Event Planners Use Costumes For That Finshing Touch

What is the easiest way to give your next event or fund raiser that finishing touch? The best events companies use costumes to put their events into the big league. Here are some helpful ideas.

The easiest way to tie in costumes to your next event is to select a theme where costumes are predominant. Popular themes such as Carnival, Mardi Gras or Venetian Ball are the most obvious. But there are other themes that can lend themselves to costumes, food and decor. Your party attendees will love cultural themes like Brazilian, Hawaiian, and Mexican, or era themes such as the Roaring 20's, Dirty 30's Prohibition, Swing, 50's Rock'n'Roll, Disco and so on. Other popular themes can come from movies, T.V. and Pop Culture: Moulin Rouge, The Godfather, Superheroes, Grease, Gilligan's Island, Austin Power, and more recently Pirates of the Caribbean.

The next step is to use costumes in the theme. For example, if your theme is Mardi Gras, use beads, masks, feather boas and coins to decorate. Place these items on the dinner tables and receiving tables. Have staff and catering staff dress in costumes and ask guests to come in costumes. Just make sure that the "dress" is clearly written on the invite so there is no confusion about what they are to wear. Have incentives for guests by offering door prizes for best costumes.

Another way to include costumes is to have grab bags full of costume accessories tied into the theme that can be left in the guests hotel suite prior to the event or when they arrive at the front door. A disco theme could have funky glasses and an afro, Mardi Gras theme elaborate mask and beads, and a Woodstock theme peace necklace, tinted sunglasses and a flower child wreath. That way, if guests haven't arrived with any costumes, a few accessories can easily create the look for the event.

If the event has karaoke, you can even have small groups have a dress-up table where they can select costumes that tie in with their song, such as "Summer Lovin'" from Grease or "Love Shak" by the B52's. Another popular idea is to have a dress-up photo booth. Guests can select costumes and accessories from racks and have pictures taken by a photographer as a souvenir of th evening. The costumes can be tied into the theme such as saloon costumes for a cowboy theme or groovy 60's costumes for an Austin Powers theme. A bonus is to have a painted backdrop and photo printer on hand for immediate prints!

Whatever you do, don't pressure your guests to wear full costumes. It's supposed to be fun, so let them express themselves how they want to. Remember, the idea is to create a memorable evening that your guests will talk about for days and months to come.

Heidi Loney has worked as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist for theatre, film and television for the last 10 years. She currently owns Ms. Dress-Up, a Toronto based retail and on-line store offering quality kids and adult dress-up clothes.

Check out her website: http://msdress-up.com/home/home.htm

Private Labeled Bottled Water And Event Planning

Events are an important part of corporate life. A well planned event can forcefully convey a clear corporate message and engage participants in the respective corporate culture.

Most companies and organizations hold events for a number of reasons. Company picnics, holiday parties, new product introductions, sales and planning meetings and annual shareholder's meetings are but a few of the occasions that mark milestones of the organization. These meetings require detailed planning and resources and many organizations elect to utilize specialists in managing events.

Event planning is a complex undertaking with the coordination of vendor delivery schedules and maintaining critical timeline requirements. In addition to the logistics involved in planning the meeting most planners develop a theme that captures the essence and intent of the meeting. The theme adds continuity and acts as a reminder of the event for the future.

The Value of the Theme

A common theme brings participants together and allows the event organizers to convey a strong message about the event. The theme is usually expressed in communication and promotional material and documents related to the event. Effective communication of the theme is critical to the success of the event.

Since there are a variety of themes to choose from for any event, care must be taken to select the best theme for the occasion and to properly communicate the theme to the audience.

Promotional Items and Quality Communication

The theme is an important element of communications. A quality message, consistent with the overall theme message of the company, is required for effective communication. One aspect of communication is the use of personalized promotional items, effective banners and unique giveaways.

These items can be designed to impart an effective message and the use of high quality personalized giveaways creates a lasting impression and reinforces the event theme.

Private Label Drinking Water as an Effective Promotional Item

Private label drinking water is an ideal and powerful way to promote an event theme. Essentially private labeling allows businesses to design and develop a label with a custom message and theme and attach that label to a bottle of healthy drinking water. A result of this process is the creation and promotion of a clear message that is tailored to the event

Because of the immediate and permanent nature of the bottled water product, consumable advertising is created that leaves a lasting message in the mind of the event participant.

Some of the benefits of private labeled water include:

? A high-quality, effective and custom message.

? Messages can be modified to reflect events like corporate meetings, new product introductions and promotions.

? Individual users often carry the water with them and the event message is further extended and promoted.

? Pure water is popular and universally accepted as contributing to good health. The message of the private label effectively reaches more prospects as use grows.

? Effective cost is low and response to the event message is immediate.

? Consumable, portable advertising creates a lasting message and impression.

What to Look for in a Private Label Water Supplier

There are a number of private label water suppliers but they vary widely in the quality of their product offerings. There are three areas to investigate when choosing a supplier:

Quality of Water

Events with a large number of participants require proper hydration with water of the highest quality. High quality water in terms of health and taste is also critical for the acceptance of the theme and event message. If the water is low quality or tastes bad then the message will fail. The best quality water on the market today is purified using a distillation/ filtration/ oxygenation process that removes all impurities, including all bacteria, and creates a light, refreshing taste.

Quality of Label Design and Production

The label is the message part of the product and poor-quality labels send a poor-quality message. Production of a poor-quality label is a waste of money and adversely affects the message and theme.

It is very important to know that the vast majority (almost all) of the private label opportunities in this country come from water resellers (not bottlers) with desktop-model ?thermal? (or ?thermal wax?) printing devices with a quality level that cannot compare well to even consumer-grade inkjet printing devices widely available for less than $200 at your local electronics store. These label printers are very cheap in both quality and cost, typically ranging from $10-20k depending on configuration, and are widely used throughout the private label water industry because of their low cost.

In sharp contrast, a quality label, i.e., one that looks like a top-shelf brand that you might find in your local gourmet grocery store, needs to be produced with professional-quality equipment using professional-grade printing equipment. There are three types of printing equipment that can produce a high-quality label.


1. Rotary offset lithography;

2. Flexography; and

3. High-quality digital presses.

For most smaller runs (under about 10,000 units), digital equipment offered by Heidelberg or HP is the most cost effective solution, but instead of $10-20k, the minimum equipment costs for these professional solutions range from $750k to $1.25M per station.

