Let’s get into the 9 steps to become an event planner:
- Network with Other Business Owners
Familiarize yourself with local event planners, hotels, restaurants and catering services in your area.
Attend local functions and join the Chamber of Commerce. Pass out your business cards to as many people as you can.
Don’t forget to mingle with photographers and other hired staff at the events. Obtain their business cards to keep on file if you find a client that meets their criteria.
You can never know too many people in the field. It only makes your job easier and your business will grow from their recommendation of your services.
- Volunteer at Events to Build Your Portfolio
Check with Local Charities
Local charities are a great place to start your search when looking to volunteer as an event planner to gain real world experience. Charities are always holding fundraisers and need people to help run those events. If you can successfully show that you helped
a charity run a fundraiser on your resume, businesses will see this as a positive indication of your event planning abilities.
Children’s Events
If you are a parent, your children offer excellent opportunities to volunteer as an event planner. Whenever your child has a school event that calls for parents to volunteer to run the event, you should not hesitate to volunteer your services. Planning a large school function for your child’s class will allow you to gain excellent event planning experience.
In addition to planning school functions, you can volunteer to help organize any events for your children’s athletic teams. Most sports teams will hold a team banquet at the end of the season to celebrate the team’s accomplishments. Stepping up and volunteering to plan this event is another outstanding event planning volunteer opportunity.
Network with Event Planners
If you cannot find any local charities that you want to work with and do not have children, you can always network with event planners and volunteer your services as an intern. When attending an event that you know an event planner put together (wedding, banquet, corporate event, retreat, fundraiser, etc) take the time to seek out the event planner and talk to them about their business. Let the event planner know you are interested in joining the field and you may be surprised at how helpful they will be.
Once you are able to gain experience as an intern or volunteer working for an event planning business, you will be able to leverage your real world experience into a full time paying job as an event planner.
Remember – businesses value real world experience over education.
- Build a Strong Relationship with Vendors
Successful event planners believe that developing a large network of trusted vendors and venues across the globe is a must.
Decide who your perfect target client is and meet the types of vendors and venues that this client will need. When you reach out to these businesses they will be happy to hear from you because they all rely on event planners to contract them for business. So go into these conversations with confidence.
Doing so makes locating that unique client request less stressful and possibly more cost effective if you have built a good rapport.
- Create a Marketing Plan
Decide if you want this to be a “Lifestyle” company, an independent business or if you want to get a job being a planner for another company.
Depending on which you decide, your marketing approach will be different.
If your goal is to build a lifestyle company, you can focus more on building your own personal brand.
If you want to build an independent business then you can start planning to implement systems that will allow for you to eventually hire employees and sales people to help you grow the business. The focus of your marketing for a large company will be more focused on your whole company rather than only on your personal brand.
Lastly, if your goal is to create a job for yourself, you will want to start working on networking with companies in your area that you want to work for. You can do some informational interviews, create your Pinterest vision board or make a portfolio if you have photos from events you have participated in.
- Hold a Photo Shoot
If you want more photos for your portfolio or idea board you can organize a photo shoot by reaching out to local photographers, videographers, brands, venues and models and tell them what you are doing – you are organizing a photo shoot and they have the opportunity to build their portfolio as well.
You can ask the participating vendors and venues to do the work for free, in exchange for professional photos for their portfolio as well. If you line this up correctly you will come away with an amazing photo inventory for your website, great relationships and all can be done on a very small budget or free.
At most you would only have to pay the photographer or videographer but ideally you can negotiate free pricing for all since everyone will benefit from this type of exposure. You can tell all vendors and venues involved that you will try to use them for all your future events.
- Create Your Website
Start working on your website with just the basics.
Include information about yourself with a nice photo, a services page that summarizes what you do, and a portfolio page with photos from any events you have helped organize. If you do not have your own portfolio yet, you can create your own Pinterest board and start pinning photos of events that you really like.
