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Careers in Event Management

What are the Most Demanding Careers in Event Management?

Event management is the application of project managementOpens in new window to the creation and development of large-scale events such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, weddings, formal parties, concerts, or conventions.

This involves studying the brand, identifying its target audience, devising the event concept, and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event.

The process of planning and coordinating the event is usually referred to as event planning and which can include:

Each event is different in its nature; thus process of planning and execution of each event differs on basis of type of event.

The events industry now includes events of all sizes from the Olympics down to business breakfast meetings. Many industries, charitable organizations, and interest groups hold events in order to market themselves, build business relationships, raise money, or celebrate achievement.

Curret Scenario of Event Management

Today an event manager can easily find jobs in different industries in many countries. With years of experience behind them, they can also get a raise and earn much more. Interestingly, you can also start your own business of event management and also employ other candidates to work for you.

You can opt for any kind of job in event management field like the event management faculty voice artist, program manager, public relation executive, creative designer, program coordinator, marketing and business development professional, lead technical developer and public relations account executive.

There are many event management companies that require event managers on a large scale to cater to the needs of the clients. With hard work, proper knowledge, business contacts and experience, you can expect a great rewarding career in this field.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Manage staff responsible for event coordination activities.
  • Coordinate details of events such as conferences, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, charity events, surprise parties, trade shows, sales meetings, business meetings, employee appreciation events and virtual events.
  • Hire, train, and educate staff on proper event procedures.
  • Calculate budgets and adjust when necessary.
  • Book venues and negotiate fees.
  • Prepare invitations and send out at appropriate time.
  • Hire bartenders and wait staff.
  • Work with guest of honor to ensure all requests are met.
  • Drive attendance to the event.
  • Promote the event using flyers, cold calling, and social media as examples of ways to spark attention.
  • Analyze event performance and prepare metrics presentation.
  • Define company brand through events.
  • Ensure staff is adequately prepared for event.
  • Pay vendors for their participation in the event.
  • Provide receipts if needed.
  • Ensure day of event goes smoothly.
  • Set up booths, flowers, decorations, and other event décor.
  • Plan menus, order food, and hiree chefs or caterers.
  • Sample food, including main dishes and desserts.
  • Give final approval for items such as music and menus.
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Is it the Right Career for Me?

Like many other career paths, the route to a successful occupation in the event management industry is not based on the foundation of academic laurels and certifications. However, the basic survival toolkit to get into this profession is both wide and subjective.

Your basic task is to plan and present an event in a novel way and that too from scratch. For this, you must possess the quality to think out of the box. Apart from ample creative juices, you ought to have good planning, marketing, budgeting, negotiation, client management, and communication and leadership skills.

Good networking skills, client management, business analytics, time management, ability to take on challenges, problem solving skills and adjusting to rapidly changing situations are some other qualities essential for this role.

The mantra for success in this cutthroat business is to constantly improve upon your existing skills, stick to your career objectives, avoid complacency and always delight your client.

Job Prospect

There are plenty of jobs in this industry. There are plenty of events: weddings, birthday parties, talent hunt and reality shows, fashion and cultural shows, academic and sports meets, religious functions, corporate events, conferences and so on.

Talented youngsters who want to leave their mark in this industry have numerous avenues. You can join an event management company or a media house that specializes in event management activities. Once you have garnered ample experience you can either start working in the capacity of a freelancer or event set up your own events business.

Market Watch

Event management is an industry that is on the move. An exponential growth in events such as talent-hunt competitions, music concerts, fashion shows, academic functions, exhibition, trade fairs, religious gatherings and the like have fuelled the demand for talented event managing personnel. The demand for creative and result oriented event managers is going to continue in the near future.

