Events planning comes with experience

Gunte Kömmer, of Stable Inn, says years of experience in all areas of the catering and events business is what makes a good events planner. Although it is good to study, it is the knowledge on how this industry works and how to plan an event that gives you your credentials.

Kömmer, who has been in the event planning business for 18 years, only started managing huge functions during the past five years, after working in every area of events.

He says each event is different.

The only thing a client wants is an event like a wedding or party where he can sit down and eat and enjoy, without doing the job himself.

It is the duty of the events planner to see to the detail of what the client wants and to prevent crises on this person’s special day.

The events planner does the brief with the client, the preparations and sees the event through until the last party-goer leaves and the place is cleaned up.

The planner himself makes sure that all aspects of the event, as well as safety and other pre-requisites, are adhered to and that everything is in place at least a day before the guests arrive.

“It is also necessary to check everything yourself and not assume that all is right.

“And always have a generator on stand-by,” says Kömmer.

Because many events are planned more than a year in advance, it is important that an events planner gives regular feedback to his client, and understands and is able to deliver what the client wants.

The ability to communicate with people is an advantage in this job.

Kömmer says an event planner must also have the ability to think strategically and have back-up plans in place.

The disadvantage of this job, says Kömmer, is the hard work and long hours, as well as the fact that your work time is when others are having fun.

“You work on weekends and when others are working everything is quiet on your side.”