Very often I receive emails about getting into the event planning business, taking an existing business to the next level, pricing, my background, etc. Because I run a crazy-busy company I can't possibly answer each email personally which very much bums me out. So....I have written the following blog to try and help out where I can. My apologies in advance for not being able to answer each person's questions individually.

How did you get into the business? The best way to find out more about my background is to check out my bio: http://www.thepartygoddess.com/bio.html . You can also go to www.Google.com and Google my name: "Marley Majcher" to read what other writers have already dug up.

Are there any particular classes I can take? Community colleges and universities offer all kinds of classes. Check the bigger ones in your area. I know in LA that UCLA Extension offers some. This would be a good way to get your feet wet and meet the teacher (who probably has some industry contacts he or she can share.)

How do I get into the event planning business? There are lots of ways.
- Get an internship and work your tail off for someone else for free so you can get your feet wet.
- Join one of our industry groups (NACE - National Association of Catering Executives, ISES -International Special Events Society, MPI - Meeting Planners International or ABC - Association of Bridal Consultants). Google these groups to find a meeting near you and to get some more information.
- Attend one of our national conventions. If you visit www.specialevents.com you can click on the link for the national convention held every January in a different city.
- Subscribe to an industry trade magazine. I particularly like BizBash www.bizbash.com and Special Events Magazine www.specialevents.com .

Need more specific information? You can hire me for $250/hour or you can contact Sharon Jensen at www.SpecialEventBusinessAdvisors.com . I guarantee you she'll be more reasonable and she specializes in helping event planners grow.

That's all I've got for now. Check back and I'll keep updating!

Last week I had the pleasure of being on a panel about fees sponsored by the Association of Bridal Consultants' Los Angeles Chapter. The other two smart ladies on the panel were Mary Dann and Sharon Jansen. Sharon's company is called Small Business Coaching for The Special Event Industry www.SpecialEventBusinessAdvisors.com . Sharon is a seasoned veteran who has gone into business helping event professionals do well in our industry and achieve their goals. I was just amazed at how much knowledge Sharon has about pricing, working with clients, vendors, within contracts and a myriad of other subjects. It was amazing! So, if you're thinking about getting into the event industry or just looking for a coach to guide you along the path, call Sharon! 949-493-6513.

I am very inspired by nice people. I got a really genuine email yesterday from a girl/woman in Kansas City looking to learn more about event planning. My initial reaction was just to say, "Well, check out my blog!" However, I checked out my blog and realized that there is not that much posted about being an event planner, other than about interning.

I would like to thank little Miss Kansas City for the inspiration for today's update. Basically, if you're not going to run to California to do an internship with us at TPG, what should you do? Well, I gathered up some more research and I certainly hope this helps. I think this homework assignment should keep you aspiring planners quite busy, but if not, email me again and I'll probably post some more research. Good luck!

First, continue to refer back to www.thepartygoddess.com/blog for updates . Now that I've gotten my shameless promotion over with, here are some other really great resources:

Check out www.ises.com . ISES, stands for the International Special Events Society and is sort of the hub for our industry. After being in this business for years, I am constantly amazed at how much I learn by attending the annual convention each January. (This past year it was in Miami.) I cannot tell you how much I get out of the classes, the ideas I pick up from attending all of the parties and events staged throughout, and from the vendors who exhibit on the trade show floor. ISES has local chapters for those of us in the event planning industry and in general, is just a wealth of information. I highly recommend it as a resource to anyone in the industry or thinking of entering the industry. You'll learn so much! Sarah Ruhl did a fabulous job this year of coordinating all of the speakers in the education track. (For more information about The Special Event, I'm sure you could email Sarah to be pointed in the right direction:  SRuhl@primediabusiness.com .) While I was a speaker, I can't tell you how much I learned from my peers!

Another great resource is Special Events Magazine at www.specialevents.com . I will tell you that it is the one magazine subscription I get, in addition to BottomLine Personal. Sure, I stock up on lots of magazines to study trends and what's going on with the world of food, fashion and current events, but Special Events is one of only two subscritions that I have and will not do without. For me, it is the easiest way to find new vendors, hear from my peers and get new ideas, every month. Special Events Mag is associated with ISES and has a wonderful editor in Lisa Hurley who has made this a truly educational and quality resource.

Then, I did a quick search on www.amazon.com under "books" using the keywords "event planning" and came up with a number of great options. I think I will read some myself since there is no such thing as too much knowledge. One that particularly caught my attention is: Opportunities in Event Planning Careers by Blythe Camenson. While I have not read Ms. Camenson's book, I have perused it and like what I see. It might be a good place to start. If you've read it thoroughly, please post a review on this blog for the rest of us to hear about.

If any of you have any other resources that you would like to share, please post a comment to this blog so that the rest of us can benefit. Happy learning!

At The Party Goddess, we are constantly asked how to get into the event planning business. In order to try and help people get started, we started an internship program that requires 40 hours of in-office work and assistance at four events in order to complete the program. For more information go to: www.thepartygoddess.com/employment.html .

The first purpose of this internship program is to provide those interested in our industry with the opportunity to get their feet wet and learn what this field is all about. The second purpose is for all of us at The Party Goddess to get to work with new people, obtain fresh ideas and potentially hire one of our interns.

What do you need to know about interning and the event planning business in general? Most people don't make it. In fact, it's not just most people it is the vast majority of people. Why? Because this industry is hard, hard, hard. Most people do not understand that there is no such thing as a 9-5 schedule, nor a "regular" schedule, nor a slow week. Sure, we might have a week that doesn't have a ton of events going on, but that doesn't mean that behind the scenes there isn't plenty to do.

Since we are constantly loading and unloading for jobs and events, sometimes it seems that all we do is organize and then reorganize. Interns help with this process. Those of us who work a particular event on the weekend are not usually unloading on Monday after the weekend's strike. Usually, we have a team in charge of bringing in the props, sorting dirty linens, reorganizing to go supplies and the most fabulous job of all, cleaning votives. Yuck!

So, if you're thinking about interning, or the event planning industry in general, give it some extra consideration. Talk to an intern whose done it. Lots of interns quit before they complete their tenure. That's ok, it's just as much finding out if you like us and our business as finding out if we like you. Should you complete your internship, life will improve a little bit (assuming you have performed well) because you will get a good recommendation from us. In addition, we will either offer you work with The Party Goddess, or, if that is not available, refer you to others in the industry who need help. Interning is a good way to get your feet wet, make contacts and figure out what your favorite parts of our industry are. To apply for an internship with The Party Goddess, go to www.thepartygoddess.com/employment.html .