It is not rare when mega events turn into damp squibs because of simple reasons like a dysfunctional mike and power failures. Campus Fever finds out how event managers often double up as crisis managers!
Be the real star!
It is not rare when mega events turn into damp squibs because of simple reasons like a dysfunctional mike and power failures. Campus Fever finds out how event managers often double up as crisis managers!
Event management has become one of the most popular career choices these days. If your idea of excitement and fun is managing behind-the-scenes activity, then a career in Event Management might be your call to success. Add to that the adrenaline and excitement of organising a big event as well as the big bucks and perks involved, and it is no wonder that many consider it as a short cut to success.Though there is a lot of emphasis on your ability to communicate effectively and manage any crisis deftly, the basic education required is graduation in Economics/Commerce. Organizing cultural festivals in school and college can be the basic groundwork for students looking for a career in Event Management. An MBA degree definitely adds value to your bio-data.
Career expectations
Event Management has two basic segments. Logistics management, which involves organizing the venue, celebrities, umpires, spectators, promotions, etc. and marketing, which requires getting sponsorships for event and promoting the event through various media. The post graduate course is for a period of one year. The course is divided into two semesters of five papers each. The first semester deals with event marketing, public relations and sponsorship, event coordination, event planning (which includes training students in organizing fashion shows, weddings, corporate events, sporting events and exhibitions) and practical training. The second semester includes theoretical and practical training in event team relationship, laws pertaining to Event Management, event accounting and logistics. As part of the practical training, students also get the chance to work for mega events like film award functions, fashion shows, jewelery exhibition and corporate events. There are some institutions like Indian Institute of Event Management which is also offer Diploma in Event Management for undergraduates with the same curriculum and same duration as that for postgraduate course. There are other courses as well which are part time courses (six months) and crash course (part time). With the concept of Event Management getting increasingly popular even in smaller towns, the demand for professionals has increased. For a trained person, this is a goldmine, both in terms of business opportunity as well as future prospects. Be it in the field of client servicing, ideation, creativity or simply technical production, the exciting aspect is that whatever you do in the area of Event Management is visible to all and top-of-the-mind. The challenge is to do the job brilliantly, with the reward being pure appreciation which is instantaneous. This makes you feel euphoric and the feeling goes beyond mere money and material benefits.
What is event management?
An extended arm of advertising, the concept of events has come a long way. Not just for artist management, companies these days are hiring event managers for experiential connect, brand building, brand re-enforcement and image makeovers targeted to a set of audience, avers Chandraneel Jaderia, chief eventologer, Tantra Eventainers. From a vague brief by the client to a fully conceptualized event, the event manager works in close coordination with designers, logistics specialists, marketers, artists, copywriters and a whole host of experts at different stages.
Job profile
Conceptualization, logistical planning, technical planning and venue management primarily constitute event management as an activity. Every event is treated like a separate brand and it is put together as per the requirement of the client. To lend a distinct identity to a brand, one has to visualize it creatively, conceptualize ideas and execute them in a distinct manner. This is the primary stage which provides an opportunity for unleashing ones creative potential to a very high degree, which finally culminates as the final show.
Evaluating logistical feasibility of ideas is very important as it assesses the possibility of their implementation. Logistics management includes orchestrating services and supplies of, both, the companies own, and those of auxiliary industries. Once the logistics are put together, technicalities like lights, sound effects and other special effects are looked into.
For the event to be visually appealing, especially in case of corporate events like conferences, seminars and product promotions, they are generally thought around a particular theme which dictates details like colour scheme, décor, furnishing and furniture. In some cases, clients also require a press kit to be put in. And despite all the checklists, event managers with years of experience say that every event is a nail biter, with all sorts of end-moment glitches.
Current scenario
A career stream in which most of the learning happens on the job, formal educational qualification can only be the starting point. Event management is a relatively recession-proof industry. In the current situation, when students are being advised not to super specialize, event management is one industry where niche experts who can freelance or work on regular basis are much in demand. “The Indian event management industry is in its nascent stages, and because we are relatively unorganized, a mere 0.06 per cent of international events are organized in India,” informs Gorav Arora, associate director (sales), Novotel.
“However, with companies increasing their publicity and event spends, we are approaching events in a much scientific way,” adds Rajive Mathur, senior accounts manager, together and even logos to be created.
Money for grabs
One can comfortably earn anything between Rs. 8,000-15,000 per month by working as an Event Manager in a company and can comfortably earn Rs. 30,000 and above per month as a small-time Event Manager. However, you should know that it's not a bed of roses. The Event Management also requires a lot of drudgery and leg-work even while you rub shoulders with superstars and jet from city to city. Staying up on your third consecutive nights, yelling at contractors, or dealing politely with the Press as you try and manage a hundred things simultaneously, are a part of your responsibility.
Wind up
For the event to materialize well, all the planning has to be executed efficiently. Venue management, in a way is the final and the most important part of the process. Everything ranging from commissioning security personnel and managing banquet to reception of guests and even parking is taken care of at this stage.
“Every step of the event management process requires specialists with domain experience, however, one has to be a Jack-of-all-trades. Though it only comes with experience, it gets better by the event,” says S W Kamath, dean, Ramoji School of Event Management.
Besides, the instant emotional gratification one gets at the end of the event is a great pay-off for all the hard work that goes into organizing it. A happy client and a joyous audience are perhaps the greatest rewards.
Institutes
Ramoji School of Event Management
National Institute of Event Management
National Academy of Event Management
Amity Institute of Event Management
Event Management Development Institute
International Center for Event Marketing
International Institute of Event Management
Source
ESP India
Education Times
HT Careers
