get others in your organization to volunteer their time. Have someone you trust to be a sounding board for your ideas and plans so that you don't go off on some tangent that doesn't make sense. Two heads are almost always better than one.

But more than anything else, build time into your plans for self-care. Give yourself time to take a day off at the spa or the local nature preserve. Build a time into each day for meditation, reading a novel, playing with the kids or your pet, or visiting with friends. Do what you enjoy. Make sure to eat properly and get plenty of rest. Aim for 8 hours of sleep every night, and take naps in the daytime if you need to. Plan social time too. Go to lunch or dinner with your friends. Ask your partner to go to the movies. See a play or go to a concert. Do things that keep you interested and positive in life generally. That will maintain your physical and psychological health and your ability to cope with the myriad of decisions, activities, and events that will inevitably come up during the event-planning process.

Event Planning Tip - Things Entertainers Don't Tell You

I love Reader's Digest. I forgot how much I loved it until a friend started giving me her copies when she was done with them. One of the regular sections I like is titled, "13 Things Your _______ Won't Tell you." I like it because you get useful advice, but the person dispensing said wisdom gets to be a bit snarky.

For instance, in the December 2008 issue they have, "13 Things Your Hairstylist Won't Tell You." The first one is, "I'm a beautician, not a magician. I can give you Gisele Bundchen's haircut, but I can't give you her face."

Well, I AM a magician, and if I could wave my hands and make the world beautiful, I would've done it by now. That being said, I figured I'd rip off the Reader's Digest Formula and give you, "13 Things Your Magician Won't Tell You (unless he's me)!" Of course, this list applies to entertainers in general.

1. Why his price can't be found anywhere - Most magicians prefer to have you call in so they can fish about before quoting you a price. After a few questions, they guess at the highest price they think you'll pay. If Magicboy sees an area code from Beverly Hills or South Beach, the price goes up before he answers the phone.

2. Most won't tell you there's a guarantee - Of course, the best entertainers stand behind their services just like a good company stands behind its product. If a magician isn't willing to offer a refund if he bombs, keep shopping.

3. Magic contests are meaningless - Don't get me wrong, some contests have more prestige than others. However, magicians like to watch different stuff than the average audience member. Magicians may think a performer is great because he's unique within the community. Meanwhile, spectators are bored. So, if Joe "The Plumber Magician" tries to sell you his show based on the awards he got from his secret club, ask if he has any letters from past paying clients and if you can contact them for a reference. You'll probably get some confusing response that leaves you scratching your head, kind of like talking to the real Joe "The Plumber."

4. That they're a kids show magician - There's nothing wrong with your average balloon twisting, cape wearing magic guy for the little ones. However, sometimes unsuspecting people call these magicians for an upscale event and end up turning their elegant affair into romper room. So beware, that great price may not be so great.

5. You aren't funny - When it's time to pay the magician his fee don't say, "Can you make this bill disappear?" As a matter of fact, whenever you talk to a magician, refrain from the, "Can you make ____ disappear" joke. I mention this as a matter of your safety. One day, and it might be me, a magician is going to snap from hearing this one too many times.

6. Your date isn't guaranteed until you pay the deposit - If a magician, DJ, band, etc., are holding a date for you, get your deposit to them immediately. People like to shop around and we can usually tell when someone is just trying to cover their bases. A friend of mine once got booked twice by the same person through two different agencies at the same time. Luckily, when she canceled through the agency she didn't want to use, it didn't effect him, but the one agent got ripped off holding a date she could've used for a paying client. The bottom line is this. If we hold a date for you, we have to turn down other work at that time. If you're slow in paying your deposit, we assume you're shopping, and we will take another job if that person is prepared to send in their down payment right away. So, don't be disappointed, reserve your date with prompt fee deposits. While I'm at it, it's customary for entertainers to be paid immediately after the job. If that's the arrangement, keep your word and have the performer's check waiting for him when he's done. We don't have collections departments to track down these late payments.

7. Your event determines the type of show - If a magician only performs one type of show, he may be selling you on a performance that isn't right for your event (see kids magician example above). For instance, if a magician strictly does card tricks, he can't entertain an audience of 1,000 people for an hour. On the flip side, if the performer's act requires a stage and elaborate lights and sound, he can't entertain at your cocktail mixer of 30 people. Don't be sold on a show that doesn't fit your event. Find a performer that can tailor his performance to your needs.

8. Timing and time is important - Don't have a magician attempt to entertain while people are having dinner. It's a waste of your money. Also, when you hire a magician, you're paying for his time. If he's scheduled to work before dinner and you make him stand around until after dinner to perform, you'll be billed.

9. The hard part is in the getting there - Most of the work we do as comedians and magicians is in the marketing, show prep, and travel. Once the show is booked and we've arrived at the venue, the hardest part is done. With that knowledge, if you hire a magician for an hour of strolling close-up magic and decide you'd like him to stay an extra hour, he'll probably give you a great deal since he's done all of the grunt work. You can get a better deal waiting to negotiate overtime like this, but you also risk the performer having another show scheduled after yours. If he does, he'll have to leave to keep the appointment.

10. They have jobs - There's a lot of magicians that perform part time. There's nothing wrong with that, but there's a big difference between somebody that entertains day in and day out versus a semi-pro. Here's a clue. If you call two magicians and one is $200.00 and the other is $2,000.00. You found out who the hobbyist is.

11. Testimonials and demo videos are most important - Don't get fooled by slick graphic design and gimmicks that make a person look like a star even though they've only done two shows. Look at their demo video so you can see them perform. Make sure they have letters from past clients and that they worked for them more than once!

12. Your guests may suck - If your guests are sourpusses, drunk, loud, obnoxious, or just plain jerks, it's a waste of your money. Look, it's your dime, but if you hire a great entertainer, you should let your guests know ahead of time. Put it in the invitation, and make sure they know it's a big deal to you. If you tell them in the invite that, "Zach Waldman, an incredible comedian and magician from the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA is going to be entertaining," and to arrive early or miss out, they'll show more respect. Also, when you talk to them on the phone, tell them how excited you are about the entertainment and how great it's going to be. When the entertainer arrives, make it a big deal, make it special, because if you hired somebody great, IT IS SPECIAL. If you convey how important the entertainment is, the entertainer will be treated better and in turn do a better show.

13 - The secrets - Don't get frustrated when we won't tell you how to do a trick. No matter how much you paid us, we don't have an obligation to tell you. Besides, if we really told you how we did most of this stuff, you'd be bored to tears. Enjoy magic by being engaged in the moment, and don't worry so much about the man behind the curtain.

Five Things to Consider When Planning a Company Picnic Or Corporate Event

Whether you are planning your first or fifteenth picnic, the amount of details to consider is enormous. Here's how we'd start thinking about our company picnic:

1. Pick Your Date

It's important to pick your event date early in the process, choose a day that works for as many people as possible, and start getting the word out. The best day is usually a Saturday, but companies often have successful events on weekdays. Clear the date with all involved parties, check for conflicting events both in the workplace and in your community, and make sure your company's production schedule allows for people to be mostly available that day.

2. Budget

Determining a budget is crucial to know what shape your picnic will take. A budget determines the scale and scope of your event. It establishes a framework for your planning process so you don't plan something grossly over-budget or end up with areas you wished you would have spent more on. Your budget establishes your options. With a budget, you can prioritize aspects of your picnic and maximize the results of your event and planning. One little rule of thumb we have, for budgeting purposes, is that the amount of attendees at your picnic will be extremely close to the total number of employees you invite. Trust us.

