Top Ten Logistics Steps For Event Coordination! Your Success Is In The Details!

Are memories of your last special business occasion troubling you? Are you avoiding events because they take up too much of your time? Think about the last time you hosted a business event. You began with a clear purpose for meeting, the right people were contacted to participate, and the program was carefully structured; but for some reason the occasion did not function as well as you'd hoped.

To sum it up, initial planning went well; but event coordination and logistics were poorly executed.

To be successful, you should assign one individual responsibility for directing the coordination of your events. While you focus on establishing value-added content, your event coordinator (the meeting logistics expert) will focus on the details! You can use a team approach dividing the work among team members, assigning tasks with target due-dates; however, the event coordinator is the one in charge, running the show and keeping an eye on the entire operation.

The selection of an event coordinator is a smart move. Even through you remain involved in the event planning process loop, you will be free to tend to business as usual!

Your event's ultimate success is directly linked to the coordinator's ability to pay attention to the details! Your event coordinator will map a strategy utilizing TOP TEN - LOGISTIC STEPS:

1. Determine the best date and time to meet (verify potential dates, times, and schedules; and then communicate with vendors, presenters, attendees and special guests)

2. Select and schedule the best location to meet (consider your budget plus options for on-site, off-site, conference center, private dining room, etc.)

3. Contact and confirm all contracts (including venue, speakers, presenters, entertainment, sponsors, etc.; and communicate frequently with all regarding their role in the upcoming event)

4. Plan and map out the program schedule (including general sessions, meeting rooms, break times, break-out sessions, refreshments, meals, the press room, and other special needs)

5. Coordinate and oversee the selection of a theme, the design, production and distribution printed items (i.e., invitations, agendas, brochures, special materials, and related mailings)

6. Arrange to have essential meeting supplies available on site (i.e., handouts, evaluation forms, flip charts, markers, sticky notes, etc.)

7. Identify each presenter's equipment needs and establish: Who? Needs What? Where? Then, verify technical infrastructure, accommodations, and arrange for on-site support

8. Verify room lay-out requirements; arrange for support to complete set-up & tear-down

9. Anticipate needs! Arrange for adequate host support available throughout the event.

10. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! (with vendors, presenters, attendees and guests).

Having this kind of talent (a detail-oriented arranger/organizer/leader) on staff is very expensive for many businesses. If you or someone on your staff do not have the time, ability, and desire to dedicate to focusing on the logistical details required for hosting a successful business event, consider tapping into qualified resources from the Virtual Assistance (VA) industry to assist you. With advances in technology and use of the Internet, business owners can outsource event planning and coordination, as well as many other administrative duties to a VA.

You may wonder, "What is Virtual Assistance?" It is a working method which came about thanks to the Internet and information technology. A practicing professional within the Virtual Assistance industry is called a Virtual Assistant (VA). Typically, VA's provide administrative, organization, secretarial, special project support and other niche services off-site with the use of the Internet, software, office equipment, and other current technologies. Typically, VAs contract work from their home offices and follow an established Code of Ethics and Confidentiality. VAs work to establish long term associations with their clients and remain invested in your organization's success.

Two reputable online Virtual Assistant organizations can help you locate a qualified VA with proven event planning skill sets. The Virtual Assistant Networking Association (http://www.vanetworking.com) and the Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce (http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com) each provide potential clients information, VA listings, opportunity to submit an RFP, and answers to many of your questions.

Don't let the thought of your next business occasion fill you with dread!

When you hire a Virtual Assistant specializing in Event Coordination, you may look forward to hosting your next event with confidence! Ask a VA to pay attention to the details so you don't have to! Remember your success is in the details!

5 Tips For Planning an Amazing Corporate Banquet

So you've been placed in charge of planning your next corporate banquet. Here are 5 tips to make that corporate banquet planning go smooth and the event an amazing success and to have your boss smiling ear to ear at you for a job well done.

The first step to corporate event planning is to determine an approximate budget. Some considerations are location of event, meal expense, corporate entertainment expense, and awards or recognition costs. Keep in mind this is to be approximate so you have a rough idea of what management is at least minimally going to agree to spend. This can always be negotiated with them down the road once your ideas are in place.

The second step is to survey the people at your company to find great ideas of what they'd like to see or have at your upcoming corporate banquet. Simply send out a short email blast with a survey form asking your fellow employees what they'd like to see in the event.

Some typical categories for a survey are: banquet location, meal choices, corporate events or corporate entertainment. By soliciting ideas from all employees from the top to the bottom, you've given everyone a chance to take some ownership over the event, which can help boost attendance.

The third step is to select potential locations. Most banquet and convention centers will have package pricing with a variety of meal choices to choose from. Some companies have outdoor events that require a catering company to provide the meals onsite. Whether you choose an outdoor location such as a park or an indoor convention center, talk to past clients of the service providers to ensure you go with a location, and catering group that has a track record of successful events under their belt.

The fourth thing to procure is corporate event entertainment. Some ideas to consider are djs, bands, and live entertainers such as stand-up comedians, magicians, comedy hypnotists, or motivational speakers. Budgeting in this area can sometimes be tricky. Many planners think you can get by with spending a few hundred bucks on this area. Some will even make the disastrous mistake of trying to have all the corporate entertainment be done in-house. Nothing spells a bored, disappointed group of mumbling and upset employees than when a convention planner tries to skimp in this area. You should plan on spending at least $2000 - $5000 in this area to ensure you get quality entertainment.

Another mistake is to do the same thing every year - such as having the same dj or band every year. Try something new, such as a corporate comedian or a corporate comedy hypnotist - mix it up to help ensure you always keep your events fresh and exciting to attend.

To find a good live entertainer can also be a challenge - especially if you think you have to get the local guy or gal. You may have to bring an entertainer in from another state if there are no good local choices available. You must also make sure the entertainer is squeaky clean and politically correct. While you can't always make everyone happy in every audience, do your best to find someone clean and funny. It can make your job simpler to work with an entertainment agency that has many years of helping companies just like yours bring good entertainers in for events.

The fifth and final tip is to make sure you present the choices for your event to your final budget approval team correctly. Never simply go in and pitch your ideas simply on price - especially if you think management may balk on the total event price. Always sell your ideas with the benefits to the company. This can be especially true when it comes to corporate entertainment. Common benefits for brining in good quality entertainment are: 1) an entertained crowd is a happy crowd, 2) exciting events boost attendance - because people like to go have fun 3) it's a lot easier for management to make employees feel good about their jobs and companies, when they've seen that management actually cares enough about them by letting them know it's not all about working together but they can actually play together too.

Reasons to Hire a Magician For Your Next Corporate Or Special Event

It may be that time for your companies' yearly corporate event. Maybe it is an annual occasion that some employees dread going to every year. Perhaps you should consider entertainment as part of the special event. You want your employees to be open and receptive to the presentations and team building exercises. If they are in a better mood and having fun, this will make a huge difference. Consider the benefits of hiring a magician for your next corporate or special event.

The long weekend:

Company seminars and retreats are an important part of employer and employee communication. There are many new ideas and plans to discuss. Is this an annual event? Maybe it is time to start a new tradition. A corporate magician can be a good source of entertainment. This may also serve to break the monotony for the people attending. It is not always a good idea to be all about business at all times. Everyone needs times to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. This type of entertainment may make the entire event more enjoyable and it may help to improve many attitudes if your event has a yearly stigma amongst employees. This alone, may be a good reason.

Award banquets:

Award banquets can mean a great deal to people. Employees are recognized for all of their hard work. This is a great way to express gratitude and improve employee morale. However, it may get a bit tedious for the attendees. A good source of a break up act is magic. The right act can relax your participants. It can make the entire evening more enjoyable. The magician can even integrate the presenters into magical appearances. These functions are a direct reflection on the company. The more they are enjoyed, the more positive image they can project.

Conventions:

The atmosphere of conventions can be just like a party. However, that is not the actual reason for people to attend. Employees will have the opportunity to enjoy themselves. However, they will be expected to attend company functions also. These functions can be more entertaining for employees if you integrate a convention entertainment company to help you mix the party atmosphere with the business atmosphere.

Trade shows:

Your booth has a better chance, if it stands out from the rest. Consider a trade show magician to feature your product or service. For example, a disappearing act is a good idea for cleaning products and stains. There are many other types of acts that can be incorporated also. Hire a professional and he or she will tailor their act to your business. In times of economic difficulties, standing out may make all the difference.

Summary:

There are many other reasons to consider magic for your entertainment. It has broad appeal. A music act will usually represent one genre of music. Some people may love it, others may not be impressed. Magic is appreciated by all ages and social classes. Comedians can be good entertainment also. However, their style of comedy may not appeal to everyone. Magic gives you a good chance for a successful event.