Once you are happy with your Pinterest board you can create an “Idea Board” link on your webpage and link to your Pinterest board from there. This will give your clients an idea of the types of styles you like. This is a tip you won’t find in too many places but it has worked wonders for all of our students.
- Create a Brochure
Design a high-end brochure that features your specialties and qualifications.
Include photographs of your best events along with a photo of yourself. You may even want to include a few testimonials of previous clients.
If you already have a brochure, take a good look at how you can improve it. If you work for a corporation as an event planner, meet with your superior and discuss the options to print or improve a brochure to boost sales.
You can pass out your brochures to florists, caterers, photographers and other vendors you come in contact with.
- Client Referrals
Develop an incentive for clients or vendors who refer business to you.
Consider offering a percentage off of their next event or possibly covering the cost of a predetermined number of plates. Word of mouth is the best advertisement, so always do your absolute best so your referrals will snowball and you find yourself with a large clientele.
- Reputation is Key
Event planners need to always provide superior service and be able to handle unexpected issues that arise.
Give your customers the same top-notch attention that you would give to an important event of your own. Your clients should be able to rely on you and not have to worry about details that are your responsibility. Get tasks done and solve any problems in a timely fashion. Your clients and their guests will notice and remember the quality service that you have provided.
If you want a nice PDF version of today’s lesson to save on your computer you can download it here.
We’ll be back tomorrow for Day 3’s lesson which covers what you need to know about charging for your services. This is one of the most common questions we get and in tomorrow’s lesson we will go into detail about all the ways you can charge clients, and we will also give you a couple secret tips on positioning your service to be able to increase your rates. Who doesn’t love making more money right? See you tomorrow! 🙂
looking for career change
All you have to do is Believe in yourself – everything is possible (:
Determination is the key …so far so good. Its really broadened my mind.
I have no web site right now, I’m creating it this week thank you for the positive attitude because I really need that, I do parties all the time everyone love it, I even cook I do a get job so now I’m going to take it to another level thanks to you
I do not have a website as yet, but will be creating a Pinterest for the business. I already set up an Instagram as business page. Km so excited that I’m finally making this move to be a full time Social Event Planner!!!!
Such good tips here!
Awesome lessons the last 2 days! Absolutely love it so far!!
Thanks for opening up my minds. The information is inspiring.
Thanks for the AWESOME information you’re sharing with people as myself! It’s A BLESSING to Be A BLESSiNG!!!!
Very good information it helps alot
Loved this and bought the course. Amazing so far.
Very good lessons and packed with an abundance of practical ways to help strengthen my business.
Awesome information to help strengthen my business . love it !
The information given is very helpful and gives great details.
This is so awesome! I’m in the process of building my venue and my own Conference Center and this is just great for me to get highlights thank you so much
So far I’m loving all the tips I’m receiving.
Good information.
Good information!
Thank you for this information it was very helpful I’m trying to grow my business I have been marketing by backing cookies with my business cards, I’m also looking into volunteering to decorate for events for the fire department and others…
Hi Lawande,
Another way to expose your cookies is to give them out as gifts at events or do samples at certain spots (schools, hair salons, etc.). Hope that helps.
I am just starting and this has been useful!
So far so good. I am learning a lot…Thank you!
It’s great to see all the messages being left. I’m an Event/Wedding planner (since 2007). I wish you all success in your business. Enjoy your New Year 🙂
Can i get more information about your business? Your work? Your ideas? Please help me out with my business?
Hello this is really good information. I want to know after this course can we get diploma?
Enjoying the lesson.. it’s really broading my thinking.would like to start my own business as a event planner…just would like to make sure I’m equipped before I take that big step
Only starting and am eager to see my business grow through this.
Thank you so much for the tips. I have been trying to start my business for years funds and knowing how to charge people have been my biggest set back.
I have the same problem. How to charge my clients. I am an event planner for less than two years. I have my own banquet hall in Upper Marlboro MD.
“LPJ EVENT PLANNERS”
Please check on FB.
hello, please email me. I am an event planner in Maryland and I would love to come visit your banquet and connect with you.
