8 Step Event Planning Process Proficiency

There is nothing easy about putting on an event. While some events go off with only a few hitches, a good many events end in abject failure. 

Why do so many events fail? Generally speaking, poor planning is the culprit. That is why if you are in the process of putting on an event, you need to place a hyper-focus on planning. If that seems to be difficult for you then you need to hire one of the best event management companies to ease up all the tasks. 

Wondering what goes into the event planning process for businesses and other professional organizations? Then read on aspiring event planners! We are going to give you 8 steps to follow for prosperous event planning. 

8 Smart Steps To Event Planning Excellence


1. Envision the Event

The first aspect of event planning is to envision the event in your head. Not only do you need to decide on the type and nature of event that you're going to put on, but you also need to envision the types of guests that will attend, the number of guests that will attend, the style of the venue, and other such information. 

Will your event take place indoors or outdoors? Will its primary guests be professionals, partiers, families, or some other group of people? Will it be a small event held over the course of one day or a large event held over the course of a week or weekend?

This is the stage at which you lay the foundation of your event. By envisioning your event, you turn it into a real entity. Once it is a real entity, it can be built upon and made a reality. 


2. Put Together an Event Team 

Unless your event is of the very small variety, you are going to have to build a team to help you put it on. There are all kinds of tasks you will have to tend to, including marketing, publishing, equipment coordination, booking, and sales, to name just a few. Odds are, you can't complete all of these tasks on your own. 

When filling vacancies for your team, you are advised to hire professionals with ample experience in their respective roles. For instance, if you're hiring someone for marketing, he or she should have a deep background in the marketing field. 

This step is key to the success of your event. Failure to hire quality team members could cause a variety of complications, leading to totally unforeseen disasters. 


3. Establish Funding 

One of the big challenges of putting on an event is obtaining funding. If you don't have enough money of your own, you are going to have to find sponsors. This will require you to make tons of calls and shoot out tons of emails. 

When looking for sponsors, look for those who cater to your style of guests. For instance, if you are putting on a football tailgate party, you might want to try and get beer sponsorships from Coors or Budweiser. However, if you are putting on a vinyl record convention, you might want to try and get beer sponsorships from a local craft brewery. 

As long as they believe that it will provide them with long-term benefits, companies will pay for you to post their advertisements at your event. The key is in finding the right companies and in proving to them that your event is worthwhile. 


4. Choose a Venue 

Once you have obtained funding, you can start solidifying the event specifics. This starts with choosing a venue for the occasion. 

First, get a feel for the number of guests you will have. You don't want your venue to be too big or too small. 

Next, make sure that your event has all of the necessary amenities. Odds are, you will need WiFi, restrooms, and parking. Depending on the nature of your event, you might need other amenities as well. 

Finally, make sure that your prospective venue can book your event at an optimal time. If it is an outdoor venue, you might not want to book your event for February, for instance. 


5. Create a Brand 

When putting on an event, it is impossible to overstate the importance of a brand. Your event's brand is its identity. Branding is what turns people onto it or turns people off of the event. 

Your brand includes everything from the name of your event to its logo to its general color scheme to relevant slogans and the like. These entities can have a seismic effect on guest interest, making or breaking your event. 


6. Market Your Event 

Of all the event planning stages, none is more important than marketing. If you don't market your event properly, guests won't show up, you will lose money, and your event will be marked as a failure. 

There is a great deal that goes into marketing, so, if you are unfamiliar with the practice, you are advised to hire a marketing advisor. That being said, social media is key. Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms will help you to reach large amounts of people in short amounts of time. 


7. Obtain Necessary Equipment 

Next, you will have to obtain the necessary equipment. Equipment needs vary based on the nature of the event and can be anything from minuscule to humongous. 

Odds are, you will need a sound system, a projector system, and team communication equipment such as walkie talkies, smartphones, signage, and more. You will likely also need tables, chairs, and various forms of lighting. 


8. Find Event Speakers / Acts / Presenters 

Chances are, if you are putting on an event, you are going to need speakers or entertainment acts or something else of the sort. While we have listed this step last, the truth of the matter is that it needs to be constant. 

Finding the right speakers or acts for your event can have a huge impact on the number of guests you draw in. After all, would you rather go to a music festival featuring Led Zeppelin or the bar band from down the street? No offense to the bar band, but Led Zeppelin wins out every time. 


The Event Planning Process is Key

You might have the greatest event idea the world's ever known. But if you don't put a priority on the event planning process, it could very easily turn into a disaster. Utilize the steps reviewed above, and your event stands a good chance at succeeding. 