Hiring Venues To Host Private, Public And Corporate Events

You can hire Birmingham venues that are located in the second largest city of England as it is one of the perfect locations for any kind and magnitude of corporate events. The venues of Birmingham are world famous and have been used by high-end corporate companies for organizing their conferences and events, which can vary from simple presentations to general annual meetings. The organization and operational aspects of the auditoriums are so meticulously managed that there is not a tiniest chance of any loopholes or breaks that can affect the continuity or quality of your conference and meetings. The expert events management team of the venue is always on the alert on a pre-empt basis to provide a flawless flow to each and every event.

The venues in Birmingham provide numerous facilities that can be called a standard package deliverance from their offerings. The venues are fully air conditioned to create a controlled environment and shield the guests from any kind of weather. The satellite link facility truly takes any corporate event a step ahead by connecting with other stakeholders and partners from around the world. The venues are never short at any kind of audio-visual equipment that you would require to enhance the impact of your presentations. Consider the scene when your presentation will hit the big screen at the auditorium backed with a High Definition surround sound system. No corner of the auditorium would be left untouched by the striking effect of the message you want to send across.

Your guests will never find the refreshments corner of the auditorium short in quality or variety. In between conferences, they can take refreshing breaks upon snacks and drinks. You can depend completely upon the venue services for your guest's buffet lunches and post-drink receptions. You can give a recreational dimension to your corporate event by gifting your team a complementary movie experience at the cinema. The venues also have bulk cinema tickets offers, in which you can avail more than 30% discount over the normal ticket fee.

They say that leisure is the biggest factor that boosts the profit making intelligence in a human being. Supplement this leisure quotient of your team at the cinema, so that you can reap the benefits of higher profits. The selection to hire Birmingham venue for giving a unique experience to your team creates a perfect situation to push your objectives and plans through. Booking your auditorium at the venue is a convenient process. You can either make call or email at the venue or drop a message to let the staff call you back.

All the major bus routes converge on this street. So, if you want to give your team an outing in the city, you would never be short of cheap transport. There is a specialized parking lot nearby when you hire Birmingham venue, the Civic Centre Car Park, which is open 24 hours. The parking charges are nominal, but after 6:30 p.m. you can park your vehicle for free. Other facilities like cash point, restaurants, pizza centers etc. can be found in the vicinity of the venue.

Earthquakes and One-Dimensional Planning: Thinking Beyond Single Events

Shortly after 5 AM on the morning of April 18, 1906 San Francisco was struck by a major earthquake estimated to have been between magnitude 7.7 and 8.3. The series of shocks lasted between 45-60 seconds and produced considerable structural damage.

Small fires broke out immediately after the event but since the temblor had destroyed the central fire dispatch station ruptured water mains, there was little that firefighters could do. The many small blazes coalesced into a series of larger fires that would burn for three days and destroy much of the city.

The San Francisco earthquake is an extreme example of a cascading event. This is where an initial triggering event serves as the catalyst for a series of often unforeseen events. In this case, an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault created the conditions for a second catastrophe - the series of firestorms that followed.

Had the earthquake occurred in isolation it would have been remembered as one of the worst disasters in US history. However, the subsequent fires abetted by the heavy damage to the City's infrastructure created a second event that exceeded the first in catastrophic consequences.

Cascade Events

However, there was also a human element involved. San Francisco for years had neglected its firefighting infrastructure, allowing cisterns to fill with debris, neglecting water line improvements, and refusing training for firefighters. San Francisco was a city of densely packed wooden structures, ripe for conflagration and, indeed, had experienced several major fires in its history that destroyed much of the City.

Human involvement was not limited to neglect prior to the disaster. One of the most destructive of the series of fires in the disaster was caused by a woman cooking breakfast for her family. The use of low explosives by inexperienced soldiers helped spread the fires and even caused a major fire that destroyed a section of the City that might have survived the conflagration.

We need look no further than the recent earthquake in Japan to see another example of a cascading event. The earthquake was larger than anything predicted by geologist and spawned a tsunami that exceeded the planning parameters used by the local communities in constructing seawalls.

Added to the earthquake and tsunami was the failure of the protective systems at the Fukushima nuclear power plants. One can argue that such a failure was foreseeable. The tsunami on March 11th was estimated as high as 70 feet. However, the tsunami generated by the Meiji-Sanriku earthquake in 1876 of the northeast coast of Japan was estimated at 125 feet. The Sanriku earthquake in 1933 generated a tsunami of 94 feet.

One-dimensional Planning

Despite the evidence to the contrary, we still tend to think in one-dimensional terms when we prepare emergency plans. We define plans on the basis of the event itself rather than in terms of potential impacts.

Despite historical events like the 1906 earthquake, many fire districts still think in terms of fighting individual fires. The San Francisco Earthquake Annex assumes that as many as 130 fires could break out following an earthquake. However, the plan does not seem to consider that these fires could unite to form a conflagration as happened in 1906. A fire of this type is fought very differently from a series of structural fires.

Where does this type of one-dimensional thinking come from? It comes from an over-reliance on scenarios developed by experts. Don't misunderstand me - basing planning on credible evidence and sound scientific studies is absolutely essential. However, one has to understand that these scenarios are at best educated guesses based on the best available evidence. This does not mean that an event will unfold exactly as predicted. We are constantly learning from new events and rethinking previous conclusions.

Avoiding One-dimensional Planning

Planning for disasters, particularly in terms of mitigation, is always a tradeoff between available resources and risk. We can never make our critical infrastructure safe from all events nor can we provide training to our responders for every eventuality. However, we do need to take our heads out of the sand and consider the lessons of history: if it's happened once, it can happen again.

First, we need to stop using expert predictions as a means to limit costs and instead treat them as the valuable planning tools they are. We need to understand that these do not really represent the "maximum credible threat". Instead, they are what we think might be the maximum credible threat and as such represent a minimum planning threshold.

Secondly, we need to consider our infrastructure and ask some of those embarrassing "what if?' questions. Not all mitigation proposals lend themselves to a cost-benefit analysis. There are some things, like oil wells and nuclear power plants that, to borrow and overworked phrase for the financial industry, are just big to fail.

Goal Achievement Through an Events Organizer

Not enough emphasis is placed on the importance connected to the various events a corporation will sponsor during the course of a year. Company events are typically generated as an indication of appreciation to numerous company factors in order to precise gratitude and encourage for the work in years to come. Whereas corporate events are purposed to be a positive expertise, a poorly organized company event can prove to provide negative effects. This realization places an importance to finding corporate event success, a issue that can be achieved when an organization makes the choice to utilize the professional services of an organizer.

When it comes to designing a corporate event, many organizations have a very limited perspective of the opportunities related to company events. An associate turned organizer may offer you with a median location, a provider of tables and chairs and maybe some average DJ. What this amateur organizer can not provide you with is quality entertainment, a perfect corporate event location, the experience of a professional events organizer and the contacts needed to create a company event remodel from average to extraordinary. All this becomes attainable once you stop attempting to save lots of a buck and instead have a look at the many blessings that may be developed from utilizing a professional organizer.

There is a lot of advancement that can be seen in the world of an events organizer and with an experienced individual you'll exploit several of these advancements. The times of filling a room with individuals and paying attention to keynote speakers during a generic atmosphere are a thing of the past. Technology represents the first advancement that an events organizer has access to that the amateur would be unable to access. Ranging from lightweight to sound to video presentation, the experience of the events organizer will supply you with the best technology for your specific venue.

Outside of technology, even science has helped to advance the grasp of the events organizer. Studies in lighting, colors and even in smells have helped in identifying harmful effects and clarified the best useful elements to help support the success of your event. With a skilled events organizer you'll be able to learn of all these advancements and find out how science and technology will assist an organization in achieving its events goals. Utilizing an experienced events organizer is like utilizing a business tool to improve your odds of success and attaining your desired results.

Adopt Best Practices to Market Your Non-Profit Fundraiser

As a non-profit you may have access to a limited budget and resources to fulfill your set goals and missions. However, limited resources don't mean limited opportunities when creating a pre-event and a post-event buzz. Thus, you can make good use of a number of simple yet highly effective strategies to market your non-profit fundraiser to people beyond your territory and time zone.

Consider the Convenience of Your Targeted Audience

Before you finalize a date to host a fundraiser or a charity concert, it's important you look at the convenience of the audience you wish to invite. Imagine you trying to host a morning charity walk on the first Sunday of June. However, you discover that most of your would be guests are busy on that particular date. In that case, planning the event on that specific date will be a sheer wastage of time and money. Try and conduct a pre-event survey to find out the audiences' preferred date and time suitable for them to attend your event.

Act According to Your Set Goals

Be clear on what you and your guest hope to accomplish from an event. You must have legitimate answers to these 2 questions before you organize a fundraising campaign or other similar programs. For example, you should aim to get maximum attendance in your charity show. However, what will the guests gain by coming to your event. You should offer them incentives (such as 'Early Bird' pricing, etc.) to attract more individuals and increase your event ticket sales.

