So, you think you want to be a part of the event industry? Let’s chat about it! I love events. With my Bachelor’s Degree in Event Management, I plan events for the EFSC Foundation, raising money for EFSC student scholarships.
To me, the event industry is fascinating because there are so many different kinds of events. Think about it: events include conferences, meetings, speaking engagements, special events (like weddings), trade shows, workshops, VIP experiences, networking opportunities, social events, sporting events, and more…the list goes on!
I’ve been planning events for over 10 years, and I’ve never seen two events that were exactly the same. Even annual events change year after year as technology and resources evolve. I’m always learning new ways to make the next event the best it can be.
The work is fun and exciting, because the event industry allows for creative ideas and solutions. More than that, you meet all kinds of different people along the way. For large events, event planners may work with multiple departments and vendors to make sure every aspect of the event goes according to plan. I’ve worked with talent (like bands, speakers, and celebrities), IT professionals (who help run the technical aspects), caterers, graphic designers, videographers, web developers, volunteers, and more. It’s a collaborative effort that gives you the opportunity to network beyond your office. Speaking of office, event professionals are not at their desk 40 hours a week. There are site visits, planning meetings with vendors, and many other chances to get out and about.
While there are a lot of fun sides to event planning, there are a lot of other things to consider about the industry, too. For example, there is positively going to be work on the weekends. If you’re someone who loves to have all your Saturdays and Sundays free, then maybe event planning isn’t for you, as most hospitality and social events take place over the weekend. That said, there are exceptions. If you work for a corporation, the meetings and conferences you might plan usually fall within the typical work week. And of course, there are jobs (like my job at the EFSC Foundation) that are a mix of both, allowing you to primarily work during the week, with special weekend events a few times a year.
So, what does it take to be an event planner? Well, for one thing, you wear a lot of different hats. It’s also important to be open-minded. When things go wrong, you need to be comfortable asking questions to produce a solution.
For example, I once coordinated a beach house wedding in Jacksonville Beach with about 50 to 60 guests in attendance. The property was incredibly fun and offered everything this boho wedding needed. After the ceremony and dinner, guests started to dance the night away. A guest let me know that the only accessible toilet for guests was out of service. I thought, “Uh… Okay, I’m not a plumber.” But, of course, they told me about it because I’m working behind the scenes. They didn’t want to trouble the newlyweds. Now what?
I was about to have a seriously smelly situation on my hands. There was zero chance I’d be able to get a plumber to the house on a Saturday night. So I started asking around. Luckily, one of the wedding guests had plumbing experience. The guest identified the problem and suggested that we take some working parts from the toilet upstairs to use on the toilet downstairs. I put on my plumber hat and helped fix the toilet so that the party could continue. The bride and groom had no idea this had happened until the next day! All of this is to say, the event industry is perfect for those who like a change of pace or a change of scenery—even if it means getting your hands dirty from time to time.
Earning a degree in event management allowed me to build a solid foundation for my career, as I’ve gotten to explore several types of events and learn from both industry professionals and my peers. If you think event planning might be for you, then you should look into the Event Planning and Management track of Eastern Florida State College’s Organizational Management BAS. Through the program, you’ll learn about event budgets, best practices, promotion and design, project management, and more (check out the full curriculum here).
My friend Dawn graduates from that program this summer. Here’s what she had to say about it:
“I’m so happy to be in this program at EFSC. Not only do I get to study my passion, but it allows me to actually put together a framework for events that I could be planning in the future! Plus, it’s just a lot of fun.”
Eager to dive into a future filled with event planning? Contact our bachelor advisors for more info today!
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