Thanks,
Kathleen
LOVE THIS ..THINKING OF DOING EVENT PLANNING SOON.
Hi DS, You have a great website already and the flower business is complimentary to planning events so I definitely recommend you get into planning this year! 🙂
Love This Course!! Thank You So Much for this info..Ive been Event Planning for going on two years now. And my biggest problem is how, and or what to charge people.Because i do not want to over charge and loose the client. I decided to start over with my business, first get the education thats needed to help grow my business. And everything else will follow.. And this is by far the best info.. Thank you again!!
I’m loving this information! I’m making a huge career change leap pre-retirement from health care to event planning. My plan is to begin as a small venue & grow from there. I’ve never been a risk taker before so this is a huge leap for me, but I’m so excited!
GREAT INFORMATION! Thanks for the tips!
Awesome lesson.looking forward to the next lesson.cheers.
Love the mini lessons information. I am just starting. I find it overwhelming at times…where Do you begin?
I love it, successfully completed my day 2.
Thank you very much…
Awesome lesson, this really helps me to move and grow my business in the right direction.thanks so much!!
Awesome, it’s a great information, I ever seen in learning new things,am really impressed, thank you
Love the idea board to add to website.
Great lesson! More helpful tips! Can anyone help me figure out how to create and offer a vendor log so that it becomes extra monthly income from the vendors.
How can I solicit there business to add their information to my vendor log?
I agree with monica’s question….
also great and helpful information!
how do you start a website?
I have been in the business for almost a decade but was juggling a lot by myself, my first job being a special education assistant
I am finally launching my website. these lessons have great information especially the one with Pinterest , i never thought i could use ideas and link it to my website . i thought they had to be from my portfolio.
many thanks
gazala
Thank you for this lesson 2. the infomation is very vital and important
Annette
I thank you CEO for this lesson! Very excellent tips.
Thank you for such a wonderful lesson.
Thanks for the helpful tips. I am trying to figure out how to get started in the industry and this helped me out a lot. Thanks so much.
I would like to say that so far you have provided the best online course ive ever attended. I wouldn’t hesistate
to purchase future courses. Thank you.
Fabulous.. Two days in and I’m on fire… your tips are superb and I will sure be driving forward with them. I commend you on your expertise.. as always when the student is ready the teacher appears.. Thank You! X
This is indeed a great course for me now. I am following the best approach to learn this course, with a new lesson for each day. THANK YOU!!!
I really like this course…its giving me so much confidence to actually put together my own business. I would love to start off volunteering to build my own business.
Wow great lesson I am encouraged to go through the daily lessons
It’s so great here. Such good information.
Wow I so much love event planning but I really don’t even know where to start from and who to connect with for a start
Brilliant info so clear direct and practical thank you!!
I am just getting started on opening up Falls Farm Wedding and Events. This was great information.
Thank you for ur clear and professional explanation. it has really aroused my passion for event planning.
Nice tips, direct and simple to understand, thank you
Interesting stuff
i am planning my mom’s 90th birthday party so this information will be good
Thank you
These lessons are encouraging. I’m yet to start, but I believe this will successfully guide me.
Lesson 2 is very impacful. Keep it up. I appreciate you. Looking forward to receiving lesson 3 & 4
I’m enjoying the lessons so far and I’ve learnt quite a few things I didn’t know before…looking forward to the next lesson
This is really great,cant wait to have more….. Thanks Max miller for extending this work of love.
Great lesson. Thanks for opening my mind. I am looking forward to lessons three and four.
Thanks so much for these lessons. They are really impacting on how I see my business now and how I need to improve.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful information with all of us. You have help me to see how to make my business better.
Thanks for sharing, this is really good information and is very helpful!!!
Great Course!! I’m supper excited!! Ready for day 3!!
Loved it!!!
Great tips. So ready to improve my business.