Send Emails and Online Invitations

It is better to send emails and online invitations at least 2 weeks before the event date to enable visitors to adjust their work schedules accordingly. Write a brief email stating the major benefits of attending your show. Ensure you provide the online registration link or online ticketing page link on the bottom of each mail to let interested people quickly click on the link and book their seats.

Use Social Media Websites

Regardless of the fact if you are hosting a single day fundraiser or a multiple day event, it is always good to regularly post about your events on Facebook, Twitter, and such other popular social media web platforms. Your fans and followers will get to see what you have to offer and may share the details with their group of friends and families. In this way, social media websites can help you to market your non-profit functions easily and quickly, expanding your network of followers in minutes.

How to Become an Event Planner

Some of you may be wondering why learning How to Become a Party and Event Planner would be of interest to anyone. But, if have always dreamed of owning your own business and having the freedom that comes along with it, then you will definitely be interested in the event planning industry. Worldwide, the annual sales generated in the party, business, and event planning industry exceed $500 billion dollars (Source: International Special Events Society). Anyone entering into this industry has a wide range of options available to them and a huge market to tap into.

Estimated start up costs:
The start-up costs of becoming a party and event planner are relatively low but they will depend upon what services you intend offering. For most, the essential equipment includes: cell phone, laptop, business cards, Yellow Pages ad, and a good organizer of some sort. If you intend on offering catering as one of your event planning jobs, then clearly you will need a fully stocked kitchen but it is possible to outsource this function if you are coordinating the entire event. Bare bones start-up costs including a rough estimate for liability insurance would be less than $2500 if you did your homework and found some deals along the way.

Recommended experience, skills, and training:
Although college degrees are available for an event planner, most of the entrepreneurs within the industry do not have one. The majority of business owners started out in catering or business meeting planning and expanded into event planning. However, many owners have attended classes and attained certification. In addition to education, learning how to become a party and event planner includes experience in the following areas: marketing, accounting, management, and sales.

Marketing tips:
To obtain credibility as a competent event planner, it is imperative that you present a professional image at all times. All of your invoices, e-mails, business cards, and correspondence should bear your company logo and have continuity in visual presentation. You will probably see good results from joining networking groups and the local chamber of commerce. Word-of-mouth will be critical in the early phases while working with the public but you will need a completely professional image and marketing strategy to land the corporate accounts.

Creating a website and filling it with a lot of useful content will land you a high ranking in the search engines and provide you with a powerful marketing tool to help promote your business. Be sure to include a link to this website in all of your e-mails and correspondence as a cheap but effective way of driving traffic to your site. Finally, use direct mail campaigns to local businesses that include some kind of promotion or discount for using your services.

Financing sources:
Learning how to become a party and event planner takes years of experience and a knack for organization but it does not require a lot of start-up capital. This is very fortunate because most banks are not going to loan you the money anyway if you are a brand new business. But, if you already own a catering business and are merely seeking to diversify your services, then your local bank is definitely an option. For everyone else, consider your friends and family if you do not already own a computer or have the cash.

Income Potential:
The income potential of learning for an event planner is only limited by your ability to sell yourself and your services to the clients. With over $500 billion dollars out there up for grabs, there is no reason why you cannot see six figures within the first three years. Like any business, however, you will only be successful if you deliver unparalleled service time and time again. But, if you love planning an event and seeing people happy, then becoming a party and event planner is for you and a way towards financial independence.

Let Online Tools Manage Your Virtual Business Networking Conference With Ease

Organizing a business networking conference can be a daunting task, especially when it entails a long to-do list. An organizer has to take care of all necessary chores, right from selecting a venue, preparing the guest list, hiring vendors, to the successful execution of the conference. At present, a lot of event planners and organizers are turning towards online solutions in order to perform all the administrative jobs seamlessly and that too without investing a lot of money and time.

The technological advancement in recent years has taken event management a step further. However, with the introduction of an event registration software the concept of virtual events is gaining ground. Today, a lot of corporate houses organize virtual business networking conferences to reap maximum benefits from minimum investments. Let's take a look how a competitive event management software can help you plan your conference with ease.

Create & Customize Event Registration Page

The event registration software helps you create and customize a registration page within a few minutes. It is available online 24x7 and can be accessed from any location. As a result, your potential attendees can sign up conveniently from the comfort of their home. Providing such convenience can help you attract large volume of attendees to your conference. Apart from this, an event registration page also supports group registration for recurring events at the same time. Attendees are not required to fill any separate paper registration forms to sign up for the event.

Reduce Administrative Workload by 50%

Using the software, organizers can reduce their administrative workload by 50%. Organizers do not require to print paper registration forms and physically distribute it to the interested participants, as the entire job is performed online with a click of a button. As soon as the registrants sign up, the database is updated automatically, without any manual intervention of your administrative workforce.

Promote Your Events to a Larger Audience

Effective promotion is the key to a successful business conference. Spreading your message to a larger audience helps in attracting prospective business people. Eventually, it helps you reaping maximum benefits. With the help of the software, you can make extensive promotion and that too with least effort and minimum cost. On-page integration with social media sites, such as, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and so on helps you spread your message by a single click of your mouse. With the online promotional platform, you no longer need to print flyers and brochures to reach out to your target audience.

Send Invites to a Targeted List of Prospects

Managing the guest list and sending invites to them becomes easy with event registration software. The software is seamlessly integrated with CRM package and hence you can easily import guest list from the remote location without any difficulty. With an Email and communication tool, you can send out invitations and RSVPs automatically, without writing separate mails for each invitee.

Track Success Rate of Conference

With the help of tracking and reporting tools, event registration software helps you track the success rates of your event. Once your events are over, you can conduct an online survey to evaluate if your attendees are satisfied.

Use event Registration Software today to manage your business networking conference.

Corporate Gifts: Enhance Your Market Visibility

In today's stiff market competition, business owners are leaving no stone unturned to attract their potential customers and familiarizing people with their brand. Correct marketing is the key element to any business. You will find several options in the list when it comes to marketing. Though, the Web emerged as the one-stop shop for enhancing your product, material promotions still holds importance. If you are attending a tradeshow or corporate event and wish to familiarize your brand in the field and amongst your niche audience, then corporate gifts are the ideal option. It is one of the most effective marketing strategies utilized by people since decades to enhance their brand among people. You will find numerous companies who design and offer business literature services. Make sure you find a reliable company printing brand names at the most economical rates.

With the improvement in society, various innovative marketing techniques emerged. However, the concept of distributing promotional gifts among people is still preferred by all. It is one of the smartest and cost-effective solutions to market your business effectively within a short span of time. The results are instant. These corporate gifts carry your company name and logo to a varied audience. Various items are used for promotional purposes like cups, pens, bags, shirts, caps, and more. Many manufacturers and business owners have applauded the fact that business gifts certainly prove to be the best promotional strategy ever. Distributing gifts with your company name highlighted among people and business persons will undoubtedly create a brand name amidst your competitors. Prints are done on various materials and you need to make sure that the ink does not smudge while printing. In addition, consider the budget as well.

The most important reason that contributes to the popularity of corporate gifts is the cost effectiveness. You do not need to spend fortunes to market your product; it can be done within the budget. Your company is bound to receive the desired publicity most conveniently. This concept is widely accepted by various business owners across the globe. Corporate gifts can be assumed to be an effective tool for instant promotions. You can distribute products at events with your company name inscribed.

The increasing need and demand for corporate gifts elevated the need of printing companies in the market. You will find various companies providing printing services to the public. However, researching well is essential to stay away from cheats. The Web also made life easier for people looking for printing services. Make use of the Internet to locate a reputed name in printing and forget your problems forever. An extensive research will prove to be beneficial. Experience the wonder of marketing with corporate gifts at affordable prices. A reliable firm will ensure best printing service at most competitive prices. So do not wait and utilize this promotional strategy to witness your business visibility improving in your target audience. This option is worth giving a try. Hire a professional firm and rest assured.

Avoid the Craziness of Planning Your Wedding or Event - Hire a Professional!

If you're starting to feel the stress of planning for your big event, celebration, or wedding, it may be time to start considering a professional event planner or wedding planner. These experts specialize in making your event go off perfectly, and they have the resources and know-how to make sure every single detail is just right.

Many people have said that even after an amazing event, they wish they would have saved themselves the stress and hired an event planner. Sometimes the person in charge of a wedding or celebration is so busy taking care of all the details that they never get to actually enjoy the party! Working with an event planner or wedding planner takes all the stress off your shoulders so that you can enjoy the perfect celebration without any of the frustration.

If your event has more than a handful of guests, it's a good time to think about whether or not you should hire a professional planner. There are countless reasons to work with an expert, and the biggest reason can often be that it completely removes the stress you have to go through to create the perfect celebration. Another popular reason why people hire an event planner or wedding planner is budget. These experts know where to find a good deal and how to make your celebration look like a million bucks no matter what your budget is. Because event and wedding planners work with many suppliers and stock rooms in the area, they have access to a huge variety of decorations, foods, furniture, service professionals, and entertainment options. When you work with an expert, you're getting access to a vast wealth of options to make your special day something to remember.

