Meeting Planner Careers

Some meeting planners spend their entire careers making a similar level of income. This might be fine for people that value stability above all else, but if you are reading this then there is a fairly good chance that you are looking for a little extra earning power. Here’s how to do it:

Start by realizing that not every company has serious meeting/event planning needs. Be willing to look elsewhere for greater challenges and opportunities. It might be a little scary leaving a company that has done a good job looking after you for so long, but you may have hit a glass ceiling. Recognize this fact and move on.

Ask for extra challenges and assignments whenever possible. Some companies need meeting planners that can be flexible and are willing to pay a premium for that flexibility. Be sure to perform these tasks well and look for opportunities to show your added value whenever possible and practical.

Be willing to trumpet your success to the office, but do it with grace. If a meeting went over very well because of something that you are responsible for, such as choosing the right catering company or the perfect cruise company, then be willing to take partial credit. Modesty is a virtue, but it does not pay the bills.

For those considering meeting planner careers, some may wonder exactly what is the point and purpose of a meeting planner. A meeting planner can be priceless to organizations and individuals because bringing people together for a common purpose can be complicated. If one has ever attempted to get 2 or 3 people to commit to a meeting, it is easy to understand how overwhelming it would be for an organization or individual to get a number of people with various schedules together in the same place at the same time.

Event planning is an area of specialization, and it takes time to learn how and when to get the best deals. Determining the information requires time and energy that most businesses and individuals do not have to devote to meeting planning. There are many aspects of event planning that must be taken into consideration such as speakers, venue, equipment, printed materials, meeting purpose, message, and the impression the individual or organization wishes to communicate. These are all essential tasks to be undertaken by the meeting planner. For those that think the meeting planning business is a cakewalk, they may want to think again. Meeting planners are an integral and crucial part of seamless event planning.

When one thinks of meeting planners they may be thinking of an office job where answering phones and entering information into a computer is all that happens. This might be true of some meeting planner jobs, but certainly not for all of them. Some meeting or event planning positions might involve a significant amount of travel, often to very interesting destinations. In short, the amount of travel involved will often depend greatly upon where one works as a meeting planner and the needs of that company/industry.

High powered executives are usually looking for meeting planners that have a flair for the dramatic or interesting. This will often entail higher salaries and/or benefit packages, but it will also mean more travel and interesting destinations. The workload may not be substantially different than that of a meeting planner for a more modest company, but the competition for such top-echelon meeting planner positions is likely to be fierce indeed. This competition is certainly justified by the compensation packages and travel opportunities, but there is also an option for homebodies who just want money: freelance meeting/event planning.

Freelance meeting planners do not always get to travel with their clientele, but it is not unheard of. Luckily, freelance meeting planners are free to collect as many clients as they can handle, and that means that there is no limit on their earning potential.

Spring opens the door to the busiest time of the year for wedding planners. The following 3 qualities can make you a sought after wedding planner: be a good listener, be organized, and be kind.

The best wedding planner is a skilled listener. Sit quietly; take notes, allow the couple to express their dream wedding in detail. You may have to pull one or both of them back to earth, but for the moment, be willing to listen to plans for a clown themed wedding, a Bride of Chuckie theme wedding, or a Star Trek wedding event.

Organizational skills are essential for any event planning. Organization is literally the life’s blood of a wedding planner. Every detail is put down on paper, including a back-up plan for the inevitable glitches. If the people around you are losing their minds, but you are calm and organized, chances are you are a wedding planner.

A little kindness goes a long way toward smoothing out difficulties. Accidents happen, delivery trucks break down, things just happen. Even if or especially if someone is in the wrong, be kind. She will be more willing to help make things right if she doesn’t feel cornered. Kindness is the mark of a professional.

Food and beverage trends pertaining to meetings and events are constantly changing, with some tried and true standbys staying in the mix, as well as many new ideas coming into play. Some changes in F&B trends are influenced by the economy and the increasing need to lower costs and find innovative ways to accommodate shrinking budgets, some are influenced by the growing green movement, and some have resulted from an increasingly health-conscious audience that demands healthier fare. Staying up with meeting and event planning trends is important to your success as a planner and to ensuring that your attendees enjoy your events.

