Job Profile: Event Planner

What are event planners? Event planners are detail queens – putting together every tiny element of events ranging from corporate meetings to citywide parties. They work for nonprofit organizations, businesses big and small, political organizations and more. They often take an event from its initial idea to the final cleanup after it’s all said and done.

Why should I care? According to The Meeting Professional, 42% of U.S. marketing executives list events as an important tool in their organization’s success. It’s a $100-plus billion-dollar industry, and experts say it is projected to grow steadily over the next few years.

Okay, so why would I do it? If you love to throw a good party, but don't mind the idea of being too busy throwing it to enjoy it, if you bask in the glow of a hundred people telling you “that was the best time I ever had,” if you want to give back to your community but feel your skills lay more in hospitality than health care – this could be the gig for you.

How much could I make? The average event planner salary is about $40,000 per year, but that number varies greatly depending on your employer (nonprofit vs. corporate, for example.) Four of the top five paying states in this field are on the east coast – Connecticut, New York, D.C. and Massachusetts.

How can I prepare? There’s no set way to get into event planning. If your school doesn’t offer an event planning major or minor, focus your college studies on business or communication. But the true magic path lies in internship: Learn at the feet of others. The best event planners are almost invisible, because the event seems to run itself. Those are the folks you want to watch at work. The Convention Industry Council does offer a “Certified Meeting Professional” program, which is nationally recognized, though most people don’t pursue that until they are a few years into their careers.

Is there time for a life, too? This depends on your boss. If you work in a corporate setting and mainly plan meetings, you’re going to work a fairly steady 9-to-5 schedule. If you’re planning fundraising dinners and golf outings, though, you’re probably going to give up some evenings and weekends to handle your events.

What’s it like, anyway? Let’s hear a tale from the front – from Molly Vandervest, an event planner with Downtown Green Bay in Green Bay, Wisconsin:

“The thing I really do love most about my job is the interaction with so many different people from a variety of fields. When working with sponsors, volunteers, city staff and downtown businesses, you truly are exposed to a massive crew of people all with a vested interest. The rush on event days is truly an amazing experience because you watch months of preparation pass by in a few short hours.

“Is there such a thing as a typical day? Not really. This Thursday, I’ll come in at 8:00 a.m. to check e-mails and phone messages, then dive into booking a few more bands for our Summer in the Park concert. At 10:00 a.m. we have a public relations meeting to strategize on upcoming events. At noon I have a lunch appointment, then in the afternoon a group is coming in to talk about a new downtown event that I will be a resource for in their planning. After work are some networking events, which are very important to build relationships both for potential sponsors and for helping build out base of contacts.”

“Event planning for a profit or non-profit company can be such a rewarding experience if you believe in the cause. It is not a career only for the super-organized or those with good taste in decorations; there is a need for a vast skill set starting with being an effective communicator. The more I learn about this career, the funnier the term ‘planner’ is to me because for as much preparation and organization ahead of time as you put into something, it is the on-site adjustments and the ability to improvise quickly which is necessary to be successful.”

“After over a year and a half at my job I am still feeling very fortunate to be in this field and have no doubts I will be involved in events for a very long time!”

Where this job can take a UChic lady: They’re skills that transfer to so many different areas – entertainment, healthcare, big business, nonprofit, technology, government and more. You can set up your own shop or work within an office or agency setting. You’ll generally need to be on-site – this is not a job for the UChic lady who wants to telecommute. But the biggest need is in some of the most exciting cities in the U.S."

How can I learn more? Check out the Event and Meeting Planners Association at www.eventplannersbusinessassociation.com or the Convention Industry Council at www.conventionindustry.org

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