Different Roles, Different Names

An organization that is into event management business offers numerous positions to job seekers. The following are some of the departments in a typical event managing company:

  • Public Relations — managing a vast gamut of people ranging from clients, artists, stage performers, government officials, public and so on.
  • Promotio and Marketing — for promoting the image of the organization and also for marketing the event to the public at large.
  • Brand Development — a talent pool that is responsible for managing client requirements pertaining to brand restructuring.
  • Designing — team of creative people who visualize and then prepare design layouts for the stage, costumes, accessories and so.
  • Administration — department that is responsible for back office and general administrative tasks.
  • Production — team comprising of media professionals who manage the production and editing of audio video related media.
  • Printing — department that takes care of printing all sorts of marketing collaterals and promotional items.

Seven (7) Event Planning Careers that are in Demand

1.   Event Manager

The event manager is the person who plans and executes the event, taking responsibility for the creative, technical, and logistical elements. This includes overall event design, brand building, marketing and communication strategy, audio-visual production, script writing, logistics, budgeting, negotiation, and client service.

Event management course teaches students to organize and manage all types of event on a large or small scale.

The events usually are conferences, exhibitions, fashion shows, marriages, celebrity shows, award functions of government, films, music criteria, political meetings, launch events, press events, conventions, birthday parties, anniversary parties, and many more. The course teaches the students to visualize, plan, organize the whole event including food and entertainment, budgeting, etc.

Many public sector organizations recruit event managers on a large scale after completing their certificate course, diploma or a master’s degree course.

The more creative and well organizer you are, the more you will easily get job in any government firms. Even the private sector offers job opportunities for event managers. They can work in advertising agencies, hotels, financial institutions, private consultancy firms, films and serial production houses, public relation firms, software companies, hospitality industries, travel and tourism firms, newspaper houses, fashion industry, even management consultancy or even in teaching institutions.

2.   Wedding Planner

Weddings are a huge industry. When couples want to make sure their big day goes off without a hitch, they turn to wedding planners. These industry professionals know the ins and outs of every wedding topic from dresses and cakes to sound systems and marriage certificates.

During the planning phase, they help their clients make decisions that fit their expectations and budgets. Once the wedding day arrives they help take the pressure of the couple by running interference on issues and decisions so that newlyweds can just enjoy their special day.

3.   Donor or Sponsorship Coordinator

Many non-profits organizations rely on generous donors to keep their operations going. Donor coordinators help solicit these funds by throwing lunches, dinners, and other fundraising events as a fun way to encourage donations and thank past donors.

These professionals are often tasked with catering to the needs of important and well-off business people and community leaders, who are used to perfecton. That’s why a donor or sponsorship coordinator needs exceptional people skills, tenacity, and the ability to create meaningful relationships with sponsors. Find venues, manage events and win clients with free event planning tools.

4.   Catering Services Manager

Do you have a love for food? Then catering manager might be the right position for you. Whether you need to feed hundreds of people or design the perfect five-course meal for an intimate dinner, your job is important in keeping guests and clients happy. Most catering managers need a background in food preparation along with formal or innate skills in planning and problem-solving.

5.   Event Social Media Coordinator

Social Media has influenced every industry, but perhaps the events industry as much as any. Social Media Coordinators work to promote events on social media to gain attendees and exposure for the event and the venue. They may create unique hashtags, do live feeds, design digital ad campaigns, and more.

Social media coordinators are integral to making the event a success and just as important during event execution to showcase the event in real-time. And as far as event planning careers go, it’ll give you more of a chance to interact with technology.

6.   Staff or Volunteer Coordinator

A lot of events rely on temporary or volunteer help to succeed. A staff coordinator is in charge of all the logistics related to the personnel onsite for the event. Be warned: It’s a tough job to train large sets of workers quickly and encourage productivity when your staff doesn’t have as much of a stake in the event going well.

7.   Marketing or Communications Manager

If you work for a mid-size company as a marketing or communications manager, very possible you will be in charge of occasional promotional events and other experiential marketing. At the very least you will be tasked with the event marketing. It can be the best of both worlds to mostly work in marketing, but have the occasional event to spice up the workload and see your promotions in action.

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