These facts are very important to understand when choosing a private label bottler ? because those who sell low-quality labels would have you believe that nothing better is available because of the short runs required by private label customers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In order to succeed, your label must be professionally designed and produced with high-quality materials using a printing process that renders a high-quality result. Waterproof lamination is also required for long lasting labels. This is easily achieved for an affordable unit cost using the right equipment for the job.

Quality of Customer Service

The design and production of private labeled drinking water is complex and requires intense interaction between the customer and supplier. Communication and a culture of customer service excellence is a prerequisite to the creation of an effective theme message and a successful event. Without a significant commitment to customer service on the part of the supplier, the impact of the theme message will fail.

Choose a quality supplier to help develop and communicate your message and to create success for the corporate event.

Marcus Stout is President of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to www.elementh2o.com

101 Everyday Reasons Not To Be Without Pre-Paid Legal's Life Events Legal Plan

1. You don?t have an up-to-date will.
2. You don?t understand the difference between a trust and a will.
3. Family members challenge your parent?s will.
4. You don?t understand your health insurance plan or the new
Medicare Prescription Act.
5. The IRS selects you for an audit.
6. Your parents die and leave you executor of their estate.
7. You are tired of hidden fees at your bank.
8. You have a retirement savings plan.
9. You change jobs.
10. You receive a speeding ticket.
11. You are buying or selling your home.
12. Your driver?s license is suspended.
13. Your landlord raises rent in violation of your verbal agreement.
14. Your teenager is accused of shoplifting.
15. You decide to change your name.
16. Your new washing machine doesn?t wash.
17. Creditors threaten to take action against you
for your ex-spouse?s debts.
18. A neighbor or school reports you for child abuse.
19. You adopt a child.
20. A friend or neighbor is injured on your property.
21. Your dog bites an elderly passerby.
22. A friend owes you money and files bankruptcy.
23. A stranger calls and demands money or damaging information
will be released.
24. Your car is damaged by a hit-and-run driver.
25. You accidentally back over a neighbor?s garbage can.
26. A hairdresser damages your hair with harsh chemicals.
27. Your car is repossessed unjustly.
28. You are subpoenaed.
29. You are called to jury duty.
30. Your long drive off the tee injures another player.
31. You need a lease agreement reviewed.
32. Your son is injured in a football game.
33. A neighbor trips over a rake in your yard.
34. A jeweler sells you defective merchandise.
35. A car dealership gains illegal access to your credit history.
36. You are hit by a bottle at a baseball game.
37. A tenant falls down stairs and sues you.
38. Your dog is poisoned.
39. You are injured when you slip on a wet floor in a public building.
40. Your cattle trample a neighbor?s garden.
41. Your neighbor?s dog barks for hours every night.
42. Your teenager gets a speeding ticket.
43. Your landlord enters your apartment without permission.
44. Your child throws a baseball through a neighbor?s car window.
45. You don?t have a living will or medical power of attorney.
46. Your boat is damaged while in storage.
47. Your landlord refuses to refund your cleaning deposit.
48. You lose an expensive watch in a hotel and the manager denies liability.
49. A speeding car nicks your car bumper because you have parked in the street.
50. A merchant refuses to honor a guarantee.
51. You have an accident driving your friend?s boat.
52. Your spouse claims a right to your earnings.
53. A record club sends merchandise after you cancel your membership.
54. You are refused service at a restaurant.
55. A property manager refuses to rent to you.
56. You are denied credit for no apparent reason.
57. You are fired.
58. The auto repair shop threatens small claims court for
money you don?t owe.
59. Your car insurance is cancelled when your teenager is
involved in an accident.
60. Your child needs special education in public school.
61. You made a sizable gift to charity.
62. Angry words result in a slander law suit.
63. You need a patent for an invention.
64. You need a copyright for your manuscript.
65. You are wrongly accused of committing a crime.
66. Your right to privacy has been invaded.
67. Your car is vandalized in a parking lot.
68. A postal carrier slips on your unshoveled walk and breaks his or her leg.
69. You have a housekeeper in your home.
70. You are stopped for speeding and a friend is in possession of marijuana.
71. Your teenager wrecks the car and a friend is injured.
72. You care for your elderly parents.
73. You receive social security disability or Medicaid.
74. You are cheated by a door-to-door salesman.
75. A repairman charges more than a given estimate.
76. A creditor tries illegal collection tactics.
77. An accident results in a personal injury.
78. You are scheduled to appear in small claims court.
79. Your new house has bad plumbing and a leaky roof.
80. You take a vacation and your ?room with a view? is a view
of the trash dumpster.
81. A minor is caught breaking into your home.
82. You have a fender bender while driving a friend?s car.
83. You have liability questions in launching a new business.
84. A former employer refuses to pay you your final compensation.
85. Your neighbor?s dog bites your child.
86. You have a property line dispute over a newly installed fence.
87. You?re asked to testify as a witness to a robbery.
88. You need a premarital agreement.
89. You?re buying or selling a car.
90. Your child?s school demands a drug or alcohol test.
91. Your bank sends a foreclosure notice after
one house payment is late.
92. A retail store won?t accept the return of defective merchandise.
93. A repairman won?t stand behind his work.
94. A trespasser is caught poaching on your land.
95. You are leasing acreage.
96. You receive a letter from a creditor and it is not your debt.
97. A bank turns you into a credit bureau unjustly.
98. You need advice concerning a divorce.
99. You own your own small business.
100. You can?t make heads or tails out of the new tax forms.
101. Your husband or wife uses physical force against you.

Life Events Legal Plan

Our product is a ?Life Events Legal Plan?. This means the Pre-Paid Legal membership isn?t only a ?fix? for sudden and unforeseen events. The plan is designed to provide the common legal services our members need throughout the course of their lives. In essence the ?Life Events? nature of our legal plan actually encourages members to call their provider law firms when life happens and legal Counsel is essential. Members walk through events more confident and with less stress. The plan offers features to help when life gets more complicated as well. Ask your independent associate for a brochure that illustrates the benefits available in your state or province.

For more information Please visit http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/roylondon

Roy is a member and Independent Associate of Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. For more information Please visit http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/roylondon You and your family's life may depend on your decision.

Event and Party Planning On-line

If you are responsible for planning an Event or Party consider using resources available on-line. Using a free internet website like EVUGIFT can assist planning with benefits that have not been available previously. Use community based tools enabling you to: Add Events with RSVP, Send e-card invitations, Make group decisions, share files and pictures, Chat with guests before and after the events.

On-line planning can be a community experience that can bring many advantages and can contribute to building an ambiance for your event even before it starts.