3. Choose Your Site

Make sure your site is big enough for the number of people you're going to have. Do you want a pavilion or shelter? Do you want a local park? Can you bring alcohol? Are inflatable games and activities allowed at the site? What are all the various permits you need? Is the availability of your site time-sensitive? Does your location have all the necessary facilities and infrastructure such as electricity, water, restrooms and parking? Try to find a place that's central to most of your employees, which is perhaps why we see more and more companies that choose to hold company events at their place of business. The Company Picnic People also helps clients across America find the local site that is just right for their employee celebration while taking care of the nitty-gritty logistical details.

4. Committee

Put a committee together. Try to get people from different parts of the company. It's good to delegate roles: someone on finances, another on promotion, maybe someone on logistics, giveaways, etc. Try to keep your committee small and active with people passionate about the event. However, we know the difficulties of pulling people out of their workdays and the time consumed by simply organizing a committee. For most of the picnics we do, there are one or two people in charge of organizing the event and we handle all of these things for them at no additional cost.

5. Contact Vendors

There can be a lot of pieces to organizing a picnic - a lot of vendors to be contacted and organized. You need to secure a venue; pick out food and hire a caterer; coordinate games, activities, clowns; rent tents, tables, chairs, etc.; determine electricity, water access, order portable restrooms...the list drags on. At The Company Picnic People, we provide all of these pieces in-house so you only deal with ONE vendor and don't miss anything you need for your party.

Joomla Web Development: A New Trend in Open Source Content Management System

Today Joomla is one of the most popular open source Content management system used by users worldwide. Joomla was established on August 17, 2005 by the development team of Miro International Private Ltd. It's multiple language option has made it popular among users from different continents. Joomla enables user to create website and applications with ease. It has a friendly URL it allows image resizing and has server page language, template language and WYSIWYG Editor. It is freely available for everyone.

Joomla is a user-friendly web development which is easy to install and create website with minimum downloadable time and allows the user to manage the website themselves. If a user wants to extend the basic functions of a Joomla site then it is possible as it is highly extensible freely available under the General Public License (GPL). There are over 8600 free and commercial extensions available from Joomla directory and other sources. Now if you want to customize your website with extra extensions, then it is freely available.

Joomla allows user to publish content on worldwide web and intranet, its web application framework can be used independently. Joomla is based on PHP and stores data in MySQL database thereby allowing you to build a powerful application which can be shared by anyone.

Joomla has some basic module given below:-

1. Inventory control system


2. Data reporting tools


3. Application bridges


4. Custom product catalogs


5. Integrated e-commerce systems


6. Complex business directories


7. Reservation systems


8. Communication tools


9. Image and multimedia galleries


10. Forums and chat software

Joomla has some basic features like page catching, RSS feed, printable version of pages, new flashes blogs, polls, search and support language internationalization.

Apart from these features Joomla has some built-in applications which are listed below:-

1. Blog


2. Chat (free add-on)


3. Search Engine


4. Contact Management


5. Database reports


6. Document management


7. Event management


8. Web services front end


9. Link management project tracking


10. Project tracking

The first official version of Joomla was released on September 16, 2005 i.e. 1.0. Next version was 1.5 which was released on January 22, 2008, Joomla 1.6 was released on January 10, 2011 and Joomla 1.7 was released on July 19, 2011. The latest stable version available in the market is 2.5.2 released on March 6, 2012. Joomla web development services are hired for corporate website portals, Real Estate websites, Government applications, online commerce, corporate intranets, personal or family homepages, magazines/newspapers and many others.

Joomla is an award-winning free open source CMS which tried and tested and known for its usability, functionality and robustness. It provides user full control over content management of the websites. Its website design supports multiple users which mean different users can work at the same time. Joomla's content management system meets all SEO requirements and its HTML layout is well-formed and easy to read.

Online Event Management Tools For Event Organisers

Shocklogic is an amalgamation of experts with over 50 years of experience within the MICE Industry. We pride ourselves on the fact that we have not only provided technology but also hands on management solutions to assist associations, societies, event organisers and convention bureaus to organise their meetings. The personnel at Shocklogic have implemented solutions worldwide and have executed projects from 50 to 36.000 attendees and/or members.

Online registration with Participantlogic*

Shocklogic's(TM) participantlogic* is an on-line event registration management system (part of the Eventlogic Suite). The administrator module and Registration forms are available 24/7, 365 days a year from any computer with access to the Internet and a browser. It requires no exotic software (none) to be installed in your offices and no limitation in the amount of users that can access it from any location. No bottlenecks.

Online abstract management for Scientific events

Shocklogic's(TM) abstractlogic* is a web based abstract management system. It encompasses the whole abstract management process with all its challenges in one package and is available on-line. It handles: Submission, reviewing, scoring, publishing & storing.

Online membership management

memberlogic* is an administration tool for associations or any organisation with a membership base. It is a multi-lingual browser-based system that is a complete on-line solution to membership management. It handles all aspects of membership management on-line including subscriptions, payments, e-mail communication, activities, member only secure access and a secure administration area. Maintain membership data using functions such as grouping and user defined selection of contact details. i.e. contact information, invoicing details, categorization and coding. Create multiple on-line forms to gather data from members (e.g. questionnaires).Manage committees, special interest groups, affiliation to other associations, etc.

Organize a Successful Meeting With Meeting Planning Companies

Meetings are vital business activity that are regularly planned and organized by the companies to explain or discuss about a business proposals, products, or services with the clients. It is basically organized to convince clients about the company's business proposals that will eventually lead to the benefits of both the company and its clients. In order to make this event successful it is important to plan and organize it with full care and attention so that the basic objective is achieved. An unplanned meeting gives negative impact to the clients and shows the unprofessional attitude and approach of the company. Thus, to overcome each and every obstacle in the way of organizing this event successfully, one can take the help of meeting planning companies that organize the meeting exactly as per one required criteria and requirement.

Meeting planning companies take the every vital decision related to the planning of the event so that there is not a single chance of error and problems. Right from the choosing of the venues, to the food and drinks offered during the event, to sending invitation to the attendees, to arranging for each and every accessory required for the event, meeting planning companies take care of every details to execute the event in the most effective manner. These companies are quite proficient in handling events of all sizes and complexities such as single corporate board meeting, gala event, and dinner meetings. Organizations irrespective of their nature of work and services can contact these companies to plan out any type of meeting.

Handling different issues with great ease and comfort is an art that can only be mastered with extensive experience and methodical knowledge. Meeting planning companies master this art through their experience and pass their knowledge and skill to their clients so that they can achieve their business objective and goal. These companies not just manage and organize the meetings but they also guides through the way to make it exciting and informative for the attendees. No body likes to attend a dull meeting where a company just keeps on praising themselves instead one loves to attend meeting that is entertaining and exciting and provides the information based on facts and figures.

Original Ideas for a Corporate Team Building Activity

Have you been put in charge of organising your company's next team building activity? Struggling to come up innovative ideas that will be received with a cheer not a groan? It's not as hard to be original these days as you'd think. A lot of ideas may seem pass矇, but the industry has responded with some brand new, exciting team adventure ideas. Just remember to consider your group's varied range of interests, physical skill level and other abilities before booking a skydiving course or a white water rafting experience...

