Party Planning

George Meszaros asked:


Planning a fancy party may not be a regular event for us, but once in a while we may have to plan one. Graduation parties, wedding receptions, your first book published are just a few of the possible reasons for an extraordinary party. Such a party will require more than a ten dollars per person, and you are not going to get away with a potluck.

This time you are going to have to go all out. Most likely you are going to need to plan for a formal dinner. You have the option of going with a formal sit down dinner or a buffet style dinner. One is not necessarily better than the other, but you need to decide which one makes sense for you.

Formal dinners can create stunning memory for you and your guests. They can become memories that last a lifetime. Planning a formal dinner is about as complicated as a wedding reception, and intense planning is required. You may need to hire an event planner to get the job done right without spending too much time.

If you can afford it hire a party planner. Party planners cost money, but due to their expertise they may be able to save you money. They can help you negotiate better prices on catering, the venue, and entertainment. They may also be able to offer you with several options for catering and venues for your event.

You may not think you need an event planner, but you may find them absolutely necessary. If you have a busy life, you may not be able to take on such a large project on your own. A qualified event planner can help you look at the big picture while she takes care of the small details for you.

There are a many factors that influence the food served at your dinner party. A couple of things to consider are the theme of your party, your guests’ tastes and nationality. A diverse menu will take all these factors into consideration and will be well rounded. Try to have a good balance of healthy and indulgent foods.



Moises

Donna Gorenflo asked:


When planning a party you might consider having other people help you. This can help relieve the stress in preparation with things like food, carpooling, party favors, and more. All the burden of party planning shouldn’t be on you when everyone else gets to enjoy the event.

Planning a party can be fun but stressful too. For instance, surprise parties usually attract a lot of guest so the majority of those invited are likely to show for the occasion. There is no reason why you cannot ask people to share some of the load. There are many tasks involved in planning a surprise party and if something happens to you then what will happen to the party? Recruit friends or family members to help. Assign each one a specific duty. Many of the tasks you need to think about when planning a party include invitations, location, catering or food, gifts, wine, entertainment, party favors, decorations and more. You will also have to setup carpooling if it is a surprise party or people will have to park their cars far down the street. This can still be a problem if they drive a conspicuous vehicle, or there is limited parking available.

When you ask for help with the party you are throwing then everyone will have a sense of ownership. Plan a meeting with the other hosts to discuss the preparation and to split up responsibilities. Food is usually something that is shared because catering can be quite expensive. If only one person plans on cooking for an entire group of people then this can be difficult too. The best way to share the efforts with food is to make a decision which person will bring what dish to the party. Circulate a sign up list that will indicate what everyone can bring. This way, you’ll know if something needs to be purchased separately.

When you throw a party location will be your number one decision. Location is important so deciding where to host the event can be a cumbersome thing to decide. Your home or the home of the person you are throwing the party for may not be big enough, but someone who is invited may have the perfect place. Ask those on your guest list if they can recommend a good location. Perhaps the clubhouse of one of the guest’s apartment complex, or a local town hall might be available. Factors such as parking, restroom facilities, and lighting may need to be addressed when selecting the place to host a party. If children will be there you will have to determine if the location is safe and can accommodate kids. With a little questioning, phone calls and input from all of the host you’ll discover the perfect place for a party. Then if you have to rent a place then the host can split the costs of the rental. You might even think about charging the guest with a cover charge or ask for donations to cover the cost of the rental if it is too expensive. If your party guest know the charge is going to pay for the location most won’t mind the small fee. In addition, the more people you invite, the less each person will have to pay. However, you should remember that more people also mean more food, favors and decorations.

The best way to have a large party is to plan it with multiple people. To avoid arguing with each other then you should have an initial meeting so everyone can agree what their roles and responsibilities will be. This way, no one will step on any toes during the planning process. Don’t be afraid to find creative ways to come up with money to pay for the costs of the party and to ask for everyone, even guests to share with the cost.



Natalia

Leon Endo asked:


Do you want to do some serious casino party planning? Here are the important factors you need to consider so that you can have a party that’s going to impress and really satisfy all of your guests’ expectations.

