How to Become an Event Planner – Education & Experience

Event planners are undoubtedly the most crucial element of any event. All meaningful occasions require someone to ensure everything is running as it should, meeting its goals, and making guests happy. Suppose you have ever put on a party or helped plan a wedding, conference, or performance. In that case, you may want to check out the many event planner jobs available today! The primary event planner qualifications are management, planning, and organizational skills. If you possess these, then this versatile career suits you.

Now you’re probably wondering how to become an event planner.

This article includes all the information you need regarding the event planning career path. For example, we cover how to become a certified event planner and even jobs similar to event planning.

Read on to learn more!

Article Navigation: What Is An Event Planner? | Career Requirements | Event Planner Skills | 8 Types of Event Planners | How to Become an Event Planner | Education Requirements | Certifications & Licenses | Event Planner Career | How To Market Yourself | Careers Related To Event Planning | Professional Organizations, Associations, Resources | FAQs | Become an Event Planner with an Online Degree!

What Is An Event Planner?

Event planners are also event coordinators and specialists responsible for managing and organizing all aspects of an event. An event planner’s job description may include the following:

• Planning budgets
• Conceptualizing ideas
• Liaising with clients and suppliers
• Booking venues
• Presenting post-event reports
• Managing logistics

Event Planner’s Job Responsibilities

Whether a business convention, an educational conference or a meeting, event planner responsibilities revolve around ensuring a seamless flow of functions. They manage and coordinate all details of an event, from the beginning to the end.

Contrary to popular belief, event planners do not begin work on the day of an event: their responsibilities extend from days before the event to days after. For instance, they may meet clients to determine an event’s purpose, guest attendance, and logistics. They plan around issues such as setting up audio and visual equipment and handling guest registration.

Event planners are also responsible for searching for potential sites, such as convention centers and hotels. While doing so, they must consider the facility’s boarding and lodging services, ease of reaching the location, and the surrounding attractions. In addition, they will conduct research to conclude whether an online meeting and in-person event would satisfy event requirements.

Some typical responsibilities are as follows:

• Meeting with clients to determine the event or meeting purpose.
• Planning the event’s scope, including the time, program, and expenditure
• Selecting the location for an event and arranging support services and meeting support
• Soliciting bids from service providers and places
• Coordinating with clients to ensure the event is according to their requirements
• Negotiating with suppliers and coordinating event plans with on-site staff
• Organizing entertainment, speakers, and other event activities
• Supervising the event’s finances
• Registering attendees on meeting/event day
• Coordinating transportation, rooms, and food service for meeting attendees
• Monitoring event activities to ensure event attendees and clients are satisfied
• Reviewing event expenses and bills and approving payment
• Conducting post-event surveys

What Is An Event Planner Job Description?

A typical job description for this career may be as follows:

“We need a motivated and expert event planner capable of managing small events. The planner will be responsible for all event planning preparations, including choosing the venue, approving the menu, devising seating plans, registering guests, and surveying success after the event. The ideal candidate for this job description is a professional with established management and coordination skills who possesses in-depth knowledge of vendor management. Established communication skills and attention to detail are also critical for this role, as our organization’s success depends upon meeting the particular requirements of our clients.”

Career Requirements

Combining the following event planner career requirements can help you traverse the path to a successful event planner career.

Education

The typical event planner education is a bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality Management, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, or Business. Those with a bachelor’s degree may be eligible for an entry-level position. Still, they must possess at least one or two years of practical experience.

Training

Most event planning companies prefer candidates with formal training in the field, which one may typically receive on the job in a prior related position. Training may include performing the duties of a senior event planner under their supervision at events. Universities and colleges offer event planning education programs. They may require anywhere between two to four years to complete and involve a combination of theoretical and practical event planning.

Certifications

Most event planners choose a particular event type as their specialization, such as weddings, parties, or conventions. Event planner certifications corroborate a professional’s skills in the field, making them stand out from their peers.