Looking for other miscellaneous tips on the event planning process and other business topics? You can find them right here at MyFrugalFitness.com. We cover everything from marketing to business to health to technology and more. 

Build your knowledge base by perusing our other articles now! Good luck with your even planning process profits!

8 Step Guide To Combat Office Stress This Christmas

During the festive period, workplaces can see workloads increase and a rise in demanding deadlines. This often means employees are more likely to feel under more pressure than usual. During a season when you are expected to spend more, socialize more, and still somehow work more, it is no wonder that Christmas anxiety affects workers. 

However, there are many ways you could make a change this Christmas, in order to alleviate your own stress and the stress of others. 

1. Plan Ahead To Help Manage Your Workload Better 

Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to manage Christmas stress, both in the office, and at home. Make lists that you can work through systematically, and don’t fall into the trap of being overly ambitious! You don’t want to be stressed about present buying during work hours, so plan to start early this year! If you schedule in an out-of-office hour each weekend from the start of November, you will have all your shopping done well ahead of time. This way, the task won’t conflict with your busy workdays. 

If you get ahead of the game with presents, wrapping paper, and gift tags (you could even consider bespoke gift tag printing online) you will avoid the dreaded Christmas Eve last-minute rush. In addition, you have planned ahead for work tasks as well as present buying, you won’t be as short of time and you will be able to enjoy the final few festive days of work stress-free! 

2. Make Use Of Flexible Working Hours 

If your workplace offers flexible working hours or the ability to work from home, then now is the time to utilize these schemes! If this isn’t offered, you should consider raising it as an idea with your manager. Flexible working hours are particularly beneficial for anyone suffering with SAD. The ability to manage your working hours yourself, on days when it is getting difficult to make it into the office, is vital. 

3. Buy Gifts Online And Avoid The Shops 

Online shopping can be a lifesaver if you are short of time and beginning to stress. Whether it is gifts for the family, or a last-minute workplace secret Santa present, it is always easier to jump online on your lunch break than make time for a stressful shopping trip. This way, you could get presents delivered to your workplace rather than your home address and no prying eyes will see them! What’s more, you won’t have to worry about missing your delivery at home, as there will likely be someone at work to take your precious parcel. 

4. Understand Your Rights To Sick Leave 

Workplaces are under legal requirements to allow sick leave when needed, whether it be physical or mental illness you are struggling with. Current generations work longer hours than ever, giving a lot to their employers — it is in the best interests of your employer to make sure you stay healthy and happy. You are entitled to up to seven days sick leave after self-certifying your illness. After this, you will need a note from your doctor to confirm the reason you are not fit for work. 

5. Switch To Decaf Tea And Coffee 

For many, a warm cup of coffee or tea is essential for getting through a grueling workday. Especially over the winter months, it is hard to consider getting through the day without these warming vices. However, caffeine can intensely heighten your anxiety levels. If you are feeling stressed and anxious in the workplace, make the switch to decaf — at least over the hectic Christmas season. 

6. Make Time For Exercise In Your Routine 

With a grueling work schedule and a hectic home life, it can be more difficult than ever to make time for exercise over the Christmas period. Dark evenings and mornings, paired with frosty weather, add to this off-putting environment. Despite all this, you should try and make some time to take care of your mind and body through exercise. If your schedule is tight, why not ask your manager about the possibility of arranging a pre-work yoga class? Or, if finances are your main concern, find out if your workplace could get a corporate gym membership — lowering prices for you, and increasing health and productivity for them. It could be the perfect Christmas present for a workplace to gift its employees. 

7. Enjoy Some Downtime With Work Friends To Help Unwind 

Work Christmas parties are a great way to alleviate that Christmas stress. It isn’t often that colleagues all find the time to celebrate together, but this makes the yearly work Christmas party so much more special. It is a great chance to let your hair down and get to know your colleagues out of the ‘deadline stress’ context. Of course, not everyone looks forward to the office party. 

A recent study from perk box, found that over one in four employees don’t enjoy their work’s Christmas party due to various reason. With this in mind, think of other activities you could organize in the workplace that could alleviate stress without conjuring social anxiety. A mince pies and mulled wine evening after work is a great, more low-key and relaxing, alternative to an all-out Christmas party. 

8. Practice The Self-Care That Works For You 

We are probably all familiar with FOMO (the fear of missing out), but have you ever heard of JOMO (the joy of missing out)? This acronym describes the pleasure of taking a break from social activity in order to enjoy personal time, and it highlights an absolute necessity. Christmas time can be stressful enough as it is, so don’t put pressure on yourself to engage with every social activity (both in and out of work) just because you feel obliged. Taking valuable time for yourself is an essential part of self-care, and this doesn’t change over the festive period! 

