Working in Events

So you want to work in events?

It's great that we get sent CVs every week from people who tell me they want to work in events. There’s no doubt it’s a popular industry to work in, and a difficult one to break into. Here’s my guide to finding your way in.

Is working in events the right career for you?

Many people are lured to the industry by the hope of working on razzmatazz parties and award ceremonies and the dream of mixing with the glitterati. In reality you should be prepared for long days, irregular hours, seriously hard work and usually starting on a low salary. On the up side no two days will be the same and the buzz and excitement of delivering a successful event gives great job satisfaction.

What qualities do you need to make a good events manager?

You need to be a people person, a problem solver and have great organisational skills. An eye for detail and creative flair are also a must.

Should you consider a degree in Events Management?

In my opinion an academic degree or a degree in business studies will give you far better grounding and more career options. Alongside this however gaining solid experience in the events industry will be far more valuable than a vocational degree in Events Management.

What are the first steps to working in the industry?

The events industry is a practical industry which requires practical experience. Look for and research ways to build up a body of work experience. Think about approaching event agencies about an internship or contact festivals or charities about doing voluntary work. This will not only enhance your CV but demonstrate your commitment as well and help you start to network and build up contacts.

And how do you find your first job?

There is no one way or right way into your first job. Research the market in your area - remember jobs in the events industry can be found in agencies and in-house as well. I started my career organising events in hotels then moved into an in-house role in the police force before founding Mosaic Events. And when you do start sending your CV out my advice is to be persistent and make sure you stand out from the crowd. I get hundreds of run-of-the-mill CVs and the temptation can be to place them in a file. Think about taking a creative or individual approach which gets you noticed and then follow up with a phone call its amazing how many people don't.

Good luck - as always if you want to write a Blog for Mosaic e-mail sarah@mosaicevents.co.uk

Top tips for saving money when organising events

How to cut costs without cutting corners 

With all the pressures of the credit crunch and world recession,  all businesses are looking at ways to save on costs. But if you are organising an event, how to do this without losing any of the essential sparkle and slick presentation. Here are my top tips... 

1. When negotiating costs with a venue, always haggle and never accept the first rate you are given. And remember Mosaic Events offer a free Venue Finder service - we can find the perfect venue for any event and negotiate the best possible price directly with the venue.
2. Instead of booking a day delegate rate – ask for a break down of costs first. You may be paying unnecessarily for services you don’t need or there could be areas where you could economise.
3. Cutting the afternoon tea and coffee break and finishing early can cut a sizeable chunk off the bill. Could be popular with delegates too!
4. Check with the venue what audio visual facilities are available on-site before you book the services of an external provider.
5.  Consider using the conference auditorium screen to promote event logos and brands instead of producing costly banners.
6. Using jugs of water instead of water bottles is far cheaper and much more eco friendly as well
7. And lastly reduce on printing costs by putting handouts and related documents on the events website for delegates to access after the event is finished.

If you have any further tips for saving money when organising events please email sarah@mosaicevents.co.uk

Event nightmares

It shouldn’t happen to a vet or an events organiser...

We all know that life doesn’t always go to plan. I have been managing events for 15 years now but the memory of two particularly heart stopping moments, early on in my career, can still wake me with a cold sweat. Here’s what happened...

The day Jimmy Saville really did fix it for me...

I was managing a charity event at Leeds Roundhay Park. A local big name celebrity footballer had been booked to appear. Hundreds of people had arrived to watch and the press were there in droves waiting to take pictures. Then his agent rang to cancel. What was I going to do? I would have to improvise and fast. And then guess which unsuspecting jogger should I see in the Park? Without any notice Sir Jimmy agreed to stand in and save the day.

The event which left me shaken and stirred...

The scene was set for a fabulous James Bond ‘Goldfinger’ inspired evening at the Casino for an annual awards ceremony for a Community Safety Partnership hosted by the Police. The stage was to be magnificently decorated by a number of golden mannequins but then they were left in a van overnight which was - ironically - stolen. Thankfully my brilliant team rushed around with gold spray paint to make some replacement decorations and the hundreds of people in the audience never knew the difference.

Here are my top tips to help you manage the unpredictable:

• At every step of the planning process think through what could go wrong and always have a contingency plan for every eventuality – in case a speaker doesn’t turn up, for instance, always have a back-up.
• Celebrities are notoriously unreliable (unless you have booked a committed charity worker like Sir Jimmy of course). Think twice before using one and always have a solid contract.
• Don’t ever leave props or essential set-up materials in a vehicle overnight.
• Be prepared to improvise on the day and think creatively.