Event Planner Skills

Following are some of the crucial, in-demand skills you need to excel in this industry:

• Attention To Detail

Event planners must be able to root out and correct intricate details in event management, such as dietary preferences or the proper spelling of guest names.

• Organizational Skills

One of the most crucial event planner requirements is practical organization skills. They should keep strict track of time to keep on top of to-do lists, vendors, and other tasks.

• Networking

Since the event planning industry thrives on relationships and people-driven connections, event planners should have a diverse network. For example, bands, photographers, and caterers should call upon their network to maintain cordial, professional relationships.

• Creativity

Creativity and strong imagination skills are crucial in planning and creating unique themes. Event planners must also be able to keep the event’s creativity within budget.

• Communication

Strong speaking and listening skills are crucial in any career. Specifically, event planners must thoroughly understand their client’s requirements and communicate aptly to share their recommendations and ideas.

• Interpersonal Skills

Event planners must develop and maintain relationships with vendors as this allows them to run their operations smoothly when planning future events.

• Problem Solving Skills

With event assignments usually on a strict deadline, unexpected problems are bound to arise. Therefore, event planners must be flexible, emotionally intelligent, and resourceful to make quick decisions and quash any outstanding issues.

• Project Management

You can aptly compare event planning to a moving puzzle which requires you to keep the bigger picture in mind when making the more minor changes. You may need to manage large-scale projects at strict deadlines, delegate tasks, and set priorities and goals, all of which require project management skills.

• Marketing

Promotion works hand in hand with seamless functionality for a business to prosper. Even if you work for someone else, you must thoroughly understand marketing to get through the event planning industry. Most events, such as fundraisers and conferences, are dedicated marketing events. Irrespective of the event type you plan, you will need to get people through the door or sell tickets, all of which involve marketing.

• Creativity and Design Skills

The industry you work for determines the skill set you need. You will likely use creativity and design skills when planning an event. If you work with an organization, you must collaborate with the design department to complete your tasks. You may still need to develop graphic materials independently if you work for yourself.

• Communication

Event planning is one of the most dynamic businesses. It requires constant interaction with people, including vendors, high-level executives, and clients. Therefore, you must be able to communicate effectively, concisely, and creatively in diverse environments to get your message across and achieve your objectives.

• Organization

Event planners must have innate organizational skills, as a career in this industry is next to impossible without them. Organizational skills involve maintaining a balance between work, personal, and family. They also entail managing schedules while undertaking processes to become successful and creative, along with professional obligations.

8 Types of Event Planners

The event planning career path offers many specializations, some of which are as follows:

1. General Event Planners

Several companies offer event planning internships and employment opportunities in the general event planning category. General planners organize events with different attendees, priorities, and goals. They may organize and manage events ranging from small and private parties to large-scale conferences with hundreds of attendees.

2. Wedding Planners

Wedding planners help couples arrange their wedding days and ensure everything goes smoothly. They are aware of the intricacies of weddings, ranging from dresses and cakes to choosing an appropriate venue, finding photographers, and arranging catering services. Wedding planners are highly skilled at managing details so couples can have all they want on their big day.

3. Venue Managers

Venue managers do not provide the same event planning services as general event planners. Their primary focus is on their own spaces, and they generally arrange events in arenas, concert halls, and ballrooms. They may also collaborate with corporate clients to aid in marketing and sales for paid events.

4. Donor Coordinators

Donor coordinators are professionals who work with non-profit organizations and thus hold substantial experience managing donations at fundraising events. These professionals are also exceptional at developing relationships with sponsors.

5. Catering Services Managers

Catering services managers primarily focus on providing drinks and food for guests. General event planners usually subcontract catering service managers for some additional helping hands in food preparation, menu design, and more.

6. Event Social Media Coordinators

Event social media coordinators focus on promoting events on social media. They do not play the conventional event planner roles but help get the word out about paid events through social media. They may set up live feeds, create unique hashtags, or design digital campaigns to market an event.