Cocktail Classes

Cocktail classes give a new lease of life to the classic staff night out at the pub. They're a really hands-on activity that's both fun and informative. The best bars will not only teach you how to mix drinks, but also let you join the barman behind the bar, conjure up your own recipes and compete with your colleagues for the title of best cocktail master.

You can usually choose from a range of different classes based on how many drinks are included in the price, or the era your cocktail menu is from. For added fun you can dress up accordingly. Depending on the bar, the atmosphere will in most cases be very relaxed and your group may even have a designated area to 'play' in.

If spoken to in advance, most bars will be able to cater for teetotal drinkers too, offering up mouthwatering, fruit-juice based cocktails.

Outdoor Hike

A guided walk along an area of natural beauty is a relaxed and pure form of team building. People will feel at ease in the fresh air and will mingle amongst each other in an unforced manner. The guide will enlighten everyone on the history of the area so this is an activity particularly suited to newcomers in your company.

It's important to consider participants' physical abilities. Unfortunately, this activity is not suited to wheelchair users. To avoid complications, choose an easy terrain that everyone will feel comfortable with. Schedule regular breaks and bring along a variety of snacks and beverages. The hike could culminate in a barbeque, if fire is permitted in the area.
To make colleagues interact more, you can set various challenges for each individual or teams to complete along the way.

Laughter Workshop

There's no better ice-breaker than humour and a good laugh. To help colleagues find common ground in the humour department, special workshops focus on producing laughter without offending participants on any grounds. Some professionals run classes that use yoga to achieve the perfect state of relaxation, in which laughter comes naturally. Others prefer the use of games and other group activities.

It's an excellent indoor activity for the chilly times of the year when you might see more sad and tired faces around than usual as the winter blues kick in.

To make a staff team building organiser's life easier, there are now many companies and venues that specialise in tailoring packages and deals to suit any requirements, whether you're seeking corporate events in Edinburgh, Cornwall or even the South of France. The best team building activities seem to be ones that are both entertaining and informative.

Tips to Choose Catering Services For Special Events

In the event of catering services most event planners have something in their mind, to make an event successful. Without good food the whole event would be a failure. As a result to give the guests or visitors a better experience, you need to choose the best cuisines from your events caterer. On the other hand it's not very easy to find ideal catering services suitable for the event. Here the customer must spend quality time researching about available caterers through online websites in the preferred locality. Before hiring a catering company, you should verify their dish menu and previous track records. It's always better to test samples before taking final decision on caterers.

Below is a list of guidelines to follow before hiring catering services for your special or corporate events:

Type of event: Choose a catering company according to your event. Verify whether the caterer will be able to handle the number of guests that you are intending to invite for the event. An ideal caterer would provide various options and food preferences. Some of the guests would prefer vegetarian food or sugar free items, so ensure that the caterer would fulfill the specific needs of the invitees.

Budget: Discuss budget with your preferred caterer and check out various available options. Be clear on the proposed menu and verify whether the menu reflects the style or theme of the organized event. Some times the budget may not or may determine the flexibility of your caterer towards your needs. Request for a quotation of services offered alongside outlining the payment details. Find out whether there are any hidden or extra charges for catering services.

Brief the caterer: After you have chosen a caterer, brief them about the details of the event. This will help in eliminating any misunderstandings arising in the last minute. Then you need to confirm total number of invitees for the event. It would be better to take 80% of total attendance as confirmed guests, for ordering food.

Wait staff: Verify whether the catering company offers wait-staff or serves. If gratuities and taxes are included in the final amount, then ask your caterer to provide potential staff to serve the guests.

Leftovers: This is another aspect that you need to discuss with your caterer. Upon requests the company would compile leftovers into a food basket without any extra charges to the host of an event.

By keeping all the above mentioned tips in mind, you can get a potential caterer for your event. Remember you should communicate with the caterer effectively in order to get exceptional catering services required for the event.

Hospitality Marketing Materials Targeting Family Reunion Groups

What enables one hotel resort to thrive while another wanes in the background even when both are in the same vicinity? Much has to do with the efforts in target marketing and the precision of the advertising campaign. While advertising to individuals might draw in some potential business, the most effective method that produces a much larger draw from the market are campaigns targeted at groups.

Targeting Groups

The hospitality market is divided into many groups of consumers with varied needs, wants, backgrounds, incomes and buying habits. That said targeting groups that seek ideal venues to satisfy those particular needs is the key. While there are a number of groups that can sustain a hotel/resort each season, there are a few that are dependable year round. The following is a quick list of seasonal groups typically targeted by a hotel/resorts marketing team.

• Family Reunion Groups

• Corporate Vacation Groups

• Wedding Party

• Club Members

• Sports Teams

Promote Local Attractions

Local attractions in the immediate vicinity of the resort have much to do with the decision to book one hotel/resort over another. That means the potential guest will see both the lodging facility and surrounding area as their "destination". Nearby attractions are a high priority to these groups and this should be a prime consideration when designing marketing materials. Therefore the key to successfully marketing your hospitality venue has much to do with promoting these hot spots in your materials.

Promoting Group Events

While some hotels and resorts focus on cosmetics and quality services others go a step further, choosing to specialize in key niches of the market in order to establish a competitive edge. Doing so can only improve market penetration and draw in more seasonal clientele. Still, how a marketing team accomplish this? Let's focus on the growing interest in family reunion event planning and see how presenting more personalized marketing materials can draw in more and ever larger groups. We can then see how other niche segments of the market can be penetrated.

Family Reunion Event Planning

Often family reunion event planners/coordinators or committees must consider narrowing down a list of possible locations to host the event. This has much to do with the theme and activities selected Reunion planners will often take the time to do research regarding possible locations and visit these. How can your marketing materials draw in more of these visitors? Design materials that lend assistance to the decision making process of family reunion planners and committees. The material should focus on listing a variety of reunion themes and associated activities. The material should allow the reader to determine the facilities most compatible to the themes and activities selected.

Make Use Of Event Planning Guide Books

One hospitality marketing department saw the target marketing potential in a particular family reunion planning guide. While a number of popular guides exist, this one contained several personalized keepsake features.

A book ownership signature page, an event details page, a journal, recipe record and genealogy research form. The Book helps the planner/committee go through every step of planning the family reunion narrowing down possible locations according to the themes and activities selected. All that was needed was a slight modification that would present facilities, amenities and nearby attractions ideal for that particular groups needs. This was accomplished by simply slipping in a brochure between the pages of the book. The hotel/resort manager chose to add a personally signed letter attached to the first page of the guide book. Additional content can highlight amenities that fit the profile and demographics of attendees such as the following:

• Park Venues

• Museum visitations

• Festivals and other outdoor events

• Boating Tours

• Fishing

• Dinner Theater Shows

• Symphony Orchestra Shows

• Jazz Concerts

Promoting "Keepsake Event Planning" Marketing Materials

The resort hospitality team may give away the guide as a gift to clients who visit and choose to rate/review the facility. The event planning guide can be compiled in eBook or PDF form, ordered at online bookstores or made available at local retail bookstores. The guide can be designed for the individual planner/coordinator or the event planning committee. Such a personalized keepsake gift given to a group touring the facility can do much to win the clients business as well as build gratitude, confidence and resultant customer loyalty.