I am thinking to start my own event planning business. I do not have
previous experience that i never did an event before, but I have all it takes to be one. Could plz tell me how to convince the clinets to hire me and that I will never let them down ??????
I don’t know what to do ??
Could u tell me what should I do ?
Looking for a new career change. Was always giving design ideas for parties, thought why not make it a business. Thanks for the great information.
Great. Now ready for day 3
Very good information, I’m truly glad I connected with you.
Amazing information and tips. Super helpful.
Knowledge Is Power!! THANK you so much I AM loving this course..
Have really gained. Thanks a lot.
Great Information, but I could not find the PDF download file mentioned
Great information and I will incorporate these ideas into my daily schedule and start working on them now. Thank you!
This will really push me far in d event planning world.
thanks for the eye opening information.
Great information. I have been putting these qualities into play ever since I began networking and began to represent what I believe. I am a mother, wife, and ACTIVE volunteer in my community.
Taking notes… Good stuff!!
Thanks, great information.
I’m looking for a change in career and something to have fun with. I received day 2 and day 4 of the lesson, what happen to day 3 of the Mini course.
I love all information. I knew of a girl getting married this summer so I contacted her and told her what I was doing and she gave me the job of planning her wedding.
Informative information Thanks
This information were very helpful and I am really enjoying this ?
Thank you for all the perks this is a great site, I come from a family of entertainment and we have had parties for years.. I have planned weddings and all type of parties but my goal is to learn the correct way.thank you in advance
Interesting lesson and am very optimistic of myself due to these lessons.Thank you so much for the informations
Am very happy I connected to you,I have been looking for the knowledge and opportunity to start an Event planning business.With this your advice I will go a long way.
thanks
Great information am lovely it already very excited
Very good and helpful advice…
Amazing details trying to learn as much as possible and start a HOMEBASE business
I love where this conversation is going
Very helpful and real facts. I am happy to be a part of this course
This mini course so far has enlightened me in so many ways.
This course is really a big help. It is enhancing the skills I have already have in me and what I wanted to do for the longest
I’m loving this.very helpful indeed.. Thank you
I am currently working as event coordinator and i am loving this course as it is very helpful.
Hello,
A big thank you to your site. I am grateful for this mini courses such an awesome information. i will purchase the main course now.
Thank you for the information it is very helpful on what steps I need to take next.
Indeed an awesome lesson…. This lesson is really coming at the right time having a wedding am planning at the moment the wedding is coming up November. Thanks once again
Hi! I am currently working on starting an event planning and design business with my wife and sister-in-law. This mini course is exactly what I needed to give the extra push to make this work. These tips are proving to be helpful already. Could you please re-link the PDF download for day 2? I’d love to keep it as an on hand reference. Thanks!
Great information. I wish I would hsv3 taken pic of everything Ive ever did.
There is some great information here to help everyone, no matter how advanced your business is 🙂
There is some great information here. It will assist anyone and everyone, it doesnt matter how advanced your business is 🙂
I am starting my own company. Thanks you for the tips – it’s amazing how we can learn so much from this site.
Very informative, i will try my best to meet up with other events planner
im just starting, im just hopping for the best…..thanx for the info
This is too much of an encouragement. Thank you for this positive tips and step by step to getting and achieving my best self. This has provided me with the steps needed to get myself out there and work.
I will start implementing NOW. I cannot wait to see me achieve greatness.
Very useful for the Starters
I have learnt a lot today.I really find it difficult when charging my clients this is because i feel they will not come back again..I have my own small business which i want to switch to be an event planner..
And please can you help me name the event business..Am having a challenge with that
Thanks..
Woowwww am really enjoying this course. Thanks
I love this am new here and i know for sure that I’ll do wonders with the help of this website, Thank you.
Great course. Thank you so much.
Am new here, so far so good. Thanks for the tips and I have really found this program soo helpful. Thanks again
I have really enjoyed this course so far. All the information has been very helpful, I have put together 3 events for family and friends, so who knows…..I’m thinking about becoming an event planner.