7. Volunteer Coordinators

Some non-profit organizations and companies may assign event planning duties to volunteer coordinators from their staff. These coordinators receive some compensation for their work but are not professional event planners and thus lack the necessary expertise and education.

8. Communications Manager

Although it is not common for companies to opt for random staff members for event coordinator roles, some large-scale companies may hire internal planners. These planners, also known as communications and marketing managers, organize occasional events. However, their primary focus is on event promotion.

How to Become an Event Planner

Check out this brief guide on how to become an event planner! Here are the initial steps:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
2. Gain relevant work experience
3. Learn industry technology
4. Choose a specialization
5. Develop a portfolio

Step 1: Earn A Bachelor’s Degree

Most professional event planners hold a bachelor’s degree in event management and marketing. These degree programs may include studies such as:

• Event sales and sponsorship
• Human resource management
• Relationship management
• Financial accounting
• Agreement negotiating

Degrees in marketing, business management, hospitality management, public relations, and communications also satisfy event management qualifications.

Step 2: Gain Relevant Work Experience

Relevant work experience in event planning is crucial for applying theoretical skills practically. Examples of experience include participating in an internship at an event planning company or managing events independently. Students can also gain experience by volunteering for activities in their college, such as festivals, shows, sporting events, etc. Other effective experience includes volunteering for non-profit organizations coordinating events, or helping a company organize meetings.

Step 3: Learn Industry Technology

Event planners must be experts in the technology used in their industry, such as:

• Sales and marketing software
• Project management software
• Customer relationship management software

Event planning education offers insight into these technologies. Some contemporary examples include:

• Active Network EventRegister
• Marketo Marketing Automation
• Convention Industry Council CIC APEX Toolbox
• Microsoft Project
• Blackbaud The Raiser’s Edge

Step 4: Choose A Specialization

Although some event planners choose a general pathway, others specialize in particular event types. Specializations are perfect for professionals starting their own businesses. Some common specializations include corporate retreats, weddings, fundraisers, business meetings, and conferences.

Step 5: Develop A Portfolio

Event planning jobs may require a portfolio submission of your previous work. A portfolio showcases your accomplishments and skills and may include pictures of the events organized, brochures or invitations, press clippings, testimonials, etc. Designers can also add the challenges they faced in overcoming strict budgets, deadlines, or related creative constraints to depict their event planning skills.

Education Requirements

What Degree Do You Need To Be An Event Planner?

Although there are no entry-level degree requirements for an event planning career, a bachelor’s degree in event management can help you stand out from competitors. This type of degree prepares you for all the industry has to offer, and graduates can:

• Outline event planner roles and understand the interview process’s significance to determine the events’ size, budget, and style.
• Identify the different events associated with event planning—for example, religious celebrations, birthdays, event planning, silent auctions, and showers.
• Understand the responsibilities related to organizing and planning an event, including selecting venues and coordinating with vendors
• Summarize the crucial business considerations in an event planning business. Considerations include marketing, financial management, staff considerations, and business planning.

Students can also choose a secondary area of study, such as the following:

• Business

Event planners’ responsibilities revolve around business management as they manage workflows, people, and projects. Therefore, a business degree can be useful in an event planning career. It covers the budgeting and financial aspects crucial to running a business. Some other duties that a business degree can help with include equipment organization, contract negotiation, and sales.

• Public Relations

A degree in public relations can somewhat substitute an event planning degree as it amalgamates marketing, business, and communications principles. It fosters student skills such as communication, rhetoric, information analysis, creative expression, and branding. PR studies also cultivate public speaking skills and the ability to maintain poise in high-pressure environments, which can benefit an event planner.

• Communication

A communication degree can help in event planning education as its interdisciplinary nature draws from subjects such as marketing, linguistics, and journalism. This program suits those enhancing their verbal expression and interpersonal skills. It also allows students to direct their academic path to focus on their area of interest, such as science, arts, law, or business. Students can take classes ranging from creative writing to psychology.

