The complete idiot's guide to meeting and event planning. (©2006)

• Record Type: Book
• Other Titles: Meeting and event planning; Complete idiot's guide
• Further Information: Note: By Robin E. Craven and Lynn Johnson Golabowski with D'Etta Waldoch.
• Other Names: Craven, Robin E; Johnson Golabowski, Lynn; Waldoch, D'Etta
• Contents: Pt. 1. Bird's-eye view -- 1. What is a meeting or event, anyway? --Meetings are big business -- Who are these planning professionals? -- Determining the purpose of a meeting or event -- What are meetings, and what are events? -- For-profit and not-for-profit perspectives -- The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) -- Least common denominators -- The right timing : date and time -- The right place : venue -- The right people : attendees -- The right message : speakers -- The right scoop : agenda -- 2. Goals and objectives : critical from the start -- Why bother with goals and objectives? -- The big picture : goals -- The smaller picture : objectives -- Getting down to work -- Scenario #1 : Happy Camper Company -- Scenario #2 : Big Association of Rare Cat Owners (BARCO) -- Roll up your sleeves -- What? More objectives? -- The preliminary agenda -- Continued support from the planning committee -- Who's the boss? -- 3. Time to evaluate : was it worth it? -- Who cares? -- The attendee : I've gotta attend another meeting? -- The planner : I've gotta plan another meeting? -- The sponsor : I've gotta fund another meeting? -- Measuring return on investment (ROI) -- Hard dollars and sense -- When losing money makes cents -- Measure the success of your meeting -- Evaluation forms -- Audience response system -- Keeping up with history -- Exhibitor perspective -- Use the information! -- 4. Meeting industry resources : who ya gonna call? -- Websites -- Associations -- Trade and other publications -- Convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) -- Destination management companies (DMCs) -- To CVB or DMC? -- National or global sales offices (NSOs/GSOs) -- Industry experts -- MeetingsCoach -- MIMlist Meeting Matters -- Weblogs ("Blogs") -- Meeting management companies (MMCs) -- 5. Planning and technology : soft-where? World-wide-what? -- Do it yourself -- Meeting and event management packages -- Registration and a whole lot more -- Room diagramming -- Name badges -- Site selection online -- Other online resources -- Current trends of the trade -- The registration process -- Site inspections -- Templates and toolsets -- Meetings that are not face to face -- 6. Focus on the special event -- A smorgasbord of events -- Making the event memorable -- More than little drink umbrellas : the theme -- Think outside the box -- Checklist for events at alternative venues -- A marriage made in sponsorship heaven -- "Fun"-raising -- Four key considerations -- Master schedule -- Contingency plans : risk management and safety -- Entertainment -- Volunteers -- 7. Supplier secrets no more : where communication is key -- Initial contact -- Your business under a microscope -- Hotel tag teams -- The details, please -- Sales managers just wine and dine, not! pt. 2. First things first -- 8. Creating and following a timeline -- Timeline types -- Key elements, key dates -- Begin at the end -- Stay on track -- 9. Budgeting : dollars and common sense -- Everything has a price -- Big ticket items : up for bid -- Building a budget -- Expenses -- Fixed vs. variable costs -- Revenue -- Cost-saving ideas -- 10. Site selection and RFPs -- It's all about location -- Write the right RFP -- Meeting/event scoop -- RFP by fax, snail mail, e-mail, or online? -- Ask and you may receive -- Special accommodations -- The Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) -- See it up close and personal -- Guided tours -- Front of the house -- Back of the house -- Site checklist -- Virtual inspections and colleague recommendations -- Decisions, decisions, decisions -- Inform the suppliers -- Announce your decision -- 11. Negotiating the best deal -- Vendors you need -- Needs, wants, and everything in between -- Everything's negotiable (almost) -- Attrition -- Meeting room rental -- Unexpected charges -- Written documents -- Non-negotiables -- Music licensing -- Service charges, gratuities, and Uncle Sam -- Insurance -- 12. Hotel contracts : signing on the dotted line -- It's more than dates, rates, and space -- General provisions and guestroom issues -- Meeting/event space provisions -- Food and beverage --Understanding contract damages -- General contract damage rules -- Exhibit space provisions -- Cancellation or termination? -- Beyond your control -- People provisions -- More legal terminology -- 13. Marketing, early and often -- The marketing message -- Marketing philosophy -- Scenario #1 : you have to attend the sales meeting -- Scenario #2 : please come to this meeting -- Getting the word out -- Hard copy -- Promotions in cyberspace -- Ads -- Media -- Partnering : if you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- Timing is key -- 14. Exhibits and expositions : should you do it? -- Exposition or tradeshow? -- Weighing the options -- Location, location, location (again) -- How facilities sell exhibit space -- How to sell space to exhibitors -- Exposition services contractor (ESC) -- Determining potential exhibitors -- The exhibit prospectus -- Rules and regs -- Issues onsite -- Set up and move in -- The hook -- Tear down and move out -- Got the itch? Want to learn more? pt. 3. Care and feeding -- 15. The meeting setup -- Seating is important : understanding room