The Business of Event Planning: Behind-the-scenes secrets of successful special events
By Judy Allen; 320 pages; published by John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd.
Event planning can be a stressful and sometimes overwhelming task, even for
the most seasoned professional. However, with the expert advice found in Judy
Allen's latest offering, her follow-up to Event Planning: The Ultimate
Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences,
Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events, even a novice in the
field will be armed with the essential knowledge necessary to coordinate successful
and effective events. The author covers all the bases, from creating proposals
to setting fees and writing contracts, paying close attention to the smallest
of details.
After explaining the importance of strategic planning as part of the event
planning process, the book takes an in-depth look at preparing proposals.
It explains each component of the proposal in detail, offering tips and hints
about what the event planner should consider, including the contents of the
cover letter, the itinerary, the cost summary breakdown, and much more. An
appendix at the back of the book also contains a complete sample proposal
layout that can serve as a guide for writing your own proposals. Next, Allen
addresses the subject of management fees, outlining the four different ways
that fees are generally calculated, and examining the pluses and minuses of
each method from both the planner's and the client's perspective. She also
dedicates two chapters to the topic of contract negotiations. Finally, the
book looks at the issues of safety and security, incorporating new technologies
into the planning process, and handling multicultural and foreign events.
The Business of Event Planning is a thorough, well designed, and easy
to read book that will be a valuable resource for anyone who works in special
events. Aside from the information found within its pages, there is a companion
web site (www.wiley.ca/go/event_planning)
containing forms from the book as well as other helpful material. Those who
work in the nonprofit sector will notice that the majority of examples and
references in the book refer to the corporate world, but as the author herself
points out, "the core event planning principles remain the same in every case
- it is only a matter of how they are adapted to fit a particular event planning
field that will change."
Buy the book:
Canada: buy through Amazon.ca: CDN$31.47
International: buy through Amazon.com: US$29.95
