Onsite Execution Archives - Calgary Event Planner
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.
Is Event Sponsorship Important? YES! Event sponsorship for some events can have a huge impact to the bottom line of an event or organizations fiscal success. I have been very fortunate to have worked on some very successful event sponsorship campaigns for tradeshows, conferences, associations and fundraisers. I even managed to create a sponsorship package for my local chapter of event professionals that was the
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
In the event world, we're trained to adapt and expect the unexpected. No amount of planning can ever predict last minute cancellations or delivery issues or freak weather….or even a global pandemic. Our entire industry is defined by our ability to solve problems and create amazing experiences, no matter what may happen. This leads us to our new reality of a complete event shut down. No parties. No conferences. No gatherings of any

When the unimaginable occurs within a week of your event

Ever wonder what REALLY happens when things go wrong at your favourite events? Lessons Learned is a series that I wanted to share about the behind the scenes life of an event planner. Everyone always gets to see the amazing food and Instagram worthy pictures but the reality is, the behind the scenes planning doesn’t always feel quite as flawless. There are inevitably
A large portion of my early career as an event planner was spent producing large scale trade shows. The work that goes into exhibiting at a trade show can be immense but they can also be incredibly effective initiatives for many businesses. One of the biggest advantages to trade shows is their exceptional targeting power. They’re almost always industry specific which means your ideal customers are not only in the room but they’ve
What I love about events is how multi-layered they are. As a guest you’re simply there to enjoy the experience but no one ever considers the details or the level of planning required to ensure the most basic needs of each guest is met. The thought that goes into things like room flow or table set up or the event schedule is immense and often takes a diverse team to pull it off. I’m fortunate to work with some of the best event
When I started in the event business 17 years ago, I had come out of a career in film and television and I was immediately struck with the number of unexpected similarities there were in these two industries. This was particularly apparent with regards to how the whole process of creating a finished product is structured. In film there are production assistants, production coordinators, production managers and film producers. In the
Working as an event planner is my dream job. I get to create amazing experiences and work with some of the best people in the business. But what I’ve come to truly appreciate lately is the diversity of this incredible industry. This career can be perfectly suited to so many different personality types and educational backgrounds. It’s a career built around flexibility and adaptation but it’s important to know how your own skillset fits