Planning an event can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Whether you're planning a corporate event, a wedding, a birthday party, or any other type of event, there are a few key things you should keep in mind to ensure everything runs smoothly. Let’s cover some basic event coordination tips to help you get started.

Define the scope of your event

The first step in

As I celebrate my 20th anniversary as an event planner, it's a perfect time to take a retrospective journey and assess the changes, transformations, and improvements that have occurred over the past two decades in the industry. Certain elements that were once commonplace in events have gradually faded away in recent times.

Optics and Liability

For instance, the era of Host bars, where excess drinking was the norm during

Event planning is an exhilarating and dynamic profession that requires a unique blend of creativity, organization, and interpersonal skills. It's hard to believe that I started my first agency job in July of 2003! After dedicating two decades of my life to this industry, I am humbled and honored to share the valuable lessons and insights I've gained along the way. As I reflect on my twenty-year tenure as an event planner, let’s look at

Events are a great way to promote your brand and connect with potential customers. Whether you're attending a trade show, conference, or networking event, swag can be an effective way to leave a lasting impression. Swag, or promotional materials, can range from branded t-shirts and water bottles to pens and keychains. But how can you ensure that your swag stands out from the crowd and leaves a lasting impression? In this blog post,

Asking an event planner for a proposal can seem simple enough when someone has never hired a professional event planner or event coordinator.  However, in the last few months, I have had some odd requests for proposals (RFP). Event planning can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring careful planning and execution. The RFP is a key tool used to help organizations find the right vendor or service provider for their event.

Organizing an event, whether it’s a meeting / conference, stampede event or a corporate holiday celebration, can be a daunting task. From managing vendors and coordinating logistics to ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day of the event, there are numerous details that require careful attention. This is where a certified professional event planner comes in. A certified professional event planner is a trained and experienced

Fun fact. In 2020 (pre-pandemic) we built the Ultimate Event Planning Guide, which can be found for download on www.jenniferjamesevents.com The thought process behind building this guide was an outline for anyone considering planning a corporate social event or even social event on a large scale. The first place we recommend starting is with discovery questions that determine your event purpose, objectives, and goals.

Well, here we are two years into the pandemic. We have cancelled, postponed, and "pivoted". Virtual and hybrid events have come a long way but we have learned that people yearn to be together. For those of us that have been fortunate enough to continue working throughout the pandemic – it seems like planning, re-planning, and contingency planning is imperative. While people want to be together everyone has different feelings and

Not all event suppliers are created equal

In the business of events, planners and suppliers are as unique as your business or organization. I have found over the years that when asked by my clients to work with new suppliers on projects in or outside of our normal market, that often price can be the final deciding factor. Moreover, what I have learned time and time again is that you often get what you pay for, such that, the

I have been very fortunate to have been an event planner for the past 18 years. Even saying 18 years makes me wonder where all that time has gone! Before becoming an event planner, I had many other jobs and experiences that I now know helped get me ready for this business. Here are some examples. I went to broadcasting school, so I was great at researching and working in groups. I worked as a server, so I have an affinity for what it