EventResources

Contents

1. Patty Sachs Article
2. Party Tents Article
3. Food and Beverage Quantities
4. Event Budget Categories
5. General Vendor Directory
6. Publications
7. Associations
8. Software
9. Ideas
10. Packages
11. Certifications
12. Party Supplies
13. Training
14. Insurance
15. Online Portals
16. Vendors
17. Meeting Professionals International 2002 Salary Survey

1. Patty Sachs Article

"I'M CREATIVE AND ORGANIZED, NOW WHAT?"

While it's great to be creative and organized, I imagine that you are finding that you have stiff competition out there. Party/event planning is rapidly becoming a "hot" career choice. That means that more people are applying for the limited number of openings available. Here are some ideas of how you can get to the front of that list or get your business off the ground.

SERIOUS ABOUT SPECIAL EVENTS? GET TRAINING
George Washington University, in conjunction with the International Special Events Society has a series of workshops that can be taken at the university or in a home study program. You can find more about the program click here http://www.gwu.edu/~cpd/programs/CWEP/index.html.

However, there are more and more trade shows, seminars and workshops being held around the country.

TeleSeminars Series Special!!
In fact, we at PartyPlansPlus.com put together a TeleSeminar series to help you in getting started in event/party planning. You can get further information on this series special offers and enroll now. Just click here. http://www.partyplansplus.com/teleseminarpage.html

You should also start checking out the continuing education programs offered by your area's high schools and colleges. There are often educational programs at the monthly ISES and MPI meetings. Be sure to attend.

I've been doing this for 20+ years and, although I teach classes in it, I STILL am constantly taking classes or learning all the aspects of this business.

Remember, as the planner, you need to know how to communicate with all your vendors. That means you must have a working knowledge of catering, photography, lighting, tents, floral, contracts, etc. and you also have to be aware of all the latest innovations in these industries too.

This is an area where many so-called planners fail in. They only think about the their portion of the event. More to the point, what they perceive is their portion of the event.

However a good planner, one who excels at his or her profession, understands that he or she is the team leader on any event.

If you don't know what you are hiring your other suppliers to do and how to communicate your wishes, then how will you be able to judge if you are selecting the best person for the job, know about all the latest products and what the going rate should be?

EVENTUALLY YOU WILL WANT TO JOIN A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
While you're at the above mentioned ISES site, check out where there is a local chapter near you and start attending meetings. In some areas, Meeting Professionals International have a stronger membership. While MPI members are likely to be involved more in the planning of meetings, conferences and conventions, you still are likely to find other party planners and party suppliers through this organization. Check them out at http://www.mpiweb.org.

It is natural for organizations like ISES or MPI to be intimidating for you at first, so don't be discouraged by that, they will be very helpful to you in starting your networking to find other vendors and improve your education.

And speaking of organizations, it's not necessary that you join any of them right away. Most will allow you to attend meetings and will only charge you slightly more than a member. These meetings are essential to your education and growth no matter what area of planning you enter.

INTERESTED IN STARTING WITH SOCIAL EVENTS ONLY?

Perhaps you would like to start by helping hosts with with smaller and less complicated occasions as a consultant, coordinator or assistant? Whether planned in their homes, at country clubs, hotels or even in private banquet rooms at local restaurants, these events will still require that you be efficient, professional, prepared and knowledgeable in every event detail.

At present, there is not an organization for those who wish to limit their work to private parties for purely social occasions--birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, wedding showers and receptions, baby showers, going-away and housewarming events.

We at PartyPlansPlus.com are developing a "Getting Started in Planning Social Events" report plus a series of on-line seminars that will target these more personal parties. If you have an interest in this information please go to our survey page and sign in.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
You need to network with other event/party professionals whenever and wherever you can. As I said, the key to being a great planner is not only having terrific ideas and being incredibly organized, you also must know the BEST place to get whatever it is you need to implement your plans for your client.

You likely won't find most of your best vendors in the Yellow Pages. Why? Amazingly the best vendors we deal with often are not listed because they don't have to be. They get enough work through planners that they don't need the general consumer. That means that you will often be able to offer your clients resources that they couldn't probably find for themselves.

You also should attend trade shows and visit hotels or places where events are being planned and stop by during set-up. Collect business cards from people whose work you see there. If there is a planner there, however, make sure to introduce yourself and get his or her permission first. You don't want to start out in the biz with another planner bad-mouthing you and saying your were "poaching" vendors.

Build your Rolodex. Guard it with your life. Whenever and wherever your find someone who offers a product or service you think you could possibly use, at any time in your career, even if you don't have an immediate need, get a business card and keep in touch. People move, change phone numbers, add new products and services. If you don't stay in touch, when you need the product or service, you might not be able to find it. You can request a list of the types of vendors, suppliers and product resources you'll need to know about if you are serious about your planning career. We call it Riches in your Rolodex. Send an e-mail.

That means you need to read trade magazines such as Special Events (http://www.specialevents.com,) Event Solutions Magazine (http://www.event-solutions.com)and Party and Paper Retailer (http://www.partypaper.com)which will keep you up on the latest products, services and good business information.

