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In just a matter of weeks we’ve witnessed the wonder of Wimbledon, the sporting spectacle of the FIFA World Cup and the colourful parade of Pride Glasgow.
Oh, and some American dude called Donald came to Scotland to play golf.
Despite the potential calamities, all of these events went without too many hiccups.
That’s all thanks to the skills of events organisers.
But if you’d like to follow them and start a career of your own in event planning, you’re going to need to practise these top five skills.
Always thinking ahead
An event co-ordinator will help their client meticulously plan their big day, which means having eyes, ear, nose and tongue for every single detail – yes the look, the sound, the smell and even the taste of the food and drink. Oh, and then there’s the why, the when, the where, the how . . . and the what ifs.
Watch my lips
The ability to talk to people so they understand your needs and are on-mission is essential. Whether you’re dealing with hotels or conference centres, VIP security details or armies of catering staff, you must convey precisely what you want to happen.
Nothing to see here
Wedding planners and conference organisers share one secret: the art of diplomacy. When someone throws a tantrum because the orange juice is not the right shade, it’s time for UN-style tactics. But enough about our golfing fan Donald. Suffice to say, the ability to stay calm and negotiate in stressful situations is vital.
Know your numbers
Every event comes with a budget and it’s your job to make sure it’s not bust. This means having a head for instant number crunching – being able to recalculate when the seating plan is changed at the last minute or Granny Ina suddenly replaces the cheap fizz with crates of Champagne.
Marketing
The success of any event relies on forward-thinking marketing: from organising hand-written invitations to mass-media campaigns.
In the new world of connectivity and the Internet of things, this often means being effective in spreading the word online.
Problem solving
Life has a funny way of chucking us eye-blacking curve balls. So in times of meltdown, when everyone else is panicking, you must stay calm, think straight and come up with a solution before anything is even noticed.
Plan your career in events management with a new role in Hospitality/ Catering/ Tourism from s1jobs.