People often ask 'should you hire an event planner for a small to medium size event?' The answer is always yes! An event with just a dozen people can cause you so much stress that you'd almost rather return your RSVP! When you work with an event planner or wedding planner, you simply tell them what you want and let them handle every important detail. Your professional event planner can take care of everything from d矇cor and entertainment to catering and event staff. They can customize every single part of your special day to make sure it's a perfect event for you and for all of your guests.

Now you might think you don't want to spend the extra money it takes to hire a planner but in the long run it will save you costly mistakes you may make as well as reliving you of the stress it takes to plan and produce a great event.

Working with an event planner or wedding planner is the best way to celebrate in style without any of the stress. Your guests will be impressed from beginning to end, and you'll actually get to enjoy the special day! Now is a great time to find out all of the reasons you should hire a planner, and learn more about what they can do to make your special day a complete success.

New Year Party Game Ideas to Keep Your Guests Busy Till Midnight

To keep your guests entertained and engaged at your New Year eve party, you have to plan a bunch of games and activities apart from some finger-licking food. Planning some age-appropriate games will keep your party rolling along with keeping them excited for the midnight. Here are some New Year Party Ideas that will keep your guests in the party mood.

Games for Kids:

Happy New Year banner decorations

Why not let the little ones make a banner for the much anticipated New Year? Make some 'Happy New Year' banners using white card-stock and ask the little ones to decorate the banners as they want. Give them all the required supplies such as crayons, glitter glue, ribbons, etc. and let them try their artistic skills while you entertain the adults.

Pin the hat on Santa

This traditional variation of 'pin the tail on the donkey' is sure to be enjoyed by your little guests. Download a picture of Santa and use an image editing program to remove Santa's hat. Take a printout of this edited image, paste it on a wall, give your guests some hat shaped cutouts, and ask them to pin it at its exact place. Instead of pins, you can use Velcro. You can buy this game from any store that sells New Year Party Supplies.

Activities for adults:

Dancing couple

While the kids are busy making the banner, you can have this funniest party game for adults. Ask your guests to pair themselves, spread some newspaper on the floor, make the couples stand on the newspaper, and let them dance on it. After every minute, fold the paper and let the couples dance on the folded paper. The couple that falls off the paper will be out of the game. Continue this process until you are left with just one couple who will be the winner.

Merry Cherry

This is a messy game but that's what your New Year Party Idea is! Get some bowls and place one cherry in each bowl. Fill the bowls with whipped cream and ask the participants to eat the cherry without using their hands. Your guests are sure to have a hard time finding the cherry. Make sure you click some interesting snaps of your guests with their faces covered with cream.

These party games will help you to bring in the New Year with lots of excitement and noise.

Even Simple Event Mistakes Can Cost You Thousands

Event promoters, and event planners, sometimes make mistakes without thinking about it.

Have you ever been to an event where the doors get locked at lunchtime every day? You might think that's okay, because from a security perspective, you are keeping everything in the room safe while everyone is gone. But here's the problem. There are a lot of sales going on at events in the back sales area, there are speakers, event promoters, and sometimes outside speakers the attendees would like a chance to talk to, ask questions of and maybe even take a picture with.

• What happens when you lock the doors to your meeting room during the lunch break?


• What happens when they are locked in the morning until the last-minute before you officially start?


• What happens when everybody has just enough time to come in and sit down, and you literally start 5 minutes later?


• What happens when your attendees leave at lunch and can't get back in the room?


• What's the problem, anyway?

Here's the issue. If you open the doors even as little as 30 minutes before your event starts in the morning, it gives your attendees a chance to network and it gives them a chance to go to the back sales area and ask your staff, your event promoter or event planner, or whoever is working the back area, questions about things that have been sold, and questions about your products and services. If they're asking questions, it usually means there's a very good chance they're going to invest in something you have to offer.

If they're asking questions and are showing interest in things, they're probably going to invest more money.

You want to teach people to go to that back sales table. Even if they're just asking a basic question like where's the restroom, they've gone to that back sales table. The back table now becomes the area of focus in your room, which is exactly what you want.

The same thing happens as people come back from lunch. When they come back from lunch early, and the doors are open, they can walk to the back and look at the things in your bookstore, they can look at your products, and they might pick up an order form. They have a chance to ask questions about the speaker who was there before lunch.

Everybody has to eat, but a good philosophy when you're running your own events is, you can eat and sleep later, the first priority is to take care of your attendees, be available to answer questions and to help them in any way possible.

A good rule of thumb is that somebody from your staff or your team has to be in the room at all times.

So, during the lunch breaks, there are people at the back sales table. The back sales area should never be empty. There should always be somebody there that can answer questions and who can make a sale. Because not having your back table properly staffed costs you, the event promoter, money in the long run - and usually it costs you a lot of money.

It may seem like a little thing, but it could make a big, big difference.

So, at lunchtime, have somebody back there, leave the doors open. Tell people they can leave their belongings if you're comfortable with that.

You always want to lock the meeting room doors at night, always double-check and you and your staff as well as hotel security will want to go to great lengths to secure the room when you're done for the day with the event.

The point is, you want to do everything you can to maximize sales, and that means you want to give people a chance to visit the sales area, and network with the speakers.

Not everybody is a quick decision maker that jumps up and runs to the back, invests their money and they're done. Some people have to weigh things over, they want to think about things a little bit. They have questions that come up about the product and whether or not it's the right investment for their business.

Attendees have questions and you want to make that sales area as available as possible to maximize your investment, and get your marketing money, and all of the effort back that you've already put into that amazing live event you're putting on.

How To Encourage Sponsorship For Your Events

When you are looking for sponsorship for your events, you must be able to know what will grab their attention. You have to be able to prove to them that you will be able to provide enough exposure so that they feel comfortable with working with you. This is ultimately what sponsors will need to know before they start to shell out their money or give you free services. The best way to really catch their attention is to show them that you will be able to give them more sales or attention. This stems from your negotiations and how well you are with persuading the sponsors.

Give Them Facts

Tell the sponsors what you are expecting for your event and how many people are going to be coming. The more people at the event, the more exposure that company will be able to get. The problem will stem from the fact that it can be tough to get sponsors if you are not able to provide past facts about attendance. This means that you cannot just give them a random number and hope that you will be able to catch their attention. Let them know about past events and also tell them what you are expecting for this new event.

Let Them Compete

When you have already grabbed one sponsor, make sure that you also let the other sponsors know so that they will realize that other companies do see your event as a good investment. If you are serious about getting a sponsor, you must really work hard to get the first one and hopefully the rest will follow. Most event companies will say that it can be hard to get the first sponsor but it really just takes a lot of hard work and patience to be able to get that very important first sponsor.

Take Your Time

Finding the right event companies or sponsors will not be that difficult as long as you know that it will take time. Most people believe that they will be able to get a sponsor right away and this is not the best way to really go about the process. If you are serious about what you want and that you really want a sponsors, you will take the proper steps needed to be able to finally get the sponsors needed to fund your event. Take your time and realize that you must learn the basics of the process before you go out and deal with the people who will be sponsoring your next event.

Event Planning Courses: Then and Now

Event management has changed a lot in the past 100 years. It has only fairly recently come to be recognized as a distinct profession requiring specialized training, i.e., event planning courses.

There were no event planner courses per se in the past. This is an emerging profession, one whose market share is said to be steadily growing.

In spite of the obvious challenges posed by the ongoing financial downturn, the outlook is still positive for graduates of event management courses.

Many of the events for which we now habitually turn to graduates of event planning courses - especially weddings - were once organized on a less formal basis, often for free, by family members.

If your event planner courses include a historical component, they may teach that Prince Charles and Lady Di are said to have transformed the wedding planning industry, and as a result, the event management industry as a whole, by increasing our expectations.

Perhaps all graduates of event planning courses owe a debt to this short-lived but unforgettable union...

Ever since the international TV broadcast of this fairy tale wedding, demand for the kind of services now regularly provided by graduates of event planning courses is said to have grown exponentially.

Quite simply, today's consumers expect more from their events. They expect weddings to look like the ones featured in magazines. They expect brides to look like celebs. To respond to the demand, community colleges around the world have introduced event planner courses.

Now, the graduates of these event planning courses find themselves co-ordinating a wide variety of events, not just weddings.

Event planning courses prepare students to organize:

• corporate events


• academic events


• fundraising events


• virtual events


• children's birthday parties


• baby showers


• bridal showers


• stag and doe parties


• etc.

Today's event planners have a variety of considerations that wouldn't have been an issue in the past. Sustainability, for instance, is a fairly recent addition to event planner courses.

Graduates of event planner courses may find themselves purchasing carbon offset credits for a children's birthday party, arranging for a compost bucket to be provided at a green technology expo, or arranging virtual events so that attendees don't need to engage in emissions-heavy air or car travel. As you can see, modern event management demands flexibility and creativity - a responsiveness to the issues of the day.