Current Trends in Event Promotion and Marketing Strategy

Promotion is the key to an event's success. Without an effective promotional campaign, it is difficult to reap maximum benefits from organizing events. Moreover, with a surge of online promotion, social media is gradually starting to occupy the center of everyone's attention. Corporate events and tradeshows nowadays are extremely dependent on online marketing and promotional strategies. However, it should be kept in mind that traditional strategy of face-to-face marketing has not yet lost its ground. It is important to remember that personal connection and networking still has a place outside of Facebook and Twitter.

This article is going to discuss the current marketing trends of organizations adopting marketing strategies to host a successful event.

1. Companies are making wise investments: At present, organizations are looking for ways by which they can ensure that their investment of time and expense delivers back in a proper way. The focus here is on quality, not quantity. Hence, when it's time to decide your target attendees, make sure that invitations are sent to the best of people who can help you in maximizing your ROI.

2. Attendees want real information: Keep in mind that your target attendees are looking for practical information about your event. Hence, while carrying on with your promotion campaigns ensure that you are offering quality and substance; not just 2 days of sales pitches. It is better to deliver engaging, interactive displays, innovative product exhibits, unique and valuable information, not taking into consideration the mode of marketing, online and offline.

3. Use of dynamic, interactive displays: Using audio/visual element for an event's promotion has now become a ruling trend. You can add these to your exhibit's environment but make sure that you do not go for an all glitz and glamour look and discard substance along the way. Engaging your audience and delivering your message can be accomplished through innovative custom trade show displays or adding interactive components to your exhibit.

4. Use of social media for promotion: With the surge of social networking, event promotion strategy has achieved a new dimension. Harnessing the power of social media, organizers now can promote their events at relatively low costs resulting in potentially high returns. In fact, social networking is the best way to bring in qualified attendees.

5. Compact and powerful branding: Keep in mind that branding is an integral part of a successful event promotion strategy. Hence, your brand message has to be essentially powerful, so that it can have the desired impact on the audience within a short span of time. Make sure that the communication is short, simple and powerful.

Nowadays, target audiences become more selective and organizations are working incessantly on realizing high-ROI initiatives. As a result, organizations are trying to customize marketing communication strategies to achieve the favorable results.

Custom Printed Dry Erase Boards With Graphics

The hottest new thing in the dry erase board industry - custom printed whiteboards. These white boards are made using a specialized dry erase surface, a specialized ink and paper and heat fused into the surface of the board. These boards are of exceptional quality and made entirely in the USA. Variable data like room numbers and phone numbers for hospital patient room boards are not a problem. Available sizes range from 8" x 11" to 4' x 8' and full color or black and white printing available. These custom printed marker boards are either magnetic or non-magnetic and aluminum or wood framed.

Another why of using this custom printed board is for premium quality white board calendars and planners used in schools and businesses for scheduling. You can often find some that will add a free personalized header to your dry erase calendar at no additional charge. Marker board calendars come in sizes from 2' x 3' to 4' x 8' and available as magnetic or non-magnetic whiteboards. These premium dry erase calendars will last a lifetime and will not fade, ghost or stain like some calendars. White board calendars are available in black or silver aluminum framing or beautiful wood frames including oak, cherry, or black painted. All of the magnetic white board calendars come with free magnets including Jan-Dec and 1-31 numbers and also have many other accessories and accessory kits available for planning and scheduling. Grid and lines and permanent printed and available as horizontal line boards, vertical line boards, 1x1 grid, 1x2 grid, and many more. Standard calendars and planners are available as well as custom designed white board calendars.

Another option is marker board calendars with accessory kits including magnets, markers, and erasers. Standard calendars are 1 month, 2 month, 3 month, 4 month, 6 month and 12 month. Also available are white board schedule planners, dry erase board in and out planners, event planners, and much more. These custom designed white boards are long lasting and affordable. Graphic artists can assist with the creation of your custom printed dry erase board that will help make the process a breeze. Another product is custom printed marker boards for hospital and patient rooms, manufacturing, sports and recreation, classroom math and music boards, and much more. Whatever type of custom printed dry erase board that you need, whether it be simple or complex, they can help make it. Check it out for more details.

Baby Shower Planning Guide - Easy to Follow Event Planning Tips

Baby shower is usually prearranged for pregnancy partying and the baby shower gifts are more often than not objects that would be helpful to the babies. At the shower, there is an ambiance of contentment, activity and gratification in the surroundings. The variety of goods that are obtainable for being given as gifts is never-ending. You can decide the items that you sense would be most functional to the baby. If you like to give straightforward items you can go in for a crib or a range of baby clothes. More often than not baby shower parties are prearranged with a cute theme. It would be a magnificent idea to choose gifts that would go with with this theme. This will also allow the hosts to use these gifts to decorate the baby's room as well. Many personalized baby gifts are readily available in the market. You can choose any one of them depending on a certain factors such as cost, decor, theme, etc. The price depends upon the fact how close you are to the mother to be or the father to be.

"I made a mess out of my baby shower gift which I had bought for my new born nephew"

People do such mistakes. Do you also want to be one of them? Do you want your gift to be ordinary so that no one gets to notice it? Do you want to show true concern? We understand. Therefore, we have come up with great ideas for your nice and nephew for this shower.

How can you make your gift interesting?

Gifts are supposed to be bright and colorful. After all you would want to entertain the babies, right? The key to the best baby gift is to make it attractive and well presented. Even if your gift is regular and ordinary, you can make it attractive; adorn your gift with beads, laces, glitters and little toys. Your gift will be the best out of all. Babies get really attracted to sounds and moving objects. You could buy some god quality toys for your baby nephew or niece. Try to do something different with your baby gift. Try to buy a vibrant, lively and colorful gift.

Use baby shower gift tags

Use gifts tags along with you baby gift or very well hand craft gift cards where you hand-make each with good quality paper and personalized it with cute saying, photos, and other adorable keepsake mementos.
But do not overdo it as it may end up being tacky. There are charming baby themed papers you can put in as well as little badges and attractive ticker tape. Also put a beautiful card to adorn it. These baby shower gift tags are easily available in the nearest departmental store.

Manage Students With Effective Class Management Solutions

Effective coordination between faculty and students ensures full attendance for your classes. By managing your students and instructors efficiently, you can prevent miscommunication. This, in turn, helps you to view and manage all students effectively. Considering the significance of student management in overall class management, a growing number of organizations are going for advanced solutions that come equip with special features. These cutting edge solutions provide a host of benefits to the users to aid them in effective student management.

Some of the features offered by these sophisticated solutions include the following:

Track Past and Current Enrollment

With a comprehensive class management software, managing an unlimited number of students is extremely simple. These comprehensive solutions enable the users to monitor current enrollment as well as enrollment history for all students in the database. As a result, organizations save costs and resources to manage data. Moreover, since the process is automated by smart solutions administrative workload is reduced to a considerable extent.

Performance Analysis

By opting for an efficient class management solution, organizations can monitor the performance of each class. These solutions provide reporting options to offer a number of useful reports with necessary data. By analyzing these reports, organizations can easily find out about the performance of each class and thereby adopt necessary strategies to achieve full attendance.