Have A Stress Free Holiday Season!

Different tips work for different people, but if you action even a couple of these ideas this winter, you will feel a weight lift off your shoulders! Give them a try and remember to look after yourself this Christmas and holiday season.

How to Find a Venue for Your Professional Event

Preparing to plan a professional event?

Whether you are putting together plans for a conference, a seminar, a trade show, an awards show, or a product launch, there a bunch of keys to ensuring that it is a total success.

You will, of course, need to choose the right time to hold the event. You will also need to make sure the right people are invited to it. But maybe above all else, you'll need to find the right pro venue to stage your event.

No matter how meticulous you are with regards to mapping out the rest of your event, it'll all be for naught if you don't track down the right venue for it. It's why you should take your time when choosing a venue and keep at it until you land on the ideal one.

Here is how to go about doing it.


Keep Location in Mind When Looking for a Pro Venue

This should almost go without saying. But you should not, under any circumstances, rent a venue for a professional event if it's situated in a place that's going to be difficult for your guests to get to.

If, for example, you're going to be hosting an event in San Francisco, look for an event space that's somewhere within the city limits. If you roam too far outside of San Francisco, you're going to find that many of your guests might skip your event since it won't be convenient for them to get there.

You want to make it as easy as possible for all your guests to make their way to your event. With that in mind, choosing a pro venue that's located in the right place is an absolute must when you're planning out your event.


Make Sure a Venue Offers More Than Enough Parking

Once people show up for your event, are they going to be able to find a place to park?

This might not be a question that you ever consider when you're planning out an event. You'll be so worried about what's inside of a venue that you won't spend a ton of time thinking about what's outside of it.

Find out how many parking spaces are going to be available to your guests on the night of your event. 

The last thing you want is for people to show up at your event and leave when they realize that the parking situation is a nightmare.


Search for a Venue With Enough Space for Everyone on Your Guest List

One of the first things you should ask the owner of an event space when you're meeting with them about their venue is, "What is your capacity?" The capacity will let you know how many people you can fit into a venue at one time.

You should obviously do this for the comfort of your guests. You don't want to try cramming 400 people into a space that's only designed to hold 200 people. It'll lead to people spending the entire night bumping into one another.

It'll also go against all of the fire and safety codes that are in place and could get your event shut down if you're not careful. You want to make sure that the pro venue you pick has a capacity that sits well above the total number of names on your guest list.


See Which Services and Amenities a Venue Offers

There are some venues that will rent you an event space and leave it at that. They won't offer any extra services or amenities, which will leave you to bring in your own vendors to provide them.

But there are also venues that will extend all the services and amenities that you need for your event, either included in the cost of renting the venue or for an additional fee.

Some of the services and amenities that you'll likely need will include:

• Catering
• Table, chair, and linen rentals
• Audio-visual equipment

You might also need someone to help you set up a venue for your event and clean it up once it's over. You should come to an understanding with the owner of an event space as far as which services and amenities they will provide.


Consider the Layout of a Venue When Thinking About Using It

The type of event that you're planning will dictate the type of layout that you'll need inside of a pro venue.

For instance, if you're planning an awards show, you'll need a large stage for performers and presenters. You'll also need plenty of room to put chairs for your audience. This means that a venue with a bunch of smaller rooms isn't going to work for you.

By the same token, if you're holding a seminar that's going to feature different speakers talking to different groups, you might benefit from a venue with a choppy layout. It'll give you an opportunity to send those who attend your event to different areas based on what and who they want to see.

When you walk into a venue for the first time and it's empty, you're going to need to be able to picture your event taking place in it to see if it'll work. It's why it's essential for you to spend time thinking about how you envision your event going before settling on an event space.


Ask a Venue About Their Acoustics

Is there anything worse than spending tons of time and money staging a big event only to have guests complaining about how noisy it is inside? This is something that event planners don't always take into account when planning professional events.

You should speak with an event space owner about the acoustics in their facility and push them to tell you how speakers and music will sound during your event. Poor acoustics can ruin an event and make it impossible for people to enjoy themselves.

You should be especially wary about holding an event in a big, open space like a warehouse. These types of spaces don't always have the best acoustics, and the acoustics can ruin an otherwise great event in some cases.


Check Out the Accessibility of a Venue

A lot of event planners enjoy holding events in older venues that have a ton of history jam-packed into them. These venues often entice guests and get people talking about how lovely they are.

