If you've got designs on a rewarding career in the events industry, it's vital that you know what you're getting into. The time and money you spend on the necessary event planning courses is reason enough to get as much insight into the sector as you can. You're in luck, though, as today we get some insight from someone who's done it and got the T-shirt!
How Big Is The Event Industry In Australia?
The answer to that question is very big! The Australian economy is worth $35.7 billion per year, and employment levels have tripled since 2001. They're expected to double again by 2025, meaning anyone with the skills learnt from online event planning short courses will undoubtedly be in demand over the coming years.
So, now we get to the main part of the article. The part you've been waiting for, as we get some golden nuggets of wisdom from Alison Dean, owner and director of the popular company, The High Tea Party. Alison really knows her stuff, and her experience has taken her to huge annual events across the country.
We caught up with the lady herself to get the inside scoop.
How Did You Get Into The Events Industry…
I did a communications degree at Uni, then fell into PR as my first job. With PR, it goes without saying that organising events like media launches are a central part of the role. I then worked for a big advertising agency called Clemenger Communications.
We were always looking for events that companies would use to market their products to women! Usually, we couldn't find anything, so I created them for myself.
What's Your Favourite Part Of The Job?
That's easy. The event day itself! The satisfaction I feel when it all comes together according to plan, with exhibitors and clients all getting the results they were looking for, is excellent. Knowing you put it all together for everyone comes with an enormous sense of accomplishment, especially when people keep telling me they've had a great time!
What's Included In Your Day-To-Day Activities?
My daily list is usually pretty long, as there are dozens of tasks that I need to take care of. There's liaising with exhibitors and clients, marketing the sale of tickets and organising all hotel logistics. Then you've got to create proposals, research venues, negotiate with suppliers, and organise car parking facilities. I could go on, but needless to say, I have a busy day every day.
What Are Your Biggest Challenges & What's The Most Rewarding?
The biggest challenge? That's another easy one….KEEPING TO BUDGET! People want the best experiences but don't always have the budget for them, so it's a process of negotiation and expectation setting. In fact, it's a constant balancing act.
The most rewarding is thinking on your feet to resolve issues. Problems ALWAYS arise on the day regardless of how planned you think you are, but there's nothing like solving the issues and everyone having a great time as a result.
What Advice Would You Give Someone Looking To Work In The Event Industry?
It is NOT all glitz and glamour. Events are HARD WORK. You need to be dedicated and enjoy the fast pace, long hours, and physical demands! Therefore you really have to love what you do. There are times when you have to keep your head while all around you; others are losing theirs, but if you have the proper training and calm nature, there's nothing you can't achieve!
Enrol In An Event Planner Course Today With OCA!
As we can see, the role of an event planner is clearly a rewarding and challenging one, but if it's something you feel suited to, you have a bright future ahead. Getting the training you need is simple, too, thanks to our CPD Endorsed, video-based event planning courses that are mentally stimulating and modular, so you can easily fit them around your current life obligations.
The training we offer transcends traditional text-based courses and helps to encourage a joy for learning - something you can see for yourself in our student study demo. To find out more about this and to see the full course library that goes far beyond event planning and covers more than 20 other industries, visit us today at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au.
While you are there, you'll see details of the fact that all of our training comes with 1-to-1 mentoring, so you'll never have trouble getting help when you need it. We even offer flexible payment options that let you spread the cost out more easily, so go check it out!
Alternatively, if you'd prefer to speak to us directly about enrolling in one of our event planning courses online, simply call us on 1300 611 404 or drop us an email at [email protected]. As soon as we hear from you, we'll get back to you without delay.
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