Additional Information Available at a Click of the Mouse

Inclusion of emergency and allergy info provides instant reference for the users. Special student info including age, cell phone numbers, and special notes are provided to get an at-a-glance view of all the past and current students

Communication Facilities

To boost communication, these integrated solutions also enable users to send email newsletters to all the students and contacts. In addition to, integrated class management solutions also enable the students to access relevant information whenever and wherever they want. Users can create portals to aid their students to access necessary information on the go. Some of the key benefits offered by student portals include the following:

繚 Students receive their own email address and password to login and access data

繚 They can update information, modify billing details, view past transactions, make payments and sign up for classes within a few minutes!

繚 The option of private community enables organizations to help students, parents and instructors to exchange information via a safe and secured platform

Responding to the increasing demand for comprehensive class management solutions, a large number of sophisticated tools have been introduced in the market that can be customized to meet the specific requirements of the institutions. Notably, these solutions deliver excellent returns to the users. As a result, organizations of different scales are seen going for these options.

Cutting edge class management solutions are gaining popularity and offering tangible benefits to the users. Apart from streamlining the process of class registration and payment processing, these solutions provide marketing facilities to ensure that no seat is left empty on the day of the class. Just choose the right solution to take your classes to another level.

The Right Flowers Can Really Set the Theme of Your Next Event

When planning an event whether it is for your business or having a family wedding affair, a creative and innovative flower arrangement can really set the theme for your party. Although flowers can be costly, and usually just disposed of after the event, they can really transform a room or outside setting into a festive and inviting space.

Party flowers are usually coordinated by a company that specializes in the production of these large scale events. These companies know how to effectively fill a room with floral arrangements that create a theme or setting for the given party, or corporate event. It is best to go with a company that has a lot of experience in such events to ensure that they have an understanding of the type of event and also the amount of space needed for flowers. Many aspects go into a strategy of festively decorating a room, or outdoor event with flowers. The type of flower, table arrangements, the season, and also the existing rooms colors all play into an effect floral design theme.

Hiring a company to fully handle the flowers for an event like a wedding is usually a common decision. Because flowers are expensive and knowledge of what flowers work best at what times of year, it is best to leave this job to a professional company. A professional floral company will usually set a package price which will include all of the flowers and design for the event. Wedding flowers are very important because they usually a focal point at weddings for bride and groom pictures, table centerpieces, and also bouquets. Because of their importance these wedding flowers packages usually are very pricey, and obviously, the more flowers, and more rare the flowers, the more expensive a wedding flower package can be.

When looking for a wedding flower, or party flowers company, it is ideal to use references from friends and family that have had good experiences with such companies. This way you will have a basic idea about price and also with the service they offer for your special day. Surrounding your party with flowers is always a great way to really customize your event, and leave a lasting impression with your guests. Also, sometimes with a surplus of flowers at the end of an event, the flowers themselves make for a nice parting gift for family members and friends when leaving the party.

Determining What Types Of Award Plaques To Give And When

Trophies are for singular achievements; medals are for academic and athletic successes and award plaques? Winners will always appreciate any award bestowed on them, but the reason for giving is as important as the actual award itself, so it is recommended that you know exactly when to give out award plaques to achieve the intended effect.

Since time immemorial, award plaques have been given for various reasons, among them for academic, athletic and corporate events, commemoration of significant achievements like heroism during a war, or an association with important places and people, like blue plaques which serve as a historical marker. Often instead of ribbons and trophies, award plaques are given because of their portability and ability to be displayed easily on any desk or shelf at home or in the office. They also make for more lasting reminders of personal successes and serve as an inspiration to achieve more.

When thinking of award plaques to give out, it is important to come up with something that will stand out. Traditional and timeless they may be but it is also a source of pride for the recipient and as such, they need to be really worth displaying and showing off. These days, colored plaques are all the rage with companies who want to honor their best employees' achievements at work. These types of wooden plaques are meticulously laminated with color plates and polished to create the illusion of solid wood. Also, these plaques are affordable because the laminated colored plates are also less expensive than most, due to its quality manufacturing and eco-friendly properties. Also popular for corporate awards are gloss black plaques that are overlaid with brushed silver engraving plates often made sleeker with laser engraving.

Those who are giving out plaques in a more formal setting can choose glass plaques which can be easily molded into any size, shape or form for distinctiveness and quality and usually made with sandblasting methods. To ensure long-lasting durability, these plaques are set on granite or glass bases. These types of plaques are best given during events to honor significant business achievements in sales or for events that honor significant achievements in the field of arts.

The most common type of award plaques are made of solid wood and are preferred mostly for its simple and elegant look. A variation of this type would be the laminated wood plaques, with the only difference being laminated wood plaques are made from 100% quality wood with very minimal designs and styling. This is also the reason why you see many of these plaques being given out during academic events, events honoring lifetime achievements and mostly private functions.

For the ultimate boss, there are the executive award plaques, which are usually a combination of materials like glass, wood and granite. They are also a bit pricier than the usual award plaques, with a more vibrant and elegant styling. These plaques are appropriately given during corporate events that celebrate a company milestone or any other significant industry success.

And last but not the least, there's the perpetual awards plaques that are appropriately given to those with continuous achievements yearly like Employee of the Month or Sales Person of the Month. These awards are usually hung in lobbies or reception areas as well as within the department to recognize consistent achievers. They can be customized with a picture of the awardees which usually serve as the best inspiration since they will want to keep seeing their pictures on the wall.

Above anything else, award plaques are made to honor people and the work they have done that contributed greatly to the organization or team. They need to be made to last and make for lasting memories. The great thing is that they can now be ordered online, designed specifically according to your needs and delivered in a considerable amount of time. You can even get discounts the more plaques you order and get them all engraved for free. Now you have practically no excuse not to be able to give the best award plaques at the best time.

What You Can Learn From Innovative Trade Show Displays

Every year, thousands of exhibitions and corporate events are held across Canada and the United States. From fairs and exhibitions that showcase business opportunities, both major and smaller cities are hosting events with trade show displays that increase the visibility of local businesses. From smaller exhibits to those with much larger budgets, there is something to learn from each and every expo in your community. Here are a few of Canada's interesting and innovative annual events, each with something to offer businesses looking to set themselves apart.

Calgary Wedding Fair Features Innovative Trade Show Booth Ideas

At a recent wedding fair in Calgary, creativity and innovation marked the city's modern take on weddings, and an interesting approach to trade show displays. One company created a large chiffon tent of drapery with a table top display that mimicked a place setting for guests at a wedding reception -- drawing people into a contained atmosphere with soft lighting that created a memorable experience for anyone who entered. A tall, elegant stand held a shelf of colorful flowers, and the entire display served the company's purpose perfectly; the quality of their elegant design, exquisite taste, and professionalism were demonstrated in the details. Few exhibitors would so cleverly appropriate a prop normally set up for brochures, business cards, and a business card draw -- a simple table -- to integrate with their display or bannerstand.

Montreal Board Of Trade Events Showcase Arts And Culture

Known as a city with a deep appreciation of arts and culture, it is no surprise that the 7,000 strong Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal encourages the marriage of business and culture in its mission and its events. The organization has paired up with Conseil des arts de Montr矇al to create the Prix Arts-Affaires de Montr矇al awards, which recognize the efforts of local businesspeople to support the city's arts and culture. Attend an event and the commitment to the arts is very evident in the business community; events often integrate business and the arts, featuring the work of artists and culture makers, whose efforts to maintain Montreal's reputation as a cultural hotspot are well recognized. Events often incorporate the work of artists, and even live performance at many events.