Budget

This is the most important and the main part of it all. The success and the end appearance of your casino party will greatly rely on the budget you have. So it’s best to keep a practical sense of just how far you can go. Don’t try to achieve something that your budget won’t allow. You should know that casino party planning should involve allotting extra budget for rental fees since you might need to have those machines and other casino paraphernalia inside the venue too.

Rental Partner

This goes hand in hand with the budget. You definitely need to make an effort to scout for the most reliable and real-looking casino party machines and tools. It’s also good to choose a rental partner who might give you discounts and flexible arrangements on how the casino stuff will be brought to the venue. Sometimes, rental companies may already have this option free for you if you will be renting bulk items especially if it involves different types of machines. Make sure you also review the agreement well before you sign.

Schedule of the Party

You should definitely save the date on an evening. Nobody experiences much fun in a casino party during day time. This is because the theme often comes with a splash of many bright colors from the machines and setups. If it’s done during day, it’s a bit contrasting and unnerving to come out to a very bright weather after the party. Plus, the casino occasion is best served as a form of relaxation after your guests just had a very long day. You can have it scheduled on a weekend night or even on a Friday night right after work hours.

Location

If you are planning a casino party, it would be best to rent a warehouse so that the machines and the casino tables can be spread out in comfortable positions. You will definitely need a large space to pull off this kind of party, with all those equipments coming in. You won’t really need much chairs and tables for dining since most of your guests will surely stand up. However, saving space for a mini-bar should also be considered because people will have the tendency to drink a lot during the party.

Food

Casino party planning is not too expensive in terms of food. It is highly suggested that you pick edibles that are easy to munch on like canapes. Your guests, after all, will mostly come for the games they can play and not to get their tummies filled. Instead of the edibles, what you should concentrate instead are the alcoholic drinks which you will offer to them during the party. You might want to hire a bartender for the party who will make cocktail drinks for your guests.



Pablo

Belinda Stinson asked:


A Direct Sales Party Plan business is a great way to find financial freedom but picking the right party plan company can make all the difference.

So before you become an independent representative here are the sort of questions you need to ask and be happy with the answers when choosing a party plan company:

1. What do you sell and what makes it unique in your local area?

2. Who’s your target audience, type of customer, create a picture for yourself?

3. What is the cost to start? And what is included in that cost?

4. What is the average party spend across the company - not just the top sellers?

5. What percentage commission do you make from your sales (as a starting consultant)?

6. How often are commissions paid? How are commissions paid, can they be paid directly into savings accounts?

7. What is the company’s minimum monthly quota?

8. What are the commission structures for the company? What is the profit margin?

9. Does your company offer online catalogs that can be ordered from? Is there a charge? How does commission work for online orders?

10. Does the company offer your own website space to market and sell through? Is there a charge? Is there internet marketing training provided, is there a fee?

11. Are email accounts provided for professional presentation? Is there a cost?

12. What incentives are offered; trips, cars, cash bonuses, conventions etc?

13. How are products delivered - directly or do you have to run around making deliveries with the extra costs involved?

14. What are the customer and consultant shipping charges for supplies and orders? This can greatly vary between companies and seriously influence customer buying decisions and your commission income.

15. Do you have to purchase all of your own marketing materials? How much is the average spend on marketing materials? Is there a supplier list?

16. How seasonal is the product? What is the realistic potential for year round income?

17. What is the unique selling point for the company - is it set up for the growing market demand for natural, fair trade, organic products? Is it a declining market or industry?

18. What is the education program like? What’s included in the monthly programs and meetings; CD’s, books, message boards, forums, newsletters?

19. What is the support community like, where do they meet online and offline? Use forums for specific party plan company recommendations.

20. Who pays for the hostess rewards? Are there products for instant gratification sales or promotional rewards such as for party bookings?

21. Are you required to pay for any part of the hostess gifts or administration fees with your commission or direct payments? What’s the impact on your commission income?

22. What is the return policy for the company?

23. What are the sales tax requirements?

24. What is the company’s buy-back policy and the time frames involved?

25. Does the company allow party plan consultants to sell product at local fairs, festivals, shows or events? Doing shows can increase direct sales and party bookings for you but some companies are not structured to allow for cash and carry sales.

