We all enjoy a good party, and those held for special events become even more memorable when well-planned, entertaining and well-catered. Unfortunately, it seems that the days of hosting lavish parties have somewhat declined, with restaurant outings becoming more the norm and, whilst it might be an enjoyable way of spending an evening with friends, there is little additional external entertainment available – unless you are an avid “people-watcher” who enjoys casually studying strangers and their behaviours.
Here’s a plan – let’s throw a fancy-dress party!
Who remembers the days when fancy-dress parties were all the rage? Those parties where you arrived disguised as one of your favourite historical or fantasy characters, like Wonder Woman, Cinderella, Superman, Charlie Chaplan, the Phantom of the Opera, etc.? The parties when your identity temporarily took a back seat to that of your chosen character? You could get away with antics which your own persona would never attempt, but which were enjoyed by others whilst you acted the part of your chosen character. Would you try to throw one of these parties these days – without professional help? Probably not.
You don’t have to do all this yourself – call for a Party Planner …
If you want to hold a themed or a different kind of fun party for friends and family but do not have the confidence to cater or plan this yourself, call in a Party Planner to handle the details and take the load off your shoulders. You want to be fresh and enjoy the party just as much as everyone else, without being worn out beforehand by stress and handling the inevitable hiccups which crop up along the way.
Want to celebrate the customs and food of another country? Do it at home!
Perhaps you would like to host a gathering with food and décor specific to a particular country? A Party Planner will assist in creating the concept and vision, find the right venue and oversee the decoration and lighting whilst working within an agreed budget, and will also liaise with the right caterers to ensure that the food and drinks are as authentic to the theme as possible, arrive on time, in sufficient quantities and are presented correctly. Caterers may be tasked with providing tables and chairs, crockery and tableware and staff if required, but these materials can also be independently sourced by the Party Planner if necessary. For a Party Planner, this is all in a day’s work.
The role of Event Planners
Whilst Event Planners and Party Planners are usually viewed under the same banner, their duties can differ in certain respects. Party Planners tend to cater mainly for more social events which are single-day occasions – in other words, parties. Event Planners, on the other hand, organize more formal and precisely planned gatherings with a larger guest list which are held for a specific purpose. This could include weddings and other celebratory events. Formal events may last for a single day or cover a multi-day period. Event Planners are more suited to planning and executing larger multi-faceted events. An event planner takes a more comprehensive and supervisory approach to the job at hand, being responsible for assisting with theme envisioning, planning, logistics, finances and control of the venue and staff required. Event planners may outsource to other suppliers such as caterers, security personnel, lighting specialists, wait staff and cleaners. It may fall within their remit to organise parking and signage for an event, and to outsource parking attendants, as well as oversee the collection of parking fees paid, if applicable.
Need help with a corporate function? Call the Event Planner!
Event planners are the specialists who organize larger corporate or more formal institutional events such as product launches, promotional and publicity events, multi-day management and staff breakaway sessions, off-site training courses, large client presentations, and various other corporate events. Such events may require the booking of accommodation for attendees and ensuring that the function rooms are supplied appropriately. The Event Planner will oversee the organisation of tea/coffee breaks, lunches, dinners and snacks, and take into account specific dietary considerations for all participants. This will also include the hiring of staff for the event, including security personnel and cleaning staff. Event planners must keep themselves updated on promotional trends so that they can provide the client with necessary publicity surrounding the event if required. Their responsibilities also include overseeing the financial aspects of the function, including budgeting and managing any incoming revenue. To explain further, one would hire an Event Planner for a music festival, for instance, rather than look for a Party Planner.
Find the right specialist for your specific needs
Both of these specialists have specific areas of expertise within a broad field which can contain overlapping responsibilities. Sometimes the “line of responsibility” can be a little difficult to define, but if you need help, just explain what you are looking for, and one of them will be there to help you. For further information on this topic and to find the right one in your area, please read Uptasker’s Event and Party Planner articles.
