Careers in Events

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in events? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

Last year I was lucky enough to go to the summer X Games, a festival which offers live music, extreme sports, athlete autograph sessions, and interactive elements in Los Angeles. While I was there sitting in the stands, surrounded by hundreds of screaming fans, watching Freestyle Motocross bikers soar through the air, I couldn’t help but think how amazing it was that someone was able to actually make this gigantic event happen. And the person that was the glue that held the X Games together, was an event planner– or probably a few. Basically an event planner is someone who organizes an event like a festival, ceremony, competition, convention, or party.

Event Planner Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user LiveLoudTX

Event Planning Career Guide Overview

  1. What an Event Planner Does
  2. A Typical Day for an Event Planner
  3. Salary and Career Progression for an Event Planner
  4. Best Locations for Event Planning
  5. Pro/Con: Being an Event Planner
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Event Planning
  7. Event Planning Resources
  8. Careers Related to Event Planning
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Event Planning

What a Event Planner Does

An event planner handles every part of making an event a success. First comes finding the ideal location for the event–it could be a hotel, convention center, reception hall, or outdoor area. Once the location is selected, the coordinator finds the right staff to work the event, or sets clear expectations with the existing staff, selects and reserves the entertainment. Throughout the process, the event planner must keep contact with the client to make sure that expectations are being met so that everything goes smoothly on the day of the event. The event planner is also responsible for addressing additional details like food, drinks, music, guest list, decorations, transportation, and in some cases advertising and marketing (check out this infographic for details about what that entails). The event planner must accomplish all of this while keeping within a specific budget and a timeline that they help set–allocating resources is a key part of the job.

A Typical Day for an Event Coordinator

The key for a successful event planner is to be in constant communication. That means spending a lot of time in an office, making phone calls or writing emails to stay in touch with clients and vendors. The morning might be filled with negotiating contracts, discussing the layout of a venue, crunching numbers in a budget, studying a menu to select the best food options, or surfing the web for local DJs. In the afternoon a planner might pick up a printed banner or invitations, email the caterer, and book a limousine. And throughout the day, time will be spent fielding additional requests from clients. Many of the tasks can be administrative, but when you get to see the event come together without a hitch, it’s all worth it.

Salary and Career Progression in Event Planning

Pay for an event planner generally falls between $30,000 and $69,000 per year, and the median expected salary is $55,299 per year. In the event planning field, most folks start as Assistant Event Planners or Event Coordinators (the average salary for that role is apparently $44,318, though this seems a bit high to me). The next step up is becoming an Event Planner. If you want to venture further up the ladder, you either work at a larger events firm or start your own events business.

Best Locations for Event Planners

You can obviously be an event planner anywhere events happen, but the best places are usually in cities known for having large events like:

  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Orlando, FL
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • New York, NY
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Washington DC
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Seattle, WA
  • Chicago, IL

Pro/Con: Working in Events Management

Pros
  • You’re constantly building relationships.
  • There’s a ton of task variety.
  • You can office escape the office to visit venues, or even better, go to the events you planned.
  • You can see your work in action on the smiles of people attending your event.
  • It’s a great outlet for creativity.
  • There’s an easy path to entrepreneurship.
Cons
  • It can be extremely stressful when things don’t fall into place perfectly.
  • Working within a budget.
  • All the multi-tasking can be overwhelming.
  • Clients can be demanding and treat you poorly.
  • Event budgets are very dependent on the economy.

What You Need to Know for a Career in Events

To be a great planner you might want a Bachelor’s Degree in event planning, but the exciting news is that you don’t have to have one. In this industry, determination might be all you need. A good place to start is to get a couple years of experience in the field–perhaps by assisting with catering an event, or helping out with a local concert. As long as you are creative, good at multi-tasking, able to envision the big picture, results oriented, and capable of working within a given budget, you should be able to land a job in event planning.

Event Planning Resources

If event planning still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Key Folks to Follow on Twitter

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Careers Related to Event Planning

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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Events

The Mountaineers Logo

The Mountaineers - The Mountaineers is a Seattle based non-profit that has “been teaching skills, sharing adventures, creating volunteers, and conserving land” for more than a century.

See the complete The Mountaineers profile


Krash Logo

Krash - Krash is based in Boston and offers a “way for founders, entrepreneurs and innovators to rapidly build the supportive personal and professional networks they need.”

See the complete Krash profile


Fever - Fever is a New York, NY and Madrid, Spain based startup social network that is “changing the way people make plans.”

