Hiring a professional to plan your event can save you time and money and reduce the stress of organising an event yourself. But how do you find the right person for the job? When interviewing applicants, ask them questions about their experience. Look for answers that show they have the skills to succeed in the role.
Look for Experience
You want to look for the experience because a professional planner, for example, Total Events DFW, can take on all the administration of an event, from table plans and running orders to vendor briefs, MC notes, and more. They’ll know how to negotiate, get the best price for all services, and know what should be included in each package. One way to find experienced planners is to ask for recommendations from your colleagues. Then post your job on social media and industry-specific groups and boards to find the right fit. You can hire a full-time planner and ask them to train your existing team on social media management and event analytics skills.
Check References
A well-trained event planner will be able to save your company money. For example, they can negotiate with vendors to get you a fair deal on everything from venue rental to catering services. In addition, they will ensure that all your requests are fulfilled with precision and flair. A good event planner will know your goals, whether boosting sales, fostering strong relationships, or celebrating milestones. They will then be able to create a plan that fits your budget and objectives. Make sure to check the candidates’ references. This will give you insight into how they treat their clients and coworkers. Also, it will help you weed out any bad apples. You do not want to spend time and energy training a new planner only to discover they cannot meet your expectations.
Ask Questions
During the interview process, ask each candidate questions that will give you a better sense of their abilities. These can be basic questions, such as their favorite aspects of the job, to more in-depth questions, like how they manage their time when planning totaleventsdfw.com events and what they do to stay updated on industry trends. Another question that is important to ask is how they handle challenging clients and situations. This will help you see how they would handle a difficult situation during your event. This will help you to save time and only interview candidates who are a good fit for your company. This will also prevent any surprises down the line. Please find out how they charge, whether a flat rate or hourly or on a percentage of budget or cost-per-person.
Check Out Their Portfolio
Pulling off a great event is hard work and requires a lot of planning. Finding a planner that can provide you with a portfolio of previous events they have worked on is essential. A good portfolio will showcase their creative thinking and help you determine if they have the necessary skills to get the job done. It will also help you understand if they can deliver on their promises and make your event successful. A good portfolio should include pictures or videos of past events they have planned. It should also share specific numbers like the number of attendees or the amount of money raised. It is important to highlight these key metrics as they directly indicate an event’s success.
Check Out Their Pricing
Event planning is a business and a lot of work. You want to make sure that the person you hire can handle the amount of work involved and that they have a fair pricing structure. A good planner will have strong relationships with vendors and venues and can often negotiate a significant discount for their clients. These savings can save the client a lot of money in terms of costs. Another important factor is a planner’s ability to prepare an accurate budget proposal that clearly shows the financial worth of your event and whether it will yield a profit, break even, or loss. This is critical to securing the necessary funds from internal stakeholders within your organisation.