Event Industry Boom
As the 2022 event season is in full swing and we dust off our project plan templates, I am reminded that part of the reason why event planning is such an exciting career is that in every interaction your skills are developed, refined, and elevated.
Yes, hospitality programs may be helpful and event/meeting planning certifications for some are impressive. However, if you are in this industry for over 20 years like I have been, then perhaps you share my belief that there is no replacement for “on the job” events management experience. As we continue to navigate 2022 events and you are inevitably stretched by getting back into the swing of things, here are three things to be mindful of:
Venues have shifted. Some venues no longer have the staff you relied on previously because, sadly, some have left the industry, renovation projects has been delayed, or the “A team staff” hasn’t fully returned (in addition to the labor shortage for some properties there is a very real quality shortage) which means that as event professionals we need to refresh what we knew about our “go-to” venues and be prepared to spend more because ancillary event expenses have increased across the board.
Scope of work requires more of your intellectual property and emotional energy. I know what you are thinking: event planners were already responsible for everything. For fellow planners who specialize in conferences/meetings like LaJoy Plans, your scope of work likely included registration, vendor sourcing, negotiation, project plan management, and more before we even begin to talk about managing the event onsite. Yet, what I am seeing is that the entire team and I are working more, which is why every single event planner and especially planners who own a business need to ask themselves this question: Am I a volume-driven business? If so, be prepared to hire more staff; but if you are focused on select projects, be prepared to directly refer work to other people because it is impossible to take on the same amount of work that you did pre-Covid.
Clarity is critical to your success. Launch meetings/calls have never been more important. Now, to be clear, prior to Covid these meetings should have been happening but post-Covid the level of preparation, clarity of roles, and details are crucial; I have found that when these do not exist, the project can become compromised and the deliverable list can grow without agreement. During the event planning process, we need to be honest that last minute requests truly do cost more and in some cases can’t happen; there is a labor shortage; budgets are higher; and in the corporate and nonprofit world people still want to know what your wellness preparedness plan is.
While the work does require more from all of us, I am motivated. From my view, this new era of event planning is where seasoned pros can become more selective about their work, new professionals have endless opportunities for employment, and if you are seeking event planning support, I have found that there are planners at every price point.
What I know is that the event boom does not or should not mean event burnout. In my mind when we look back at the event boom, I want us to focus on the feeling of being in a boom - the moments we curate that delight our guests, the new industry stars that we celebrate, the seasoned pros who hit the speaking circuit to share their skills, and more, because, ready or not, the event boom is here to stay.
p.s. Don’t forget to follow along with our journey via IG @belajoyful.
