The Complete Guide to Successful Event Planning : With Companion CD-ROM (Paperback)

by Shannon Kilkenny (Author)
Key Phrases: meal functions, contained facility, defined vision, San Francisco, United States, Money Saving Tips (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A successful event or seminar takes a clear vision and an enormous amount of planning, details and follow up. Successful Event Planning is a valuable resource and a must have for any department or organization that puts on events or seminars regardless of size. --Karen R. McLaughlin, APR, CEO, QB Comm, Inc., Fremont, CA

Product Description
Gathering people together for a special event is always a challenge even for the experienced planner for each event is unique. This book is designed to empower any planner to meet all challenges that surround a production. Whether you find yourself in charge of one important event or you have chosen event planning as a career, you want your events to be incredibly successful and remembered for years to come. A memorable event is one that flows smoothly with every detail carefully orchestrated and produced meticulously with the participant in mind. Successful events do not just happen; they are the result of hard work, creativity, awareness, and careful attention to detail. Every detail! Successful Event Planning is the most thorough, concise, and easy to follow event planning book available. From the initial concept to ongoing management, this book has techniques to increase your chances of success and systems to avoid many common mistakes. It shows you dozens of ways to save time and money and introduces you to every facet of the planning process. This ultimate guidebook equips the reader with new ideas, support, and creative problem-solving skills. The chapters follow the dynamics of the actual event planning process and are supported by extensive checklists and timelines. As the reader undertakes the complexities of daily responsibilities and tasks, Successful Event Planning inspires efficiency and confidence and makes it possible to stay on track. Whether you are a professional or a novice, you will find this guidebook a must-have if you are planning the Academy Awards or your daughter's wedding. The information found in this book is suitable for creating any event for any theme, size, location, or budget. Two significant, timely, and relevant advantages this book offers that you will not find elsewhere are Environmental Friendly practices and the latest up-to-date technology applications and gadgets. **2007 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Notable in Bus

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL) (January 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910627924
• ISBN-13: 978-0910627924
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,279 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Event Planning Made Easy, January 22, 2007

By	P. Jackson "Create 2 Sell" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Are you an event coordinator? Me neither! Or at least that's what I thought until the day I had to plan a seminar for a client as part of my "your gal Friday" business. How hard could it be, right? Three days later I was hovering close to a nervous breakdown - so I purchased this book. A week and a half later I put on a professional seminar, didn't have a nervous breakdown, and now have so many referrals I'm actually considering adding event planning to my portfolio! Whether you're planning a surprise birthday party, a conference, a tournament of some sort, or even the biggie - a wedding - this book is for you.

Shannon Kilkenny provides checklists, timelines, and money saving tips that anyone can use in any circumstance whether it's a social event or a business event. The author also discusses those situations that most of us have nightmares about and gives tips and ideas on what to do when something goes wrong, as it invariably will. The book is filled with creative insight, step-by-step walkthroughs, and a lively sense of humor. In addition, the book comes with a CD packed with templates, guides, certifications, evaluations, room design, and numerous other guidelines and resources.

So, if you're planning Grandma's 90th birthday - this book is for you. If you're planning the yearly conference for your company - this book is for you. And if you're planning a seminar with expected attendance of 30,000 - this book is for you!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a life saver!, January 23, 2007

By	Tricia Psarreas "Trish" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have thrown a few large events together in the past, and I must admit that none of them were very successful. Since I decided against hiring an event planner, I had to rely on myself for all of the details - and you never really notice how many details need to be worked out until you realize how many details you forgot. No matter how much food you prepare and how many people you invite, something is bound to go wrong. As Shannon Kilkenny's `The Complete Guide to Successful Event Planning' explains, Murphy's Law will always make sure that something will go wrong. But with this book at my disposal, I feel like a lot more things are bound to go right.

This book explains all of the things that you tend to forget when you plan a large event. It teaches you everything you need to know to put together an unforgettable event, from where to host it, to how to protect your guests, to how to market it. Kilkenny's book also explains how you can save money without compromising the quality of your event, what to do in case of an unforeseen problem, and what to do when the event is over. Simply put, this book really is a complete guide that will teach you everything you need to know about event planning.

I found all of the information in the book to be highly helpful and I greatly enjoyed the personable tone of the book. Another great feature is the CD-ROM that comes with the book. The book will teach you everything that you need to do to make your event a success; the CD will help you utilize everything that you learned. All of the CD's checklists, timeline guides, and ideas on how to set up your event will ensure that everything you learned will be put to good use. Between this book and the CD, it is doubtful that you could ever throw even a remotely unmemorable event ever again!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I had this book when I planned my wedding, January 29, 2007

By	P. Greilinger (IA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an essential comprehensive step-by-step guide for anyone who is organizing a group gathering. It doesn't matter if the event is for a small group of 10 or a convention of hundreds, this book will help to develop your organizational skills to ensure your planned event goes as smoothly as possible.

I especially liked the true stories from event planners about parties that went very well or very wrong, particularly the story about a murder disrupting an event.

This book is a necessity for anyone planning an event of any size, from a baby shower to a conference for thousands of people. It will assist you through the planning stages, financing, meal planning, advertising, security, and after event chores such as bill paying, thank you notes and evaluations. With the assistance of this book, any event you plan will be a success.