The events industry is an exciting, fast paced, growing industry which demands highly qualified event management companies and co-ordinators.

If you have decided to take the leap to full-time professional events person there are a few things you need to know to get started.

Program Outline:
Start of workshop 07:30 - 14:30

Starting the right business:
- A dose of optimistic reality
* Knowing exactly what is involved and understand your new business arena
* Reasons for staring an event management business
* Industry knowledge
- Getting started
* Self assessment
- What they don't teach you at business school
* Market research and data collection
* Setting realistic time frame
- Your new event
- Business resources and equipment
- Starting the right business

In the beginning:
- Deciding on a name for your business and deciding in which direction to move
- Being clear about what message you want to send and what you want to say
- Picking your business type
* Sole proprietorship
* Partnerships
* Corporation
* Public or private
- To work at home or away?
- Pricing your event management services

Decision making:
- What type of events to specialise in?
- Doing the market research

Business plan basics:
- Why prepare a business plan?
- Stages of a company's growth and understanding strategy realistically
- Short and long term planning

Automation:
- Telephones
- Local area networks
- Electronic mail and faxing systems

Making your business legal:
- Your legal structure
* Sole proprietorship
* Partnership
* Limited partnerships
* Incorporation
- Choosing your name legally and using CIPRO

Methods of funding:
- How much money will you need?
- Tax, SMEs, VAT, BEE and choosing an accountant
- Accounting software
- Getting business loans and credit

Event management and marketing your new business:

Event management:
- The event planning process
- Protecting your business
* Event management contracts
* Confidentiality agreements
* Understanding vendor, venue and clients contracts

Marketing opportunities:
- Learning from competitors
- Smart marketing
- Branding your event management company
- Naming your business
- Developing your image and brand promise
- Designing your new logo
- Dealing with graphic design/copywriting and photography
- Choosing your marketing medium
* Print
* Direct mail
* Electronic
- Where to market?

Venue

Date: 06 September 2008
Location: Hydepark Fountain Grove, Johannesburg
Cost: R1100

Contact: Tshidi Moahi
Company name: The Hedgehog Event
Telephone number: 27 11 704 1469
Email address enquiry@thehedgehogevent.com