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hotbiz event planner
Home Based Business Idea
P A R T Y / E V E N T P L A N N I N G:
Business
Description:
Have
you been told (more than once) that you are the host of the perfect
party? Why
not put all that wonderful creative energy and organizational skills together
and start a fun home based business? The nice thing about being
your own boss is that you can decide how your business evolves.
You can choose to be a specialty party planner for smaller more intimate
functions such as a child's birthday party or bar mitzvah. Or you
can orchestrate large gala events such as a corporate awards ceremony,
Christmas party etc. It is all up to you. What are your
strengths? Evaluate your skills and then use your creativity to
put your personal touch to the "perfect" party. Duties
you will typically perform can include: finding and securing flowers,
gifts, invitations, and decorations. You should have a competent
and quality list of resources to suggest for services such as catering,
entertainment, photographer, DJ's etc. You may even be called on
to secure the transportation.
Your
Unique Skills
You
are organized, detail-oriented and one step away from Martha Stewart when it
comes to creativity and ingenuity. To be considered as a master party
planner you must bring an extra flair to the business of parties. What do
you have that makes you a "Master"? Is it style, speed,
attention to detail, a great nack for locating unusual and fantastic
resources? Once you secure a client your time is filled with lists,
meetings and details up until the day of the event. For large events you
must be within the specified budget even if it means cutting corners or being
ultra-creative in finding alternatives. A cut here and a splurge there to
make it just right. It is your knowledge they seek in this area. Do
we switch the organza's with carnations? It's your call. Client's
often get frazzled when the event they envision is not what they want (even when
you know it is perfect). You need to be able to calm their nerves and gain
their trust. You will be dealing with MANY personalities so use your charm
and patience to orchestrate all the participants in the special
event.
Tools
of the Trade
Depending
on the size of the parties that you plan to initially plan you may need very few
tools. Your tool is you. But to gain the efficiencies of a home
office and to lower costs you will want to create your marketing materials and
business correspondence on your own. If you don't know how to type take a
quick typing course so that you can at least hunt and peck out a document
quickly. You want your letters to be professional so go to the library and
see how to create a Block or Modified Block Business letter.
Purchasing a computer, printer, fax and cell phone should be high on the list to communicate with clients. If you decide to organize large events these tools and a pager/cell phone are a must. You will often end up transporting items to either show the client or securing at the last minute so a van or SUV for transportation will come in handy.
Create a scrapbook/portfolio to showcase your abilities to potential clients. You can post this to a website and/or physically create something to show potential clients.
Further
your knowledge and education by participating in design seminars, go to trade
shows and purchase subscriptions to several lifestyle magazines.
Getting
Your Foot in the Door
Hold a party! That's right. It does not have to be a lavish event or
cost you alot of money. This is where your imagination comes in.
Start by inviting close friends and acquaintances and then go from there.
You need to generate "buzz" that you are now in business. Create
a tasteful brochure that you can pass out to all of the party-goers. After
that it's on the road. Go to specialty deli's, party stores, bakeries,
bridal shops etc. and give them your brochure. While you are there
take a sample and begin to stock your resources files with their prices and
products.
Create a special business name. You want to pique interest in what you do. Isn't it great when you select a business name that causes someone to ask - "What is it you do?" The doors are now open for you to sell your business. Be prepared with about two sentences that get right to the point of what you do. Practice this and say it to anyone that will listen.
Creative
Marketing Techniques
Find
a small inexpensive party favor from a place like Oriental Trading and
attach your business card. Give these to everyone. Donate them
to special school events, any luncheons etc. Be creative! In the
springtime a pack of seeds can be found for as little as ten cents.
Put some toile on them and present them to the ladies garden club.
Give a small bag of tees to the golf pro to present to the women's golf
league (with your business card of course).
Show
Me the Money
It
is customary to charge a percentage for large events including weddings,
fundraisers, corporate events etc. This can start at 10 percent and go
up. For the smaller more intimate events you can charge by the hour or
a one time fee for the event. For example a birthday party can begin
at $125 and go up. Or you could charge from $15 - $40/hour for your
time. Remember your prices will reflect only what the market
will bear.
Online
Resources:
eventplanner.com -- Add your Website link free.
Submitted by: admin
Hits: 0
Added: Sun Jul 31 2005
Last Modified: Wed Aug 10 2005