configurations -- Math for meetings : setup specs -- Know and understand your audience -- Interactive sessions -- Breakout seating : the fire art of educated guessing -- Session monitors -- Floor plans -- Setting the ground rules or "norms" for the meeting -- 16. The stuff that meetings and events are made of -- Vendors everywhere -- Name badges and ribbons -- Totes and carryalls -- Awards and special recognition -- Giveaways and amenities -- At the meeting -- Amenities in the guest room -- The selection is endless -- Trinkets at the tradeshow -- "Logo it" -- Everything under the sun -- 17. Yakety-yak : working with speakers -- Setting the stage for excellence -- Where do you find speakers? -- Hired guns -- Hiring the hired guns -- Effective speaker contracts -- Breakout speakers and other one-shot deals -- Call for presentations (CFP) -- Meeting/event scoop sheet -- Books, tapes, and other sale items -- Taping and publication release -- Book and tape sales -- Getting them there and other VIP issues -- Speaker ready room or green room -- Cancellations, no-shows, and your backup plan -- Monitors -- Speaker support : handle with care -- Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse -- 18. Planes, trains, and automobiles : working with transportation providers -- Getting there -- Before they head out -- Meet and greet -- Ground transportation -- Driving directions -- Moving the masses -- City-wides -- 19. Food and beverage management -- Pop quiz -- A few rules to get you started -- Breakfast -- Breaks -- Lunch -- Dinner -- Receptions -- Liquor liability -- Tricks of the trade -- Banquet event orders -- Guarantees -- Service and presentation -- Special needs -- 20. Strategies for working with audio-visuals -- What is A/V, anyway? -- Know what you need -- The visual basics -- The audio basics -- Audiotaping -- Media options : satellite, video, audio, and Web conferencing -- Professional A/V production -- 21. Meeting registration and housing reservations -- Designing your meeting registration form -- Developing your registration database -- Registration made easy -- Registration the old-fashioned way -- Online meeting registration -- Meeting registration cancellations -- Hotel reservation : "heads in beds" -- Housing reservation forms -- Housing bureau -- Rooming list -- Call-in or online hotel reservations. pt. 4. Center stage and beyond -- 22. The final stretch : what to expect onsite -- You're here! -- Setting up your onsite conference office -- A quick tour -- Your master list -- Convention or meeting resumé -- Rooming list, keep on top of it! -- Your role -- Too many chiefs -- You're responsible -- Meetings about your meeting -- Pre-convention meeting -- Daily chats -- Post-convention meeting -- The three R's, review, review, review -- The master bill : review before you go -- 23. Ready, set, show time! -- Registration setup considerations -- Staffing and training -- Signage -- Behind the scenes -- Welcome to my (early!) morning -- Mid-morning relay race -- Meals : come and get it! -- Bumps in the road -- Problem solving -- The home stretch -- 24. Safety and security -- What is a crisis? -- Your motto : be prepared -- Written contingency plans -- Professional security services -- Educating yourself -- Other minor frustrations -- Last-minute request -- Oh, puleese! -- 25. It's not over 'til it's over -- Paying the bills -- Tipping ... didn't we do that? -- Tabulating the evaluations -- Final facility reports -- Your final report -- Ethics -- To fam or not to fam -- The debate on the rebate -- Other ethical issues -- 26. For suppliers only (planners may take a peek) -- Six ways to lose a customer -- Six steps to a great partnership -- Know your property/product/service -- Site visits -- Know these things, too -- Prepare to solicit -- Educate the customer -- Inquiry calls -- Preparing a proposal -- Contracts -- Anticipate needs -- Provide their meeting history -- Statistics -- Observations -- 27. Meeting industry certification -- Certification : is if for you? -- Higher education -- Degrees/certificates -- Distance learning -- Professional associations -- Continuing education units (CEUs) -- Conferences and seminars -- Get a job! Get a life! -- 28. Keeping cool under pressure -- How much more can I take? -- Who's clueless? -- What's so hard about that? -- Look out for #1 -- Get a coach -- Friends and family -- When the going gets tough -- The office never closes -- Juggling multiple meetings -- Staying ahead -- A. Sample forms and checklists -- B. Meeting-related Websites -- Index.
• Edition: 2nd ed
• Publisher Details: New York, N.Y : Alpha Books
• Publication Date: 2006
• Copyright Date: 2006
• Extent: 1 online resource (xxiv, 370 pages), illustrations
• Subjects: 658.456; Business meetings -- Planning; Congresses and conventions -- Planning; Special events -- Planning; BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Business Communication -- Meetings & Presentations; Business meetings -- Planning; Congresses and conventions -- Planning; Special events -- Planning; Electronic books
• Languages: English
• ISBNs: 9781436294034; 1436294037; 9781436299220; 1436299225; 9781440625930
• Related ISBNs: 144062593X
• Access Rights: Legal Deposit; Only available on premises controlled by the deposit library and to one user at any one time; The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK).
• Access Usage: Restricted: Printing from this resource is governed by The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations (UK) and UK copyright law currently in force.