• Hospitality Management

Event planners must be experts in customer service and administrative tasks, as they are the crux of their service. A hospitality management degree focuses on both these domains and thus is a valuable contribution to an event planning career. Students can also learn basic business practices, such as critical thinking, profit margins, etc. Such programs also allow students to develop management and leadership skills through their academic programs.

Are Continuing Education Classes Required for Event Planners?

Although a bachelor’s degree in event planning is suitable for an entry-level event planning job, some professionals may choose a master's to expand their horizons. This is generally the case for professionals starting their own company or brand and sustaining their business.

Training

Training is vital in addition to event planning education and credentials. Employers expect candidates to hold practical work experience when applying for a job. Event planners can attain this experience by participating in internships, volunteering their work, and networking to find paid event planning clients.

Certifications & Licenses

Many aspiring professionals wonder, do event planners need a license? You do not necessarily need any event planning certifications to work as an event planner. However, certificates exist in this industry that offers credibility, networking opportunities, and ongoing academic opportunities. Some of the most typical and highly sought-after event planning certifications are as follows:

Certified Special Events Professional, or CSEP

The International Live Events Association (ILEA) offers the Certified Special Events Professional certification. It recognizes event management professionals with distinguished knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the necessary obligations of a particular event. Candidates must pass the CSEP examination and hold at least three years of event planning experience to attain this event planning certification.

Certified Meeting Professional, or CMP

The Events Industry Council (EIC) offers the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification to event planners who specialize in managing conventions and meetings. Aspirants must pass a written examination that covers meeting management.

Certified Professional in Catering and Events, or CPCE

The National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) organizes the certification of Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE). It is a nationally recognized program specifically designed to offer planners the opportunity to establish themselves as experts in the catering, events, and hospitality industries. Aspirants of this certification must pass a written examination and complete a training program.

Certified Government Meeting Professional

The CGMP certification is a joint program developed by SGMP, or the Society of Government Meeting Professionals and the Graduate School at USDA. It is widely renowned as the highest available designation for professionals who organize government meetings.

Event Planner Career

According to the BLS, event planner salaries stood at an average of $49,470 per year or $23.79 per hour in 2021. Although the typical entry-level education requirement in this industry is a bachelor’s degree, no work experience in a relevant domain or on-the-job training is necessary.

BLS.gov offers a promising job outlook for event planning professionals. It expects an 18% increase in its job outlook between 2021 and 2031. With the present number of event planner jobs standing at 128,200, it also expects an employment change of 22,900 in the next ten years.

Work Environment

Event planners typically spend the majority of their time in offices. Otherwise, they work on-site during events or meetings at hotels or convention centers. These professionals also have to travel regularly to attend the events they organize. It’s even possible to travel the globe, which is the cherry on top. Event planners collaborate with hospitality workers, clients, and guests to fulfill their fast-paced event planning requirements. They might have to supervise people, conduct diverse activities simultaneously, and orchestrate different groups of people.

Event planners, including convention and meeting planners, generally work full-time. They also tend to work odd, long, and irregular hours. Another aspect of the job is frequently working on weekends since most informal events occur on weekends.

Should I Attend Networking Events?

Getting referrals and networking are the most suitable ways to market an event planning business. You can do so by associating your company with other associations, keeping in touch with them, and maintaining cordial, professional relationships. You can also earn referrals from clients or sales managers depending on your rapport.

Networking for an event planning business may involve joining social media sites and long-range communication platforms. That way, businesses can promote and market their brand and connect with big event planning companies.

How To Market Yourself

Event planners market themselves in various ways, some of which are as follows:

1. Online and Local Listings

You can advertise your event planning business for free on readily available online directories, may they be regional or global. Choosing a directory that matches your event planning niche is vital.

• Why Does It Work?

Having your event planning business on as many online directories as possible can help search engines locate your events or event businesses faster. In other words, pushing them up several notches for potential customers.