Whether you are planning a simple housewarming party or a large Wedding, let?s first take a look at some of the common things you will do:
? Send invitations to guests
? Inform guests of details such as directions, addresses, Venue, dress code
? Create and share gift lists with your guests
? Delegate tasks to people
? Make group decisions and get advice from friends and family
? Accepting guests? RSVPs

You have probably come across some of the pitfalls that exists using the traditional forms of communication, Phones and Email. Trying to arrange a date and time that suits everyone?s calendar can be a consuming and tiresome affair. However, doing it on-line can save a lot of effort. You can simply set-up a Poll and then invite everyone to select dates that are suitable for them. Leaving you only to look at the results and picking the best date.

An event planning website gives us a common private area that can be used to interact with guests and/or with people helping to organise the event.

For each event, guests can be invited to RSVP events and participate in Forums, Polls, Task lists, uploading of pictures and more. Planning on-line enables communication at one?s own convenience similar to email but with the added advantages that it is shared and available from a single accessible area.

You can begin to build an excitement and a momentum leading to the event. Invited guests feel like they are a part of something, they can also physically contribute at their own ease. Forums are a very popular way to communicate on-line. You can use them to chat about what you are ?going to wear on the night?, ?what kind of food people like?, ?if anyone can recommend a good caterer? or ?what people are going to wear for fancy dress?. Whatever the topics might be, they contribute to creating a community spirit. It is also a perfect opportunity for unfamiliar and unknown guests to get to know everyone else.

One of the keys to successful planning is delegation. With an event planning website you can create a ?things to do? list, enabling you to assign tasks to your members/guests. People can acknowledge what they have to do, update the status and leave a comment when it is complete.

As with most events you will probably want to chat about it afterwards to: Say thank you, exchange photos and of course reminisce about the good times. By the end of it, you will have created a unique record of your event that will have more to say than an album of photos.

The internet is a practical platform for a fun, sociable and interactive approach to planning successful events. An Event planning website like EVUGIFT helps to build a community spirit that carries into the actual event and afterwards.

Enjoy!

Arjun Singh
editor@evugift.com

http://www.evugift.com

EVUGIFT, "Life's a gift, make it come true" Gift lists . Event planning .E-cards . Shopping comparison

Event, Conference and Meeting Planning Guidelines: 10 Steps to Success

Every event whether it?s a meeting, party, seminar, conference, charity event, or your high school reunion will have common threads regardless of what it is, where it?s held, when or why it is happening. The following common threads are found in every organized event. Make sure you plan each of the following steps thoroughly and you are guaranteed success.

1. Plan Your Vision: Your vision is the main reason and focus for having the event? It is a combination of your goals and objectives.

2. Set the Goals and Objectives: A goal is the general purpose of the event that provides a road map for the planning process. An objective is a measurable, attainable target that contributes to the accomplishment of the goal. An event can have one or multiple goals and objectives.

3. Select a Site: Location, location, location! Every event needs a site! Pick the location to match and support your vision, goals and objectives.

4. Create Promotion/Marketing Materials: You must get your message out. You need to get the basic information to the right people in the right amount of time so they know when to show up, where to go, and what to do when they get there. The message could be as simple as the date, time, and location via the telephone or as complicated as a multi page brochure for a multi-day conference with numerous events combined in one event. Or perhaps some major TV advertising and sophisticated website design for online registration.

5. Identify Your Participants/ Guests: Without them, you would not have an event. Whether they are invited guests, paying participants or required attendees, people will be coming to your event. Know your audience and target them carefully.

6. Create the Agenda/Timeline: Whether it is written down or planned, every event has a timeline. There is always a starting point and a finishing point. This is detail outline of the activities. What is happening from hours before the participants arrive to the follow-up when the event is complete. And it is the schedule of what is actually happening throughout the event. The agenda can be two types. The one the participant receives and follows and the one that the people working the event receive and follow. This tells people where to go, or what to do when you get there.

7. Establish a Budget: Money comes in and goes out. With some events no obvious money will be coming in, such as a wedding or company social. Create a budget nonetheless to make sure not too much money goes out. For larger events, budgets are a must especially when profit is one of you objectives. Without a budget it is hard to set guidelines and measure results.

8. Select the Food and Beverage: It may be a pitcher of water and mints at a one day seminar, a sit down dinner for 10,000, an all day concert where vendors will be brought in to serve the public, coffee and doughnuts at the morning sales meeting and/or soda, cookies in the afternoon for an all day conference, or appetizers served during a 3 hour cocktail party for 700 people. This is a wide and general segment of an event and will vary widely depending on the vision, goals, and objectives and of course, money.

9. Arrange for Transportation: You may need to transport 800 people from 10 hotels to the meeting site twice a day or it could be just getting yourself to the site on time. You may need to arrange the travel needs for the entertainment, speakers, and VIP?s, including picking them up at the airport. Or this may include contracting with an airline for discount airfare or negotiating with rental car companies for special rates to offer to your participants.

10. Hire Staff/Volunteers: This could range from checking in your participants for your workshop, or 100?s of volunteers at a conference or sporting event. It could be the caterers, musicians, florists, cleanup crew, equipment setup, valets, ticket takers, MC?s, speakers, or the balloon lady. It almost always takes more than one person to successfully coordinate an event.

With 25 year experience in the event planning industry Shannon Kilkenny has proved that with the guidelines outlined in her book "The Complete Guide to Successful Event Planning" anyone can plan or coordinate an event. Her book is for the novice and experienced planner alike. Visit her site http://www.successfuleventplanning.com

Gay - Lesbian Relapse Prevention Planning

Gay, Lesbian Relapse Prevention Planning When you decided to quit drinking and using other drugs, you took the first step towards recovery. This step was the beginning of an important change in your life. You may have expected all your problems to go away when you quit, but somehow many problems are still with you. Recovery is building a new life, and like any major change it takes time. It also involves dealing with mixed feelings. One moment you can feel good about your recovery from drug addiction and the next you can feel sad to leave old friends and habits behind. It can be confusing. It can even make you doubt your commitment to this new direction that you know in your heart is right for you.Relapse prevention planning can help. In fact, relapse prevention planning can make all the difference in the world. By thinking ahead and by working out ways to handle the pressures that might lead you back to your alcoholism or drug abuse, you can approach your new life with a greater sense of confidence. Relapse prevention planning is planning for success and long term recovery. For the gay or lesbian, relapse prevention planning is almost the same as for the heterosexual.

