Event organizer: who really is the Swiss army knife of the event industry?
Although the profession of event organizer can be found under a variety of names (event manager, evening organizer, wedding planner, régisseur d'événementiel, event planner, event manager, etc.), the missions - and above all the strategic and operational qualities required - remain the same.), the missions, and above all the strategic and operational qualities required, remain the same.
A true "conductor of the orchestra", the event organizer conceives, manages and promotes an event project to a target audience on behalf of a customer.
It's this diversity of missions that makes the profession increasingly attractive to many students and professionals looking for a career change.
Are you interested in becoming an event manager? Find out which training courses will enable you to enter this career, as well as the skills required, through a complete job description.
The event organizer's job description
What does an event organizer do?
An event planner has a wide range of tasks to perform, and there are some specific ones depending on the field in which he or she specializes.
For example, a wedding planner will not have to deal with the same constraints as a sports or business event organizer.
Nevertheless, the main tasks of an event planner are as follows:
☑️ Responding to invitations to tender in the events sector and drafting commercial proposals.
☑️ Develop the concept for the event (gala, trade show, concert, team building, etc.), taking into account the customer's objectives, budget and constraints.
☑️ Maintain constant communication with the customer, so as to always respond to their expectations and concerns.
☑️ Manage the entire logistical organization of the event:
- finding a venue,
- setting up a catering service,
- preparing the various activities and presentations, etc.
☑️ Select service providers, suppliers and other participants for the event.
☑️ Ensure regulatory compliance of various contracts and arrangements.
☑️ Monitor the event's budget and administrative management.
☑️ Coordinate all those involved in the event, i.e. :
- your team,
- external service providers (caterers, photographers, musicians, sound engineers, hosts and hostesses, etc.),
- speakers.
☑️ Implement a communication and promotion strategy before, during and after the event, to enhance its appeal to the public.
☑️ Use technological tools and social networks to enhance the above-mentioned communication strategy.
☑️ Measure the success of your objectives and customer satisfaction, and adjust your strategy and working methods if necessary.
☑️ Maintain a constant watch on the events industry, to keep abreast of the latest innovations and trends.
Pixabay/rcokting
How do I become an event organizer?
The most commonly recommended training courses for becoming an event organizer are as follows:
- a BTS or DUT (bac + 2) in communications, or even business,
- a professional license or bachelor's degree (bac + 3) in event communications,
- a Master's degree (bac + 5) in communications. The latter offers the advantage of easier access to the position of events project manager, without having to go through the assistant stage.
Here are just a few examples of schools offering training to become an event organizer:
- Tunon International School and its Bachelor RP & Événementiel,
- LéCOLE and its Event Manager course,
- ISEFAC and its Bachelor in Event Project Management.
Finally, some organizations, such as CNFDI, offer distance learning courses in event organization.
☝️ As with many professions, experience in the field comes first. As a result, some people have been promoted to event organizer positions without necessarily having the qualifications listed above.
Where does an event organizer work?
☑️ In an events agency, communications agency or advertising agency. This working environment is particularly appreciated by those who wish to vary their missions and discover new sectors. This type of structure means, for example, that one day you could be working for a local authority, the next for a major ready-to-wear brand.
☑️ In-house. Some large companies, or those with a strategy focused on events, may have their own event planner on staff, integrated into the communications department. In this configuration, the event planner has the opportunity to acquire solid expertise in his or her sector.
☑️ As a freelancer. A true "Swiss army knife", he or she has already experienced a wide range of activities and positions in the world of events. From the customer's point of view, using a freelancer means greater flexibility, and generally lower rates.
What skills does an event organizer have?
- project management,
- budget management,
- management techniques,
- sales techniques,
- negotiation techniques,
- mastery of new technologies,
- communication and marketing,
- foreign language skills, particularly English.
What are the qualities of an event organizer?
- Availability (event organizers work long hours and don't count the hours),
- resistance to stress (dealing with the unexpected is an integral part of the event planner's daily routine),
- versatility,
- organization,
- creativity,
- adaptability,
- ability to work as part of a team,
- diplomacy,
- interpersonal skills,
- listening skills.
How does the job of event organizer evolve?
There's no such thing as a clear-cut career path for event organizers, since the range of their missions and skills is so broad.
However, it is possible to evolve in this profession and in your skills, in a number of different ways:
- By working for increasingly prestigious events, or on behalf of well-known artists or shows/festivals.
- By specializing in certain types of events (fashion and luxury goods, weddings, trade shows, etc.).
- Opening your own events agency.
What does an event organizer earn?
Salaries in the event industry are quite varied, and of course depend largely on the experience and type of structure for which the event planner works.
However, here's a rough idea of how much they earn:
- for a junior profile 👉 around €2,000 gross per month,
- for a senior profile 👉 around €3,000 gross per month.
The event organizer's toolbox
Discover a non-exhaustive list of the tools that accompany the event organizer in his daily tasks.
Project management software
🛠️ Trello or Asana, for example.
Event software
🛠️ Prezevent or LabEvent, for example.
Email marketing software
🛠️ Mailjet or MailChimp, for example.
Social network management software
🛠️ Buffer or HootSuite, for example.
Event organizer: a constantly changing job
By now, you've grasped the ins and outs of the job of event organizer... but it would be a mistake to think that the job is set in stone!
Let's not forget that one of the main objectives of the profession is to win over an increasingly demanding public. And this is only possible if the event planner keeps abreast of trends and technological evolutions likely to strike a chord with the target audience. That's why monitoring is an integral part of his daily work.
Personalization, immersion (using augmented reality in particular), eco-responsibility, collaboration... these are just some of the avenues to be explored, heralding new promises and challenges for event organizers.
Article translated from French