Is anyone here a party planner?

Question

I am very interested in becoming a party planner. I have had a little experience in the past; my husband and I had a wedding videography business and worked with wedding planners all the time, and also observed them and how they worked. I also helped my mother plan a very large and elaborate 50th anniversary for my grandparents, so I do know they very basics. What I'm wanting to know is how to really get started. I can't afford to up and quit my job now, but I'm wanting to go ahead and start getting into it. Does anyone have any advice for me or a direction I can go? Anything will be much appreciated. Also, I'm going for a general party planner and not limiting myself to weddings. In fact from what I found out doing the videography you can easily get trapped to weddings only. But I'm willing to learn and do anything just to get started. Thanks!

Answer 1

you know more than you think. Observation is the way
to learn almost anything. Use your weekends to plan
advertising stratagies and develope some unusual and
spectacular sources, i.e. creative florists, bakers who
make cakes to die for, rental companies who have a large
variety of decor. Develop your organizational skills to the
point that everything will run smoothly, down to the last
minute. Catering is probably the most important source
and you should peruse menus available from all of them
in your area...you can test their menus in these cases.
To insure everyone has a memorable time, make sure
to consider the entertainment...will it be clowns, a great
D.J.(MAKE SURE TO ATTEND ONE OF HIS FUNCTIONS
TO BE SURE), belly dancers or a commedian? There
is a lot involved in this profession. Start out by asking
your friends, "What's the best party you ever attended and
why). Write it all down, ask questions re the food, music,
decor, etc....and set up a moot party yourself for all your
friends and then get their feedback and tweak your party
planning accordingly. P.S. Don't forget the lighting...this can
make or break it. Candlelight? Strobe lights? Chinese lanterns?
Good luck..it's a rewarding profession but be prepared to
work like you've never done before. You will need a lot of
help here in setting up the atmosphere and extras. You also
MUST PLAN YOUR BUDGET VERY CAREFULLY. after all,
you do need to clear a profit. Start small and dream big.

Answer 2

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