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Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Do you know what kind of events you want to plan?
I have heard so many people say 'I want to be an Event Planner' with all the conviction in the world and then when I ask them what kind of events they want to plan they look all vague and start to mutter. This seems to be a common problem. Everyone seems to think they know what event planning is, but when asked can't give a definitive answer. And this is a problem. Alot of the people I speak to haven't really got further than thinking about what a fun job it would be. Well as I have said many times before this job is not for the faint hearted and it certainly isn't for the indecisive.
Let's say you decided to go on a trip around the Europe, you wouldn't just jump on a plane and hope for the best would you? You would plan in advance the countries you wanted to go to and have a schedule to run to of places you wanted to see and things you wanted to do. You should do the same thing when planning your career. We don't expect you to know all the options open to you within the Special Events industry, but we do expect you to have done some research and have an idea as to what is available, and what you think you would be best suited to.
So, start to have a look at the different styles of events, do some research, subscribe to some event blogs and find out what this industry is all about.
Friday, 26 June 2009
My name is Christine Kerr and I work with the Academy of Wedding and Event Planning as a Consultant.
You may recognise my name, especially if you have enquired about courses, or enrolled over the past year, as I am the person who speaks to most people before they enrol about my own experience as a student of the Academy. I am also ‘in business’ with the Academy’s Director (Kylie Carlson) to distribute an Event Design software program called, ‘Vivien’ (for more go to www.eventdesigner.com.au) and I work as a Wedding and Event Planner (with the Academy’s sister company, the Wedding Boot Camp - you can read my Wedding Planning blogs at www.weddingbootcamp.com.au). I work from my home office in Brisbane which I am thankful for everyday. You see, I am fortunate to be able to combine my very active home life (there are 6 of us in my family), a fatal crush on my darling Dutchman, a sad addiction to peanut M&M’s and Sex and the City (I know isn’t everyone else over it), reading Bridal Magazines and blogs even though there are no Weddings on my horizon and a love of bedroom picnics with good wine, ‘old style’ glamour, dreaming about the home I am going to build in a Valley and the things I would like to create if I just had the time and most recently Tai Kwon Do, with a very busy career which I happen to love.
Lots of people I meet tell me I am lucky…and perhaps I am. But I believe luck is where opportunity and creativity/knowledge/skills meet and that is certainly what has happened for me. I can honestly say that enrolling in the course with the Academy of Wedding and Event Planning was one of the key things that helped to chart a course to where I am today. But it was also the experiences I had gained over a career that took me from one Australian Coast to the other and included working in the National Bank (as a sometimes Event Organiser, sometimes slightly jaded banker) and as a copywriter after completing a Journalism Degree.
Over the last 5 months I have been working as the Event Organiser for an annual National Conference – NURHC 2009. NURCH 2009 is a conference which brings together medical students (from all areas of medicine) with a desire to eventually practice medicine in rural and remote areas. The Conference also attracts stakeholders and sponsors from health industry and a large number of speakers and Government representatives….in all I expect to have between 350 and 400 delegates attend the Conference, which this year will be held in Cairns, Qld. If you are interested in having a look at what NURCH 2009 is go to www.nrhsn.org.au and select NURCHC 2009. Organising this Conference has been a huge job and the most significant learning curve of my career, one I could not have under-taken without the knowledge and skills I gained from my training through the Academy, or without the support of the Academy’s director, Kylie Carlson. In fact it was Kylie who recommended me for this position and who holds the contract to produce the event. Kylie’s faith in me is a great example of her commitment to her students.
The last 5 months have involved all of the planning that must go into producing a Conference of this size. For me it all started with understanding the client’s brief and budget constraints. Then there were the venue searches, followed by perhaps the most intense two weeks of my life, when I had to produce an online registration document for all of the various categories of delegates. There has also been reporting to be done at every stage, as my client is a Government funded body.