One Of Toronto's Longest Running Shows Foregoes The Banner And Bannerstand

Toronto's No Frills Trade Show is simple in its mission: to offer a one-day show to companies in the construction industry with an emphasis on "knowledge and networking." Successfully running for nearly 35 years, the popular show has grown in size over the years and now takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. But don't expect the convention centre to be cluttered with large displays, or competitions over the best trade show booth ideas; exhibitors are welcome to set up a table but the emphasis is on people and learning. Industry professionals attend the show for the professional development and networking opportunities; a lecture series is a key part of the event, as well as the chance to meet people in the same industry from across Canada.

If you are planning to participate in a show, these very different events and the approaches of the organizers may have something to offer other business owners. Whether innovative trade booth ideas are your goal, or you're keeping it simple with a focus on people, these and other trade show displays are learning opportunities. At the next event, take time to walk around and see the various approaches businesses and organizations take; perhaps you will find an idea or two that you can use for your next event.

Event Management With Furniture Rentals

For organizing a successful event, an event management company holds great importance, and equally important are furniture rentals. To ensure quality service and a warm hospitality service to your guests, it is important to ensure that all arrangements are up to the mark. One important aspect of this is to have appropriate furniture to suit the occasion and this can be achieved by approaching furniture hire companies.

Advantages of Hiring Furniture for Events

The presentation of every event is the first thing that is noticed by all present. A good-looking party has a lasting effect on all. The furniture and other materials present might appear to be insignificant, but they add their bit of impression. For this purpose, it is always helpful to hire furniture.

* Having appropriate furniture to go with the occasion is very important. You could be organizing a wedding, a company party, a business meet, or any other such event. Every event carries with it a mood of its own which is well reflected in the furniture. Furniture rental companies fulfill exact requirements making your event a successful one.

* Furniture available at hand is not always in presentable state. Those that are available for event hire should be well maintained and polished. They reflect good organization skills on the part of the host and make the guests feel comfortable.

* For any organized party or event, the number of invitees keeps fluctuating. Be is a personal party or a business one, the requirements of furniture quantities vary and it is not possible to always have the required number. Furniture hiring companies provide you with the appropriate number of articles needed at the desired time.

* The fact that the required number of articles are provided by hiring companies, a person can be assured of having uniformity in the products present. For example, all chairs made available for a wedding party bear uniform look, giving the occasion a presentable appearance.

* Many furniture rentals also specialize in catering equipment hire. Almost all events are followed by a meal; it could be lunch or dinner. When dining is involved there is also the need to have presentable cutlery, linen, and similar equipment. Along with furniture, you can hire catering to ensure a pleasant dining experience.

* All hiring companies offer a range of choices for their customers. Depending on the occasion, you can make your selection as to what furniture, kitchen equipment, and linen you wish to have at your place. Accordingly, everything will be delivered to you.

When using hired furniture, bear in mind that all the stuff you have got for hire are not your own and need extra care. See to it that no part of it is damaged or spoilt. When settling upon the terms and conditions of the agreement, go through each clause very carefully. Make it a point to get clear answers to the questions like what happens in case of damage, the security deposit, which delivers and collects items, and the like. Furniture rentals are a smart and easy way to make a party a successfully organized one.

5 Ways to Advertise Your Wedding Planning Business Offline

There are many ways to advertise a wedding planning business offline (by "offline" I mean not on the Internet).

Here are a 5 of them:

1) Business Cards

Use the front of your business card to give contact information and the back to give a wedding tip. Or, use the back to offer a free list of wedding tips or a wedding planning checklist if they go to your website and give you their email address. You can market to them further through e-newsletters, if they agree to further contacts.

2) Brochures and Postcards

Work with a graphic designer to create brochures or postcards that you can mail, distribute at bridal events, and give to wedding vendors to give to their clients.

3) Networking

Attend networking events sponsored by wedding and event planning associations to meet other wedding vendors to partner with. Also attend business networking events, such a Chamber of Commerce mixers, in your own community to get the word out locally about your business.

4) Print Ads

Purchase print advertising in publications where brides in your niche would see it. Select local area editions of bridal magazines versus national bridal magazines or publications that don't specifically target brides.

5) Booths at Bridal Fairs

Buy a space and be an exhibitor at a bridal fair or expo. You will not only get to meet potential clients, you will also meet other wedding vendors whom you can partner with to create fabulous weddings and exchange referrals.

Don't feel you have to use every single method of marketing and advertising that is available. Start small, test to see what works before you make a major investment in any one method.

How To Manage A Conference

If you have been put in charge of conference management, then you must be prepared for what you are getting yourself into because it is a much more complex job than just booking hotel rooms and buying airline tickets. The timing, organization, and actual conference are huge jobs in themselves that can require many people if the conference is big enough, but if it is manageable for just one person then there is still a lot of work to be done.

The travel arrangements can be a tough aspect to deal with because you need to find out everyone's schedule and find a good set of dates that aren't conflicting with major holidays or other events. Flying tens or hundreds of people into one city can be a daunting task on its own so if you think you may need to hire someone to focus solely on the travel arrangements then be sure to do so because it is a full-time job.

Getting people to the hotel and then situated in their rooms can be another huge task that can require days of planning only to execute what needs to be done in about 2-8 hours. Making sure all the attendees have the correct rooms and all their baggage has been delivered can be quite a hassle so you need to think on your feet and make quick decisions. If even one attendee has lost their luggage for just a day, that can ruin the entire conference for them. It may be wise to get an assistant to handle this aspect of the conference because like planning the travel arrangements, this is also a full-time job.

After getting all the travel plans arranged, there is the very important decision of choosing where to host the actual meetings because there can be many things that can throw off the plan. Be sure to know how many people you are accommodating so you can determine the right size room. Find out about meals during the day, possibly if and where you can feed your guests. Think of chairs, tables, and other materials such as projectors that you may need, but normally if the hotel is nice they can take care of all this.

Finally, one of the most important parts of the whole conference are the costs. From the flights to the hotel and other expenses, hosting a conference can be a very costly event. You need to make sure that what you will gain will be more than you are willing to spend. Negotiate group rates and find out about special discounts for just hosting a large conference.

Hosting a conference can create a new and large customer base, fresh ideas, and great camaraderie between the guests. A meeting which is any size can be a great event to attend and manage, but you must make sure you know what you are doing. After reading this article, there is no doubt that you will know exactly what to do when it comes to conference management.

Custom Silicone Wristbands - Best for Event Planning

There are several reasons why usage of wristbands is so common today. Amongst these numerous reasons, event management is the foremost reason for wristbands increasingly gaining its popularity. Whether you are planning a function of hundred or thousand gathering, a wristband is an invaluable identifier that alleviates a number of potential problems from occurring during events and makes sure that it runs smoothly to completion.

Moreover, with a variety of custom wristbands to choose from like Tyvek wristbands, vinyl wristbands, paper wristbands, silicone wristbands and plastic wristbands; you can use some excellent products for different kinds of functions. Which band material you use however depends upon your event budget and the type of event that you are planning to host. Here are a few examples of the numerous ways that you can use these visual identifiers:

1. 
   As age and height identifier: A tyvek or a silicone Wristband can be used at events to identify minors and avert them from alcohols. These can also be used in children's amusement parks when there are restrictions to certain rides for people above/below certain height.


