Expert Advice

Open Forum

Good Dogs!
08/31/09
After finally admitting if not totally accepting the fact that Caroline was my last baby and my only girl, I did what any decent, loving, dedicated mother in the event industry would do...I started planning her first birthday party. It was to be...
Expanding Services is Doing More Harm than Good
08/30/09
This year has illustrated the vital role that referrals and strong business relationships play in maintaining a successful business. As an event planner, I am in the business of sharing business with my colleagues. I provide my clients with...
Economic Effects Are Not Fatal to Industry
08/24/09
The hype of the economical tragedy over the recent year has caused a domino effect within the special events industry. Several markets have seen anywhere from a 30-50 percent decline in business primarily based on their clientele makeup. Those...

Corporate Planning

Choose a Florist Who Specializes in Events
08/28/09
When it comes to finding a floral designer to transform your corporate or private event, it is important to find one that specializes in events. It seems like such a simple detail since by definition a florist designs floral arrangements; however, not...

Suppliers Speak

Video: Think Big to Save Money
08/28/09
For many people and businesses, a video is often viewed as a one-off project. Sure, you can show it multiple times. You can re-edit portions to meet various needs. You can even change a video's format, to accommodate both ballroom and digital uses....
Relationships are Key to Surviving
08/20/09
After 25 years in the business, it seemed like I had finally arrived at Production Nirvana. Prep time had allowed me to be organized and to triple check all deliverables and timelines for the shows. Our trucks showed up on time. The stagehands had all...

Exhibiting/Trade Shows

What are Hybrid Exhibits?
08/27/09
Perhaps no term is more hyped and less understood in the exhibit industry than "hybrid." Nearly every exhibit manufacturer and custom builder refers to their latest designs as "portable hybrids," "modular hybrids," or even "custom hybrids." Why the...
Trade Shows: A Great Marketing Value
08/21/09
If you've ever been required to sacrifice a day at the office or valuable sales time in the field to stand for 10 hours working a trade show booth for your company, you may have asked yourself if it's worth it. It's not uncommon in this poor economic...

Getting Started

Get the Most From Your CVB
08/25/09
As an event planner are you being challenged to do more with less? Is your staff overworked? Has your event suffered from less effective programming or decreased attendance, all while event attendees are expecting more value, service and options? So what...

Running Your Business

Internships: How to Make the Most of the Experience
08/23/09
When I took my first management job in the events industry, I asked the general manager of the company why we didn't have any interns. He thought that they were too much work to manage and that they didn't really help much. I knew I disagreed and I...