Attending event/party industry conventions and trade shows is the best way to learn through seminars and product exhibits. The largest of these for event planners is The Special Event run by Special Events Magazine however Event Solutions also holds an annual conference and trade show. You'll find more information for each show on their sites.

TransWorld Exhibits produces two party-related trade shows a year. In March, the 20th Annual Halloween, Costume and Party Show will take place in Chicago. The smaller, but important version of this show, Las Vegas Halloween and Party Show is in April. Both of these show include free seminars and workshops for professionals in the party industry--you will find amazing classes to increase your knowledge and awareness. We produce this section of the event. Both the show and the education is free to you. You can see more on these shows at http://www.transworldexhibits.com and the Buyer's Education line-ups for this year are at http://www.partyplansplus.com/twchicago.htm and http://www.partyplansplus.com/lasvegas.htm. Those pages will give you an idea of what next year will hold.

News!! Next year's shows will feature a special day for planners of events and parties. If you have an interest in this day of seminars send us an e-mail at partysachs@prodigy.net with the subject=Transworld Planners Day

We would love to see you there.

VOLUNTEER

Everyone always wants to know how they are going to get experience. It's easy. Volunteer! Work with other planners to get more of the day-to-day experience of running an event business, working on an event and/or offer yourself to non-profit agencies who do fundraisers but don't have an event person on board...usually without pay. Think of it as great training you're not paying for except by contributing your time. This is very similar to the old apprenticeship programs from years ago.

This does NOT mean that you can then turn around and steal clients from the person who helped you get experience. It means that you work as hard as you can to build your own bank of knowledge and a reputation.

While you're building your client list/resume, working on a charity event is a great way to showcase your work. Remember, these are often the "ladies who lunch" and who plan all the big social charity events AND these days, either they are also involved in big corporations or their husbands are.

If you do not have any experience, do NOT volunteer to run the event. It's entirely too easy to become overwhelmed when you're starting out. Not only will you hurt your reputation, possibly irreversibly, but it's also not fair to the charity who needs the money you should have helped them raise. Mistakes are costly in more ways than one.

It's better to work on one or two sub-committees. If you do well and you feel you would like more responsibility, then you may volunteer to run that committee for the next event.

If you have the time, another way to explore the various aspects of producing an event is to offer to "shadow" the chairperson. As you follow along the entire proceedings, sitting in on all meetings, you will learn exactly where you feel best suited.

Volunteer to help friends or family members plan their events. You may find they are only willing to compensate you for your expenses along with paying for supplies, but this is also a great opportunity for you to practice. Again, if it's an important event, be sure to offer to help only in those areas where your accomplishments will help the event to shine, not where a mistake can cause you and the party host embarrassment.

When you have acquired a sufficient amount of knowledge and experience, you may offer to chair or run an entire event.

An essential tool is a portfolio including photos and samples of your work to show potential clients. People aren't going to give you money just because you tell them that you helped plan your sister's wedding or because your friends think you do a great job with your parties. The documentation of any and all volunteer events with photos and printed planning materials will help you build your portfolio and credibility. Add testimonial letters to this collection.

DON'T GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB!
This is not a business you can jump into overnight. Be prepared to work nights and weekends. If you have a "day job," you might want to keep it as you build your client base and/or experience. Remember, many in-house planners are paid based upon experience and education, so build a strong portfolio and resume.

Remember, even if you were to start working on a project today, you might not actually finish the project for three to six months from now or longer. That means you don't get paid until then. You may have deposits from your client, but you need those to give deposits to the other vendors and order supplies.

LAY A SOLID FOUNDATION

As I said, in some areas the competition is incredibly stiff and getting worse everyday. More and more folks think they can do this. Some get lucky and get a couple of clients who go with them because they have a better price, because they're a friend or because they are new. Sometimes new planners have a better price because they don't know what they're doing or sometimes they may be undercutting themselves because they haven't learned proper pricing. In either event, remember you never get a second chance to make a first impression so be sure you have all your ducks in a row. This is an incredibly small industry. It's remarkable how word gets around. And even if your client thinks you did a good job, if you mess up something, it might be one of your vendors who bad-mouths you! (Read and heed!)

What happens is that newbie planners often screw up somewhere along the line and then get a bad reputation. Before they know it, they're out of business or they won't be able to get a job in the industry. We all talk to each other -- even if we're in competition -- and it doesn't take long for a bad reputation to get established.

Remember too this applies to an in-house position as well. When you start working for a company, you are often on a 90-day trial.

True story.

When I started working as an in-house event planner for a non-profit, in my first 90 days, I was responsible for six major events. In fact, on the Thursday following my Monday start date, I was in charge of a large breakfast event of community leaders. I had to step in where the other planner had left off and make the event work. In fact, my predecessor had only done a minor amount of the work, then my supervisor had stepped in (without much event experience) and continued the planning. Being experienced I immediately recognized some potential problems and had to jump in and fix them before the event started. This was a true trial by fire, although it was not an uncommon one.

