Practical tools and expert advice for professional event planners Before planning an event, there is much that must be done behind the scenes to make the event successful. Before any thought is even given to timing or location of the event, before the menus are selected and the decor designed, there are proposals to be written, fees and contracts to be negotiated, and safety issues to be considered. This book takes you behind the scenes of event planning and explains every aspect of organizing and strategic planning. This book will be of value to both the professional event planner and to clients who are dealing with planners. Its comprehensive coverage includes: how to prepare winning proposals, and how to understand them if you are the client; how to determine management fees; negotiating contracts; safety issues; designing events in multicultural settings; and new technology that makes operations more efficient (such as online registration and response management, database project management tools). The book also includes practical tools such as sample letters of agreement, sample layouts for client proposals, forms, and checklists. Professional event planner Judy Allen offers first-time or professional event planners all the top-class advice they need to make their special events come off without a hitch. "This book has it all! It's the key that unlocks the mystery behind event planning." -- Leslie McNabb, Senior Manager, Event Planning, Scotia Capital (Back of Book Endorsement) "Written for anyone who has to prepare dynamite meetings and special events...a must-have desktop reference." -- Susan Fenner Ph.D, Manager, Education and Professional Development, International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)(Back of Book Endorsement) A thorough, well designed, and easy to read book ... a valuable resource for anyone who works in special events. -- Charity Village Newsweek, September 16, 2002 Allen s latest offering zeros in on issues involved executing special events. Check out the useful and educational sample proposals. -- Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine, October 2002, Janet White Bardwell, Associate Editor Chapters on contracts, negotiations and fees are impressive. The all-business companion to Allen's "Event Planning The Ultimate Guide." -- Meeting News It's the how-to that's a must-do for the meetings, incentive, and event planning industry! -- Peggy Whitman, President, Society of Incentive & Travel Executives SITE Make sure this guide finds a spot on your bookshelf. It's not an exaggeration to say it covers every aspect. -- Successful Meetings Magazine, November 2002 Make sure this soup-to-nuts bible of event planning finds a place on your bookshelf--or better yet in your briefcase. -- Michelle Gillan, Senior Editor, Successful Meetings Magazine More than 300 pages of practical advice for foolproof planning -- peppered with boldface tips for troubleshooting potential problems. -- Special Events Magazine, November 2002, Lisa Hurley, Editor This book covers everything from strategic objectives to the signing of contracts ... there is little that Allen has overlooked. -- Marketing Magazine, February 2003 " The Business of Event Planning is a must-read for those in the event planning business. Strategic in through and design and user-friendly in presentation, it literally tells you the paths to follow and the pitfalls to avoid. Well told, with examples to follow and stories to relate to, it's the 'how-to' that's a 'must-do' for the meetings, incentive, and event planning industry." ― Peggy Whitman, President, Society of Incentive & Travel Executives; and Western Regional Sales Director, Marriott Incentive Awards "As more and more administrative professionals are assigned meeting planning responsibilities, there needs to be an easy-to-understand, fool-proof, quick read by someone who has been there and done it successfully. Written for anyone who has to prepare dynamite meetings and special events, The Business of Event Planning is your Bible and a must-have desktop reference. Thank, Judy Allen! You saved the day!" ― Susan Fenner Ph.D., Manager, Education and Professional Development, International Association of Administration Professionals (IAAP) "Guidance for new planners, reminders for experienced ones, and useful tips for everyone. This book has it all! It's the key that unlocks the mystery behind event planning, and should be mandatory reading for planners everywhere." ― Leslie McNabb, Senior Manager Event Planning, Scotia Capital PRAISE FOR JUDY ALLEN'S FIRST BOOK Event Planning "Allen is a good teacher. Wise planners will add Event Planning to their personal reference library as a useful working guide." ― Meeting Professional Magazine "A blueprint for executing events for 50 or 2,000, with budgets of a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands." ― Success Magazine " Event Planning gives readers a blueprint for planning and ex