Relapse prevention planning is based on the experiences and successes of many people just like you who have already traveled the road to recovery. It recognizes that the road often has many rough patches, and that to succeed on this road you will need a relapse prevention plan. Recovery and Relapse PreventionYour alcohol addiction or drug addiction probably caused you many problems - at home, at work, with the law. Still, you may have been afraid to face everyday life without them. That is why your decision to stop was so difficult and important. Recovery involves finding new ways of taking care of yourself, and new ways of acting with friends, with family, and at work. It also involves avoiding relapse - falling back into your habits of alcoho abuse or drug abuse to deal with problems and stress.

You can stay on top of your recovery by setting goals in important areas of your life and by working towards these goals. You will need to plan to achieve your goals in each of your major life areas (such as your physical and emotional health, your relationships, your job, your recreation and your relaxation). Reaching these goals is a matter of making it happen rather than just wishing it will happen. It is a matter of creating a set of plans for yourself to deal with situations that may interfere with your recovery. Old ways of behaving need to be replaced with new carefully planned actions. What Is Relapse for Gay Men and Lesbians? Relapse is a process that begins when you start slipping back into old patterns of behavior and thoughts and relapse ends when you take your first drink or drug. Some things that can lead to relapse include:

? feeling that you have the problem under control and can drink socially

? not working out stresses and problems at home, work or school? not handling negative feelings such as boredom, loneliness or anger

? discontinuing attending support groups

? discontinuing attending your aftercare addiction treatment

If you are looking for a gay friendly relapse prevention program, gay drug rehab or gay alcohol rehab, please go to www.gay-rehab.com.

Jonathan Huttner is a principal in Lakeview Health Systems which operates a gay friendly drug rehab and alcohol rehab

Event Planner/Wedding Consultant Courses - Get Certified Online!

Wedding consultants are making fairy tales come true, now more than ever. According to Gerard Monaghan, President of the Association of Bridal Consultants, there are about 10,000 wedding consultant businesses nationally, although it's hard to find an exact number. One out of every eight retail dollars is spent on wedding-related products and services according to Monaghan.

Individuals have several avenues to choose from in order to enter the field of event planning. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, many planners are promoted to the position after successfully working as an administrative assistant. The bureau notes that most event-planning training occurs on the job, regardless of the individual's education background or work experience.

The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at Georgia State University is ranked among the top 25 hospitality programs in the nation, and is the perfect launch pad for your career in wedding consulting/event planning. The curriculum helps prepare you for either an entrepreneurial or corporate career.

An online training option is the Institute of Event Planning. Operational since 1998, the Institute serves the needs of people who are or want to become event planners. The instructors are full-time event planners, and they bring on-the-job experience to the course. From its lessons and subscriptions, to lectures and published material, the Institute is completely financed by its members.

Another option is the US Career Institute, which promises that you can be ready to work at home as a wedding and event planner in as little as four months. You'll be taught to negotiate the best prices for yourself and your clients, as you organize everything from weddings to intimate family gatherings to huge dinner parties for hundreds of guests. They'll even show you how to set up and start your own home-based business as soon as you graduate.

International Wedding & Event Planning Institute offers both weekend and correspondence courses. All IWEPI instructors are known leaders in the event and wedding planning industry with broad experience in the field. Occasionally guest instructors are invited to speak to students about specialist areas. The benefits are: § IWEPI courses will lead to a higher level of understanding of the wedding and events industry § Students can make better decisions about the direction of their future career, as the courses give valuable insight into the many different areas of event planning

Setting up meetings, trade shows, and special events backed by companies, non-profits, and other organizations is a $100-billion a year industry. Event planner/wedding consultant may be the job title you have been looking for if you are in search of a profession that is stimulating, worthwhile, and challenging. Whether you work in health care, non-profit, a government agency, public corporation or privately held business, if you are in charge of organizing meetings a certificate program in event planning will give you new skills to work more competently.

Adam O'Connor is the owner of www.yourwebcanvas.com, which provides excellent free information on event coordination schools. Adam O'Connor is an expert in his industry and his website helps people find answers to questions such as, which types of event coordinator certification courses are available at colleges and universities.

Adam O'Connor is the owner of http://www.handheldguru.com which provides free information on handheld electronics. He is an expert in this industry and his website helps people find helps people find answers to questions like how can you compare PDA's or what is the best pocket PC for you.

Solution provider for events/exhibitions production & planning in Hong Kong and China

PIL Concept provides a variety of services including exhibition/event production, planning and management, graphic design, video production, product promotion and marketing.

The company philosophy emphasizes on customer satisfaction and cost control as management believes that only customer satisfaction can lead to great success. It also holds the view that each customer has different needs and therefore, individual package will be tailor-made to each and every client because this can create optimal results but also minimize expenses.

One of the company goals is to provide customers with the quickest and fastest services so that they can accomplish their projects in no time. No matter where a company wants to move forward, locally or globally, it can rely on PIL's one-stop service that gives customers all the necessary support such as marketing and administration as well as other technical aspects. For example, if a company plans to organize a promotional booth in an exhibition or a road show, the PIL's one-stop service, which offers image design, pre-event and post-event promotion, booth construction and post-event sales leads.

Organizing exhibitions and events involve arranging millions of minute details and it is quite difficult to handle them all by oneself. But if the burden is shared by event professionals, the job can be completed in a much faster manner and certainly, better because specialists, such as all the team members at PIL, possess extensive knowledge in preparing events and the ability to decode and analyze mass information in a short period of time. Most importantly, all team members can perform a project under various constraints such as stringent budget and tight deadline.

Regarding the qualifications of the PIL professional team, all members of staff had accumulated years of hands on relevant experiences in event and marketing field in addition to possessing strong finance and accounting background. PIL has been providing services to many top companies in various industries such as banking, real estate, hospitality including hotels and large restaurant chain, bookstore and many others.

At PIL, all customers are treated the same, the best way and received services beyond their expectation. Furthermore, a budget will be analyzed to ensure their money spending worthwhile and in a cost-effective manner.

Written by Ronald Chau from www.pilconcept.com

Written by Ronald Chau from www.pilconcept.com

Easy Event Planning

There really is no reason to stress over the task at hand. Planning an event can seem like quite a lot of pressure to some people, but ? if you put together a checklist and then take action ? you will soon find yourself way ahead of schedule. Most events require three basic components:

1. Location ? To take a whole load off of your shoulders, consider having your event in a banquet hall that caters as well. Research your venue location thoroughly, and beware of added services they offer as some banquet halls feel they can provide everything for your event while still staying focused on their #1 job ? keeping you and your guests happy. Some halls offer everything from floral shops to live bands to formal wear rentals to disc jockeys and beyond. It is possible for them to pull it all off; under one roof ? if staffed well and run by professionals. I would look in to their testimonials.