YOU ARE NOW IN THE SALES BUSINESS, AS WELL AS THE EVENT BUSINESS:

The part of this business that we all hate, but the part we all spend the bulk of our time on is finding new business. Developing prospects, writing proposals, rewriting proposals, and convincing someone to hire us, is the thing we spend more time on than any other thing. After all, if you don't have clients, you don't have anything to be creative on.

If you are not prepared to a)market yourself aggressively, b)do extensive research, and c)make cold calls on prospects, and d) find clients, in general, then you may want to rethink starting your own business. You will probably want to work for a planning company.

However, if you think that working for someone else will eliminate the need to sell, you are probably wrong. Let's face it, most planners with their own companies don't need people to be creative. They are already creative. What they need are creative people who can assist them in the production of events and MOST IMPORTANTLY bring in new business.

Generalists actually have the hardest job of finding clients. I know that sounds strange, but you have to remember that if you specialize in a type of event, you can at least focus your marketing and prospecting more productively.

Corporate work is the most lucrative and the most difficult to get. They work largely by referrals from other in-house corporate planners.

These corporate events usually have a sales component and they must have a PROVABLE component of how successful the event was as a marketing or sales tool. That is a highly difficult specialty.

You must remember that these people must go back to their bosses or stockholders to explain the expenditure and why it was necessary and how successful it was in achieving the goal.

Social events such as weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs or other milestone events, require lots of hand-holding with clients. You also find that you are dealing with the wishes of numerous people. For a wedding, for instance, it can be the: bride, groom, her parents, his parents, their siblings, best man, maid of honor, bridal party, etc. It can be overwhelming trying to make everyone happy. It rarely can be accomplished, so you have to work toward making sure that everyone buys into the final decisions. It's enough to make you feel as if you have qualified for a presidential appointment as a diplomat!

But you have to remember, too, that you are dealing with life-long dreams and wishes from all these people and you must tread lightly, but firmly, to accomplish the task of pleasing them all through negotiation and creativity.

Non-profit events, are similar to corporate events, in that it must have an element of financial success or media exposure. You also must be aware that you are limited in your budget because every dollar the charity spends on the event is one less that goes toward their coffers.

You are also dealing with trying to create an event that looks like it cost a million bucks, but didn't, while at the same time allowing potential or current donors to understand that any money spent on the event was worth it and that you aren't wasting their donation on a lavish party instead of benefiting the charity. It's a tightrope.

Plus, most non-profit event planning also requires that you help raise money yourself. Once again you'll be looking for donors, sponsors, people to attend the charity functions and helping to raise money in general to justify your salary (if you're on staff) and to provide seed money for future fundraisers.

STARTING A BUSINESS

CAREFULLY research your market and create a TOTAL BUSINESS PLAN. Remember, it's not that people plan to fail, they simply fail to plan.

Although not directly related to starting an event business, there are some great general "getting started" business advice at http://www.BusinessKnowHow.com.

You need to learn about licenses, insurance (EXTREMELY important), marketing, advertising, etc. Although commonly overlooked or done half-heartedly or haphazardly, this is NOT a step you can skip.

ADDITIONAL GETTING STARTED MATERIALS:

Please understand that there are so many variables in this business that no one book could EVER give you everything you need to know. It's an ongoing learning process and it varies by specific type of business, location, experience, etc.

That's why I stress training so much. It's not only to learn about how to do events, but how to be in the business of events.

The annual conferences such as The Special Event (previously noted) is important to a serious and successful event business -- although it's not the only thing that must be done.

SPECIAL ON THIS--LIMITED TIME OFFER!!

Patty Sachs is the co-author of our book, THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO THROWING A GREAT PARTY and The Pick A Party Books, and with fellow event planning expert, Dawn Hogan, has put together an incredible resource package of material for "getting started in party/event planning." The disk includes 52 reports covering all areas of the event business, Patty's being creative and promotional concepts and Dawn concentrates on forms and contracts. It is called the Disk Deal. The current cost is $50.00 and prints out to over 150 pages. Super for entry level advice.

You can see the contents listed at http://www.pattysachs.com/diskdeal.htm

2. Party Tents Article

At first, we think of the big top circus or outdoor camping, but tents can add versatility and pizazz to your next event. They extend your function space by turning any outdoor venue into an instant gathering hall. For practical reasons, tents offer protection from the elements: the rain, cold, heat, and in some climates, the sun. Their open concept allows them to be transformed into any theme you imagine, without having to work around a room's existing layout and features. They also don't limit you in choice of caterers and beverage services, as would a hotel or restaurant.

If thinking about using a tent, check with your caterer and/or other vendors for referrals to tent rental companies. Things you should look for are or ask about:

Does the rental company carry liability insurance?
Will one of the installers remain onsite to make adjustments?
Are all tents certified as being flame-retardant?
Tent rental company should be willing to inquire about required permits and notices to put up a tent at your desired location.
Tent rental company should be willing to perform a site inspection to estimate costs and installation issues.
Photographs and referrals of previous events should be available

Things to prepare for the tent rental company's use:

number of people attending event

type of event (to decide seating arrangements)

whether there will be a food service and if it would be buffet style or sit down service

will there be a band , dj or other entertainment that requires a staging area?