26. Are you able to carry stock to satisfy customers’ need for instant gratification, use for promotional rewards and sales and how much do you pay for them - what percentage?

27. How much do you pay for display and promotional products? If there is a discount, at what point do you need to pay any balance amounts? Do you need to provide your own display stands?

28. Does the company have a fundraising program facility?

29. What are the exit costs for leaving the company such as promotional goods, marketing materials and products?

30. What are the typical questions a consultant asks in the first three months - this can give you an idea about any quirky procedures.

31. How many other consultants are working in your area - is it at or will soon be at saturation levels?



Liam

Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo asked:


As a home party consultant and direct sales consultant for a home party plan or direct sales company, it is rather important that you learn how to market your business, find recruits and hostesses, because  Home Party Business is booming, just ask Warren Buffet, the richest man in the world and oh by the way he own three home party companies e.g., Pampered Chef!

Marketing through home parties and home party sales has been be identified as one of the most effective methods of marketing with business opportunity companies.

Home party companies place many restrictions on their home party consultants and direct sales reps. when it comes to marketing!  And yet many are seeing wonderful results

But what separates the struggling, frustrated, heartbroken, cash-poor Home Party Plan Business Owner and direct sales consultants from the confident, pink Cadillac driving, white Mercedes Benz owning, obviously clued-in home party plan marketers pulling in huge numbers and results (EVEN in this chaotic, soul-sucking economy)?

(No, wait ESPECIALLY in this chaotic, soul-sucking economy). While average home party business owners are cowering in bed with the covers pulled over their head the top home party sales representatives are still fearlessly bringing home the bacon, even as everyone else panics and freaks out!

Have you ever wondered how the top earners in your direct sales home party company got to be so successful while you struggle every day to build your organization? 

I can tell you this:

It’s not because they’re any smarter than you are

They don’t work any harder (in fact, they work LESS)

And it’s not because they’ve spent thousands of dollars on high priced

seminars (although I highly recommend you attend the ones I hold and I

they will be reasonably priced ?)

The reason behind their success, get this, is the fact that they implement a system!  I know seems so simple huh!

Home Party Marketing Tip: Create Systems That Will Do The Bulk Of The Work

I practically famous for this quote:

“95% of people fail when they start a business without a system.

95% percent of people are successful when they start a business with a system!

- Entrepreneur Magazine

A system constitutes a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, in particular a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. It spells:

S-ave

Y-our

S-elf

T-ime &

E-nergy

M-oney

If your home party plan system involves the 3-foot rule, list of 100 or more, hotel meetings, 3-ways, everyone with a pulse is your prospect, then repeat after me: time to re-group!  Those are all methods, functions and/or processes, not systems.

Systems are able to run with very little human involvement.  Think about all the systems in your body.  Do you have to manually pump your heart to get it to force blood to the rest of your body?  As I’m typing this report, I don’t have to think about the position of my fingers on the keyboard, or lifting them up and down.  My nervous system takes care of that for me.  Think about how long it would take to create this eBook without the assistance of the systems in my body.  Hint:  you wouldn’t be reading it right now!

Just like your body, your home parties business needs systems to function, grow and defend itself from outside forces that mean harm.  So get a system and put it to use right now!

And I belive I have just the thing for you, The Little Black Of Home Party  Plan Marketing Success is system like none other, provides tips on how to generate ongoing  home party sales and some of the best ways to promote yor home partys business!

Additionally you get Home Party Plan & Direct Sales Marketing And Training all in one place!  Isn’t it about time you create a cash flow?



Max

George Meszaros asked:


Planning for a successful party your guest will remember for a long time is no small task. Party planning is a job with many important components. The importance of careful planning is depends on the size and significance of your party. If you are planning a party of a lifetime, you are going to be under much more pressure than planning a weekly poker party get together.

Determining the magnitude of your party is the most important first step in your party planning process. Setting your party budget and how many people you are inviting are close second and third. Your budget and the number of guest are among the two most important aspects of the entire planning process.