2. Food ? Just as important as the location of your event. Every one of your guests will talk about the food ? how good it was, how dry it was, etc. Especially when you are being catered to. You will see even the most horrible cooks, and people that only know how to use a microwave turn in to the pickiest food-critic on the face of the planet when they are being catered to and waited on.

3. Entertainment ? Equally as important as the above two components to your event. Your selection is crucial to your event?s success. Take your time when selecting who will be entertaining your guests. You can find entertainers in a variety of places including bridal shows, the yellow pages, local newspaper classifieds, and of course ? the latest fad, Google it. Remember your brothers wedding? What was the entertainment like? If it was GREAT, than get the contact information from your brother for the entertainer he used. Word of mouth is the #1 way to hire entertainment, hands down. I always say ?Entertainment can make or break any event.?

Another thing to keep in mind in reference to using in-house disc jockeys provided by the banquet hall; they should be researched as well, remember that the D.J. the hall provides is getting paid by the hall, and not directly by you. The added charge the hall will tack on top for the DJ service is a fraction of what the DJ will actually see ? therefore, they might not exactly have your best interests at heart. Ask questions like ?Can I meet with the DJ prior to my event??

Never assume the company you are hiring has the same ideas you do. Make sure that you are both on the same wavelength to avoid any confusion on the day of your event. Tell them what you want, and put it on paper. Have everything outlined in the contract before signing it. If the service provider does not offer a contract, find one that does. Good luck.

Paul Crawford is a professional entertainer and founder of PowerLix Entertainment Group. Providing superior disc jockey service since 1994. http://www.powerlix.com

http://www.powerlix.com

Are You Using a Scrapbook In Your Event Planning Business?

Event planning is so popular these days. I am seeing more and more people turn to event planners to help them coordinate their special events.

For several years, I was in charge of renting out the banquet room in the building I was working in. Over and over again, people wanted to see photos of how the room looked with tables, chairs and various decorations.

It is so hard for most people to envision what the room could look like with colored table cloths, a balloon arch with lights through it etc.

Not all rooms are created equally and not all contractors are created equally.

Why not create a scrapbook that shows off not only the available banquet rooms in town but also the work of the various florists, decorators and the presentations of the various caterers?

I have seen events where the caterers used a simple table cloth and then put their chaffing dishes on top of this simple table cloth. I?ve seen other caterers use color and props to create magnificent effects on the buffet table. These same caterers will also ?hide? their chaffing dishes in the table decoration.

I?ve seen banquet rooms with gorgeous chairs and I?ve seen banquet rooms where chair covers were necessary to provide the desired affect.

By using a scrapbook to show the many choices available, you?ll help the event host make their decisions quicker and I believe they will have fewer questions about what the room will look like. Adding letters of praise from previous hosts along with letters of recommendation about the contractors you work with are also great additions to the scrapbook (s) you use to show your potential clients.

I recently attended a Bat Mitzvah celebration. Multi colored table cloths were used creating an affect I had not seen before. It was just adorable. I never would have been able to envision this, without actually seeing it. This is why photos are so important for potential clients.

Create pages showcasing each of the services you offer as an event planner. See if offering scrapbook pages helps you in helping your client reach quicker decisions that they feel good about.

Audrey Okaneko has been scrapbooking for several years. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at http://www.scrapping-made-simple.com.

Before hiring Live Music for a Corporate Party 4 Crucial Ingredients Event Planners must know

Involving live music into any corporate event is not as easy as it seems. Besides deciding on the band, there are 4 aspects you must consider in order to have a hope of having a successful event. They are, in the order of importance:
1) Venue
2) Agents
3) Technical Set Up
4) Band Character

In a moment I'll tell you the details of the crucial issues that can aggravate and potentially ruin an otherwise beautifully accomplished occasion. It will just take a few minutes, but as you read this page, more and more, you will start to feel better and better about hiring live music for your next corporate or social event. Most importantly is . . .

Venue Selection As an event planner, your ability to keep numerous things in mind when hiring musicians. Selection of the perfect venue is the first ingredient you will need. This ability alone may distinguish you as a professionals in an industry filled with amateurs.

When choosing the venue, be certain the room size is in proportion with the number of guests who will be attending. I got into this business as a singing piano player. When I am performing I need to connect with the audience. If the room size is proportionate to the crowd size, I can do my job successfully. If the room is too big and there are not enough warm bodies in attendance, the audience will feel too intimidated to approach the band. When you keep the band close enough to your guests will feel comfortable enough to interact with the musicians and vice versa.

Have you noticed yet that keeping the venue small so the band can be close to your guests will increase your chances of having a successful event? Depending on the act, you can leave a little dance floor in front of the band. But all in all, keep the crowd near the band and allow the band to be an integral part of your event.

I have frequently worked with party planners who are clueless when it comes to what size stage is needed for a band.

"If you fail to plan ahead, then you are planning ahead to fail."

Here are the stage specs for various sized bands:
3 Piece - 8 feet by 16 feet
5 Piece - 16 feet by 24 feet
12 Piece - 16 feet by 32 feet

With the is newly acquired information, experienced event planners will always prefer to go with a room with a stage rather than just placing the band on the same level as attendees. Proper planning for stage requirements avoids major headaches the day of the show. Also, having the band on a stage allows them to be seen by everyone even by the people in back. When selecting the venue, you will also need to keep in mind the acoustics of the room. High ceilings and flat walls with lots of windows and no curtains to muffle the sound are not optimal environments for bands. Work with an experienced sound person to mix the band and equalize the room and eliminate feedback.

Agents There are only a handful of very few good professional bands anymore. If you don't know a good booking agent, you will be hard pressed to find them. A good agent will be the one to help you thru the minefield of mediocre, amateurs with amps that have no volume control knobs. As an event planner you need to figure out your event theme and then contact a talent booking agency to see if there are bands that fit.

The most popular bands play a wide variety of styles. A good group of musicians knows songs from the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. Frank Sinatra has never gone out of style. So make sure the band plays what we call "Jazz Standards". Depending on your event and your geographical location, it is either "Country Music is King!" or "Classic Rock Rules!". Know your demographics before hiring a band.

As with any vendor, you get what you pay for. Let's talk about budget. I wonder, even as you continue to read this report, if you realize the amount of time a band puts in before receiving a paycheck to practicing their instruments, learning and memorizing repertoire and coordinating lights and choreography. Most bands require anywhere from $1,200 to $45,000 per gig. Experienced booking agents will be able to place the right band for the party. With any event, experience wins every time. Ask for references and testimonials.