This information will determine the size tent and number of tents you would need. Sometimes a kitchen ten would need to be set up near the dining area so servers can be more efficient in food delivery.

There are three major type of tents: the push-pole tent, the tension tent, and the frame tent. The type of tent you choose can affect the cost and visual appeal. The most common tent is the push-pole. The ceiling canvas is draped over a row of tall center poles to a shorter set of poles, called quarter poles, then to the perimeter poles. This style has a soft billowy silhouette and is usually the least expensive to rent.

The tension tent is the tallest of the three types and uses fewer interior poles. Because of this, tension tents have a more open feel and makes arrangement of tables and chairs simpler. It is slightly more expensive to rent than a push-pole, but it is the most stable of the three types in high winds.

The third type is the frame tent, where an elaborate framework of poles support the ceilings and walls. Unlike the other two types, which need at least 7 feet of clearance space around their perimeter to pitch their anchor lines, a frame tent can be a narrow as ten feet wide. It also has no interior poles, making it the most flexible in arranging function layouts. The complicated interior structure, which can be hidden with a false canvas ceiling, makes frame tents usually the most expensive to rent.

In consideration for your attendees feet, laying down a floor should be considered. The most desirable and most expensive choice is a plywood floor. It is a custom built raised floor that can be laid over almost any terrain type, even over swimming pools. Though requiring considerable time, labor, and lumber, it can be customized with painting, covered with carpet, or even artificial turf. If you have your tent over a flat surface, like a basketball court, driveway, or parking area, then a rigid plastic floor can be used for half the cost of plywood. A partial area, like one reserved for a dance or exhibit area, can be covered with a parquet-wood floor. The least expensive option is to lay down artificial turf, Though if it rains, it won't keep your guests' feet dry.

Adding tent walls can give you further protections from wind, rain, even a sense of privacy. Option include solid canvas, clear vinyl, and some with clear vinyl windows to give the look of a real building.

Other considerations to consider with your tent rental company are:

restroom requirements
basic lighting
food preparation requirements
climate controls
power generation

These extras may be included in your contract, but never-the-less you should not forget to budget for them. Also having an accurate attendee count will keep costs under control. Ten extra people could force you to increase your tent size and significantly raise costs. In comparison to other event sites, using tents will be more expensive because you have to rent everything. But if you compare it to the best hotel in the area, the costs are about the same and you get more control over the look and feel of your event.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Eventageous 2000. All rights reserved. Distribution of this article is permissible so long as this copyright and text link remain attached to it. For more information, planning guides, tools, vendor referrals, and other planning services, click here to Eventageous: online event and meeting planning guide.

3. Food and Beverage Quantities

BANQUET SET-UP GUIDELINES
*These are just general guidelines for the typical banquet set-up. Amounts may vary dependent upon the group.

Terms of the Trade
Styles of Service American
food is plated in the kitchen and is served by an attendant in front of the guest

French
food is garnished table side on a prepared platter from which an attendant serves directly on to the guest's plate

Russian
food is fully prepared and pre-cut then served on platters or "escoffier" dishes placed on the diner's tables from which guest help themselves

Butler
food is fully and pre-cut then passed on trays by attendants from which guests help themselves

English Breakfast
full breakfast menu plus food stations for hot foods made to order

Continental Breakfast
informal breakfast consisting of juice, coffee, pastries and/or breads

Cash Bar
guests pay individually for their drinks

Open or Host Bar
drinks are paid by the sponsoring host or group

Combination Bar
host or sponsoring group pays for a certain number or type of drinks and guest are responsible for purchasing anything over or different from what is being hosted

Consumption 40% coffee drinkers prefer decaf

About 20-25% of people are now on a low-carb diet - pastries don't work - mini-sausages and cheese does for these people

50%-75% diet sodas vs. 25% regular sodas are consumed
1/2 bottle wine per person
1.5 drinks/person consumed/hour at a cash bar
2.5 drinks/person consumed/hour at a hosted bar
hors d'oeuvres passed on trays reduces consumption
4-6 hors d'oeuvres pieces/person for light food receptions
8-11 hors d'oeuvres pieces/person for heavy food receptions
it's less expensive to purchase food by the quantity instead of a fixed price per person menu plan.