And event organizers in the past obviously did not have to contend with social media. Now, a strong social media strategy is a core requirement for almost any project embarked upon by a graduate of event planning courses. Some industry experts credit social media with revolutionizing the industry. First there was Prince Charles and Lady Di, then there was the new Twitter platform...

One wonders what the next thirty or forty years hold for this industry. What will be the talk of event planning courses in 2052?

Glitter Fashion Shows Aiding Event Management Company

In contemporary world of each and every company crave for visibility. Portraying oneself on large platform give out healthy impression of the organization.

Events are organized to gain huge public attentions. These are medium to reflect oneself in clear way and desired publicity can be gained. If you run a company and crave for promotion of the company as brand name, then its depiction in the market is extremely vital.

There are many event management companies which can work for your company. Many fashion shows take place around us are coordinated by various these companies.

Full-fledged advertisement campaigns are carried on by the event organizers for high scale visibility. These advertisement campaigns are carried in series which are targeted to the audiences. These campaigns incorporate research work to promotion focused to take the company to wide level.

Event organizers are doing great work in fashion industry. This industry is highly glamorous and marked by the presence of several eyeballs. Fashion events management are acted on with high sensitivity and single thing is eyed with extreme precision.

Fashion events management demand high responsibility and experience as the activities are marked by highly suave people who are their scrutinizers. So its vital not to starve their expectations. Besides, media also eye on the fashion shows and any lack may result in ruining of the reputation.

There are also numerous technicalities which are linked to the shows. Placement of the stage, ambiance matching the required theme, fashion photography, position of audience etc. There are several technicalities which can only be looked by the experienced event management companies.

Amongst many, fashion photography stands out the rest due to many reasons. Photo shoots take place in the outdoor location as well which requiring high details. Shooting at outdoor locations demand several things which can be fulfilled by the various equipments.

There are various event management company which can be explored online which can take care of events. These event management companies are units of experienced people who are involved into making up of events at large scale.

What Exactly Does an Event Planner Do? You'd Be Surprised

I often get asked about event planning jobs and what exactly does a planner do. It's very hard to give a short answer. While it's obvious that they plan events, however, when you look at all of the tasks that are required you realize that planners have no easy job.

An Event Planner Wears Many Hats

There are different skill sets required for an event planners job. Which characteristic is required depends on which stage that they are at with their client. For example, when meeting with their client in hopes to win that piece of business, communication skills are being used. You see you only get one chance to make a first impression.

Characteristics that an event planner requires are:

Communication. As I stated above when you are trying to win a clients business, it's important that your verbal and written communications are impeccable. This is your sales pitch so to speak. You will also be required to provide a written proposal to your client.

Fiscal Management. This is when an event or party planner needs to know their math. Quite often their clients will state their budget for a particular event. The event planner's job is to create or plan an event all while working within the set budget.

Negotiation Skills. An event planner works with many suppliers. And quite often they are required to negotiate on their client's behalf. Anyone who's been involved with negotiations knows that this is an art. Negotiation isn't a "my way or highway" attitude (some of our politicians could take note here). Rather negotiation is the ability to reach a compromise where both sides feel that they accomplish some of what they had set out to achieve.

Decision-Making Skills. The job is not for those who cannot make decisions. Event planners are called upon often to make on the spot decisions that can have a dramatic affect on the event itself.

Leadership. Again a "my way or the highway" approach does not work well here. Leadership is a quality that, when displayed properly, makes people want to work for you. A good leader knows how to correctly motivate their teams to achieve the desired results. In my experiences, I have found that the leadership trait is one of the hardest to develop in someone.

Organizational Skills. Boy does an event planner need to be organized. Think of them as you would a director in a movie. It's their responsibility to make sure that all of the suppliers are doing their specific roles so that the overall event is running seamlessly. The words "organized chaos" would be a good way of describing what's going on for an event planner during the event itself.

Event Planning Certification Is Very Instrumental for Career Development

PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) recently published a study showing that an event planner that was certified makes considerable amount more than someone that was not certified. And, judging by the characteristics required above, it's no wonder that certification is the way to go. An event planners job requires a variety of characteristics. It always amazes me that they are doing all of this as part of their day-to-day routine and so many do it with a huge smile. For those I say their job is really their passion.

Visit my blog, PlanAnEvent, for more event planning articles.

Trade Show Event Management

Having dealt with clients that are in and out of  McCormick Place and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center there is a flow of trade show and convention traffic any given day of the week near or around the Chicago land area. Harnessing the value of trade show marketing & management has become an increasingly tougher task for trade show managers and coordinators. Their budgets have been cut; members of their marketing teams have been laid off. Now even more they need a successful solution for their event management.

In the world of marketing, we have to remember that we are all a "line-item" when it comes to corporate strategy. Showing the value in our positions is getting tougher with budgets being crunched, jobs being re-defined and strategies changing. 

Trade Show Managers carry the weight of the entire event, streamlining this process and being able to report budget vs. actual and refining your strategy can be accomplished easily with the support of online event management. Being able to show upper management the return on investment for their trade shows will only help in future decision making. Having access to your trade show program from any where in the world, there is no down time when it comes to scheduling, itineraries, inventory & shipping and tracking your exhibit properties.

Outsourcing your trade show event management to an educated and knowledgeable firm adds extra benefit to your entire trade show program. Managers may be reluctant to turn over this responsibility, in fear they may be replaceable, this is not the case. Using a management software tool will allow you to eliminate the details and the headaches of research and information gathering and free up valuable time that can be better spent on refining your marketing strategies. 

Putting in place a service team that will care for your properties like they were theirs, you'll no longer have the wrong graphics, late shipments, broken components or lost schedules. By teaming up with an outsource partner for trade show management, you have a virtual safety net, where all the detailed tasks are collected and can be customized to best refine your companies trade show marketing campaigns for a better ROI and evaluation. 

Reasons to Choose Office Party Catering

There are a lot of corporate entities that will choose to reward their clients or their workers with an office party. Throwing an office party for a large group of people can be fairly costly, but there are a lot of options that can help you save time, money, and not interrupt the daily workflow of your office. By hiring an office party catering service, you will be able to serve your employees beverages and food throughout the day, without having to disrupt their productivity.

There are many different reasons why you should consider hiring an office party catering service to cater your corporate events. A few of the top three reasons why it is a good idea to hire a professional catering service for the event is because they can provide peace of mind, competitive pricing, and present the event in a professional manner.

Presentation - When hiring a professional office catering service, the first thing that you will notice when hiring a company is their level of professionalism that they take while performing their job. The food that the company will bring to your office will come ready to serve, and if you choose to rent tables for the event, the catering company will set up the tables in a professional manner to suit the venue that the party is being conducted in.

Pricing - Instead of taking all of your employees to an expensive restaurant or purchasing large quantities of food from a nearby eatery, you can choose to have an office catering service come to your office and provide you with a wide variety of options to choose from, for a relatively low cost. You will be able to feed every employee within your office, and still have enough food leftover for the employees to take home with them, if they desire to do so.

Peace of Mind - Instead of spending your valuable time coordinating different pieces of your party together, office party services can take care of every aspect of your party for you. You will be able to call one company and get your food, drinks, and desserts delivered to your office without having to stress out about the event plans. You will not have to take any of your employees away from their work to help you plan the occasion, because all of the planning can be done by one person, when you have a team of caterers to help you with the rest.

Presentation, pricing, and peace of mind are just three ways that office catering services can help make your office party an eventful and stress free event. Office catering services can be used for a lot more events than office parties. You can utilize the services at wedding receptions, birthday parties, and other special occasions as well. The office party catering service will be able to adhere to your needs, whatever they may be.

Instead of having to burden yourself with the stresses that come from feeding a large group of people, let someone else do the work for you. An office party catering company will prepare all of the food, drinks, and d矇cor for the party that you are hosting. They will bring all of the items to your office for you.

Successful Event Planning Tips

Throwing a party or hosting an event may sound like an easy job but careful planning is required to ensure that your event is a success. Business owners especially need to maximize their dollars when hosting an event. It is advised that you consider hiring the professional services of an event planner. An event planner has expertise and knowledge in event planning and management and often can negotiate on your behalf with vendors such as caterers, photographers and florists to obtain a less expensive price since they have established relationships with the vendors.

You may think that hiring an event planner is an added expense but consider this: an event planner can relieve the stress of event planning by handling everything from the event conception to the execution. Imagine what you could do with the time you save in making phone calls, freeing up your staff, researching prices, picking up items, faxing information, setting up tables, greeting guests, etc.

Since your company's reputation may be at stake, it is critical that you select an event planner you can trust. Ask for references or ask to see photos from their event portfolio.