Technical Set Up Once your musicians are booked, you now need to cover logistics. Tech setup includes the movement and placement of equipment and sound checks. Bands usually bring their own equipment.

Amplifiers, instruments, a PA system for vocals, lighting towers all the way down to carpet for the drums need to be set up and placed and checked and moved and double checked again. Allow enough time for all of these details to be adequately addressed well before show time. Because it is not IF something goes wrong, it's WHEN something goes wrong. And it always does with a band. Give them enough time to fix it.

Sound check must take place no later than 3 hours before the performance start time. Load in should occur 1 or 2 hours before that. The sound check should take no more than an hour, and after that, let the band go back to their rooms, freshen up, take a nap, grab a meal. They should return NO LATER than 30 minutes before their performance.

Band Character Musicians have traditionally had a reputation for being evil practitioners of any number of very colorful vices. It has been my experience, however, that we are no different than any other industry be it stock brokers, medical personnel or city workers.

Use these simple rules and you will notice you can keep any group of performers in line.

- Band members should not eat any food in buffet lines or inside the ballroom area. They should have a separate area or a "Greenroom" where they can eat, drink, warm up their vocal cords, stretch out and generally prepare for the gig.

- During a performance, bands should not consume alcohol or smoke. If they can't wait a few hours to partake of their favorite libation, fire them on the spot. You will avoid headaches and embarrassment down the road. In addition, you will get the reputation you will not tolerate any such behavior. Trust me. Word will get out you are a professional party planner.

Finally, remember: Treating musicians with dignity and respect translates into a happy band which brings you happy clients and guests who enjoy the entire event no matter what the occasion.

You are now armed with the 4 seriously critical ingredients for success that you did not have before. If you have learned this information through the school of hard knocks, you can feel assured that you are a true professional.

Now picture the night of the event. Following dinner (if it is served), lights should be dimmed, the band is introduced, they hit the first chords and the excitement ripples through the room. People move towards the dance floor and the smiles appear on everyone in the room. Why? Because you did your job and provided an exquisite ingredient that every corporate party needs: Live Music.

Dan Gillogly will Guarantee you Will Look Good B'cuz he Sounds Good! He is the author of numerous articles that will help you make your next corporate party or social event a success available at www.glogleemusic.com

Have a Fun Event with Some Easy Party Planning

Brainstorming may be the best approach to the initial stage in party planning. No other method will as quickly get at the main points which will make each party a distinct and successful occasion. Just jot down the ideas as they come and then worry about budgeting and other practical concerns which limit the initially exuberant ideas.

Party planning is then in the second phase: the practical one. Initial brainstorming will bring up the idea of hiring an ice carver but party planning will pare that back to hiring a caterer who owns a good ice mold. Similarly, the initial brainstorming might suggest hiring a magic act but after looking at the budget that might be downsized to asking a relative to do some magic tricks.

The brainstorming session for a wedding offers the notion of shipping the wedding party to the islands for a beach ceremony but the party planning may cut that one back to a down payment on a house with the ceremony in the back yard.

The essential benefit of the two phases of party planning is that it helps keep things in reasonable limits while still offering a great occasion. In the case of the magician at the birthday party the crowd might enjoy visiting with the relative more than the hired act and he or she may actually want to help. The wedding that is minimized for the sake of a home purchase may make for a longer and happier marriage.

At any rate, party planning can make the difference between a fiasco and a festive occasion. If things are organized in too loose a manner they don't usually go very well. For example, party planning can make the difference between finding affordable invitations that are kept as souvenirs or friends who don't receive an invitation at all.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

4 Crucial Ingredients every Event Planner needs to know before hiring Live Music for a Corporate Party

Guaranteed! You'll Look Good B'cuz We Sound Good!

Involving live music into any corporate event is not as easy as it seems. Besides deciding on the band, there are 4 aspects you must consider in order to have a hope of having a successful event. They are, in the order of importance:

1) Venue

2) Agents

3) Technical Set Up

4) Band Character

In a moment I'll tell you the details of the crucial issues that can aggravate and potentially ruin an otherwise beautifully accomplished occasion. It will just take a few minutes, but as you read this page, more and more, you will start to feel better and better about hiring live music for your next corporate or social event. Most importantly is . . . . .

Venue Selection

As an event planner, your ability to keep numerous things in mind when hiring musicians. Selection of the perfect venue is the first ingredient you will need. This ability alone may distinguish you as a professionals in an industry filled with amateurs. When choosing the venue, be certain the room size is in proportion with the number of guests who will be attending.

I got into this business as a singing piano player. When I am performing I need to connect with the audience. If the room size is proportionate to the crowd size, I can do my job successfully. If the room is too big and there are not enough warm bodies in attendance, the audience will feel too intimidated to approach the band. When you keep the band close enough to your guests will feel comfortable enough to interact with the musicians and vice versa.

Have you noticed yet that keeping the venue small so the band can be close to your guests will increase your chances of having a successful event? Depending on the act, you can leave a little dance floor in front of the band. But all in all, keep the crowd near the band and allow the band to be an integral part of your event.

I have frequently worked with party planners who are clueless when it comes to what size stage is needed for a band.

"If you fail to plan ahead, then you are planning ahead to fail."

Here are the stage specs for various sized bands:

3 Piece - 8 feet by 16 feet

5 Piece - 16 feet by 24 feet

12 Piece - 16 feet by 32 feet

With the is newly acquired information, experienced event planners will always prefer to go with a room with a stage rather than just placing the band on the same level as attendees. Proper planning for stage requirements avoids major headaches the day of the show. Also, having the band on a stage allows them to be seen by everyone even by the people in back.

When selecting the venue, you will also need to keep in mind the acoustics of the room. High ceilings and flat walls with lots of windows and no curtains to muffle the sound are not optimal environments for bands. Work with an experienced sound person to mix the band and equalize the room and eliminate feedback.

Agents

There are only a handful of very few good professional bands anymore. If you don't know a good booking agent, you will be hard pressed to find them. A good agent will be the one to help you thru the minefield of mediocre, amateurs with amps that have no volume control knobs. As an event planner you need to figure out your event theme and then contact a talent booking agency to see if there are bands that fit.

The most popular bands play a wide variety of styles. A good group of musicians knows songs from the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. Frank Sinatra has never gone out of style. So make sure the band plays what we call "Jazz Standards". Depending on your event and your geographical location, it is either "Country Music is King!" or "Classic Rock Rules!". Know your demographics before hiring a band.