Staffing

1 attendent & separate buffet table per 100 people
add 2nd buffet table when you exceed 120 people
buffet tables more than 16 feet long need to be 2 tables wide
1 attendent per 50 people in a butler style reception
provide seating for only 20%-25% of attendance at receptions
typical seated lunch takes 1 1/2 hours to serve 100 people
typical seated dinner takes 2 hours to serve 100 people
1 bartender per 100 people with a staggered arrival
1 bartender per 50 people with group arrival

4. Event Budget Categories

5. General Vendor Directory

http://www.alltimefavorites.com/index.html A somewhat confusing but link-rich site for just about anything event-related

http://www.event-planner.com/ A more polished directory visually, unfortunately many broken links, page not found errors

6. Publications

http://specialevents.com Special Events Magazine
http://www.events-magazine.com/ Events Magazine
http://www.promomagazine.com/ Promotions Magazine

Exhibitor Magazine brings you the best practices in trade show and corporate event marketing, from the most successful companies in the world. http://www.exhibitornet.com/

The complete online source for news and information for the meeting, convention, incentive and trade show professionals. MeetingNews.com features the latest industry news, searchable article archives, crucial business resources and much more. http://www.meetingnews.com

http://www.pcma.org/resources/convene/subscribe/ Convene Magazine

http://www.meetingsnet.com/ Home of several magazines:
Association Meetings, Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Insurance Conference Planner, Medical Meetings, and Religious Conference Manager

Here are some excellent party planning materials that we recommend for all special occasions including birthday, wedding, anniversary, reunion, or community festivities - all are available at http://www.partyplansplus.com/bookpages/Bookstore.htm

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Throwing a Great Party We know there are no complete idiots, but we have written the bible on party planning. Party novices or pros will find a wealth of help and inspiration in this 300 + page volume. It's a great gift idea for any occasion! Discounted price so buy a few!

Pick A Party: The Big Book Of Party Themes and Occasions by Patty Sachs. Features over 130 themes, every celebrated holiday, hundreds of planning tips and dozens of valuable resources. A top seller in book and party stores at only $9.00.

Pick A Party Cookbook: The Big Book of Party Menus, Recipes and Table Decor All the menus and recipes needed for any theme party. Great as a companion piece to Pick A Party: The Big Book of Party Themes and Occasions or as a stand-alone guide. This book is so much more than just great recipes. You'll also get hundreds of creative ideas for decorating your dining and buffet tables. In addition, there are tasty drink recipes and serving instructions. $11.00.

Fun & Frugal Party Plans Plus by Phyllis Cambria. These are creative party plans for those with champagne tastes and beer budgets. These plans include invitation ideas, menu suggestions, decor designs, entertainment alternatives and party favors...all complete with resources to host this party on any budget. Loaded with party ideas that won't cost you a penny but will make your party look like a million! Start your collection of these bash best bets! Super deal at $6.00 each. Special!! All 7 plans only $25.00.

7. Associations

The International Special Events Society is comprised of over 3,000 professionals in over a dozen countries representing special event producers (from festivals to trade shows), caterers, decorators, florists, destination management companies, rental companies, special effects experts, tent suppliers, audio-visual technicians, party and convention coordinators, balloon artists, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers, specialty entertainers, convention center managers, and many more .http://www.ises.com/

Air Transport Association of America (ATAA)
1709 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 626-4000

American Hotel and Motel Association (AHMA)
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 265-4506

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
1575 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 626-2723

Association of Conference and Events Directors -- International (ACED)
Colorado State University
Rockwell Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80523

Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM)
1819 Peachtree Street N.E., Suite 560
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 351-3220

Association of Independent Meeting Planners (AIMP)
5103 Wigville Road
Thurmont, MD 21788
(301) 271-4222

Convention Liaison Council (CLC)
1575 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 626-2764

Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE)
2000 Florida Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009

Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA)
611 E. Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 276-3372

Exposition Service Contractors Association (ESCA)
400 South Houston
Union Station, Suite 210
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 742-9217

Health Care Exhibitors Association (HCEA)
5775 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road
Building D, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 242-3663

Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
1400 K Street, N.W., Suite 810
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 789-0089

http://www.impaccanada.com/
IMPAC (Independent Meeting Planners Association of Canada) is a professional network of approximately 100 entrepreneurs across Canada in the meeting, conference and event management business. Formed in 1996, the association provides a forum in which members can meet to exchange ideas, develop skills through educational programs, and share partnership opportunities that foster business growth.

http://www.iasbweb.org/mp.html International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) is the worldwide trade association of speaker agencies and bureaus, with members in Canada, England, Australia, The Netherlands and New Zealand as well as the United States. Founded in 1986, IASB is to the speakers industry what MPI is to meeting professionals. IASB member bureaus subscribe to a Code of Ethics, take part in on-going professional development and adhere to a high level of professional standards

Institute of Association Management Companies (IAMC)
5820 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Insurance Conference Planners Association (ICPA)
8721 Indian Hills Drive
Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 390-7300

International Association of Auditorium Managers (IAAM)
4425 W. Airport Freeway, Suite 590
Irving, TX 75062
(214) 255-8020

International Association of Conference Centers (IACC)
362 Parsippany Road
Parsippany, NJ 07054
(201) 887-3505

International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (IACVB)
P.O. Box 758
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 359-8881

International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE)
P.O. Box 985
Springfield, MO 65801
(417) 862-5771

International Communication Industries Association (ICIA)
3150 Spring Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 273-7200

