What Event Planners Wish You Knew about Event Planning

When I graduated with my degree and experience in event planning, I happened to step out into the worst economy my generation had known. Every major company was shying away from events, cutting their event planning teams and giving any event-based tasks to either the marketing department, Human Resources, or an administrator (who all had pretty hefty workloads of their own!)

As the economy started to get better, budgets started to once again be allocated to events. Emphasis on marketing events, celebratory events, incentive trips, and the like began to come back into the forefront. However, the sentiments of the post-market-crash lived on. Budgets were cut for events, and planners were expected to deliver the same quality of events with a budget that was slashed in half. Vendors had to begin “getting creative” with their pricing and offerings, and many planners expected an incentive to book.

My Year of "No."

By now, we've all heard of Shonda Rhimes' book, 'Year of Yes.'

Though I have never read the book, when I first heard her discuss it, I was all-in and a true believer: Say yes to things that come your way. Say yes to opportunities, yes to your future--and yes to everything that scares you.

Actually, I lived it. I said 'yes' to every single thing that scared me, beginning when I accepted the job at Snap Kitchen. From traveling by myself; to accepting a role with a start-up, with a future less secure than the offers I turned down; to speaking in public, live TV interviews and even group runs. It was an incredibly successful two years for me. I said 'yes' to volunteering opportunities, too, such as Professional Women's Roundtable and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. My schedule was packed, my brand was out there--and I was facing my fears.

Business Tips for SuccessBeth LawrenceMarch 19, 2019Entrepreneurship, AdviceComment

How to Select Your Venue

Site selection is a pivotal moment in the development of an event. After all, the difference between a hotel ballroom and a tented outdoor celebration will affect everything from your event budget, to signage, to audio visual and the number of attendees you are permitted to have at that event. All of these factors, then, must be considered when making this important decision. Below are 5 considerations when selecting your venue.

Business Tips for SuccessBeth LawrenceMarch 4, 2019Event Planning, Event ManagementComment