2. 
   Admissions: Use wristband in place of tickets/passes for events. If you are organizing a conference meeting that spans for several days, you can use these identifiers of different colors for each day. This way you can tell at a glance whether an attendant is permitted for a given day's events.


3. 
   Child-Parent Protection: Use twin wristbands when it is necessary to recognize parents of children. Whether you run a daycare center, a preschool or an amusement park; you would need these identifiers to ensure that a child is leaving with his/her respective parent or guardian.


4. 
   Group Day Trips: A school field trip requires identifying those in a particular group. Using custom wristband ensures that proper boarding of buses and easy head count can be done.


5. 
   Commemoration: Issue custom wristbands to those students who have committed to a social cause.

Best of all, a silicone wristband can be easily customized according to event. Pertinent details like the name of your company, its logo, the reason for organizing the event, the person's name who would be wearing the wristband and even his/her position can be imprinted on them.

So try out some funky custom made silicone wristbands and make your event management a grand success!

Hotel Negotiating Is In The Details

The true measure of the degree of success of negotiations with hotels regarding events, conferences and conventions, is often measured in the depth of the negotiations, and assuring that as many details as possible are anticipated and negotiated in advance. In my over three decades as a professional event planner and negotiator, I have discovered that organizations that prepare in advance, understand their needs, articulate them fully up- front to the hotels, and have negotiators that maintain their integrity at all times, invariably get the best long- term results. Many inexperienced negotiators do not understand the need to prioritize their needs, and often fail to consider many aspects that will have potential impacts on the success and viability of the event. When having discussions with hotels, some of the items that need to be thought about and negotiated, include: guest rooms; food and beverage; audio visual needs/ requirements; service charges/fees; comps; and priorities. In addition, when negotiating, it is essential to use a win- win philosophy, so as to maximize the results for all concerned.

1. Will this event require securing guest rooms? Will the organization pay for these rooms, or the attendees? What is a realistic expectation for hotel nights usage? Has the negotiator fully considered the ramifications of certain attrition policies, and minimized these ramifications by prioritizing the negotiating down of, or elimination of, attrition requirements/ penalties? If attendees are paying for their own rooms, what is the price point that must be addressed?

2. How much food and beverage is the conference providing for attendees? What are the needs of the organization and its attendees? How are these functions being paid for, as part of the registration fee to attend the conference (if any), by the organization completely, or as a paid option available for attendees? What are the expectations? There are many methods available for reducing food and beverage costs, while maintaining perceived value, but it generally requires a carefully designed balancing act, as well as expert negotiations, combined with organizers willing to think outside the box to achieve optimum results.

3. What are the audio- visual requirements for this event? This is an area that perhaps is the biggest budget breaker when organizations do not adequately understand and negotiate to meet their needs. Many inexperienced conference planners become awe- struck, when they realize what hotel audio- visual departments are going to charge. The best example is when a group negotiates complimentary microphones, but does not realize that there will be charges for the hook up, amplification, labor, etc. All of these types of needs should be pre- negotiated in as much detail as possible.

4. How much are the service charges? Many people expect ten to fifteen percent, and are astonished when they discover that some hotels charge as much as 24%, or even more. Is the group sales tax exempt in a state that permits sales tax exemptions (while many do, California, for example, rarely permits sales tax exemptions). Organizations that are eligible must plan to have the necessary sales tax exemption paperwork in place prior to the event. Regarding service charges, it is important to find out if there is any flexibility (rare), as well as what is covered by the service charge, and what services are exempt from service charge implementation.

5. What "comps" (complimentary) are going to be needed? Who receives this (for example, speakers, organizers, officers, invited guests), and what is going to offered free? Organizations must have a clearly defined policy in place in this area. Will the hotel offer some sort of accommodations to assist the organization address this area? True expert negotiators put everything on the table during the negotiations. There will always be more flexibility from a hotel at the negotiating stage, than after the contract is in place.

6. What are the groups priorities? What is the greatest need, and the biggest concern? Be sure to address these during negotiations.

What has always astonished me, when working with organizations to assist in their events, is how many of those in decision- making leadership position seem to feel that there is no need to address all these details at the beginning. They seem to feel that the organizers should be allowed to do these things later. This is perhaps one of the costliest errors, in terms of money, resources, and result, that far too many groups seem to make!

How to Manage a Corporate Event

Hosting a corporate event is an effective marketing tool, and done properly, an event should lead to the successful promotion of your brand or services. The type of corporate event will depend on what you want to accomplish and this varies from industry to industry. You need clear objectives in mind before you decide to host an event and these will need to be discussed with your event specialist so they have a clear vision of your business. Event companies specialise in strategic planning, development, creativity and budget management - leaving you free of the event-organising hassles.

Corporate events can vary size from small boardroom business meetings to international meetings bringing companies together from all over the world. Firstly, you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve from your corporate event - you will need a clear objective of the end of result to ensure the event's success. There are certain protocols you have to follow depending on the type of event and knowing the ins-and-outs of these event types will help make your event successful.

Corporate events are either internal or external. An internal event is colleague-based and only includes company members, they can be small breakfast meetings or large national events bringing affiliate companies together from around the country. Internal meetings can be held to discuss a company's future plans, to build team morale or to provide staff training - most internal meetings are a basic affair with minimal equipment, possibly a projector, tea and coffee station and finger food for lunch. Larger internal events include team-building excursions where staff members are sent to activity centres to build team morale - examples include rock climbing classes and white water rafting - activities like these build team morale and allow staff members from all departments to get to know each other properly. External events usually invite the public or specially selected guests to your event - these events could include product launches, promoting a brand, dinners and award-ceremonies.

Product launches are a brilliant way to market a new product or a new brand, these external corporate events can be low-key with a small guest list or large-scale spectacles with a VIP guest list. Your event company should get to know your new product and the message you want to convey when planning your event - the right message is vital. A product launch theme should reflect the product its promoting, for example, if you want to promote a new alcoholic drink, you could use a snazzy bar as your event location with your new drink as a welcoming freebie. If you are launching a new perfume, you could hold your event at a party-venue and give away free samples of your eau de parfum in beautifully-designed goody bags. Event companies usually have a substantial list of celebrity contacts, perfect for endorsing a new perfume or any other brand.

The time and location of your event are two important factors in its execution. For example, if you are planning a mid-week dinner, Tuesday to Thursday are the best days to choose - Monday everyone is tired from the weekend and Friday is when the weekend begins. Most people would prefer to attend corporate meetings, dinners, launches on weekday evenings rather than invading in their personal weekend time (when work is usually off the agenda). The location should be city-centre orientated and have easily accessible train and bus routes. If an event if miles away from a city, less people will be likely to go out of their way to find your event, especially after a hard day's work.

As long as you have clear objectives in mind and these are strategically planned and developed by a professional events specialist, your corporate event should give your company a huge boost whether it is through promotion or team-building.

Corporate Party Ideas

It is not easy to organize a successful party. Food, drinks and recorded music are fun, but since there are quite a lot of occasions to celebrate throughout the year, thrown repeatedly such parties soon get boring.