2. Using Business Cards

You can develop creative and attention-grabbing business cards and distribute them to your customers to make a good impression. Choosing a card that accurately reflects you and your business is vital to make your company stand out. You can also give away your business cards at business meetings or other suitable networking events. Leaving a stack of business cards at your vendors – photographers, florists, caterers – is also a wise choice.

• Why Does It Work?

Business relationships thrive on personal contact, and business cards accurately depict your brand. They are widely considered the best form of formal communication.

3. Social Media

Social media is the most powerful promotional tool in the present era. You can depict the interests of your company innovatively and share pictures from your recent events to increase your company’s authenticity. Relevant hashtags and engaging content can be critical in augmenting your profile visits.

• Why Does It Work?

Social media, viral content, public opinion, and customer reviews are the most suitable ways of promoting a business. Not only are they highly practical, but they are also low-budget – or no-budget in some cases.

4. Email Marketing

Marketing plans for most event planners include email, which offers links to fresh newsletters or blogs to those who have subscribed to them.

• Why Does It Work?

Email is one of the most effective ways of formal communication. Although social media has turned the world into a globally connected entity, most renowned platforms, such as Amazon, still use email for marketing because of its effectiveness.

Careers Related To Event Planning

Some careers related to event planning are as follows:

• Event Specialist, Manager, or Planner
• Director of Event Management
• Special Event Coordinator
• Marketing Coordinator
• Administrative Assistant
• Event Sales Manager
• Salesperson
• Catering Sales Manager
• Executive Assistant
• Customer Service Representative
• Marketing Manager
• Marketing Specialist

MEEC: Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions

The Meetings, Expositions, Events, And Conventions (MEEC) industry is wide scale. It covers all aspects of the hospitality industry. It includes convention and visitors’ bureaus, business sectors, venues, corporate planning, equipment providers, and more.

SMERF: Social, Military, Educational, Religious, and Fraternal

An acronym for ˜Social, Military, Educational, Religious, and Fraternal’, SMERF is generally associated with entertainment, sports, and recreational groups. In hospitality, it represents a relatively smaller sector which, although not as profitable as the business means and conferences, holds great significance in the economic landscape.

SMERF events are generally unrelated to a professional’s full-time career and paid for by the participant’s own money and time instead of being funded by a corporation.

Event planners can diversify their strategies and devise several means of income through the options mentioned above.

Professional Organizations, Associations, Resources

PCMA

Stands for: Professional Convention Management Association

PCMA is best for all professionals who plan, collaborate with, or execute conventions for live events. According to the membership page, members must spend more than 51% of their time organizing, developing, and managing conventions, meetings, seminars, and exhibitions.

The primary function of this event planning organization is networking. Still, it also offers peer-to-peer education and an exceptional amount of educational resources to help attain additional certifications.

Although there are distinct student chapters on campuses across the United States, you can conveniently find and join any of the 18 professional chapters embedded across America and Mexico.

Directories, online boot camps, members-only resources like forums, exclusive recorded lectures, and event ticket discounts are some of the membership perks of this organization.

APA

Stands for: American Planning Association

This organization primarily caters to the needs of event professionals in all states of America. It has members in more than 100 countries worldwide and offers memberships that emphasize planners, students, academics, and commissioners. Still, individuals from all over the world are eligible to apply.

Notwithstanding your education or geographical location, this organization has something to offer you. APA endeavors to help event planners at all stages of their event planning careers. They offer students the tools to jumpstart their professional life after school and help professional planners traverse all regions and disciplines of their profession simultaneously.

Apart from the membership perks mentioned above, APA also offers awards and training workshops to its members.

National Association for Catering and Events

The National Association for Catering and Events offers event professionals and caterers the opportunity of meeting with neighboring professionals in the industry and network with the local market.

This organization is a national industry association and boasts over 40 local chapters.

Membership in this organization offers networking and innovative education opportunities with like-minded peers and industry professionals.

Meeting Professionals International

Meetings Professionals International is the world’s most significant event planning and meeting association and focuses on the most suitable business and education practices.

The organization has more than 90 chapters across Europe, Asia, South America, and North America.