As with any vendor, you get what you pay for. Let's talk about budget. I wonder, even as you continue to read this report, if you realize the amount of time a band puts in before receiving a paycheck to practicing their instruments, learning and memorizing repertoire and coordinating lights and choreography. Most bands require anywhere from $1,200 to $45,000 per gig. Experienced booking agents will be able to place the right band for the party. With any event, experience wins every time. Ask for references and testimonials.

Technical Set Up

Once your musicians are booked, you now need to cover logistics. Tech setup includes the movement and placement of equipment and sound checks. Bands usually bring their own equipment. Amplifiers, instruments, a PA system for vocals, lighting towers all the way down to carpet for the drums need to be set up and placed and checked and moved and double checked again. Allow enough time for all of these details to be adequately addressed well before show time. Because it is not IF something goes wrong, it's WHEN something goes wrong. And it always does with a band. Give them enough time to fix it.

Sound check must take place no later than 3 hours before the performance start time. Load in should occur 1 or 2 hours before that. The sound check should take no more than an hour, and after that, let the band go back to their rooms, freshen up, take a nap, grab a meal. They should return NO LATER than 30 minutes before their performance.

Band Character

Musicians have traditionally had a reputation for being evil practitioners of any number of very colorful vices. It has been my experience, however, that we are no different than any other industry be it stock brokers, medical personnel or city workers.

Use these simple rules and you will notice you can keep any group of performers in line.

- Band members should not eat any food in buffet lines or inside the ballroom area. They should have a separate area or a "Greenroom" where they can eat, drink, warm up their vocal cords, stretch out and generally prepare for the gig.

- During a performance, bands should not consume alcohol or smoke. If they can't wait a few hours to partake of their favorite libation, fire them on the spot. You will avoid headaches and embarrassment down the road. In addition, you will get the reputation you will not tolerate any such behavior. Trust me. Word will get out you are a professional party planner.

Finally, remember: Treating musicians with dignity and respect translates into a happy band which brings you happy clients and guests who enjoy the entire event no matter what the occasion.

You are now armed with the 4 seriously critical ingredients for success that you did not have before. If you have learned this information through the school of hard knocks, you can feel assured that you are a true professional.

Now picture the night of the event. Following dinner (if it is served), lights should be dimmed, the band is introduced, they hit the first chords and the excitement ripples through the room. People move towards the dance floor and the smiles appear on everyone in the room. Why? Because you did your job and provided an exquisite ingredient that every corporate party needs: Live Music.

Dan Gillogly will Guarantee you Will Look Good B'cuz he Sounds Good! He is the author of numerous articles that will help you make your next corporate party or social event a success available at www.glogleemusic.com

TOP 5 REASONS WHY AN EVENT PLANNER IS A MUST FOR A RELAXING WEDDING DAY

How do you know if you need an event planner for your wedding? Whether you are planning an outdoor wedding or an indoor one, a planner can help your vision become a reality. A planner can in fact help a couple hone in on what their vision for a wedding really is. It can also be a smart move economically - the planner knows your budget and can help you stick to it. Plus, it's easier to have fun on your wedding day when someone else is taking care of any unexpected catastrophes.

The top five reasons for hiring an event planner are:

1. Your wedding will be stress free. Even the best-planned wedding will have challenges. The pleasure of wedding planning can go out the door when the bride and/or groom are trying to handle everything and they become overwhelmed. A professional planner will supervise all the events related to your wedding so you no longer have to be anxious about the details.




2. You will have more time for yourself. The average wedding can take over 250 hours to plan. Event planners can assist in many ways. They are exposed to numerous weddings and suppliers so they may well know the best in the local market. They can recommend and source products and suppliers in a fraction of the time it would take if you were to do it yourself.




3. Your special day will be more organized. Event planners are prepared to help you with design, financial, legal, etiquette and many more related issues. Simply put, they can assist and guide you in making informed decisions. You can depend on your planner to evaluate vendor contracts and get clarification before you sign. Your planner will also coordinate dress fittings, florists, reception venues, etc.




4. An event planner will save you money. A lot of people argue that the reason they do not hire an event planner is that it would be an extra cost on their part. What they do not know is that discounts are more likely to happen because the event planner has extensive connections with wedding vendors.




5. The decisions will still be yours. The decisions are still with the couple, even if they opt to hire an event planner. The planner will just guide, make some suggestions, and assist you in making some decisions. You will still be able to have your own style and preferences when it comes to your wedding.

While wedding organizer books can help you stay on top of things, they are no substitute for a professional wedding planner. The right wedding coordinator with the right wedding package can work miracles for your special day, while you and your loved ones relax and enjoy yourselves.Article By Michelle O'Connor, Pros and Cons of Wedding Ring Insurance

Calling All Event and Meeting Planners: Success and Productivity Tips from the Business Coach

If you don?t effectively handle the multiple demands of your every day life as an event or meeting planner, your customers will know! Your coworkers, industry peers, suppliers, and customers can, and will, hold you accountable for how you spend your time and do your work.

How effective are you? Take this quiz to find out.

Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 5 on each question.
I feel organized and ready to do my work each day.

Less True 1 2 3 4 5 More True
Even during stressful times, I am able to think clearly and logically.

Less True 1 2 3 4 5 More True
I have good focus and concentration at work.

Less True 1 2 3 4 5 More True
I have no problem managing my time efficiently.

Less True 1 2 3 4 5 More True

My physical work situation (e.g. office, workspace) is serving me well.

Less True 1 2 3 4 5 More True
If your responses to these questions are less than satisfactory to you, here are three of the most worthy tips for increasing your productivity and experiencing phenomenal business results.

1. Ask yourself this question: Why do I do what I do?

By answering this question you will learn to do the right things and make room for realizing the business successes you want. It's working. My clients are emptying their lives of the stuff they've been clinging to, and making room for the business success they have always wanted. So, try on this question: Why do I do what I do ? List 10 business activities and note why you do each of them and how they benefit you in your business. For example: Use the same suppliers for my events and meetings ? I have confidence in them and they serve me well.

If there is no specific benefit-aimed reason and visible result, then why keep doing it? Most importantly, what activity could you replace it with to generate better results? I challenge you to identify three activities you currently do that you want to replace with others because you know with confidence that they will generate better business results.

2. Change one old habit

This is a very easy one. Take 5 minutes to identify one work habit that you are not particularly proud of. Yes, we all know of at least one habit that doesn?t serve us well. Now make a commitment to change this one habit and replace it with a better one. It may feel difficult the first few times you exercise this new habit but, like everything, you?ll form a new and better habit soon.

