Everyone in the world has done some event planning, as soon as you get more than two people together you are event planning. Most of the world does plan million dollar events, but something less. Often one of the biggest events is a wedding, but birthday parties or neighbourhood parties all go through the same checklist. The book event planning by Judy Allen, John Wiley and Sons, Toronto, 2000 is a great guide as the price of the event rises. For most of us, except for the Wedding or Anniversary party, we do a lot of stuff in our heads because the budget is relatively low. For example in the coming week is Halloween – you may go out for trick or treating or stay home and have the kids come over. It is not a great decision to do it at the last moment, otherwise you will be running around for all the little things you forgot. The book event planning features gala events and conferences but the same process goes for any size event.

After you have decided to do an event, the next step is planning and budgeting. Remember once the event starts, there is no rewind and there is a rule which you need to prepare for and hopefully not experience too often – Murphy’s Law of whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. If you manage people in your job, event planning is an extension of the skill set. Remember all events cost some money and even if you buy at the dollar store, there are expenses. The organizers need to write a cheque and as a planner you need to try to stay within the budget, knowing the tighter it is the more alternatives you will need to go through. If the budget is okay, continue.  The next element of thinking is the purpose of the event – why is the event being held and all the rest of the planning should feed into the why.

As the event planning begins to unfold, there are more elements which need to be settled including time requirements? when does the event take place? always work backyards from the date of the event which enables the checklist to be ticked off when they are done. The more checkmarks there are before the event, the better the event. As the event is to occur – try to visualize it. Walk yourself through arrivals, to doing the event and ensuring the purpose of the event is fulfilled. Why would the event be a success? is there a wow moment? what perception did you leave?

Linking to dividend paying stocks, there are many methods to picking stocks – there are textbooks with great and no so great ideas, one easy method to start with profitable companies that pay a dividend. There can be wide opinions on each stock, but we know that profitable companies stock performs better than non profitable stocks, those that can afford to pay a dividend means you can worry about other things. A successful event will leave a good feeling about the company or the people you have meant, a profitable company with a dividend will continue to enhance your pocket book.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions