I am very inspired by nice people. I got a really genuine email yesterday from a girl/woman in Kansas City looking to learn more about event planning. My initial reaction was just to say, “Well, check out my blog!” However, I checked out my blog and realized that there is not that much posted about being an event planner, other than about interning.
I would like to thank little Miss Kansas City for the inspiration for today’s update. Basically, if you’re not going to run to California to do an internship with us at TPG, what should you do? Well, I gathered up some more research and I certainly hope this helps. I think this homework assignment should keep you aspiring planners quite busy, but if not, email me again and I’ll probably post some more research. Good luck!
First, continue to refer back to www.thepartygoddess.com for updates . Now that I’ve gotten my shameless promotion over with, here are some other really great resources:
Check out www.ises.com . ISES, stands for the International Special Events Society and is sort of the hub for our industry. After being in this business for years, I am constantly amazed at how much I learn by attending the annual convention each January. (This past year it was in Miami.) I cannot tell you how much I get out of the classes, the ideas I pick up from attending all of the parties and events staged throughout, and from the vendors who exhibit on the trade show floor. ISES has local chapters for those of us in the event planning industry and in general, is just a wealth of information. I highly recommend it as a resource to anyone in the industry or thinking of entering the industry. You’ll learn so much! Sarah Ruhl did a fabulous job this year of coordinating all of the speakers in the education track. (For more information about The Special Event, I’m sure you could email Sarah to be pointed in the right direction: SRuhl@primediabusiness.com .) While I was a speaker, I can’t tell you how much I learned from my peers!
Another great resource is Special Events Magazine at www.specialevents.com . I will tell you that it is the one magazine subscription I get, in addition to BottomLine Personal. Sure, I stock up on lots of magazines to study trends and what’s going on with the world of food, fashion and current events, but Special Events is one of only two subscritions that I have and will not do without. For me, it is the easiest way to find new vendors, hear from my peers and get new ideas, every month. Special Events Mag is associated with ISES and has a wonderful editor in Lisa Hurley who has made this a truly educational and quality resource.
Then, I did a quick search on www.amazon.com under “books” using the keywords “event planning” and came up with a number of great options. I think I will read some myself since there is no such thing as too much knowledge. One that particularly caught my attention is: Opportunities in Event Planning Careers by Blythe Camenson. While I have not read Ms. Camenson’s book, I have perused it and like what I see. It might be a good place to start. If you’ve read it thoroughly, please post a review on this blog for the rest of us to hear about.
If any of you have any other resources that you would like to share, please post a comment to this blog so that the rest of us can benefit. Happy learning!
Having planned over 70 events for my former employer, I have just launched my own event planning business. There are some good books available, including the one you recommend but I have found that Jill Snodgrass offers the most practical. You can find her e-book (you pay and then print it out yourself)at fabjob.com under event planner. Just a personal note, this is not a business that lands in your lap. It takes some cash, a business plan, liability insurance, education & networking and, like most startups, patience, patience, patience. Love your blog!
Lots of useful ideas here, but I think it’s very important to attend as many parties and promotional events as you can, and study them. What do you think works, and what doesn’t? Why? What could be done better?