There have also been a few hiccups, including the resignation of a key member of the team at NRHSN which is the organisation behind the Conference. This has meant that I have had to take on the role of reporting to the Executive Committee of Students, who are the ultimate owners of the conference.
Over the coming month, as we begin the countdown to the Conference start date of July 23, I am going to be writing a regular blog about my experience of working on a Conference of this size. For those of you who are currently studying with the Academy, or are considering a career in this field, I intend this diary to be an insight into what it is actually like to be an Event Planner….the ups, downs and ins and outs. I love my job, but I would be lying if I did not say there are moments when I literally want to pull my hair out and I won’t shield you from those moments in this blog.
To give you an example; have you ever had that moment of hesitation before you book a flight and then that moment of anxiety when you arrive at the ticketing counter to check-in for said flight…when you worry that maybe you did not get it right and that you are actually booked to fly in 2010 not 2009? Imagine that feeling times 100’s. That has been me over the last month as I have booked flights for delegates flying into and out of Cairns from all over the country…many of them having special requests for additional holiday time, or coming from remote areas and requiring several transfers. And that is just the start of it, I have not even started scheduling the transfers to and from the airport and accommodation in Cairns; this will be another huge job (thank goodness for Ron the bus man in Cairns who is the most laid back guy a girl could hope to have on her side for a job this size).
When I tell people I am a Wedding and Event Planner they tend to think I have a glamorous job. Many don’t quite understand what it is I do and have the impression that I must be a serial party goer - I wish! In truth, Event Planning is far from glamorous. The week of this particular Conference will see me in Cairns from the Monday to the Sunday evening; although the Conference itself only runs for three days. I will be away from family and I will be working at full throttle. Thankfully I will have the assistance of another Academy graduate during this time. Renae was referred to me by Kylie and will accompany me to Cairns for some paid work experience and she too will write a diary during her week for you all to read.
Event Planning is often, long hours, frustrating, tiring, demanding, challenging and all consuming. But it is most definitely exciting and exhilarating and it fuels my sense of creativity, something I desire in my working life. I am passionate about my career which is why I have devoted so much of myself to the industry and I look forward to sharing some of my experiences with you over the coming month. I hope you can join me.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Being a Wedding Planner I am a big fan of wedding related movies. Actually, I have to admit that I’m a girly girl and love all chick flicks. I loved Bride Wars, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Wedding Planner and Father of the Bride, evenif the last two do give an outsider a false view of our industry. I can never get enough of wedding movies. I saw the trailer for the movie ’The Proposal’, and it looks hilarious. (I am a big fan of Ryan Reynolds – red hotness alert!)
27 dresses is another great wedding movie and this one looks just as good. They both have the same Director, Anne Fletcher, so here's hoping. The movie is out now and I have a feeling that my daughter and I will be having a good girls night out at the movies during the school holidays to watch this one - she is as obsessed as I am.
So tell me, I'm interested - what's your favourite wedding flick of all time? Don't forget to check out the trailer for the Proposal below.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Here some dates for your diary:
What: Australian Business Events Expo 2009
Where: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
When: 22 - 23 July 09
Why: If you organise or work in the events industry in Australia then Australian Business Events Expo a great resource to source ideas, products and services - all under one roof.
Website: www.abeexpo.com.au
Monday, 22 June 2009
I have often been asked about my job and what it is that I do. As soon as I said "I'm a Wedding and Event Planner" it was usually followed by alot of giggles and then a whisper of "What is it that you actually do?" I found in my travels that many brides and for that matter non-brides, didn't really understand what it was that a Wedding Planner did and therefore wouldn't see the need to hire one. So, what I would like to do in this blog post is to de-mystify the world of wedding planning and show you how to sell your services to your potential clients.
The easiest way to do this is to probably give you the Top Ten things that a Wedding Planner can do for a bride. Before I do this though there is a great video link by Marcy Blum, the author of Wedding Planning for Dummies, that you really should watch.