3. Declutter your mind and your desk.

What would you do with 25% more time or 50% more energy?

Let me explain. Last week, one of my clients, a meeting planner, mentioned he had a desk so cluttered with piles of paper he didn?t have a surface to work on, nor did he know where to start his work on any given day. He also said he couldn?t even slow his pace to clear some of these piles.

I realized his challenge was a lot like the challenges most event and meeting industry professionals experience in their fast paced, detail oriented, and time challenged life.

To combat the clutter problems, my client and I leveraged a simple but powerful tool designed to free up a lot more of his time and energy. We got so much value out of it I decided to share it with you.

It is called Free Your Clutter Day -- a day that you set aside to tackle the projects, clutter and loose ends that are holding you back.

You may be thinking, ?What? An entire day? Where am I going to find 8 hours for anything?!

Consider this an investment with a big return for you and your clients -- higher performance, less stress, and fewer hours spinning your wheels or being blocked.

Here is what you do in this Free Your Clutter Day:

Start by taking a pad of paper and making a list of everything you will commit to handle or to resolve.

For example, set up a file for new clients or projects; call your vendor who you are having some difficulty with and need to have that long overdue conversation to get things back on track; make follow-up phone calls to customers.

Now take your list and prioritize it.

Identify what needs to get handled first and is vital to eliminating your feeling of overwhelm. Put all of the items on your list in order of highest to lowest priority ? using business outcomes as your key criteria.

Lastly, tackle the highest priority items on your list today! Yes, complete them.

Here is an incentive for you. Think about your costs in not accomplishing these tasks. Spending too much time looking for missing items that may have lost you a client or prospect due to lack of organization? Not handling a difficult situation which costs you ten times more?

The more you get done, the more uncluttered your mind and desk will be. You will be more alert and productive. Your customers will know you operate effectively in your business.

The Event and Meeting Planners Business Association was founded by Erika Trimble, business coach and entrepreneur. Her mission for the Association is to create profitable, rewarding, and winning business outcomes for event and meeting industry professionals. Get a copy of Erika's FREE special report "5 Secrets of Highly Effective Event and Meeting Planners" at http://www.eventplannersbusinesstips.com

5 Event Planning Ideas For A Very Tight Budget

Throwing a party can be great fun. However it is easy to get carried away with event planning that you barely realize you are running way over what you can afford. It is quite a skill trying to balance between planning a successful event and keeping expenses within a reasonable budget.

If you are concerned about your finances and cannot afford the services of a professional event planner, there are plenty of affordable planning options and ideas to make your event just as memorable and fun. Here are a few ideas:

One easy way you can cut cost is the time of day you decide to have your event. For events such as weddings or birthdays or baby showers, holding them in the afternoon definitely puts less of a dent to your pocketbook. You would definitely have lower expenses for afternoon events which require less food and catering such as light snacks and beverages such as punch or tea or coffee, as opposed to full course meals and full bar for evening events.

Another factor to consider for event planning is whether you need to hire a caterer. For small events, you could probably get away with most of the planning and cooking by yourself. However, for bigger sized events, caterers can provide invaluable assistance.

If your event planning budget is really tight, then probably the best idea for slashing cost in the food area is to host a potluck where every guest supplies either food or drinks, with some bringing salad or entr?e, and others bringing soda or wine. The event planner needs to communicate and coordinate closely with the guests so that there is a nice variety of food and drinks with something for everyone, and also so that guests do not bring similar dishes. This is a wonderful way to include all the guests in the event planning process, and guests usually delight in the fact that they are able to contribute and be a part of the party.

Food is not the only area where you can save on. You can also focus on other areas such as the entertainment or the decoration. For example, for children's birthday parties you can ask parents, friends or relatives to entertain the kids with simple songs or magic tricks, or to make balloon animals or to hold water fights.

Decorations also do not have to break the bank. For example, for children's parties you can buy a bunch of balloons and streamers. Or for a garden party, instead of buying expensive outdoor lighting that you probably will never use again, you can buy a couple of outdoor torches and use the outdoor lights that usually adorn your trees and bushes on special occasions in your garden to create beautiful, soft lighting. Your guests will never know the difference between expensive and cheap lighting, and probably won't even care as long as the ambience is cozy and the party fun.

Putting careful thought into planning the event would allow your dollar to go a long way yet still allow you to hold an event that is great fun for everyone.

If you need to hire an Event Planner visit event-planning-pro.info. Susan also writes on a wide range of topics at Health and Fitness.

Event Registration - The 6 Biggest Problems Event Planners Have And How To Overcome Them All

Let's face it, setting up and operating the registration process for events and conferences is one of the least favorite things on most event planner's list of things to do. There is a lot of repetitive and mechanical stuff to do to make sure that everyone gets notified and signed up on time.

The Biggest Problems with Manual Systems: Mail, Fax, Phone, Email

1. Illegible handwriting on registration forms

2. Mistakes in transferring information from registration forms to your database.

3. Having enough time to register people by phone, process credit card charges and still organize a successful event.

The Biggest Problems with Intranet Systems (In-house)& Internet Systems (web-based)

4. Getting Your IT Department to get you what you need on time and make the changes you need when you need them.

5. Figuring out which of the 45 online systems on the market will actually do what we need done at the best price

The Biggest Problems with All of the Above Systems

6. How to make the process easier for the registrant and how to get maximum attendance.

How Can I Remedy These Problems?

The best way to overcome all 6 of these problems is to use an online registration system that is designed and built to address each problem independently. For Example, a good online registration system will enable you to quickly customize the registration forms, adding your logo and other identity info, so that your new registration website looks like a custom system and is the easiest possible for attendees to use in signing up.

What's the Real Benefit to Me?

A good online system can reduce the time you spend on the entire registration process by more than 80% and give your attendees the ease and flexibility they love by enabling them to register anytime of the day or night. No more mailed or faxed in forms to deal with. No more telephone calls from attendees to get registered, book their hotels or, order merchandise. It's all done online, faster for the attendees and zero time for you and your staff.

How Long Does It Take and How Much Does It Cost?

Setting up an online registration system for your next event can take as little as an hour and, you'll have a registration site with your own logo and identity so your guests will recognize your site immediately. You'll be able to make changes to any of the forms, schedules or dates anytime you wish because you are in complete control of the system at all times and, you'll know exactly what your costs are because most web-based registration systems charge a fee per attendee (from $3.00 - $10.00), depending on your number of attendees each year.

Bill Flagg is the President of RegOnline, an easy to use training registration.