Newly Revised Edition with Bonus: Fun and Frugal Party Plans
EVENT AND PARTY PLANNING CAREERS:
The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
to Success�
By Phyllis Cambria
Planner Book Bonuses 1-34 Forms, Information and Business Tools Fun and Frugal Party Plans
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ii-vii
INTRODUCTION 1
� Doing basic research for your business or career
� What you need to learn
� Preliminary experience opportunities
� Early documentation to build your resume
CHAPTER 2 18-26
� How to select your niche specialty and why it's important
� What wide varieties of niches there are
� When to expand your niche
CHAPTER 3 27-34
� Basic funding
� The facts about business loans
� Naming your business and developing its style
� Creating a business plan and why it's essential to your success
CHAPTER 4 35-48
� What equipment you'll need to get started
� What basic services you'll want to have in place
� Insurance coverage
� Where to get access to merchant accounts
� Protecting your computer and website
CHAPTER 5 49-56
� How to set up pricing
� What pricing systems are best and why
� Other costs to consider in proposals
CHAPTER 6 57-65
� Contract essentials
� Your contract vs. your vendor's contract
� Proposals that become part of the contract
CHAPTER 7 66-72
� Locating the right types of suppliers and vendors
� What to look for when choosing a supplier or vendor
� Negotiating and contract with vendors
CHAPTER 8 73-92
� General marketing guidelines
� Basic printed marketing materials
� Advertising and promotion
� Creating your portfolio
CHAPTER 9 93-112
� Public Relations and Advertising Alternatives
� How to Get Free Publicity in print, radio and TV
� How to use this free PR to your advantage
CHAPTER 10 112-126
� Finding clients
� What approaches work best and why
� More low-cost marketing methods
CHAPTER 11 127-135
� Initial contact with potential clients
� Telephone meetings
� In-person meetings
CHAPTER 12 136-153
� How to do a general site inspection
� How to do a site inspection for a specific event
� Meeting with venue staff
� Arranging for guest lodging
CHAPTER 13 154-168
� Developing a pre-event timeline
� Creating planning and filing systems
� Event insurance
� Staff attire
� Transportation and shipping fees
CHAPTER 14 169-186
� Developing an event timeline
� Loading-in and setting up
� Working safely
� Break-down and post-event clean-up
CHAPTER 15 187-194
� Post-event duties
� Dealing with rentals and extra stock
� Paying bills
� Client and vendor follow-ups
FORMS, INFORMATION AND BUSINESS TOOLS
BONUS SECTION 1 195-197
� Evaluating Your "A" Team
BONUS SECTION 2 198-199
� Fun While Learning with Realty TV
BONUS SECTION 3 200-201
� Thank You Is More Than Two Little Words
BONUS SECTION 4 202-204
� Other Planners Might be the Key to Your Success
BONUS SECTION 5 205-206
� Stay In Touch
BONUS SECTION 6 207-209
� Last-Minute Planning Dilemmas
BONUS SECTION 7 210-217
� Trade Show Marketing
BONUS SECTION 8 218-219
� Looking for a Planner's Job? Avoid These Mistakes
BONUS SECTION 9 220-222
� "It's in the Bag" - Emergency Gear for Every Planner
BONUS SECTION 10 223-227
� What Do You Do When the Lights Go Out?
BONUS SECTION 11 228-232
� Sample proposal
BONUS SECTION 12 233
� Sample floor plan
BONUS SECTION 13 234-236
� Typical and Non-Typical U.S. Holidays and Observances
BONUS SECTION 14 237-238
� Industry publications
BONUS SECTION 15 239-256
� Client Proposal Questionnaire/Vendor Interview Form
BONUS SECTION 16 257-261
� Sample timeline
BONUS SECTION 17 262-264
� 21 Steps for Putting on a Mini Expo
BONUS SECTION 18 265-272
� Setting Up a Party Planning Referral Service and Resource Consultations: The "Warm Calls" That Will Introduce You to Vendors and Potential Clients
BONUS SECTION 19 273-274
� Promoting Your Business With a Directory
� Sample contract
BONUS SECTION 21 279-280
� Sample generic press release
BONUS SECTION 22 281-283
� A Short Memory Course: How to Remember Names
BONUS SECTION 23 284-285
� A Short Course on Public Speaking
BONUS SECTION 24 286-291
� Sample Planning Timeline
BONUS SECTION 25 292-300
� Cocktails for You
BONUS SECTION 26 301
� Sample Invoice
BONUS SECTION 27 302
� Sample Auction/Raffle Donation Form
BONUS SECTION 28 303-311
� How Much Is Enough? Party Food and Drink Quantities
BONUS SECTION 29 312-315
� Executive Etiquette � Tips for Entertaining for Business
BONUS SECTION 30 316-318
� Resources
BONUS SECTION 31 319-321
� Sample Independent Contract
BONUS SECTION 32 322-325
� So Cool Event D�cor Solutions
BONUS SECTION 33 326-338
� Sample Editor and Publication-Specific Press Releases for:
� General information
� Children
� Food and drink
� Lifestyle/Hobbies/Crafts
� Business
BONUS SECTION 34 339-340
� Insurance Resources
� Fun and Frugal Party Plans Introduction 341
� �The �50s Were Nifty� 342-351
� �Fun, Fun, Fun Beach Party� 352-360
� �Luck be a Lady Tonight� (Casino theme) 361-367
� �Dancing Through the Decades� 368-373
� �We�re Gonna Make You a Star!� (Hollywood theme) 374-380
� �Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!� (race car theme) 381-389
� �South Seas Serenade� (tropical/luau theme) 390-396
� �Westward Ho� (western theme) 397-410