Thanks you.
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION VERY HELPFUL.
Grate tips. I am trying to figure out how to get start in the industry and this has helped me a lot. Thanks so much!
thank you i really enjoy the course be blessed
This course has made me want to do this for a living. I do it for the love of making people smile.
I already had my details in mind but this info just helped me out even more. Thank you for the talent and time you had to make this possible for us that are trying to reach a goal and make our skills come alive.
In starting this type of business, I am pretty well versed, but it never hurts to be reminded and hear things twice. Thank you from Everlasting Mpressions!
Thank you so much very helpful tips. I’m new to this just starting my own event party planner.
thanks this is amazing insight.
Thanks in bunch for inspiring me once again.
This is very informative. Thank you. If anyone here is from Wisconsin please reach out. Maybe we can help each other along the way. Building healthy business relationships is key. Nothing beats a failure than a try so, why not try.
Facebook: Janet L Vance
very informative for a person whose just running of the passion they have about event planning love it
Thank you for giving such a wonderful information!!
Very informative. And have been enjoying learning about event planning for the past few days. Going to open a business in the future.
Thank you kindly for the free lessons.
The information is vital for me in that it gives guidelines to startups like myself and I look forward to putting it into practice.
I really enjoyed the lesson ,what good tips you have can’t wait for the next lesson.
Thank you! This site is very informative.
Thanks for today lesson I do appreciate it, but I don’t see the link to download it as pdf pls I will be happy if you can help me out thanks.
Thank you so much for this information!
I absolutely love this. It is detailed and insightful. It helps me grasp the concept without panicking. I’m really grateful, keep this up!
Thanks for the helpful info
As a start up this information is very helpful
Thank you so much for this mini course. Day 1 was wonderful and day 2 is awesome. I am learning so much just from these tips. Starting my own event planning business has always been a dream of mine. I am always doing family events,parties, and did my own wedding planning. Im so grateful for this mini course because learning the proper etiquette of the business is my goal so I can started with my business.
very informative validated everything im working on my passion
Oh, thanks a lot for this lesson that I was needed.
This information was really helpful am so glad you made out time to share thanks a million
Good useful information. These tips can take your event planning business to newer heights.
I have a website already. This is good information because I can use this with my PM certification.
This information was very helpful.
Thank you so much. These are such helpful tips.
thank you so much. I’m a student and still studying to move the next corner of life. it’s more helpful for me.
Thank you so much for this course,am so glad i joined.Please how do i create my own pin intrest board.
Wooow this is awesome though I am still learning I want to start my own company
Thank you for this information, it was very helpful
This tips have been very helpful, thank you for this mini course
Lesson 2 was amazing! I’ve been tackling with how to build clientele and ways to market my services; from steps 1 to 9 I learned something new! I can now start working on growing my business.
Thanks so much
Hi this is the new Venture for me, this is something I really want to do I’m not sure how to get started.
Information quite helpful glad to be a part of this
Awesome tips and great information thanks!
This is informative. Very precise and practical
Great day 2! I would like a pdf format. Unable to click ‘here’
Thanks so much for this great opportunity, God bless you
These are really good knowledge provided!
Thanks for this 4day mini course !
2nd day lessons were also good let’s see the 3rd one
This is awesome so informative, I have to broaden my horizons, level up!
Thank you for the low hanging fruit strategies to get started as an event planner
I really do appreciate this information
Im really thankful, so far so good.
what a great info appreciate it
Very useful information and advice! I’m in the very beginning stages of building my business! I have planned training events for some time now but never as a business owner, with this lesson I gained valuable knowledge and insight that I believe will help me build my portfolio for a better professional business.
Absolutely Rewarding.
I am getting just what I was hoping to grasp from this Mini Course and it’s only Day 2. WOW!
Again, I am impressed at your willingness to share freely, your wisdom and knowledge in helping me to flourish in becoming an Event Planner as well as a great multitude of others.
Appreciative,
ACT