There is one big problem with many older venues, though. They don't always offer the same kinds of accessibility that you will find in most newer venues. They sometimes haven't gone through the necessary upgrades to make them more accessible.

You want to find a venue that makes it simple for people with mobility issues to get around. A pro venue should have everything from ramps to elevators inside of it to allow for people to maneuver their way around without a problem.


Figure Out If a Venue Fits Into Your Budget

The cost to rent a pro venue is going to depend on dozens of different things. Some of the factors that will impact the price of a venue include:

• The location of the venue
• The size of the venue
• The services and amenities that a venue offers
• The history of a venue
• The general appearance of a venue

Prior to looking around at different venues for a professional event, you should find out exactly when you want to rent a venue. This will help you avoid falling in love with a venue only to discover that it is booked on the night you need it.

You should also crunch the numbers and figure out how much you can afford to spend on a venue based on your event budget. It will allow you to steer clear of finding the perfect venue only to find out that it is out of your price range.

Cost shouldn't be the only thing on your mind when you are shopping around for venues for an event. You don't want to take the cheapest venue you can find and learn first-hand why it was so cheap in the first place.

But you should be open and honest about your event budget from the beginning with venue owners.

They might be able to find ways to work with your budget if it means renting out their venue for your event.


Book the Best Pro Venue for Your Next Professional Event

The pro venue that you choose for your next professional event could ultimately make or break it. 

Choosing the wrong venue could leave people with a bad taste in their mouth once your event ends.

Try to start looking around at various venues at least six months before your event is scheduled to take place. This will give you an opportunity to check out and consider a wide range of options before narrowing your choices down.

Once you find a venue that suits your needs, put down a deposit for it and start planning out the other details of your event. Your venue will establish a strong foundation for your event and get the planning process off to a great start.

Check out the rest of our blog for more tips on planning successful events.

Tips To Plan A Corporate Event in San Antonio

If you spend any time in San Antonio TX, be sure to book a good hotel in advance. Then make plans to see as much of the popular Texas city as possible. 

Choosing The Right Hotel 

San Antonio is the perfect choice for fun or business. The city offers hotels in all price ranges and in every part of the spread-out San Antonio landscape. Whether you are on a business trip or just in town for sightseeing, check out some of the best hotel values in town: 

Hyatt Place San Antonio-Northwest/Medical Center 

Located in the northwest side of San Antonio, the Hyatt Place San Antonio- Northwest/Medical Center is just minutes from the airport. The hotel offers free breakfast, group discounts, a full fitness gym on-site, meeting rooms, an award-winning friendly staff, and the perfect business location for visitors to San Antonio visitors. 

The Westin Riverwalk 

For visitors who want to spend a bit more, this location and facility is near many of the city's historic sites. There is an excellent Italian restaurant on the hotel grounds and plenty of open space for watching the activity of the beautiful city as it comes alive each morning and celebrates in the evening. There is a hotel pool, a full spa, and a wonderful café for guests. 

Drury Inn Riverwalk 

Another Riverwalk location for tourists who want to enjoy the view and the historic fun. The hotel has two pools, free Wi-Fi, a complete fitness center, happy hour at the café for guests, and free breakfast. 

Easy To Have Fun 

San Antonio is packed with interesting history, fantastic art galleries, outdoor sports venues, dozens of theaters and more. The perfect combination of a historic and modern city, San Antonio is one of America's unique cities that truly does offer a little bit of everything for locals and visitors. Here are some of the top choices for visitors who want to see what the city is all about: 

The River Walk 

By far the city's most popular attraction for everyone who visits, River Walk is a place to shop, visit a museum, stay in a quaint hotel, eat at a fashionable restaurant, or ride a bicycle to your heart's content. Also known as Paseo del Rio, River Walk features stone walkways, water taxis, and mariachi bands. Don't miss this national treasure when you are in San Antonio. 

The Pearl District 

If you are not already an art lover, a visit to the Pearl District will convert you. In this historic neighborhood, you can purchase a work of art for your living room, sample some of the incredible restaurants, stroll through historic hotels and quaint art galleries, or check out some of the unusual gift shops. All within a small geographic area, you can enjoy an unforgettable meal and wander around one of the city's most interesting areas during your corporate travels.

Take A "Ghost Tour" 

The city was founded in 1718, making it one of the oldest towns in the United States. People who enjoy a bit of adventure fall in love with this paranormal experience. Several nights each week, ghost tours take visitors through some of the town's most haunted locations. Be ready for a scary and exciting time on your business travels.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about the top tips for planning your corporate events or business travel trips in San Antonio TX.