How to decide if you need a wedding planner
What can a Wedding Planner do for You?
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Save You Time - for all those career women out there who barely have time to eat lunch let alone surf the internet all day looking for all things bridal, we are the perfect solution. Think of us as your Wedding PA.
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Save You Money - we are your wedding budget gurus. There aren't many money saving tips that we don't know about. Think of us as your Wedding Finance Experts.
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Save Your Relationship - we are your regular live savers. Without us you have a stressed hubby-to-be whose eyes glaze over every time you mention the dreaded 'W' word. Think of us your Wedding Councillor.
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Turn Dreams Your into Reality - with a wave of our wands we can turn even the most ugly of venues into a palace. Think of us as your Wedding Fairy Godmothers.
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Negotiate Huge Discounts for You - we know all the tricks in the book and all the best suppliers in town. Think of us as your Wedding Shoppers.
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Save Your Sanity - wave all your worries goodbye. We are here to take care of all those little details that drive you insane. Think of us as your Wedding Sanity Savers.
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Be Your Wedding Experts - from etiquette to table centre pieces this is what we do for a living. We are to Weddings what Lawyers are to Courts. Think of us as your Wedding Advisors.
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Create Your Wedding Schedules - from the suppliers to the bridal party we create detailed itineraries that cope with every little thing. Think of us as Your Wedding Scheduler.
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Be Your Go-Between - we are the middle man. We smooth the waters and return calm to your normally well-ordered life. Think of us as your Wedding Salvation.
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Orchestrate your entire wedding - your are the star, your groom is the leading man, your guests are the extra's and your crew are the suppliers. Add to this lights, camera and action and you have a fully produced wedding. Think of us as your Wedding Day Director.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
"You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation."
— Brigham Young
Friday, 19 June 2009
Vivien – the most comprehensive event design software tool available to wedding and event professionals alike. Go beyond regular 2D floorplans with just a few clicks. Impress your clients and sell your ideas with full-colour 3D Virtual Views and stunning photorealistic renderings — tailored to reflect your clients unique brand and image — before their event happens. Vivien gives you the tools and power to help close more business. To find out more about Vivien visit the Event Designer Website.
To help you get to know and understand Vivien a little bit better we are offering an Introductory Workshop Webinar. You will receive a specially created link to download the software, and then from the comfort of your own home you will learn how to use Vivien and take your business proposals to the next level.
In this webinar workshop, you will learn how to create 2D room layouts, amazing Virtual Views, and spectacular, 3D photorealistic renderings for use in your eye-popping presentations. Using Vivien’s Wizards and tools, attendees will quickly and easily design seating and table arrangements, pipe and drape, and video projection.
The workshop is targeted towards both new and existing wedding and event planners who want to use Vivien in any capacity in the meetings and special events industry to plan, design, and produce stunning visual proposals. Check out Vivien on You Tube
Webinar Details:
Date: Wednesday 8th of July
Time: 7pm - 9pm Melbourne Time
Cost: $150 (+ GST)
Early Bird Registration: $135 (+ GST) before 20th June
Once you have paid for the Workshop you will receive a Webinar email invitation, click the registration link and register for the Webinar. You can then join the Webinar at the scheduled time by clicking the “Join a Webinar” button or link in your confirmation email, which will be automatically sent to you after registering. You do not need to pre-install any software prior to joining the Webinar.
To attend a Webinar on a PC, the following is required:
- Internet Explorer® 6.0 or newer, Mozilla® Firefox® 2.0 or newer (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled)
- Windows® 2000, XP, 2003 Server or Vista
- Cable modem, DSL or better Internet connection
- Minimum of Pentium® class 1GHz CPU with 512 MB of RAM (Recommended) (2 GB of RAM for Windows® Vista)
Participants wishing to connect to audio using VoIP will need a fast Internet connection, a microphone and speakers (a USB headset is recommended).