See the complete Fever profile


American Film Institute Logo

American Film Institute - AFI is an L.A. non-profit that aims "to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.”

See the complete American Film Institute profile


UpOut Logo

UpOut - UpOut is a San Francisco, CA based company that “is changing how locals discover unique events in their city.”

See the complete UpOut profile


DaveRamsey Logo

DaveRamsey - The Lampo Group is Dave Ramsey's Brentwood, TN based company that provides "biblically based, common-sense education and empowerment" with a focus on finance.

See the complete DaveRamsey profile


TiqIQ Logo

TiqIQ - TiqIQ is based in New York, NY, and they aim “to make buying event tickets more transparent, efficient, and simpler.”

See the complete TiqIQ profile


GlamourGals Logo

GlamourGals - GlamourGals is an NYC based non-profit that inspires “teens to provide ongoing complimentary beauty makeovers and companionship to women living in senior homes.”

See the complete GlamourGals profile


Conrad N Hilton Foundation Logo

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is an Agoura Hills, CA based non-profit “family foundation established in 1944 by the man who started Hilton Hotels.”

See the complete Conrad N. Hilton Foundation profile


Brooklyn Botanic Garden Logo

Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Brooklyn Botanic Garden is “an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity."

See the complete Brooklyn Botanic Garden profile


Liferay Logo

Liferay - Liferay is a Diamond Bar, CA based company that helps clients “build modern websites and portals to engage customers, partners, and employees.”

See the complete Liferay profile


Chashama Logo

Chashama - Chashama is a New York, NY based non-profit that “nurtures artists by transforming unused property into work and presentation space.”

See the complete Chashama profile


Round Star Foundation Logo

Round Star Foundation - Round Star Foundation is a New York, NY based non-profit “dedicated to extending the many benefits soccer can provide to every individual.”

See the complete Round Star Foundation profile


Old Sturbridge Village Logo

Old Sturbridge Village - Old Sturbridge Village is the “largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast” and it “depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s.”

See the complete Old Sturbridge Village profile


General Assembly Logo

General Assembly - General Assembly is based in NYC and is “offering full-time immersive programs, long-form courses, and classes and workshops on the most relevant skills of the 21st century.”

See the complete General Assembly profile


FierceMarkets Logo

FierceMarkets - FierceMarkets is a Washington, DC based company that specializes in business-to-business media, publications, and marketing.

See the complete FierceMarkets profile


Hanley Wood Logo

Hanley Wood - Washington, DC based Hanley Wood is “the premier media, event, information and strategic marketing services company serving the residential and commercial design and construction industries.”

See the complete Hanley Wood profile


Sparks Logo

Sparks - Sparks is a Philadelphia, PA based agency that “creates dyanmic brand experiences anywhere in the world a customer engages with your brand.”

See the complete Sparks profile


Escalate Logo

Escalate - Escalate is an NYC based experiential marketing agency that escalates “customer relationships to the point of brand advocacy, with measurable results.”

See the complete Escalate profile


MINDBODY Logo

MINDBODY - MINDBODY is a San Luis Obispo, CA based company that believes that “small business owners deserve the time to do what they love.”

See the complete MINDBODY profile


Loverly Logo

Loverly - Loverly is a New York, NY based "one-stop-shop for wedding planning where brides and grooms find ideas, people to hire and things to buy.”

See the complete Loverly profile


Mass Relevance Logo

Mass Relevance - Mass Relevance is an Austin, TX based company that aims “to inspire brands to involve their audience.”

See the complete Mass Relevance profile


Food Allergy Research & Education

Food Allergy Research & Education - The Food Allergy Research & Education is a McLean, VA based non-profit that “works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies."

See the complete Food Allergy Research & Education profile


Council of Urban Professionals

Council of Urban Professionals - Council of Urban Professionals is a New York, NY based non-profit that “molds diverse business and civic leaders and empowers them to exert influence."

See the complete Council of Urban Professionals profile


Dinner Lab Logo

Dinner Lab - Dinner Lab is a New Orleans, LA based “membership-based social dining experiment that unites undiscovered chefs with adventurous diners."

See the complete Dinner Lab profile


The Metropolitan Opera Logo

The Metropolitan Opera - The Metropolitan Opera in New York, NY is the largest classical music organization in North America, and it’s been around for just over 128 years.

See the complete The Metropolitan Opera profile


Townsquare Media Logo

Townsquare Media - Townsquare Media is a Greenwich, CT based "company that owns and operates radio, digital and live event properties in 66 small to mid-sized markets across the country.”

