b'event consultant profileCM&E:succeed. My job is to take problemsMY JOB IS TO TAKE Event planning isaway or solve them beforeoften viewed as sexy and fun.they happen!PROBLEMS AWAY OR What are some of the biggest challenges involved in being anI also think successful event plannersSOLVE THEM BEFORE event planner? What competenciesneed to learn what is doable and what is not. If client expectations areTHEY HAPPEN!does an event planner needto succeed? unrealistic, its in your interest and-MARILYN ROYtheirs to say so. Think it through and MARILYN:give them options. Dont go with aCM&E: There are so manyproblemgo with a solution. After all,What kind of an challenges! I think one of the biggestwere not magicians. impact does a well-planned event is covering all of the small details. Itshave on the attendees?paying attention to the small things that if not done correctly 100 perCM&E: cent of the time, have the potential toWhat does a typicalMARILYN: day at work look like? The last thing sink your reputation, and that of youryou want are attendees talking about meals being served late, their rooms client. I constantly get feedback fromMARILYN:not being ready for check-in, sessions clients about my attention to details.I work from a Im also not very trusting, or perhapshome office. I usually start at nine innot starting on time, or having had its that Ive learned never to assume,the morning and can sometimes be into stand in line for a half-hour just to so I have my fingers in all aspects ofthe office at nine at night. Weekendsget their badge. The goal must be an event so I am fully confident thatoff are a thing of the past. I do notthat delegates leave an event with the everything is in place as it should be. want to regret not doing somethingfeeling that they have used their time You also need to be able to put inor forgetting one little detail. At thewell. And, of course, your goal should the hoursevent planning is hardpresent time I have nine events onbe that the event host looks likework that requires long hours. In thethe go, and thats quite a lot for a one- a hero! weeks leading up to an event, myman band!days can be very long. The hoursTime can be consumed byCM&E: dont mattermaking the event ascross-checking hotel lists, RSVPs,Any last thoughts?perfect as you can is what matters. Youtranslations (I work in both languages). need to be able to see an event fromAudio-visual is extremely important.MARILYN: Planning well is the host and delegate perspective.The production of books and videosa lot less stressful on the planner. If And while event planning isnt rocketthat are event companion productsyou have done your work well, when science, the ability to break an eventalso occupies my time. And, of course,something unexpected does happen down into all of its moving parts (e.g.,I have to answer a massive number ofat an event, and it will, you will be in a audio-visual, dcor) is required toemails each day.position to handle it.Fall/Winter 2019CORPORATE MEETINGS & EVENTS 49'