Customer Reviews

Event Planning : The Ultimate Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having planned many events in the past six years, I already had a great "base" of experience. I was looking for a great guide to cover all the bases. This is it! Each chapter details all aspects of event planning and prompts you to think about how you can apply the suggestions to your own events. I was inspired to think outside the box to make events more unique and memorable. Additionally, budgeting and proposal crafting were discussed to aid the event planner in making a succinct and accurate budget/proposal for a client. This book is a "must-have" for any serious event planner.

I thought this book was much to focused on "major" events. After the first couple of chapters I really felt that the book was focused on setting up elaborate events for VIP's. If you have a very high budget and need to entertain celebrities, then this book will be helpful.

Details, details, details. That's really what successful event planning is all about, and that's the key to this very successful event-planning manual. Author Judy Allen notes, lists, copes with and gives an example of virtually every detail in planning anything from a sedate corporate event in a major city to a huge celebration on a remote island. She provides examples galore plus tips, questions and answers, sample cost sheets and schedules. How much floor space does a person need to be comfortable in a tent? Answer: 20 square feet. How many bathrooms should be available for a party? Answer: One per 75 guests. And don't forget to ask about the stemware, adequate parking and even the photographer's back-up camera battery. This author seems to have thought every contingency, as the book's ambitious title promises. Her one glaring omission is that she does not include the party planner's fee - our guess is that she'd be worth it. We highly recommend this well-organized, very practical book to all event planners. Don't send out press releases for your party without consulting Judy Allen.

Judy turns what could have been a rather dry subject into one that is filled with lively stories and money and time saving tips! It's easy to read and for a beginner (which I am) she brought up numerous "thought provoking" questions, I'd never even thought of! Even seasoned event planners will gain a lot from this book-reminding all of the basic principles of "an ounce of prevention". This book is well laid out and flows easily-following a time-line that one must follow to pull off a successful event. I especially enjoyed the stories and tips.

All in all, I'd give this book a true "thumbs up". I will recommend it to anyone I know who is looking to engage in an event which will be long remembered.

Even a seasoned event planner will enjoy the insights that Judy helps to reveal in her book. It is well layed out, even to the point of leading off with location first, which every event planner knows is the number one step in planning. The steps and points of looking for a location,includes detailed information on what to consider when looking. I particulary like the fact Judy includes using her website, which offers additional advice and insight based on her own experinces. I was hoping to read more regarding contracts but overall the book is A+.

I bought this book hoping that it will provide me with a comprehensive guide to event planning, i.e. since it is the "ultimate guide". The author focuses too much on providing quality customer service. I agree that the author gave some really good insights but ultimately success also means that you are running a profitable business. The financial portion of this business is not covered in details as well as the numerous business correspondences (e.g. sample letters) and agreements that would have made this book the "ultimate guide".

Judy Allen's guide is very thorough. Each chapter outlines the details of an event. This is an ultilmate guide to plan events. Very much for the advance event planner. Is not a 5 star because it is geared towards someone with more experience than a beginner.

I think Judy Allen did a wonderful service to us all when she put together this book. It is ideal to keep to hand as a reference book. The templates are ideal and easy to adapt and it saves you endless time working out what you need where.

Used as a reference book it is a 'must have' for anyone involved with event planning of any size or occasion.

It was very useful to me as I used it to brak into the wedding/event business. It presents a very corporate approach, yet it seems to uncover all kinds of secrets of the event world that are hidden to the public eye.

Judy Allen is one of the best in the business. The Toronto based event professional has written a series of how to books for the event industry with lots of wisdom from her many years of experience. This referene book contains tactics, strategies, templates, advice, and concise case studies for anyone seeking to increase their skills and abilities quickly. While event planning requires a solid foundation of common sense the more technical aspects of it are covered in this book. A great professional manual for anyone who wants to know how one of the best does it.