Why not - at least once or twice in the year, as, for example, on the occasion of Christmas, New Year Day or corporate anniversary - have a party a bit different from an ordinary drinking spree, a party to be original and remembered long afterwards.

So what makes a party successful? Is it possible to organize an unforgettable, smooth-running event on your own?

The most important thing is the theme, the idea. But it is not always easy to invent a theme. And it is even more complicated to realize it. Usually, it requires much effort. When choosing a theme, it is advisable to pay attention to several criteria.

First of all, you should have in mind that the aim of a corporate party is not only relaxation, but also getting to know one another better through interaction, revealing personal qualities, etc. That is, the point of a party is team building. Therefore, it is especially important that all the staff members could participate. Here "participate" means far more than remaining passive watchers because active participation is one of the keys of a successful party. The role of a watcher (if it can be called a role at all) is simply boring. Let your employees feel that they are important and strong as personalities by giving them a chance to express themselves or accomplish certain tasks. A theme party is an ideal time to do it.

An inseparable part of a holiday party is humor. A light or sharper touch of humor should dominate in every theme.

It is also very important that the theme should be chosen considering the company's sphere of activity and the specialties of the people involved - the theme should be something out of the ordinary, maybe something exotic or lightly shocking.
Unrealized childhood dreams may be a good idea when choosing a theme. Maybe your boss wanted to become a fireman as a child? Why not put a fire-fighter costume on him and make him sit into a fire truck on boss day or his birthday? Or why not get serious gentlemen immersed in a pool of coloured balls? It's so nice when people free their true selves, stepping over the line of everyday routine.

It is also important to take into account the occasion on which the party is organized. Surely, if it is a or New Year party, you won't do without the usual attributes such as Santa Claus, Christmas tree, gifts and fire-works, and somehow or other the theme of the party will have to match the occasion. In case of many other events, the freedom of choice is greater, there is space for infinite interpretations.

If it is a corporate outing, the theme should allow time for activity: tasks to be carried out, games and so on.

Still lacking ideas? Here are several themes:

- Cowboy party (country music and dance, rodeo, whiskey, cigars);

- Knightly tournaments (show fights with thorny knob-sticks (fake ones) followed by the same sort of fights involving the participants, horses, ladies);

- Japanese samurai (fighting with kendo swards, calligraphy, tea ceremony);

- Fire-fighters (fire-engines, helmets, staged fire scene);

- Travel in time;

- UFO (flying saucer, aliens, other planets);

- Beer festival (beer pavilion, the German ,,Oktober Fest" mood);

- alternative sport championship (paintball, electronic basketball, curling, quad-bike race, running with five-man skis (a pair of skis for five persons), sumo, pillow battle);

- tracing classical literature (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Don Quixote, etc.)

Once the theme is selected, it needs proper implementation. The costumes are not enough. The success of the party also depends on the choice of decorations, music, shows, tasks prepared for the participants, food and drinks.

Moreover, a party must have a culmination point. Be it travel in time or a medieval knight tournament, there has to be something to surprise or amaze the participants. It may be a flying saucer landing, an enemy attack or whatever: it depends on your imagination and possibilities.

Meanwhile fire-works, hot-air balloons, a ball-pool, trampoline, soap bubbles and the like may serve to create a festive atmosphere and complement the theme.
An inseparable attribute of a fun party is photos.

Now, should companies organize corporate parties on their own, or maybe it is better to ask for professional help?
Choosing the people to entrust your event to depends not only on the budget but also on your expectations, the time foreseen for preparation, the needed equipment and many other factors.

Organising a corporate party yourself is cheaper. But there is some risk in doing so since even the smallest details may spoil a seemingly successful event; thus, lack of professionalism may be a spoke in the wheel. Besides, it may cost a lot of time and nerves for the staff members responsible for such events as they may lack experience. Let alone the responsibility which will not let you relax and fully enjoy the celebration. Even if you have decided to organize a party yourself, you can still ask for professional assistance. Currently there is a wide range of such services in Lithuania, from party ideas to equipment rent. Among them, there are indeed original things for parties: the biggest grill in Lithuania, a submarine towed on the snow, hot-air balloons, bubble machines, etc.
In the global context, event planning professionals in Lithuania can offer high-level services. Choosing professional help in planning an event is a way to avoid repetition. It may happen that some of your guests have already taken part in a similar party, so a good event planning company will never organize the same event a second time. Moreover, experienced event planners will always find a way out when unforeseen difficulties arise.
However, it is also important to remember that an event starts from the dialogue. Clients are welcome with their thoughts, ideas and wishes so that professionals could offer the most suitable solution.

Discussing all the details and nuances before the event is just vital.
Some more tips when planning an event

To ensure a smooth and truly memorable party, it is advisable to start preparing at least before 2 months, even though it would actually take shorter.

It is also advisable to hold corporate parties on weekdays rather then on weekends, so you will have a greater choice of venues and entertainments.

Benefits of Church Management Software

Often in novels and movies you must have come across churches and chapels, especially in a countryside, where the vicar is familiar with all his parishioners and be in charge of their well-being. He might know all the members of the families in his congregation and often invite volunteers to help him with the various tasks related to the church. In a church, especially a huge one with many members, the priests and the other officials have many types of tasks to complete, ranging from the spiritual ones like spreading the Word of the Lord to daily administrative ones such as keeping track of funds. When a church grows in size, not just in structure but also in membership, these duties become difficult to manage and you need a support that can take care of many of the mechanical tasks like bookkeeping and report generation, and for this church management software is a perfect solution.

Today, there are many software options for you to consider, designed solely to manage the affairs of the church. Besides making your tasks simple and fast, they let you retrieve information as and when you want. The best part of such software is that you could go back and recollect the task of a particular day without wasting time and efforts. Plus, the storage of all information is secure and safe when using such software. Many leading software companies have come up with church management software with different features that makes the handling of affairs in church easier and faster. While some systems are completely maintained online, some work without the internet.

So how could church management software benefit a church and its officials? Here are a few examples:

Storing the member details

No matter what size a church is it would have some number of members who need to be tracked and kept in touch with. Though today's lifestyle makes people move from one place to another comparatively faster, a responsible church always tries to keep their whereabouts. Church management software lets you store all the contact details in an organised and methodical way. Also, you can edit these details and retrieve them easily without striking the words off and making the paper untidy.

Maintaining and storing records

Management software has the feature of storing any numbers of records about the parishioners of a church. Gone are those old and dusty shelves full of files with papers that crumble into powder when you touch them. Now, when somebody comes to you in search of information from 20 years back you don't have to go into that old storage room to find a file that old. Just searching the entry for that particular year online can bring you all the details within minutes or even seconds.

Tracking the finance

A church has to handle money for various purposes. It often receives contributions and funds from the members and other charity organisations. Also, there are contributions from the regular church goers for services. Added to that, there are regular monthly expenses in the church as well as expenses for special occasions and festivals and feasts. These funds have to be properly tracked and recorded without any mistakes. An efficient church management software can help in calculating and storing all these financial information in the best way possible. The password system for the software makes these data secure as well.

Software meant for church is designed to be handled by people who are not tech savvy. And hence they are often very simple and easy to use with user-friendly interface and navigation. They come at affordable rates and offer wonderful solutions that not only save your time and efforts but also make your work faster and more efficient.