This document discusses different departments that can be specialized in for event planning companies, including accounts and finance, catering, creative, decor, inventory, marketing, sales, florist, operations management, photography and videography, warehouse management, and taxation. It notes that generalized specialists who have knowledge across departments are important for sustaining growth and managing the entire event lifecycle. The ideal event planner relies on their entire team, ensures new hires understand company goals, and is willing to do what it takes to meet goals. Finally, it outlines potential issues different departments may face like vendor problems, budget restrictions, communication breakdowns, and quality control.

1. Lecture 4: Working for Another
Event Company

2. Departments you can
Specialize in
• Accounts and Finance
• Catering
• Creative
• Décor
• Inventory
• Marketing
• Sales
• Florist
• Operations Management
• Photography and Videography
• Warehouse Management
• Taxation Department

3. Generalized
Specialists
• Generalized specialist are 360 degree event planners.
They know enough about everything like accounting,
creative, catering, operations, layout etc. This allows the
event planner to sustain growth and sustain the entire
event lifecycle on their own.
• You can have specializations in the departments
however there should be people who are generalized
specialists who know the entire lifecycle of the event.

4. The Ideal Event
Planner
• Everyone is extremely important in your event lifecycle. An event
manager needs to rely on their accountant, warehouse
department, florist, photographer, on floor manager, vendor
relations manager etc.
• Once your company grows make sure everyone you hire
understands your company goals.
• Someone who’s starting off their business in event management
needs to take responsibility for everyone and understand all the
departments. They need to be organized, should effectively
communicate their vision for the future of the company, and be
someone who’s willing to the extra length to make sure the goals
are met.

5. Issues departments might
face
• Accounts: Vendor issues, late payments by sales team, issues with sales
team, explanation to clients about tax.
• Catering: Quality and quantity issues, changes in market price, changes in
quality of the food coming from the purchasing department, accounts
down payments, dealing with complaints.
• Creative: Client not understanding your work, issues with 3D visualization,
practically impossible ideas, venue restrictions, budget restrictions, giving
client high expectations.
• Operations: Problems with head waiters, theft, breakage formula,
communication problems with sales team or booking manager, on site labor
problems, tip issues.

6. Issues departments might
face
• Marketing: Over spending, incorrect budget analysis, low budgets,
marketing plans not matching long term business.
• Sales: Only concentration on seasonal sales, no client review system, getting
comfortable, over selling, under selling, no communication with inventory
management team.
• Warehouse: Problems faced by the ware house department, open wires,
theft, natural disasters, inventory sheet not filled out properly, problems
between waiters and ware house labor.
• Photography: Pictures quality – quantity ratio, lack of knowledge of rules and
regulations, studio being overbooked, client giving less time.