If you decide to take on this heavy task yourself, first identify the purpose of the event and align it with a specific marketing objective. You should have a "crystal clear" vision of the event in your head. The next step is to define your target audience. Consider what their interests are when selecting music, food, themes and invitations and be mindful of special dietary requirements or seating accommodations.

Take full advantage of your event by utilizing signage, press releases, photos, guest books or advertising to promote your event. Be sure and invite as many customers as possible and be prepared for extra guests who failed to RSVP. If you have a limited budget, you may want to partner with another business or ask for donations from area businesses.

Remember, your image should be conveyed at each step in the event planning process. Special events offer potential for future business, contracts and publicity. Understanding what you want to gain and how your event can help your objective will help determine the frequency of your events and the budget you should allot to such events. Events can double as a marketing tool if executed correctly.

Last but not least, have fun! Your tone and attitude will set the mood for the entire event.

Become an Event Planner - Planning That First Meeting

Do you really need to go out and buy an all inclusive meeting planning guide? The answer depends upon your situation. Yes, it would be nice to have something to reference that will give you all or most of the answers. But, do you have time to read a three or four hundred page manual before that first meeting?

Most first time or novice planners do not need in depth training. What they need are meeting planning basics. Where do I start? Who do I call? What space do I need? What questions will I be asked from the hotel side? How do I negotiate and how will I know if I got a good deal?

So, what is needed is a quick overview to get a feel of the land. Get a primer, or as in school, get a quick study guide for meeting planning. It will get you going and give you the overview needed to get comfortable with the process.

Primers will answer the questions you have, so you can move quickly through the planning process. They are usually light, easy to read, informative and they speed up the learning curve.

Checklists guide you through the planning process, budget spreadsheets make record keeping simple and you are able to save time, effort, stress and money.

Some meeting planning guides even have cartoons that will help you understand how the communication process works. See how the characters react to questions asked by planners and hotel staff in cartoons portraying real situations. Find out what the hotel sales staff is really thinking when you start the negotiation process.

Now, the original question was about an all inclusive meeting planning guide. Yes, this will be useful at some point because planners can never learn enough. So, get a meeting planning primer to start your learning process and add an all inclusive event planning guide to your list later, when you need to answer more detailed questions or when you want to study for the Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) exam.

The Emerging Trends in Trade Show Events

Corporate exhibitions, trade shows and seminars have been held for many years and the organizers of such events are regularly introducing new ideas to ensure that the attendees pay due attention and do not treat the trade show event lightly. With access to different technological gadgets, better exhibition material and displays, they are able to improve the manner in which such shows are held. Modern lighting, fancy shapes of display kiosks and other such advancements have made the task of such event organizers easier. The event venues have also undergone many changes with them incorporating better conveniences and facilities so as to cater to the requirements of different exhibitors.

The manner in which the displays are reflected or put up have undergone a change from the typical and usual black background. Displays have become modular, are portable and are very easy to assemble thereby saving precious time. Since they are light, it is not necessary to involve many people in the process. They can also be made to suit the specifications of companies given the modular nature of modern displays. One more advancement is the availability of tables that can carry screen mounts and other holders necessary for a proper interactive session with the interested visitors and you are therefore able to talk to more people by giving them individual attention at one stroke.

The other important prerequisite for trade shows is the use of banners. These banners have also now got the advantage of better stands in which they can be set up. Gone are the days when banners used to be pretty shabby and could not be used for more than one occasion. Nowadays, better quality has ensured that the banners can be used repeatedly and even graphic displays on both sides can be arranged so that you can communicate different messages to the visitors at the same time.

The bigger exhibits which really make an impact are the two-storey ones. They are now available in light weight steel or aluminum and can be designed as per the requirement. The visibility with these two-storey exhibits is tremendous and will give your business a great thrust.

When it comes to costing, you now have the advantage of fabric displays that are far less costly and you can make use of them to drive your cost down. The money you save can be used for more number of banners placed strategically at the event venue for maximum impact.

Summer Party Ideas and Special Event Planning For Cocktail Parties

Summer is such a great time to entertain. You have the warm daytime sunshine as well as refreshing nights. Here are some summer party ideas including a couple of cocktail catering presentations to help you with any special event planning for summer cocktail parties.

Create conversation and interaction with your special event planning. One refreshing cocktail catering presentation for cocktail parties is to present a new twist on an old idea. Skewer a piece of cooked shrimp and instead of serving it with a bowl of cocktail sauce serve the shrimp in a shot glass already filled with the sauce.

Other summer party ideas that include shot glasses for cocktail catering are soups, whether they are hot such as lobster Saki shooters (I recently enjoyed at a cocktail party) or cold soups such as shots of gazpacho or cucumber.

For cocktail parties where you may want to serve a refreshing natural and nutritious dessert, why not accompany a platter full of fresh fruit with a shot of a fruit smoothie?

More summer party ideas for cocktail parties include serving refreshing melon balls wrapped with prosciutto or cucumber cups filled with humus, seaweed salad or salmon dip.

Lollipop-styled desserts are another cocktail catering suggestion to add to your special event planning summer ideas. Brownie bites, chocolate chip cookies or bread pudding are all delicious bite-sized desserts you can serve on a stick and tray pass or present on a platter at a dessert buffet. Clean up is easy too since no silverware or dessert plates are needed just a simple cocktail napkin!

Other desserts that can be served in small individual portions with a creative flair are cr癡me brulee, chocolate pudding or tiramisu presented in demitasse cups with demitasse spoons.

Summer party ideas for your special event planning d矇cor can be fast, easy and inexpensive. Instead of using a tea-light with your glass votive, drop a Cymbidium orchid in the glass instead. Or place an orchid weighted down with water and colored glass beads in a small glass vase.

Floating candles in water are always fun for your table d矇cor and you can use colored glass beads on the bottom or add a flower in the container as well. A great decor idea for cocktail parties I recently read about in Real Simple magazine is to use parchment paper as a luminary wrap around a glass votive candle holder.

I hope you found these special event planning ideas for cocktail catering helpful for your next summer event. Summer party ideas do not need to be complicated or take much of your time. Cocktail parties are a great way to gather a group of friends for an intimate and casual event, and when you throw your next cocktail party remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!

Planning an Office Christmas Party

Many companies, agencies and organizations have some version of a holiday office Christmas party each year. For some, it is a simple affair perhaps with a potluck lunch but for major corporations, the event may be much more elaborate. There are basically two different types of office Christmas parties; one held on site during the work day or one held after hours at an offsite location.

The Simple Party

For the office party held during work time, the event is much simpler to plan. Planning an office Christmas party during the day entails very little, as the party is usually a lunch time affair perhaps with a buffet, gift exchange along with a how have we done year in review component that highlights the outgoing year's accomplishments along with a projection of what is to come in the New Year. Planning a smaller affair usually means deciding upon whether you will have everyone bring in a covered dish or having the party catered. What you chose will depend upon your available funds.

Certainly it is much cheaper to have co-workers bring in a covered dish, but someone really does need to keep tabs on what people have chosen to bring. Sometimes the company will provide the main course, such as chicken, and have the employees bring the rest. However, if there is not a designated individual in charge of keeping everything straight, you can end up with 30 deserts and only 5 side dishes or vice versa. Planning an office Christmas party means that you need several people to volunteer to take charge, setting all of the details in place along with managing the budget.

The Elaborate Party

Many companies offer their employees the opportunity to dress up and get away from the office for their holiday event. Planning an office Christmas party where everyone attends a black tie event can take a great deal of time, money and attention to detail. Many larger corporations may consider hiring an outside event planning company to take care of all of the details, from entertainment, food, d矇cor and company gifts. These events take time to put together and are usually thought about well in advance, at least six months or more before the Christmas holiday season.

Many companies do not want their employees making merry on company premises, preferring not to draw attention if an employee or two gets out of hand. Taking the party off company grounds is much smarter. Sometimes the executive secretary or the assistant to the CEO will have the party planning duties assigned to them long in advance. For these individuals it can be a very time consuming part of their job. Corporations want to offer their employees a great experience while keeping costs in line. However, there can be a lot of pressure to outdo oneself each and every year.

Whatever time of company party is chosen, the event takes dedicated people to pull it off. Planning an office Christmas party is fun but can be challenging as well.

New Year Party Games to Keep the Little Ones Engaged and Entertained

Make your New Year eve party an interesting affair for the kids by organizing some fun New Year party games. Let the kids make some noise and play till they get exhausted. If you don't keep them busy they are more likely to do mischief and spoil the fun for the adults. Keep them occupied till midnight so that everyone at your New Year eve party can have a gala time. Here are some suggestions for keeping your little guests happy.

Party hat decoration contest

As soon as your guests arrive, give them some plain party hats, glitters, ribbons, stickers, faux jewels, etc. to decorate their own party hat. Set up a craft area for them and let them use their skills to design a creative and festive New Year party hat. This activity will keep them busy for quite some time so that the adults can do some chit chat session.