See the complete Townsquare Media profile


Bay Area Discovery Museum Logo

Bay Area Discovery Museum - The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a Sausalito, CA based museum that “is designed to ignite creative thinking in children.”

See the complete Bay Area Discovery Museum profile


Handel and Haydn Society Logo

Handel and Haydn Society - Handel and Haydn Society is a Boston, MA based non-profit that is coming up on 200 years of excellence “in the field of Historically Informed Performance.”

See the complete Handel and Haydn Society profile


BidPal Logo

BidPal - BidPal is an Indianapolis, IN based company that uses technology to “improve charitable fundraising events from start to finish."

See the complete BidPal profile


Mirrorball Logo

Mirrorball - Mirrorball is a New York, NY based consumer engagement agency “that connects brands and people through a fusion of social media and live experience.”

See the complete Mirrorball profile


Major League Lacrosse Logo

Major League Lacrosse - Major League Lacrosse is a Brighton, MA based professional lacrosse league that had its first games in 2001 and plans to expand extensively over the next decade.

See the complete Major League Lacrosse profile


New York Kids Club Logo

New York Kids Club - New York Kids Club is an NYC based company that aims to "provide children the opportunity to build confidence and express their individuality" through enrichment programs.

See the complete New York Kids Club profile


Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll - Crunchyroll is a San Francisco, CA and Tokyo, Japan based company that offers “the leading global video service for Japanese Anime and Asian media.”

See the complete Crunchyroll profile


Road Scholar Logo

Road Scholar - Road Scholar is a Boston, MA based non-profit that aims to inspire "adults to learn, discover and travel" by offering educational tours all across the world.

See the complete Road Scholar profile


HL Group Logo

HL Group - HL Group is an NYC based agency that offers services ranging “from media relations and corporate communications strategies to flawless event execution.”

See the complete HL Group profile


Canyon Ranch Logo

Canyon Ranch - Canyon Ranch is a Tucson, AZ and Lenox, MA based resort and spa with an “innovative approach to health, wellness and holistic and integrative care.”

See the complete Canyon Ranch profile


Levitt Pavillions Logo

Levitt Pavilions - Levitt Pavilions is a Los Angeles, CA based non-profit that “partners with cities to build and transform outdoor music venues into community treasures.”

See the complete Levitt Pavilions profile


Wedding Party Logo

Wedding Party - Wedding Party is a Palo Alto, CA based company that offers an app that allows you to “capture all the amazing photos from your wedding.”

See the complete Wedding Party profile


Lean Startup Machine Logo

Lean Startup Machine - Lean Startup Machine is an NYC based company that offers “intensive three-day workshops” that teach “entrepreneurs and innovators how to build disruptive products.”

See the complete Lean Startup Machine profile


Chicago Architecture Foundation Logo

Chicago Architecture Foundation - Chicago Architecture Foundation is a non-profit organization that is “devoted to celebrating and promoting Chicago as a center of architectural innovation.”

See the complete Chicago Architecture Foundation profile


Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Logo

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum - The NYC based Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum promotes “the awareness and understanding of history, science and service" through collections and exhibitions.

See the complete Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum profile


Entertainment Cruises Logo

Entertainment Cruises - Entertainment Cruises is a company with “26 vessels serving eight cities with six unique cruise products.”

See the complete Entertainment Cruises profile


Irish Arts Center Logo

Irish Arts Center - The Irish Arts Center, a New York, NY based non-profit that is "dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century."

See the complete Irish Arts Center profile


National Academy for State Health Policy Logo

National Academy for State Health Policy - The National Academy for State Health Policy is a non-profit that helps “states achieve excellence in health policy and practice” by working with each other.

See the complete National Academy for State Health Policy profile


Food & Friends Logo

Food & Friends - Food & Friends is a Washington, DC based non-profit that cares for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other illnesses by preparing and delivering meals.

See the complete Food & Friends profile


Social Impact Logo

Social Impact - Social Impact is an Arlington, VA based management consulting firm that aims “to make international development more effective in improving people’s lives.”

See the complete Social Impact profile


Thuzio Logo

Thuzio - Thuzio is a New York, NY based company that “provides an online platform that connects the public with professional athletes."

See the complete Thuzio profile


Vedere Logo

Vedere - Vedere is a New York, NY based company that offers “an online design community and global marketplace unlike any other.”

See the complete Vedere profile


eshots Logo

eshots - eshots is a Chicago, IL based company that ensures their clients “get the highest possible return on [their] event marketing investments.”

See the complete eshots profile


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