To assist you in keeping up with the current trends in F&B, here is a quick rundown of four of the most prominent trends taking hold:

1. Smaller portion sizes and lighter food options – Smaller portions and lighter foods are becoming popular in response to both shrinking budgets and attendees that prefer healthy eating.
2. Green, organic, seasonal, local foods – This trend comes from the expanding green movement and is taking the meeting planning world by storm.
3. Food doubling as decoration – Using colorful food trays as centerpieces is a great cost-saving option that allows you to forgo expensive centerpieces and table decorations.
4. Comfort foods – This is one of those tried and true options that will always serve you well. It is hard to go wrong when serving comfort foods, particularly if you remember to include one or two options that are healthier or suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

Whether you are just starting out in the field of event and meeting planning, or are a seasoned professional constantly on the lookout for ways to improve and grow your business, there are certain must-have items that you should quickly acquire, if you do not have them already. These items will assist you in increasing awareness of your services, in coming across as professional and reliable, in ensuring that people you meet will remember you, and in bringing in new clients. While each of the three must-have items listed below may seem simple, once you begin to use them you will quickly see their value as part of building a solid foundation on which to expand your client base and grow your list of contacts.
 

1. A professional website – If you do not already have a website, you need one immediately. Even if you only have basic information on a home page, it is absolutely essential to establish an online presence and have a convenient place for potential clients to obtain information about your services.
2. Business cards – Whether they are simple or sophisticated, business cards are an absolute must. Order them now and carry them with you everywhere you go. You never know when you might meet someone who will be important to your business.
3. Thank you cards – You can opt for stylishly imprinted cards with elaborate designs or simple blank cards from your local stationary store, but you should always have thank you cards on hand. Thank everyone for everything. People like to feel appreciated and it will help them remember you.

You probably have a Facebook or MySpace account, your company may have a blog and Web site, and there’s a good chance that you’ve probably “tweeted”. However, if you’re behind the curve on technology and haven’t begun to use the different social media outlets to help build your event planning business, you’re probably missing out. Following are some reasons why you should be taking advantage of the power of social media.

Facebook – Facebook is the Grand Central Station of the Internet for contacting, finding and grouping people. This amazing social tool also allows you to measure different metrics within groups that you establish. Consider setting up a Facebook fan page for people interested in the events that you’re planning for your area. Post information about the events that is relevant and current and watch your group grow. If you want to measure the different metrics of your group, Facebook provides an online application called “Insights”, which allows you to measure interactions, likes, comments, wall posts and gender among other things.

Twitter – Why “tweet”? Why not? Twitter is the perfect texting platform. When you consider that you have 140 characters to produce a micro-blog post, you realize that millions of people on their Blackberries and iPhones will really appreciate the updates.

These two social media venues are just a taste of what is available (for free!) on the Internet. Dedicate some time each day to utilizing these tools and you’ll see the benefits firsthand.

From the Civil War to Civil Rights, Alabama is a state filled with the history that forged a nation. Interestingly enough, Alabama is also a state that makes meeting and event planning easy. From the multiple Convention and Visitors Bureaus to the hotels and golf courses scattered along the gulf coast, Alabama provides a venue that functional, memorable and educational.

Groups, whether small or large, are perfect for Alabama. Affordability ranks high on the list of most meeting planners in today’s economy and Alabama comes through with flying colors. Group rates on hotels and discounts on many of the amenities make it an extremely attractive venue. The Gulf Coast CVB has become a favorite destination for meeting planners. Over 87,000 square feet of meeting space and more than 15,000 condominium and hotel units provide ample accommodations for any group.

Attractions in Alabama include the Alleyway, which is an entertainment area along the riverfront in Montgomery. Birmingham features the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The sister cities of Auburn and Opelika are both home to major universities and excellent golf courses. Huntsville touts its new Davidson Center for Space Exploration and the coastal venues pull attendees into the Mardi Gras tradition. Alabama beckons to groups of any size.

The Web has helped create a movement toward simplifying the everyday tasks of event and meeting planning through the use of Web applications or “Apps” for short. Following are four Web Apps that can make your life easier.

Which Date Works?
This Web app is an all-in-one tool that allows you to handle contact lists, has a calendaring system that helps you see who is available and finalize dates for meetings or events that work for everyone. Which Date Works can be found at http://whichdateworks.com.

My Punch Bowl
This event planning application helps you organize an event from conception through invitation. It even handles creating the date, online invitations, supplies and sharing via different social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. My Punch Bowl can be found at http://www.mypunchbowl.com.

Set Dot
Set Dot is an events management Web app for creating and managing events and meetings. You can create the event and stylize it with a theme, send out invitations to the event and manage guest responses and messages. This app will even allow you to find maps and directions to your event. Set Dot can be found at http://www.setdot.com.

Anyvite
This application uses more than just the Web to help you plan events. Anyvite works with mobile, IM and SMS tools to help you invite associates to different events. It features a plethora of invitation designs, ease of use, location search and the ability to incorporate photos or video. This handy tool also features a way to export a guest list. Anyvite can be found at http://anyvite.com.