International Exhibitors Association (IEA)
5103-B Backlick Road
Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 941-3725

The International Special Events Society is comprised of over 3,000 professionals in over a dozen countries representing special event producers (from festivals to trade shows), caterers, decorators, florists, destination management companies, rental companies, special effects experts, tent suppliers, audio-visual technicians, party and convention coordinators, balloon artists, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers, specialty entertainers, convention center managers, and many more .http://www.ises.com/

Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
1950 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207-3109
(214) 746-5250
http://www.mpiweb.org/

National Association of Exposition Managers (NAEM)
710 Indiana Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 638-6236

National Speakers Association - As a service to meeting planners and business professionals, NSA continues to raise the bar of standards to which it holds it members and administers a certification program to help ensure quality professional speakers. NSA offers advice on how to find, select, work with, promote and evaluate professional speakers. http://www.nsaspeaker.org/index_meeting.shtml

Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
100 Vestavia Office Park, Suite 220
Birmingham, AL 35216
(205) 823-7262
http://pcma.org

Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA)
One Hoosier Dome, Suite 120
Indianapolis, IN 46225
(317) 632-1888

Society of Company Meeting Planners (SCMP)
2600 Garden Road, Suite 208
Monterey, CA 93940
(408) 649-6544

Society of Government Meeting Planners (SGMP)
1213 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-9998

Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE)
271 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 889-9340

Trade Show Bureau
P.O. Box 797
8 Beach Road
East Orleans, MA 02643
(508) 240-0177

Travel Industry Association of America (TIAA)
2 Lafayette Center
1133 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 293-1433

8. Software

Meeting Planner Plus http://www.certain.com/ $1,995
Event Planner Plus http://www.certain.com/ $495.00
Register 123 Online Registrations System http://www.certain.com/
Hotel and services procurement http://www.procurepoint.com/travelsolutions/solutions.jsp
Online Event Management Tools http://www.b-there.com/

9. Ideas

10. Packages

11. Certifications

Certified Meeting Planner (CMP)
Certified Meeting Manager (CMM)
To qualify for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) exam, persons must have worked full time for at least three years with a wide variety of meeting planning experience. Although certification is not required for this occupation, it will likely be an advantage when competing for better jobs. The Certified Meeting Manager (CMM) certificate is earned through an advanced training program, usually lasting one week, and successful analysis and completion of a detailed case study. Meeting Professionals International administers both exams. http://www.mpiweb.org/

Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)
The CSEP designation is the hallmark of professional achievement in the special events industry. It is earned through education, performance, experience, and service to the industry, and reflects a commitment to professional conduct and ethics. Moreover, the CSEP can make you more attractive to potential clients and employers.

The CSEP designation is awarded by the International Special Events Society (ISES) and its Certification Committee.
http://www.ises.com/csep/

Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM)
First and foremost the CTSM program trains candidates in trade show and event marketing. Candidates are required to complete a curriculum of 28 seminars which equals 42 hours of classroom study. These sessions are available at Exhibitor Show and ExhibitorFastTrak. Upon completion, candidates earn 4 CEUs through our university affiliate Northern Illinois University Outreachhttp://www.exhibitornet.com/ctsm/index.asp

12. Party Supplies

13. Training

14. Insurance

15. Online Portals

A place to post events and invite RSVP http://www.evite.com/pages/homepage/index.jsp

Links to lots of resources http://www.expoworld.net/

The Meeting Guide http://www.mmaweb.com/meetings/

Eventageous Event budget calculators

Event Budget Calculator
Find the date, visit the World Calendar
Find the time, visit the World Clock
Room Capacity Calculator
Room Size Calculator
Wedding Budget Calculator
Break Even Calculators
http://www.eventageous.com/index.html

16. Vendors

http://ExpoWorld.net
ExpoWorld.net is a metasite, a directory of directories and search engine linking to the most important event-related Search Tools serving the events and int'l trade community worldwide. The ExpoWorld.net Top 500 are indexed individually & can be retreived by Category or Keyword Search.

http://FindSpeakersandBueaus.com
FindSpeakersandBureaus.com is the internet meta-portal for the speaking industry worldwide, indexing over 5,000 speakers and over 100 speaker bureau websites around the world.

http://MajorExhibitHalls.com
MajorExhibitHalls.com is a web-based directory of the world's largest and most prestigious Exhibition Hall Facilities.

http://www.steelesky.com/
Special Event Signs, Banners, T-shirts and lots more!
We do Signs, Banners, T-shirts and many more special event ad specialties. If it is not on our site just ask.

http://www.barrymaher.com/
Barry Maher & Associates
Barry Maher is a leading speaker and consultant, specializing in real world motivation and reality based tactics for increasing personal productivity AND job satisfaction. And when it comes to sales, Selling Power magazine says, Barry Maher is simply the best sales trainer in the business.

http://TechVenue.com: Technology Business Events Calendar
Your Regional Business Technology Business Events Calendar - A clearinghouse of local events meeting your professional & networking needs on an ongoing basis. EVENT COORDINATORS: POST your events early and get exposure to thousands in your region! We also provide CUSTOM ONLINE calendars for organizations that need them. Great Examples: http://TechVenue.com/Services/CalendarHosting.htm %

17. Meeting Professionals International 2002 Salary Survey

Money Matters
Check out the results of The Meeting Professionals 2002 Salary Survey.