Balloon pop game

Apart from using these inexpensive party supplies for decoration, use them to play the balloon pop game. Arrange some prizes for the kids and write the name of each prize on a small sheet of paper. Roll these papers to make tubes and insert them into deflated balloons. Blow them up along with many other balloons and let them float on the floor. This will be a great New Year party decoration. Later, as the midnight approaches, ask the kids to blow-up the balloons by sitting on them. Ask them to collect the prize sheets and once this New Year party game is over, you can give away the prizes.

2012 review games

To play this game, make a list of some trivia questions and their answers in advance. The questions can be anything that happened in 2012 including a kids' movie release to a major development that happened in the world. Either divide the kids into teams or let them play individually. Appoint one volunteer to ask trivia questions and award the team or individual who gives maximum answers. This educational New Year party game is sure to keep the kids busy for a long time.

Apart from these structured games, create a play area for the kids so that they can have fun in their own way. Have a lot of toys, fun games, mind games, etc. and let them play independently. You can have this activity after they are done with their party hat decoration. Once they get bored playing these games, move on to the above mentioned structured New Year party games.

Event Transportation Management Guide

Putting on an event often requires dealing with many types of vendors from various specialized trades. The display units, equipment, and merchandise needed for the smooth operation of your event may require special event transportation management on account of their size, shape and value.

Additionally, some or all of these items may need to be stored on their respective delivery trucks, depending on how they might be affected by inclement weather, or for lack of other storage space. Conveniently, there are companies which provide specialized and insured delivery service for fragile, sensitive or valuable items.

However, these types of transportation systems are usually more expensive, due to the risk of liability and effort involved in their successful delivery.

One particular tool which might prove useful to your event transportation needs is the GPS vehicle tracking system. It can provide you with real time vehicle tracking and fleet management, with both mapping and reporting.

Vehicle tracking reports include valuable information, including vehicle speeds and headings. A GPS tracking system can locate a vehicle from any computer or device with internet access, anytime, anywhere. Such a tool can prevent your transportation company from assessing any unjustifiable charges, and provide you with the peace of mind that comes from the ability to oversee the transport of guest passengers and goods.

To own such devices would easily cost you $300-$600 per unit, plus $35-$60 per month for the service. Additionally, you could be obligated to a contract of 6 months or longer. Despite this, it might be well worth it for the peace of mind such a service can provide you.

Airport Shuttle Transportation

Do you need to look to outside vendors to meet changing demands? Assess your transportation needs and determine who really needs a ride. Determine how often you need your shuttle service to run. Inquire whether the hotel can adjust their shuttle service to accommodate you. Between the hotel courtesy shuttles, the competitively priced national chains, and the local shuttle services, you should be covered.

Hotel Transportation

If you have a sudden increase or decrease in participation or attendance, seamless communication with the hotels and vendors could prevent you from wasting money on more shuttles than are necessary, or spare you the embarrassment of inadequate service for your guests.

Group Transportation

Group transportation can get real tricky and time consuming with permits and large crowds. Be sure to finalize all your arrangements well in advance, and keep copies of your permits handy, so your attendees don't hit speed bumps on the road to your event.

If you need to transport your guests around town, have fun and be creative. Look for unique transportation options in your area. For example, in England a double decker bus, in the Bahamas, a glass bottom boat.

Carting your guests by horse and carriage from the venue to dinner, or a 15 minute ride by yacht to a lively night spot, might be fun ways for your guests to relax before a long day of meetings.

Transportation Companies

Experienced and professional companies have broken down transportion management into five basic components:

1) needs analysis

2) technical planning

3) dispatch

4) execution

5) post operations

If you're using one of the many turn-key companies out there, then this is one module of your project you won't need to worry about. They will probably even include a meet and greet party with refreshments.

If this project is your baby, don't worry. Whether it's a car, van, or bus service you're dealing with, rental companies have personnel to assist you with your reservations and transportation needs.

Ground Transportation

Airports provide extensive networks of taxicabs, car rentals, shuttle buses, trains, vans and limousines. All of these solutions can provide safe, courteous and efficient transport for passengers and freight. Additionally, there are wheelchair accessible transportation options to and from local public facilities.

Although airport ground transportation representatives may not be able to recommend specific services to you, they are there to provide you with transportation options, and put you in touch with them.

They can also inform you when your ride has arrived. This built-in support system should lighten the burden of analysis and planning somewhat, and prevent a lot of headaches.

Event Transportation Problems

Although it may be impossible to predict every outcome of your operation, there are a few common things which could go wrong. These might be service delays, overcharges, vehicle condition complaints, and complaints about non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Providing your guests with maps, names, and phone numbers of staff members to assist them might help to minimize such occurrences, and insure things run smoothly. Remember to check on your flight arrival times, as they are prone to change, and be sure that your ground transports are on time and clearly visible, so that your attendees can easily spot them.

Private Transportation

When you need to transport your staff to and from locations, sometimes hotel shuttle schedules are insufficient. The earlier you contact transportation providers, the better they can assist you in meeting your needs. Plan well in advance to insure the best availability, and remember to stay within your alloted budget.

Limo Transportation

Will there be limousines at your event? If so, you will need to determine how many you will need to supply, and how many of your VIP's will be arriving in their own. Make sure that your limos arrive spotless and on time, and have your drivers' cell phone numbers handy. Consider how ostentatious you should be with the limos. If the company just underwent a large downsizing, it might be more prudent to park the limos out of sight.

Executive Transportation

To cater to top executives and provide them with comfortable and reliable transportation, you will first need to determine their needs: how many are traveling, where and when, etc. Will they be arriving hungry or jet-lagged? Will they be looking for entertainment? Is video conferencing available if necessary?

Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails or other appropriate catering should be on time and in place before their arrival. When developing your budget, try to anticipate the special amenities your executives will be expecting. This will help insure that they arrive in a good mood and can hit the ground running.

Event transportation management requires meticulous planning and preparation well in advance. It also demands constant periodic updating to stay in step with evolving changes. Good record keeping is a must.

Here's one tip which could potentially save you thousands:

Arrange a central meeting point for your attendees, possibly at an airport hotel. Provide a small reception while you await the arrival of other attendees, and then transport everyone in a hired coach simultaneously. This is a prudent tactic for any transportation manager.

That's a wrap!

6 Ways to Have a Successful Event

Organizing an event or a workshop to the public is the best way to increase your company contact network, generate more sales, and get your company known to the public in the shortest possible of time.

There are 6 things that you must take note of so as to get the best results from your event:

1. Who are you inviting to your event? You must know the target audience for your event. For e.g. your event is an Internet Business focus group. Do you know the gender, age group, and income level of your invitees?

It is important to know who customers are, so that you can suit the theme of your event to the audience.

2. Make your event meaningful. Do not pitch your products and services straight away. Teach them something that they do not know. Provide them with meaningful and valuable information before you start to sell your services or products.

3. Try to get as many people to your event as possible. If your budget allows, make your event as impressive as possible, so as to add credibility to your business.

4. Get a good event management company to host the event for you. You will not want to hire someone who will screw up the whole event for you. Get a good emcee that knows how to control the flow of the event, and has the ability to repeat any product offers to your guests effectively.

5. Remember to network around! The main purpose of organizing an event is that you can network your invitees face to face. Make them feel welcome and appreciated and they will be your loyal customers in the future.

6. Follow up quickly. After the event, send a personalized "Thank You" email to your invitees. Ask them for feedback and suggestions, so that you can improve the next time round.

A good event or workshop planner will ensure that all the 6 things mentioned above get done. If you do not have time or confidence to fulfill all the above, do hire a professional event management company to help you to do organize the event.

Event Planning Guide: What Equipment Do You Need for A Successful Event?

A useful event planning guide needs a large section on what exact equipment you will need. Have you ever been an event planner at an event and had the spine chilling moment when you realised that a vital bit of equipment had totally been forgotten about? Yep me to. That is one of the reasons I put this article together. The amount of technical equipment you will need will depend on what kind and size of event you are organising. A good Event Production Company will be able to advise you. A good place to start is to think about what media you want to use to get across your messages? Meanwhile, here are a few things to get you started.

Ask yourself and your speakers/presenters:

• What visual mediums will be used in presentations? PowerPoint slides, video, DVD?


• What type of screen is needed, a simple screen, projector and lap top, or a more complex stage set with lighting and graphics? All of these may depend on the size of your audience generally the larger the audience the more equipment you will need.


• Plus, do you want, front, back or fly projection?


• Will you need a Public Performance License? i.e. for Videos or DVD's or music you plan to play?

Now for some practical stuff..

• What size PA System and how many microphones do you need?


• What type of microphones do you need: Lapel, Hand Held or Lectern?

It's handy to have backups too. I was at an event recently where there was a shortage of roving mikes available for a question and answer session. The audience was about 300. The client gave the organiser a significant grilling after the event. Remember that errors like this can often lose you and your company a significant contract. That is why planning ahead is so vital to run a successful event. Something that is necessary is a supply of mike runners, or mike stands. With many companies recording events to leverage afterwards having all questions on tape is vital. A few agile mike runners will ensure that everyone has a mike at the correct time.

