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Party Planning
I absoloutley love parties and everything about them. I'm constantly throwing them for everyone and every holiday. I plan everything, from the invites, the decoration, the food/drinks, even music compilations. I love it. So, I thought, this is something I love to do, so why couldn't I do it for a living? Plenty of people are self-taught in things like this, right? Start their own businesses and what not. If I wanted to move forward with this, how could I get the word out about me? How could I get started? I have experience, but you know, its family and friends. Should I make some sort of portfolio? Videos? What? Are there any classes I should take as far as the business side goes?
Thanks!
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Putting together a portfolio w/still pictures as well as videos is an excellent idea. You can even make a slide show/video and copy them onto a DVD to hand out to your more serious prospects. Give them out to your friends who can show them to people they hear are looking to throw a party. You can develop a website which you publish on all of your material/business cards, that people can access. There are a lot of free websites that you can use and you can keep updating it w/your most resent parties. My internet service, for example, is Comcast. They give you 5 free websites that you can put together for free and it's included w/ your service. You can use them for business or personal websites. You need to come up w/menu plans and party themes that your clients can choose from but be open to whatever they come up with. You want to developed a report w/local churches, museums, restaurants, movie theaters, local drama theaters, bars (sports bars), parks, the zoo, etc., that would host parties for people who don't want to have the parties inside their homes. These can also be listed on your brochures or as you can call them your "basic party planners" to give people who don't want to think about it choices and those who do want to be creative an idea about what you can do. Always be open to a clients party themes and be willing to take on any themes not listed (you may want to have this stated in your literature) and be open to working on acquiring any location they have in mind (though you can't guarantee this, timing issues and limitations set by the location). You may want to round up a few caterers or even work exclusively w/one. They will refer you when they are working a party and they hear of someone looking for a party planner and you will use them when you are planning a party. So, it would work best for you to have more than one on hand because there may be a conflict of interest during busy seasons and people have different tastes. Also, you want to have a cosure (sp) caterer on hand to help you w/jewish parties. What's great about caterers is that you can arrange for clients to taste test some of the foods. There may be a slight fee involved depending upon the foods, amounts, and the caterer. You can call around and find the ones that would fit in w/how you want to work. If you have special recipes that you want served at a party, caterers are open to preparing them for you. One of the most important things you want to get is your business license and a tax id #. Once you are licensed and have a tax id # you will be able to have access to all kinds of things at wholesale prices that you will be able to resale at retail prices to your client in your party package. An example of this is the flowers for the party. Every town has a local florist district where you can purchase or order flowers and other decorative items at wholesale prices. Though there are times you will want to use a professional florist there will be other times when you will want to p/u items like live little Christmas trees, mistletoe, ribbons, balloons, greenery, garland, and a myriad of decorative items for all seasons. The license and tax number will also get you into your local merchandise marts where only buyers of stores can get in. You can p/u linens, serving platters, and again a myriad of decorative items that you can use to signature your parties. Plus you can just buy stuff for yourself too (lol). As far as education is concerned, all you need are some business courses that you can p/u at your local college because getting a handle on financial matters is very important in maintaining a business. There are some websites below that will assist you in your party planning and set you in the right direction. Whenever you see home accessory classes take them. Your local buying market will have them when they are at market. If you get accessorizing the home down, it is very close to accessorizing a party. It helps to get those creative juices going. I've also included a website that gives you a free website if your internet provider does not. I hope this helps you on the road to your dreams. I wish you the best of luck in your venture.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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Namaste!
LULABELLE
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You should put together a portfolio of examples of the types of things you can do and have done. Also you should start making contacts with wholesalers who deal in party supplies so that you know who you can get you deals call a bunch and start finding out rates etc. so you can gage how much to charge clients.
For classes you would probably do really well to take some in business, accounting etc. so you know how to run a company. Also take a class where they teach you how to set up a buiness plan.
Hope this helps.
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Well, if you wanted to get people to know about your business you could put an ad in the newspaper or phone book. Try asking friends and family if they could get the word out. ou could put up fliers at places you go and places that people know you (work, Church, community building...). These are just ideas on getting the word out.
Um, I don't know about classes, but I hope I helped anyway :). And good luck!
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