Fancy a career in event management? Here is what you need to know | New times

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Any event management professional will tell you that this particular profession can be demanding and stressful, but on the other hand, full of creativity, variety and exciting opportunities. Experts in the field say that before embarking on this journey, one should understand that this is a passionate career.

There are hardly any jobs that give you the same scope for creativity, socializing and travel as a career in event management, however, according to research, this is one of the five most stressful jobs in the world.

Remmygious Lubega, CEO of RG-Consult Inc, a production, experiential marketing, event management and consulting company, says that while any study or academic discipline can aspire to be an events guru, it must make tough decisions and be willing to sacrifice in order to thrive.

“When it comes to the event profession, you have to consider planning, preparation, creative thinking and drive, among others. In addition, you need to be able to work longer hours or later, ”Lubega explains.

“The most important aspect is that one must be able to manage stress well and face the challenges that accompany uncertainty at any event or occasion,” he adds.

Abdul Ngabitsinze Wahabi, the founder of Rwanda Modesty Fashion Show, believes that event management should have a team and a leader, with a vision and a mission.

This, he says, also includes having financial sources, human resources, assets like backdrops, banners, red carpets, among others.

Lubega agrees, saying it’s crucial to build a network of people, talent, vendors and suppliers that are reliable and up to its standards.

Wahabi specifies that when it comes to events, it is important to know what your client likes, in order to be able to create something unique.

“Being able to assess and measure improvement. Get to know your team and attend similar events to find out more, ”says Wahabi.

Marie Ange Mukaneza, Professional Life Coach at Women in News, believes that when it comes to event management, it is ideal to have a passion for it first.

This, she thinks, will make room for others to like and, most importantly, appreciate your work, which is motivating.

She says being versatile is also essential, as there are so many services to offer.

“The sector is so varied that one can find yourself organizing a wedding in the countryside one day, organizing a competition the next day,” he says in the article “How to start your career in events”.

Event manager Louisa Douglas, quoted in the article, said: “I love the rush, no two days or events are the same, it’s an agile industry that’s constantly changing, and what’s more i meet new people all the time.

“Working closely with clients to plan and host a successful event is extremely rewarding and the industry offers fantastic career progression,” the article states.

Wahabi says it’s also good to build a good relationship with the hosts and of course to be consistent in what you do and provide to your customers.

Lubega believes that a true event planner will find happiness in a job well executed, even with challenges along the way.

Challenges

It is said that there is no minimum qualification required to become an event manager. Anyone with strong organizational skills, creativity, and excellent public relations skills can enter the industry. However, if you do decide to do it, keep in mind that it comes with its own set of challenges, just like most things in life.

Lubega says the growing economy does not recognize “consultancy fees” when there is a need to reflect on an event and, for him, it is a full-time job.

Also, he says, it’s expensive to have everything you might need for all of your customers; capital intensity (quantity of fixed or real capital present in relation to other factors of production) hinders self-sufficiency.

“If you can get capital for outsourcing, you will be paid much later by the client, so you need to be able to manage your cash flow so that you can handle contracts and manpower,” Lubega adds.

Plus, he says, building a team that can fly at the level you’re envisioning takes a lot of time and consumes a lot of resources.

Price

Wahabi says above all that you have to have a goal. He explains that you first need to value yourself and know what price to set, based on what you are offering a customer.

“To attract customers, you have to think about starting with a fair price because customers always expect good quality for a low price,” he says.

“As you increase the starting price some may move away, but if the quality of service you provide is top notch, customers will end up respecting your price.

Lubega says the pricing is flexible and there is no standard for it, but because it’s more of a consulting career – where people approach you first to conceptualize and then sell it. idea for an event – you could try to have a consulting fee or an event management fee or a concept development fee.

“It can be a flat rate or a percentage of the event budget that you are managing, because the event budget means tasks to be done, and managing those items pays off,” he says.

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