How will the organising team communicate, can you use Walkie Talkies?

How many technicians will you need and can the Event Production Company provide the right amount of people resource as and when you need it?

Finally a really good event production company can tell your more about systems such as:

1. Electronic badges,


2. Data readers to collect bar code information,


3. Credit card payments for offers made at events

All are increasingly being used at larger events. When you know exactly what it is used need, create your own mini event planning guide that is bespoke to your event. Sometimes the simplest
ideas are the best. Mine becomes my 'event bible'!

Event Planning - Corporate Bonding - Creative Venues

What do you do for corporate bonding? Is your team more suited for golf, games or bingo? Well, whatever your team likes, it is important to get out of the box periodically and do some team building. Plan a time and a place to take the whole group or just your immediate team and let loose.

Here's what I recommend. Plan something to include an activity or activities, time for some social bonding and last, but not least, time to have something to eat and drink. Here's one idea that incorporates many options.

The other day I spent some time at indoor sports facility. Some would call it an ice rink, but is more.

Under one roof they have a full size Ice Rink for team competition, training and open public time. Also, they have two Indoor Soccer fields. One is 65 yards long and can be used for soccer, lacrosse or flag football. The second one is a little smaller and is perfect for team members that prefer less running.

What makes this special is the opportunity to give your team a choice and let them have fun.

Packages are offered that will fit any budget. Pick the type of sport you think will fit your team and then select your package. An example is their Turf package designed for Soccer or Flag Football. Sixteen guests get to play for an hour on their small turf field and have a private area nearby for those who get winded. Three large pizzas plus two pitchers of soda are included. Obviously, time of day and the scope of your team might necessitate additional food or beverages. This covers roughly an hour and a half for physical bonding and then another one half hour to wind down, eat and drink.

But if that package is not enough or you need to expand your numbers, or add more food, they are more than willing to accommodate. Lastly, they have a Sports Bar where you can relax and watch all the indoor action. It's right next to their soccer fields for those that want to continue bonding and has three large screen televisions on the wall with plenty of seating for everyone. In fact, the local Chamber of Commerce recently held their networking event in the Sports Bar area.

So, if you are looking for something different and out of the box, think activities, social bonding time, plus food and beverages at a facility like an indoor sports facility. It is all under one large roof and gives you the option to be creative and give your team something they will remember. By the way, take a camera along. I am sure you will get some great pictures of your team.

How to Plan a Miami Bachelor Party

Assuming your group isn't working with a tight budget, Miami is a great bachelor party destination... However, best men planning a Miami stag need not only be prepared for some serious spending (and fund collecting from other groomsmen!) but also some serious planning.

Here is a step-by step guide for planning a Miami bachelor party:

Step 1: Answer three questions about the type of bachelor party you will be planning:

1. Will this be a clubbing-focused stag?
2. Has the groom (or his bride-to-be, as the case may be!) given the okay for strippers at the bachelor party, and just how "okay" is he with this as a source of entertainment?
3. Will this be a sports-focused stag?

When you are visiting a place widely believed to have hottest nightlife scene in America, you might think you would be an idiot not to hit up some clubs. Well, you are right. Miami's nightclubs are not cheap, but they are varied... And however much you may think you have 'been there and done that', you have not been to South Beach's nightlife! As its claim to its increasing bachelor party destination fame, it would be a shame not to visit at least a few nightclubs, beachclubs, lounges or bars during your stay.

That being said, if the groom really wants to go to Miami, but actually isn't that into clubbing, this does not have to be the focus of the itinerary... See why below in Step 2.

Step 2: Narrow down some specific bachelor party ideas.

Not to downplay Miami's renowned nightlife scene, but to open your eyes to other activities that would help you create a well-rounded itinerary, here are just a few other ideas that could be the main focus of your stag:

• You could still be a best man that passes with distinction by planning a bachelor party that focuses on strippers and steak (in some venues, you can even find both) as well as the area's renowned Cuban cuisine for evening entertainment.


• You could plan a sports-focused bachelor party including tickets at one of the many games or sporting events that are very likely to be happening around the time of your trip.


• You could plan on a couple of early nights and going on a drive to see gator wrestling at the Everglades, or on renting or chartering a yacht or boat for an early morning fishing trip.


• It should be no surprise that the options for daytime activities here are as endless as the sun, so take advantage and rent some jet skis, wave runners or scooters, or enjoy a round of world-class golf at one of the areas many top-notch courses.


• If you want to turn heads among Miami's many monetary-minded locals, an invitation to a luxury yacht would definitely be the type of thing to float posh Miami women's boats. Nonetheless, it never hurts to avoid being a group of strictly guys if you are doing this ultimate (or any) form of cruising for girls, so if you want, arrange for some escorts or models for accompaniment prior to cruising along the Miami beaches... *

* However, note: As much as its great that the bride-to-be and girlfriends aren't there, obviously make sure that your "unsupervised" fun in the waters is supervised by a sober and trustworthy guide (or several), and that drinking, etc., doesn't go overboard-unless, of course, you want to find out where that expression came from.

Step 3: Determine the duration and date of your trip.

4 days is an ideal amount of time to experience most man-musts for a trip to Miami (without raising too much suspicion or irritation with the ladies waiting at home!). You definitely want these details planned as soon as possible, as it will help finalize your guest list (very important for a pricy bachelor party destination like Miami!), and help you determine which bachelor party activities you will be able to enjoy, from attending one of Miami's many festivals to sporting events, etc. Obviously, stick to the date you will be returning, because women at home will be watching the clock as avidly as you will be watching the bikinis, and will take any change of plans as basically an admittance of guilt.

Step 4: Plan your accommodations.

Miami has some of the world's highest quality, stylish boutique hotels and luxury villas, so don't underestimate the importance of planning the right Miami accommodations for the bachelor party.

Step 5: Figure out your mode(s) of transportation...

... And by that I mean: plan to rent a car.

Miami's diverse attractions-both nice and vice-are very spread out, and the city's public transportation, which consists of train (mostly suited for work commuters) and a somewhat lacking bus system, will not be a sufficient plan for getting your group around... Whatever the focus of your bachelor party, you will want to plan a varied itinerary in this multifarious, multi-ethnic Mecca, and whether bachelor party ideas you are considering involve a trip to Key West, one of South Florida's casinos, the strip clubs, sporting events, deep sea diving, or a variety f other activities, renting a car is a must for proper Miami bachelor party planning. You can try to rent a more affordable or luxury car, depending on your bachelor party budget, and if you are planning on experiencing Miami's notorious nightlife, you should really also plan on either cabs (considerably affordable and available here) or a limousine, which is definitely a must for making an entrance amidst the high profile party scene of SoBe.

As you can see, planning a Miami bachelor party requires not only an ambitious budget, but an ambitious amount of preparation, so though planning the bachelor party is ultimately your responsibility as best man, this is the type of epic trip that will require help for researching, determining, and finalizing bachelor party activities and travel arrangements. Therefore, its strongly recommended that you enlist the help of either fellow groomsmen or others for help with input and planning to compensate for the swollen size of this already somewhat intimidating best man duty.

The Importance of Team Building in the Corporate World

The Corporate business scenario is changing and things have become much faster and better in the past couple of years. Immense competition and the subsequent pressure results in better output and greater profits for sure but sometimes it also gives rise to discrepancies and differences between the organization or the company. The team spirit should always be firm within the organization because only that can hold the workers and the employees together in a time of crisis. This is a two way process and the employers and the employee should both cooperate with one another and help each other to promote the sense of harmony. It is important to bond with each other on a personal level as well, even if a small degree because a cold professional relationship can waver on times of crisis.

Corporate events, hosted by the company or a brand can provide these opportunities of mingling with another outside the confines of office and boardrooms. Here everyone is a lot more relaxed and often the families of the employees are invited, which provides ample scope for socializing. Corporate team building often starts with these events. Here people get to know the other side of those with whom they spend hours working together without knowing more than their first and last names and probably their educational qualifications and working experience. Then it is often seen that they share the same likes and dislikes and genuine friendship, outside business relations also develop and in the end people take an interest in each other outside the formal necessities.

The employer, who just remains the boss for the majority of the year, can also make the effort to mingle with his staff. This gives out the message that he is interested to know about those working under him as individuals and not just as people who have been hired to give him profit and produce the maximum output. The employer can also show his appreciation by to his employees on this occasion. There are many good corporate gifts to choose from and so the purchasing will not be very difficult. In addition, they suit every budget. If team building games have been organized, then the employer can also participate in them along with the others. It will really be a great incentive.

It is the responsibility of everyone within an organization to try to solve any problem right in the first stage. Neglecting it will only give rise to greater problems in the future and things may soon go out of hand. Maintaining harmony at all points of time is the key to corporate team building and it is beneficial to everyone within the organization.