Becoming an event manager: requirements and opportunities

The event industry is considered a dream job, because whether it's trade fairs, congresses, concerts or festivals: event managers are always right in the middle.

More than just drinking tea: the day-to-day life of an event manager can be quite stressful and chaotic

If you want to work in the event industry, there are various options. One of them is the activity as an event or event manager. The two terms are used synonymously.

What do event managers do?

As the name suggests, event managers are responsible for planning, organizing, running and following up events. Your area of responsibility extends from the creation of concepts to cost calculation, public relations, the acquisition of sponsors, selection and organization of the venue, technology, insurance and catering; you are available as a contact person during the event and prepare invoices and invoices after the event a final report. Overall, they are responsible for ensuring that an event runs satisfactorily from start to finish for everyone involved.

How do you become an event manager?

The job title "event manager" or "event manager" is not protected, ie anyone can call themselves such and the career path is not straightforward. Many event managers aretrained event clerks, some have also completed a degree in event management or business administration with a corresponding focus. Further training to become an event manager offers a solid basis for working as an event manager.

Many aspiring event managers initially gain experience and establish contacts on a part-time basis before they dedicate themselves full-time to event organization. To be successful at this, event managers must above all have a range of skills and abilities.

What are the characteristics of a good event manager?

A good event manager is not characterized by his formal training, but above all by a number of characteristics and skills, most of which have to be learned:

1. Organizational talent

Much of the work consists of planning and organizing. The term "organizational talent" is a bit misleading, because organization can be learned. Practice makes perfect.

2. Creativity

Event managers should be creative and innovative to come up with special concepts. After all, most customers want their event to be special.

3. Empathy and customer orientation

With all creativity and the desire to implement your own ideas, the customer's wishes must always be in the foreground. Good event managers listen carefully to their customers in order to be able to empathize with them and, ideally, to be able to read their wishes off their lips later. They behave just as empathically towards other participants, but at the same time also have negotiating skills.

Negotiating skills are just as important as empathy

4. Flexibility and stress resistance

Firstly, it turns out differently and secondly than you think. Event managers have to react flexibly to changed external circumstances, unreliable service providers and erratic customers. The working hours are often irregular.

5. Passion

Enthusiasm for the job you do is helpful in any job, but as an event manager it is essential. Event managers embody the event and at the same time take on tasks from the areas of project management, purchasing, sales, marketing and personnel.

6. Business thinking

"Just plan and just send me the invoice afterwards!" No client, ever. As much as event managers want generous, flexible budgets - they rarely receive a blank check. That is why it is essential that event managers have a good command of cost calculation and have an appropriate business mindset. This can also be learned.

7. Legal knowledge

All events are subject to legal regulations. Appropriate knowledge of event law is therefore always required.

8. Basic technical understanding

Regardless of what kind of event is being organized, event technology is almost always required and therefore an event manager should also have a corresponding understanding.

How many guests can you make happy with one bowl of olives?

In which areas do event managers work?

Event managers are active wherever events take place: They work either for event agencies or directly for trade fair and concert and festival organizers, in the tourism industry (for example in the hotel industry), for cultural institutions and organizers. Large companies with their own events department also employ event managers. With some professional experience, many event managers also become self-employed and work, for example, as wedding planners.

Earning opportunities and prospects

After a long-lasting boom, it can be said that there is no longer a shortage of event managers. It is therefore advisable to prospective event managers to look for a niche and regularly acquire further qualifications.

Salaries in the industry vary greatly and differ according to region, company size, professional qualifications and experience. Self-employed event managers can earn the most, as large budgets are made available for major events. However, the dependence on projects also means an irregular income.

Courtesy: event organizer in lahore