Job description

Event planners organise all kinds of events, including weddings, anniversaries, reunions, product launches, concerts, festivals and award ceremonies. They coordinate all aspects of these events, from choosing and booking venues to hiring caterers and entertainment to ensuring everyone has a good time.

Duties

    • Meet clients to understand the purpose of the event and to determine client requirements
    • Plan the scope of the event, including budget, venue, date and time
    • Coordinate services for the event, including accommodation, catering, entertainment and security
    • Research venues, suppliers and contractors
    • Inspect venues to ensure they meet the client’s requirements
    • Negotiate and manage vendor contracts
    • Obtain any necessary permits
    • Ensure insurance, legal, and health and safety obligations are followed
    • Hire, train and manage support staff
    • Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details
    • Review event bills and approve payments

Skills and qualities

Communication
Interpersonal
Negotiation
Organisational
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Coordination
Time management
Marketing
Budget management
Self-motivation
It skills

Job outlook

Projected growth
The projected growth rate of employment in the US from 2016 to 2026, based on data collected through the BLS Employment Projections (EP) programme. The national average growth rate for all professions is 7%.

11%

New jobs
The number of jobs projected to become available in the US between 2016 and 2026, based on data collected through the BLS Employment Projections (EP) programme.

12.7k

Automation risk
The probability of computerisation, based on data published in ‘The Future of Employment’, a 2013 working paper by Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne.

4%

Career progression

You will typically begin your professional journey as an assistant before progressing to a management role and, potentially, director position. The further you progress in your career, you will likely be assigned larger and more complex events which can involve high-profile clients like celebrities and internationally recognised brands.

With experience and an established network of contacts, you could move to freelancing or setting up your own event planning business.

Working conditions

Average hours

50h/ week

Typical schedule

Full Time

Nights, weekends and holidays

The work of event planners is largely office based, although they will regularly travel to visit clients, suppliers, venues and partners. They also often spend time away from home if the event they’re working on is being held in a different city or even abroad.

As an event planner, you’ll work normal office hours, but you will have to put in extra hours, especially when leading up to an event to finalise preparations. It’s not uncommon for event planners to wake up at 5am on the day of the event and go to bed at 5am the following morning, although this largely depends on the type and scale of event they’re overseeing.

Event planners may have to work on holidays like Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, so their social life and personal relationships can become strained. The work is often fast-paced and demanding, and it can be particularly stressful when coordinating multiple events at the same time.

Salary

Bottom 10%

$28k

Median

$49k

Top 10%

$85k

Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.

Qualifications and training

Education level

Undergraduate

Bachelor’s degree in event management

Study time

4 years

You’ll typically need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in event management in order to work as an event planner. You could also pursue this career with a degree in communications, business management or business.

Generally speaking, gaining some work experience in hospitality can improve your job prospects, as can voluntary certification. If you would like to specialise in wedding planning, for example, becoming certified by the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) can be helpful for attracting clients.

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 2, 2022

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