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Event planning is a relatively new career field. Although the job itself
is not new, many colleges and universities in the developed countries are
beginning to offer event planning as a major or field of study. Event planners
are trained to handle special events. However, in this part of the world, many
people are still ignorant of the relevance of professional event planners.
Not too long ago, I attended a pre-marital training, where I met with
some couples whose weddings were few months ahead. Upon interaction with them,
I realised how much people misconstrued the job of an event planner. While some
think that only the very wealthy in the society can afford the services of an
event planner, to some there was absolutely no need for a planner since they
can put together a committee of friends to help out with stuffs, while others haven’t
even heard much about professional event planners.
Anyone who has been assigned to plan an event knows how much work and
stress go into making sure every element comes together on time and as
directed. A venue must be found and secured for the correct date. Food must be
ordered and delivered or a pick-up must be coordinated. Entertainment must be
found and booked. Multi-media concerns have to be taken care of as well. Guests
need to be invited. Not to mention all of the thousands of other tiny details
that must to come together on time to make an event work.
The truth is that, if you're planning an event and trying to attend to
other duties at the same time, it can be maddening. Also, for an inexperienced planner, you can
spend most of your time just trying to find a good caterer or a good venue. But
unfortunately, most events like weddings etcetera happen just once in a
lifetime. Even other events that you may yet have other opportunities to get
right, you may not have the luxury of making a first impression twice. Therefore,
I can only equate planning your event by yourself to self medication, which is tantamount
to suicide.
Apart helping cut cost and make sure you stay within your budget, most
professional event planners are invaluable for their contacts and lists of
approved caterers, venues, entertainment, décor, etc. Many event planners are also
trained to handle advertising and marketing of the event. They are also
responsible for the planning of the event as well as on-site coordination on
the scheduled day. If planning an event is in your company's future, then an
event planner will be an important asset. For this reason, many companies find
that when it's time to plan an event, it's best to hire a professional event
planner to handle the job.
At BLUE OPAL, great events is
one of the cornerstones of our business. Attention to detail in event
planning and management is particularly important to our team. At a 70,000
foot level, the process seems easy. Establish the purpose for holding the event,
determine the target audience and a preliminary agenda. Then, we go deeper
into the process by incorporating time frames and general space needs.
From this point onward, it’s possible to establish budget projections,
timelines, milestones and assign staff resources.
Appropriate risk management demands that planners follow
established meeting management protocols (particularly in the areas of
contracting and budgeting). Being sure approved agreements are in place for all
manner of resource providers also protects all parties from the unexpected
(speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, partners, event facilities, etc.)
Most importantly, however, is the customer experience. Seamless
coordination and attention to detail contributes greatly to customer
satisfaction. Simple things like setting rooms to achieve the best
learning environment, providing “ask me” support people and unexpectedly fun
networking activities, all contribute to a memorable experience. Combine
great planning with great programming and attendees will come back year after
year.
For full list of services we
offer and other information, you can speak to us by sending us a mail at
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@blueopalconsult or on linkedin Blue Opal Consult
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Opal Consult
+234 803 699 0923
Suite C33/34, Area11 Shopping Mall, Area11, Garki, Abuja.
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