By Blair Potter

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years - $42,695
3 to 5 years - $51,245
6 to 9 years - $55,903
10 to 14 years - $61,501
15 to 19 years - $64,153
over 19 years - $85,068

The Meeting Professional is pleased to present the results from its 2002 Salary Survey. Despite a slowdown in the economy even before Sept. 11, the average U.S. planner looks to earn $60,714 this year, up from $54,613 in 2000. The average salary in U.S. dollars for all respondentsincluding planners from Canada and the rest of the worldis $59,447.

Planners in all six categoriesNortheastern U.S., Midwestern U.S., Southern U.S., Western U.S., Canada and Internationalall report increases in salary from 2000. And theres even more good news: Only 5 percent of respondents report a decrease in pay since Sept. 11, and only 1 percent have been laid off or are unemployed.

Meeting Professionals International conducted the survey by e-mailing approximately 7,600 planner members. A total of 1,509 surveys (20 percent) were returned and tabulated. The following summary is offered with a 3 percent confidence level.

Thank you to all who participated.

Western U.S. Planners

Average compensation $61,924

Straight salary 54%
Salary plus bonus 34%
Straight commission 1%
Salary plus commission 3%
Hourly 8%
Other 1%

Benefits (Employer pays 100 percent)
Medical insurance 55%
Dental insurance 51%
Life insurance 52%

Compensation by Title
Conference Manager, Meeting Manager $65,951
Administrative Assistant, Secretary $47,000
Meeting Planner $54,764
Executive Director, President, CEO $89,462
Director, Vice President $73,590
Independent Planner, Consultant $55,000
Coordinator, Specialist $47,113
Other $63,095

Compensation by Educational Level
High school $94,000
Some college $55,861
College degree $60,948
Post-graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) $78,490

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years $43,917
3 to 5 years $58,861
6 to 9 years $63,420
10 to 14 years $60,861
15 to 19 years $62,134
over 19 years $86,993

Compensation by Type of Organization
Corporation/Company $63,744
Association/Society $61,050
Independent Planner $55,789
University $62,167
Government $68,445
Religious Organization $40,570
Medical Institution $54,080
Association Management Company $42,667
Other $61,138

Midwestern U.S. Planners

Average compensation $55,250

Straight salary 59%
Salary plus bonus 27%
Straight commission 1%
Salary plus commission 2%
Hourly 9%
Other 2%

Benefits (Employer pays 100 percent)
Medical insurance 39%
Dental insurance 36%
Life insurance 51%

Compensation by Title
Conference Manager, Meeting Manager $55,251
Administrative Assistant, Secretary $43,700
Meeting Planner $50,952
Executive Director, President, CEO $88,833
Director, Vice President $76,908
Independent Planner, Consultant $57,091
Coordinator, Specialist $41,500
Other $51,818

Compensation by Educational Level
High school $47,250
Some college $50,696
College degree $57,349
Post-graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) $62,435

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years $39,003
3 to 5 years $50,117
6 to 9 years $51,724
10 to 14 years $59,694
15 to 19 years $62,776
over 19 years $63,818
Compensation by Type of Organization
Corporation/Company $55,655
Association/Society $50,732
Independent Planner $72,053
University $45,400
Government $55,500
Religious Organization N/A
Medical Institution $55,800
Association Management Company $59,375
Other $54,517

Southern U.S. Planners

Average compensation $57,894

Straight salary 53%
Salary plus bonus 35%
Straight commission 1%
Salary plus commission 3%
Hourly 7%
Other 1%

Benefits (Employer pays 100 percent)
Medical insurance 43%
Dental insurance 37%
Life insurance 51%

Compensation by Title
Conference Manager, Meeting Manager $54,589
Administrative Assistant, Secretary $41,418
Meeting Planner $54,208
Executive Director, President, CEO $85,280
Director, Vice President $75,552
Independent Planner, Consultant $64,231
Coordinator, Specialist $44,277
Other $64,957

Compensation by Educational Level
High school $56,882
Some college $58,691
College degree $56,296
Post-graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) $65,974

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years $45,434
3 to 5 years $50,197
6 to 9 years $57,328
10 to 14 years $58,787
15 to 19 years $62,880
over 19 years $76,167

Compensation by Type of Organization
Corporation/Company $58,033
Association/Society $52,280
Independent Planner $77,043
University $46,727
Government $52,562
Religious Organization $45,750
Medical Institution $62,957
Association Management Company $40,600
Other $78,510

Northeastern U.S. Planners

Average compensation $66,453

Straight salary 53%
Salary plus bonus 37%
Straight commission 1%
Salary plus commission 2%
Hourly 4%
Other 2%