Think of you party budget as an opportunity not as a challenge. There is no such a thing as too much money spent on a special event. Anyone can spend a ton of money on a party and make it an unbelievable event. The challenge is to create a great party on a small budget. Before you spend a dime on anything set your budget and stick with it.

Your party planning must include the following details: food, decorations, party favors, and plates, cups and napkins. All of the above depends on your budget and the number of guest you are inviting. Don’t go shopping without a list to avoid buying on impulse. The biggest threat to staying within your budget is impulse buying. Go shopping with a mission, don’t improvise and always avoid impulse buying.

The food that you choose for your party is significant. A more formal party normally requires more formal food and serving. An informal party requires simple food such as pizza or other finger food. Take the season and geographical location into consideration as well. Is your party planning being done for a theme party? If you are planning a themed party then have foods that suit it. Serving fish and seafood at a beach party is most appropriate. Serving fruits and vegetables during a summer party is a good fit. If you are planning a luau themed party have Hawaiian foods and drinks.

Party planning can be stressful, but it should also be fun. After all you are planning a party, enjoy it!



Cristina

DA Southern asked:


Event Planning is a business for adults, everyone knows that. As an Event Planner who has done my fair share of Corporate Event Planning that are usually themed towards adults, I have been mistaken in the assumption that the “Kids” market is mostly left towards those stay-at-home moms with lots of time on their hands. 

To say that a themed Event aimed towards a segment of the sector that seeks to raise funds for children is not a Children’s Party.  It is still usually an adult themed Event that serves to get adults involved with some aspect of raising funds for a children’s charity.  Trust me, I have come across Event Planners that see it in that vein.

So, I have turned my idea around as of late, as I have gotten to know some in the Children’s Party Planning business fairly exclusively, or at least, those who do a fair chunk of their business in the kids market.  I guess the biggest drawback I always saw as a Children’s Party Planner was that most parents didn’t want to spend that much for Kids Party Planning.

I was wrong.

There are plenty of parents, and not just “Rich Folks,” who want to give their kids a memorable experience for one reason or another.  It doesn’t really matter the reason.  As a fantastic Party Planner, it is your responsibility to give the best Event you can plan no matter who is your client.

So what are the basics of setting up a great Party Planning business?  Well, as I have mentored others to do, the basics are fairly similar to setting up any Event Planning Business; Niche, Operations, Marketing and Execution.

So, your Niche.  Well, you have already decided to be someone who does Children’s Party Planning.  That is all well and good.  But really take the time to discover what aspect of that market will you do.  What I mean is are there certain Party themes that you love to do?  Are there certain monetary limits that you must insist on to make it profitable?  You see, you have to ask yourself serious questions or you will be running around doing a bunch of small events that you end up hating to do.

Operations comes from the question I ask most who are starting an Event Planning Business.  How are you going to operate your business?  Where?  In your home?  An office of some kind?  There are a myriad of scenarios that you could do, but please be very careful if operating from home.  It is imperative that you carve out a space that is solely for your business and nothing else.  This may be hard to do, but make it so.  If your family knows that the area  is your “Work Space” and when they see you in it, they will come to know when you are “Doing Business.”  You have got to set the groundwork for that mindset to happen.

The Marketing aspect is usually a monetary one at first glance.  People always equate how much money they have to what and how they can market.  That is a terrible approach and one that should be avoided.  You have to be creative at the outset and there are fantastic ways to let the people know that you are doing what you do.  Now, notice that the Marketing is third on the list as you can not Market until you have a pretty clear picture of who you are and how you will operate.

Finally, Execution is paramount and funds everything else.  Face it, if your Execution is lacking, the rest does not matter.  This is why it is clear who you are, how you will do business and how will you Market yourself. 

Eventually, your Execution will be that part of you that will be the true measure of how you interact with your clientele.  This will be your “Calling Card” and will get you countless opportunities to do more Event Planning.

One thing that I must advise you on due to the nature of Children’s Party Planning.  Be as professional as if you you were Planning a Corporate Event.  People will appreciate you for it and you will be considered the “Pro” for what you do.

Remember…Every Event in Your Life Should Be A Party.



Valeria