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Tuesday, 16 June 2009
I was interested to read in a recent article that both ISES and MEA have joined forces to voice their disapproval of the recent newcomer to the Awards circuit - AEA (Australian Event Awards).
Their main concern seems to based around the fee of $220 which is being charged for each entry. Any awards run for the industry by the industry currently, by either MEA or ISES, are done so on a not-for-profit basis and AEA don't fall into that category. However in defence of AEA, their program is the only Awards program for the industry that is open to everyone, regardless of where or with whom they hold membership. To be eligible to enter the MEA awards you have to be a Member.
It's an interesting topic for debate. Are MEA and ISES simply dirty because they have some competition in the Awards arena, or are their concerns valid?
Personally, I think it is great to have an Awards program that is open to anyone in the industry. Membership with both MEA and ISES is expensive and not always an option open to everyone. I think the industry is big enough to allow for all three groups to operate successfully and independently of each other. AEA is not a threat to either MEA or ISES as they are quite different and not trying to be yet another Association within the industry. Awards are a great way for people within the industry who don't hold memberships to have their chance to shine and run in the same race as their competitors.
We are interested to hear your feedback on this subject so pleae don't hesitate to post a reply or contact us directly. For more information on any of the above mentioned please see the links below:
MEA
ISES
AEA
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Entries are now open for the 2009 Australian Event Award, offering event organisers the chance to be acknowledged for excellence across the national events sector.
The inaugural award ceremony will reward achievements in all sectors of the industry, encompassing business, cultural, sporting and community events, as well as achievements in sustainability and Australian excellence in event exports.
It will culminate in the 2009 Events Industry Night of Nights to be held at the Westin Hotel, Sydney, on October 8 and present an opportunity for event managers and suppliers from across Australia to network with the ‘who’s who’ of the industry, including sponsors, government and industry leaders.
The Academy will be submitting their entry for Best Education Program - awarded to an educational program making an outstanding contribution to the future of the Australian events industry through education, training and research. Hopefully we will be sharing some good news with you in October...watch this space.
Below we have listed some of the categories that might interest some of our past, current and potential students:
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Best Achievement in Design - recognising contribution of design or theming to the quality of an event.
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Best Marketing Campaign - recognising innovative use of marketing to promote an event.
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Young Achiever of the Year - this Award recognises the contribution by a person under 30 to advancing the Australian Event Industry. Nominees must be under 30 years of age at the conclusion of the nomination period.
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Event Manager of the Year - this Award recognises an individual or business that has delivered an event or events at a consistently exceptional level over a 12 month period.
For more information please click here
Sunday, 07 June 2009
Wedding Wizard is Australia's first and only web based planning software developed for Wedding and Event Planners here in Australia by industry experts. You now have the option to include training on the software as part of any of the courses you choose to enrol on here at the Academy from the 15th of June which is the official release date. We will show you how to use and understand the software and incorporate it within your wedding and event planning business. Some of your course assignments will also involve using the software to help you even further. You can also try before you buy with a 15 day trial version which will be available from the 15th too.
As a one off special promotion to celebrate the end of the Financial Year, Wedding and Event Wizard are offering 50% discount off their wedding and event planning software on all enrolments received between now and June 30th.
The cost of a yearly license for all students of the Academy is $995, but this promotion will allow you to purchase the software at a special, one off price of $500. So, if you have been thinking about whether or not to take the plunge and enrol in a course at the Academy there couldn't be a better time to do it.
Offer ends @ 5.00pm on June 30th 2009
All prices quoted are subject to GST
To enrol now and claim your 50% discount please click here
Tuesday, 02 June 2009
Unfortunately, we did not get enough people registered by the 30th June dedline for our inaugural Weddings Are Our Business confernece to go ahead. I would like to thank those that did register, the speakers who were willing to give their time and expertise, the ParkView Hotel for their wonderful support, and everyone involved in the preparations so far.
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