MPI offers memberships, allowing attendees to tailor their involvement based on their preferences and time. It also provides access to a wide-ranging professional network for networking opportunities and relevant academic resources online and in-person.

International Association of Exhibitions and Events

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events, founded in 1928, serves as the leading organization of the global exhibition industry. Many of its members are directly involved in all domains and aspects of buyer-seller events.

IAEE focuses on industry news, professional development, and global advocacy for more suitable exhibition practices.

It has chapters in more than 50 countries globally.

Apart from the membership perks mentioned above for other organizations, members of this organization enjoy advocacy in general media and governmental policy-making, service partner discounts, and community gain from local chapter participation.

Wedding International Professionals Association

Wedding International Professionals Association is highly suitable for officiants, wedding planners, hoteliers, and almost all professionals involved in the wedding industry.

This association works to bring together wedding professionals from around the globe and open arenas for opportunities for continued education.

The association has nine chapters in the USA and offers the option to become an at-large member.

Members of this wedding event planning organization get access to mentoring programs for emerging businesses, all WIPA meetings, a well-knit community of like-minded professionals, and up-to-date information about the latest and most innovative industry news and trends.

International Live Events Association

The International Live Events Association is a global association with 51 international chapters.

The organization offers perks that extend beyond the threshold of members’ networks exponentially and touch upon access to invaluable resources. It also provides a chance to enter the ILEA Esprit Awards and access the ILEA Career Center and exclusive events.

Academic Event Professional

The Academic Event Professional is highly suitable for all event planners who focus on events for or at academic institutions.

AEP, founded over a decade ago, supports educational event planners in established and new programs to help them develop critical skills in the field.

This event planning organization does not have local or regional chapters but hosts an annual January conference. It also maintains a well-knit and thriving online community through social media and newsletters. The association also hosts other smaller events, sometimes in collaboration with other relevant programs, from time to time.

Members attain eligibility to enter their annual conference, access to exclusive digital networking opportunities, and advice on relevant events approved by the association to make members worthwhile.

Event Service Professionals Association

The Event Service Professional Association is suitable for those who work at convention centers, hotels, and CVBs, and are interested in learning how to promote facilities and destinations better. Event planners and related service providers in this niche are also eligible to apply.

ESPA works on a two-pronged approach that improves its members and the industry. This approach relies on networking and education.

Also, ESPA invites its members to annual conferences and hosts high-quality webinars. It also has its own Celebrate Services Week. It’s an unofficial festival showing appreciation for all industry members.

Apart from a tiered membership fee structure, members of this organization gain access to certification eligibility, year-round academic opportunities, networking opportunities ranging from formal mentorships to volunteer days, and monthly updated professional resources.

FAQs

What does it take to be an event planner?

You can undertake a successful event planning career if you are innately creative and have a knack for management, planning, and communication.

How do I become an event planner without a degree?

There are no strict event planner education requirements in this industry. Suppose you do not have an event planning degree. In that case, you can opt for an event planning certification or attain considerable experience in the field to become an event planner without a degree.

How to become an event planner with no experience

You can become an event planner without experience by choosing an event planning certification or degree program. That way, you can attain all the fundamental skills to help you excel in this career.

Is an event planner a good career?

Yes, being an event planner is a good and exciting career as it brings you face-to-face with various locations. This diverse career choice also pays well. According to the BLS, event planners made an average of $49,470 per year or $23.79 per hour in 2021.

How do event planners make money?

Event planners make money by organizing and managing the intricacies of different events, including birthdays, professional meetings, conferences, parties, wedding ceremonies, religious ceremonies, and others.

Become an Event Planner with an Online Degree!

Event planning is one of the most exciting and diverse career choices for people with a knack for management, planning, creativity, and communication. These professionals help spread smiles and satisfaction by materializing their clients’ ideas, making it a monetarily and emotionally rewarding career choice.

Now that you know the answer to how to become an event planner, you can head to GetEducated.com to learn about online degrees that will help you achieve your career goals.