Benefits (Employer pays 100 percent)
Medical insurance 41%
Dental insurance 39%
Life insurance 59%

Compensation by Title
Conference Manager, Meeting Manager $58,763
Administrative Assistant, Secretary $41,383
Meeting Planner $55,981
Executive Director, President, CEO $207,172
Director, Vice President $90,285
Independent Planner, Consultant $63,765
Coordinator, Specialist $45,978
Other $62,454

Compensation by Educational Level
High school $88,283
Some college $71,293
College degree $60,403
Post-graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) $80,386

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years $39,147
3 to 5 years $50,607
6 to 9 years $56,412
10 to 14 years $71,115
15 to 19 years $71,344
over 19 years $118,881

Compensation by Type of Organization
Corporation/Company $71,886
Association/Society $55,429
Independent Planner $81,619
University $61,250
Government $61,467
Religious Organization $59,000
Medical Institution $45,125
Association Management Company $42,357
Other $65,591

Canadian Planners

Average compensation $40,102

Straight salary 61%
Salary plus bonus 25%
Straight commission 2%
Salary plus commission 3%
Hourly 4%
Other 4%

Benefits (Employer pays 100 percent)
Medical insurance 59%
Dental insurance 55%
Life insurance 49%

Compensation by Title
Conference Manager, Meeting Manager $36,739
Administrative Assistant, Secretary $27,208
Meeting Planner $37,492
Executive Director, President, CEO $50,000
Director, Vice President $63,729
Independent Planner, Consultant $58,700
Coordinator, Specialist $31,520
Other $32,925

Compensation by Educational Level
High school $34,195
Some college $39,984
College degree $40,797
Post-graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) $36,333

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years $34,479
3 to 5 years $36,834
6 to 9 years $33,425
10 to 14 years $44,910
15 to 19 years $41,418
over 19 years $47,188

Compensation by Type of Organization
Corporation/Company $42,666
Association/Society $38,537
Independent Planner $44,667
University $20,000
Government $32,614
Religious Organization $35,000
Medical Institution $30,000
Association Management Company $40,000
Other $37,661

International Planners

Average compensation $62,028

Straight salary 51%
Salary plus bonus 35%
Straight commission 2%
Salary plus commission 4%
Hourly 6%
Other 2%

Benefits (Employer pays 100 percent)
Medical insurance 61%
Dental insurance 47%
Life insurance 37%

Compensation by Title
Conference Manager, Meeting Manager $51,580
Administrative Assistant, Secretary $77,000
Meeting Planner $63,050
Executive Director, President, CEO $65,800
Director, Vice President $67,046
Independent Planner, Consultant $100,000
Coordinator, Specialist $40,000
Other $71,833

Compensation by Educational Level
High school $54,000
Some college $56,765
College degree $61,914
Post-graduate degree (master's or Ph.D.) $70,062

Compensation by Experience
Less than 3 years $60,900
3 to 5 years $50,071
6 to 9 years $56,382
10 to 14 years $62,971
15 to 19 years $86,800
over 19 years $62,920

Compensation by Type of Organization
Corporation/Company $67,478
Association/Society $53,256
Independent Planner $59,536
Association Management Company $40,000
Other $63,088

Additional Findings (in all regions)

Planners' Job Satisfaction
High 57%
Moderate 38%
Low 5%

Percentage of Time Working on Meeting Management
0% - 9% 1%
10% - 24% 6%
25% - 49% 12%
50% - 74% 20%
75% - 99% 31%
100% 29%

Other Duties of Planners
Clerical support for someone else 11%
Government affairs 4%
Communications/publications 32%
Administration 57%
Travel management 29%
Community affairs 8%
Human resources/training 18%
Marketing 49%
Education 15%
Public relations 22%
Other 35%

Do you feel your compensation adequately reflects your responsibilities and contribution to your employer?
Yes 40%
No 60%

How much more do you feel you should be compensated per year?
$2,500 to $4,999 more 15%
$5,000 to $7,499 more 20%
$7,500 to $9,999 more 11%
$10,000 to $14,999 more 12%
$15,000 to $19,999 more 3%
$20,000 to $24,999 more 1%
$25,000 or more per year 4%

Which of the following do you think your employer considers when establishing your compensation?
Years of experience 70%
Academic background 33%
Professional development and continuing education 42%
Beneficial impact on the bottom line 63%
Completion of performance objectives 70%
Other 25%

In your opinion, does your employer consider training and education important aspects of earning greater compensation?
Yes 54%
No 46%

Has your company been downsized during the past year?
Yes 45%
No 55%

Do you fear losing your job within the next year?
Yes 19%
No 81%

What designations have you earned?
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) 30%
Certification in Meeting Management (CMM) 1%
Both 1%
Neither 68%

Approximately how many hours of continuing education do you average a year?
Less than 25 72%
25-49 21%
50-74 5%
75-99 1%
100 or more 1%

How has your rate of pay changed during the past seven months?
Increased 49%
Decreased 5%
Frozen/Stayed the same 45%
Laid off/Unemployed 1%