Event Planner Job Description, Overview, Responsibilities, and Salary

The event planner job description involves an array of skills and required abilities for a successful career in the field. 

The event planner, also known as an event coordinator, has many responsibilities that go beyond simple event planning duties, and into the area of research, marketing, and logistics. Read further to learn what are the duties and skills required to become an event planner.

Event planner Job Brief

Starting from the concept to the cleanup an event manager ensures that in every stage everything is taken care of.

An event manager usually works with a team. they start by meeting with the client and talk about the concept, the budget, special requirements.

Event planning is a very active job, and there are a lot of important aspects you will have to take care of before the event as well as during the event. 

The event planning team will have to find a location, hire speakers, entertainers, organize transportation, as well as handling any crisis that can come up during this period.

Job Overview: What Does an Event Planner Do?

In the first place, even if you want to gain experience as a corporate event planner or party planner, you should know that the overview and the main points are similar to both jobs. 

The main duty of an event planner is to organize the event which can be a wedding, a party, reception, business meeting, convention or even exhibitions or trade shows.

Event Planner Requirements

The event planner job description includes a variety of responsibilities, adapted to the specifications of the event organized, these can be meetings, conventions or parties. Below is a list of responsibilities that can be found in the job description for an event planner regardless of the field:

• Plan, create and produce various events and manage all the delivery elements on deadline.
• Manage all aspects of event planning meeting strict deadlines and budget demands.
• Build relationships with vendors, venues, and other industry contacts to craft and implement creative and logistical aspects of all events.
• Discuss with clients to find out what their expectations are and how to meet them.
• Research the market and negotiate contracts with providers and other partners.
• Offer constant feedback to clients.
• Come up with original, imaginative ideas for the event and implement them.
• Organize locations, setting, the list of attendees, and particular requirements about logistic issues.
• Coordinate staff, and keep in contact with the PR and marketing departments to promote the event if need be.
• Stay proactive and find solutions to any emergency issues that might arise on the day of the event.
• Conduct research before and after the event and provide activity reports to the clients.

Event Planner Salary and Bonuses

On average, an event planner has a median income of around $48,290 or around $23 per hour. Although this may be true, the salary depends on a few important factors:

• if this is an internal position in a company;
• if the event planner works for a dedicated company;
• it depends if the event planner works as a freelancer;

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the top 10%, there are event planners that earn more than $80,000 a year, and at the bottom, 10% of people can earn around $25,000.

 

Event Planner Essential Skills

Event planning is a very competitive field so there are a few certifications and diplomas that can help boost one’s credibility and help them acquire more useful skills.

Some of them are:

– the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) offered by the Events Industry Council;

– the Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP);

It is common that a recent graduate or a person that wants to start working in this field to gain experience through an internship in the event industry. Usually, an intern will have the opportunity to try every aspect of event planning and to gain an overview of the industry for a future job.

Interpersonal Skills. A good event planner is a real people person, a professional that possesses impeccable communication skills, both written and spoken. They must have the ability to stay calm under pressure. As well as to have a problem-solving attitude and the ability to compromise. 

Organization Skills. The most successful event organizers are those who can handle stress and problems and are quick on their feet. This can easily come up with imaginative solutions, and never take no for an answer.

Communication Skills. The wide range of people an event manager has to work with is really large. From talking to the clients, team, suppliers, to ensure a great customer service for attendees, this skill is crucial.

Negotiation Skills. Event planners have to keep constant contact with their clients before, during, and after the event. They also have to conduct research and even negotiate contracts and take care of a variety of logistic issues.

Management Skills. The event planner must be able to efficiently organize their time in order to gracefully meet any tight deadlines they might have. This professional must be resilient and resistant to stress.

Becoming an Event Planner Professional

For becoming a skilled event planner an aspiring professional must first have a bachelor’s degree. But more than this academic qualification, employers look for extensive experience in the field of planning. 

Therefore, the event planner job description focuses on previous experience in the field, as this job requires a person that can act fast and quickly in order to find solutions to unexpected problems.

Event Planner Qualifications & Training

The main required qualifications from the person desiring the event planner job position are related to communication, business management, and interpersonal skills, as well as personal work ethic. A great event planner should also possess multi-tasking skills that are useful for the good management of projects and assignments. 

This professional should also have an excellent work ethic and respect for others. As well as an ability to work with very tight deadlines.

General Qualifications:

• proven results as an event planner;
• excellent organizational skills;
• strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• decision-making ability;

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, marketing or related disciplines;
• Proven experience in Public Relations;
• Proficiency with the Event Management System;
• Flexibility to travel as needed;

Work Experience

For people tempted to start a career as an event planner, they should know that having a bachelor’s degree and some previous experience in a related field is mandatory. 

Employers usually prefer to hire candidates who have worked in hospitality management, so this would be a great starting point. 

Also, greatly appreciated would be to have a minimum of 3 years of experience with administrative management. As well as having at least one year of coordinating and managing special events.

Working Hours

As expected, the event planner job description can include hectic working hours depending on the project they are working on. 

Event planners are often expected to be available mostly all of the time, especially as the event date gets closer and closer. Unexpected calls, midnight discussions with clients, or urgent issues to attend to are also possible while having this job.

Job Outlook & Advancement Opportunities

Event management is a highly competitive field, and promotion might depend on various factors such as the organization one works for, previous accomplishments, and the ability to implement theoretical knowledge and use it to solve practical problems.

There is no certain, clearly determined path, and ascending the career ladder depends on the type of organization these professionals work for. 

Generally, promotions may be from assistant to team leader, starting to manage an increasingly big team. Once with experience, there will also come more responsibility, like for large events which are more difficult to manage and have bigger figures when it comes to attendees and budgets.

Event Planning FAQ

 

1. How many hours does an event planner work?

 

Event planners might have a hectic work schedule, especially before the event. Usually, the workweek is longer than 40 hours per week and doesn’t have a well-established program. Weekend hours are also common.

 

2. Can you be an event manager without a degree?

 

This is the type of job that requires a good level of education, because you will have to work with different people, and tools in order to get the job done, but this field allows you to prove yourself based on the experience over the qualifications.

 

3. Do event planners travel a lot?

 

Part of the job is to attend the events planned and to manage them on location. Depending on your field and on the company, events may be planned in different parts of the country or even around the world, so the planner must travel in order to attend them.

 

4. Where do event planners work?

 

Depending on the stage of the event they may work from their offices, onsite at hotels or convention centers where the event will take place. They also will visit clients and have meetings to talk about the development of the event.

 

5. How are event planners paid?

 

It is a common practice in this domain to have their price based on fees-for-service, meaning the total cost to the client. They will also include supplies, labor, and materials needed to produce the event and will charge around 10 to 20 percent of the total cost of the event.

 

Conclusion

Planning events and being the main person responsible seems like a dream job for most people who dream about endless parties and meetings with celebrities and other A-listers. In reality, the event planner job description includes plenty of responsibilities and high-stress factors. 

Therefore, this is a profession for highly organized and responsible people. For a related but more specific job, you can look at the wedding planner job description.