Event management is an exciting profession that demands a lot of hard work and dynamism. Learn more about event management and the career options in this field from Karen Reid, Lecturer – Event and Project Management, of Blue Mountains Hotel School.

Event management spans several large industries including the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), community and cultural celebrations, sporting events and arts/entertainment festivals, and as part of destination-tourism branding. It runs across all sectors from corporate to public to governmental, and is seen as either a celebration of some aspect of life or human endeavour, or is more specifically used in an organisation’s marketing efforts. Within tourism, it is used to create a ‘sense of place’ in destination-marketing efforts.

 

Event management has been in practise for as long as community celebrations have existed. Larger, more complex, and more calculated purposes behind such events have arisen in the last 25 years as the economic, marketing, and social impact of events were realised. 

 

The industry is increasing worldwide, with marketing budgets for events increasing, and the growth of public money allocated to events of all sizes. The style and operations of events may change dramatically over time, but as a whole, event management is an industry that will be staying with us as its long history indicates.

 

Jobs can range greatly depending on the sector of the events industry you enter. All aspects of administrative and management, design, marketing, and operational facets are key within the industry. These roles can vary from being the producer of an event, down to being catering and technical staff for the day. 

 

The working environment can vary greatly depending on the role and sector of industry. Many jobs require outdoor or on-site work, although, in almost all jobs, there will be an administrative component. Convention centres, large public spaces, resorts and hotels, as well as highly unlikely locales all fall under potential environments for events personnel. This can be both fun and frustrating, depending on the weather, level of services having to be brought in, and complexity of the project.

 

Many large corporations will have at least one or several events staff members, or they may outsource to specialist event companies to do their event for them. Government departments of all types often have at least one event-related employee or even an entire events department. 

 

Resorts, conference centres, and regional tourism interests will have people dedicated to functions or events, usually as part of the marketing and sales departments. Finally, there are community and cultural associations and groups who put on their own events, or employ the expertise of an event professional or company. Freelance events professionals can find themselves working in a wide variety of situations and environments. It is certainly not boring work!

 

This is a very dynamic and task-focused career. Events people are invariably ‘doers’ and are highly organised. Creativity is highly regarded, as are troubleshooting abilities, and quick thinking. The ability to work as a team is crucial, as is the capacity to coordinate a variety of stakeholders including contractors, caterers, artists, the public, sponsors, and government bodies.  

 

Specific skills required include the following:

Though roles vary greatly, this is an industry that can see you working in a great variety of environments and on a time schedule that does not in any way resemble a 9-to-5 job. Periods of intense activity are often countered by periods of relative inactivity. If you enjoy varying hours and work environments, as well as working with a wide variety of people and projects, then this is the career for you. 

 

A diploma is suitable for events support staff. Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for managerial roles exist at universities and private. Additionally, there are professional associations and organisations that provide courses on various aspects of the industry.

 

For those who see themselves in a management or event-producing role, rather than operations and administrative support, a degree is highly recommended. This is becoming an increasingly competitive area, and degree qualifications are highly regarded.

 

Event management has become increasingly professionalised due to the realisation that such activities have brought great economic and social benefits to the host environment. An event has many offshoot benefits to a region, both from a business and tourism standpoint. As a result, we are seeing governments put in strategies to support the events industry so as to leverage on these benefits.

 

The most common employers currently seeking events staff are specialist event companies, hotels and resorts, government agencies, the corporate sector, and not-for-profit organisations who derive a lot of financial support through sponsored events.

There are both full-time jobs and contractual work. The contractual work is often a great place to get a variety of experience very quickly. It is also fantastic for networking and building up an impressive resume. 

 

So, if you like a challenge, are highly organised, prefer to work outside of the 9-to-5 work hours, are good with people, and have a bit of a creative side, then this is for you. A fast paced industry that is growing globally, events management is the career choice that could take you anywhere. Big or small, indoors or outdoors, the variety is great and never boring. Maybe one day, you will get to create your own event and see your own dream come to life!