Interested in more articles about staying fit and having fun while traveling? 

Read Related Resources:

• How To Travel And Stay Fit On A Budget

• Creative Fitness Workouts For Travelers On The Go 

• Proven Ways To Stay Healthier When Traveling

Free Frugal Fitness Finds Below

Marketing Tips for Creative Concert Promotion

Over half the people in the U.S. are attending at least one live music event every year. When you're in the live music business, that means there is a whole lot of opportunity out there. Like so many things, though, it's a matter of going out and getting it. 

To make the most out of your potential for ticket sales, proper concert promotion is crucial. By planning out and executing a successful campaign across multiple platforms, you'll be increasing your reach and maximizing your ticket sales. 

Want to learn the best methods of show promotion? You're in the right place. Read on to learn the best marketing tips for concert promotion. 

Stay on Budget 

Before you begin your concert promotion, you'll need to decide on a realistic budget. It can be quite easy to overspend, so settle on a number and stick to it. 

If you need a better idea of what you'll be spending, then create a spreadsheet of different media and concert promotion options. If possible, learn the return/reach and include that in your data. 

Know Your Audience 

Whether you're throwing a benefit concert, virtual concert, or traditional live concert, one thing should remain constant: you should know who your audience is. By knowing what their preferred platforms are, and what type of concert promotion would grab their attention, you can plan your strategy accordingly. 

For example, if you know that the live entertainment in your concert tends to draw an older crowd, then you might consider Facebook marketing or even an ad in the newspaper. On the other hand, if your entertainment has a younger draw, then you might be better off passing out flyers at venues or planning out an Instagram campaign. 

Choose Different Media Avenues 

To get the most out of your concert promotion, you should try to spread your campaign out across multiple media channels. For example, you can create print ads and posters to post in your city, but you might also consider promoted email and social media ads as well. 

Don't Skimp Out on Concert Promotion 

You'll never sell tickets to a live concert that no one knows about. That's why it's best to invest as much as you can into your concert promotion. More often than not, the return will be worth it. 

Give Yourself Time to Plan 

There are so many things that go into concert promotion, and you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to prepare (and execute) your campaign. 

Not to mention the fact that most people have their calendars planned out in advance. If you're looking to score a spot on their schedule, then you have to give plenty of notice. That way, when they come across your event, no schedule conflicts will stand in the way of them purchasing tickets. 

Want to know what happens when you don't give yourself enough time to plan for your concert? Look no further than the recent dumpster fire that was the Fyre Festival.

Promoting Your Live Show 

Anyone can throw a hugely successful show, but it takes the right promotion strategy to do it. Now that you know the best tips for concert promotion, you'll be prepared to sell out your next live event.

12 Event Badges To Break the Ice Among Attendees

We are in the era of the creatives for all things business and events.

The simplest things can be turned into works of art, including event name badges. Events account for $325 billion of direct spending, so planners no longer settle for a sticker tag now that they have bigger budgets.

Do you have an upcoming event and want to do someone fun? Keep reading for 12 event badges that will have your guests engaging with each other in no time.


How to Create Event Name Badges

Today, event planners are turning name tags into ice breaker moments. Keeping in line with branding and themed events, your name tag ideas can cover a range of things.

The thought process behind this new wave is simple. People are not walking around an event trying to read everyone's name tag. In fact, unless someone is speaking to you directly, chances are they aren't interested in knowing who someone it.

By introducing creative name badges, it creates interest. People want to know what the badges say and if you have a shared interest it sparks dialog. 

In most instances, companies have name badges preprinted. For the ideas below, you'll have to go one step further. As part of the registration process include required fields that ask specific questions. 

Use the information to customize the badge and create fun ice breakers. 

12 Event Badges For Better Ice Breakers


1. Who Said That

In this day and age, everyone has a favorite motto or quote.

Underneath the attendee's name, post their favorite quote.

You can choose to put the author's name or leave it blank so people can test their knowledge or simply ask.


2. Three Things About Me

On these corporate name badges, guests provide three things about themselves someone may find interesting.

Telling people you're the CEO of a company isn't quite as interesting as having climbed Kilimanjaro.


3. I Would Lie to You

With this creative name tag idea, guests share two things.

One is the truth and the other is false. People have to ask questions about both before guessing which one is the lie.

Encourage them not to use things that people already know. 


4. Where I'm From

This name badge idea works best at a global conference where attendees may not have a close relationship with each other.

Learning about unique places around the world is always a conversation starter. 

It doesn't matter where you're from, there is someone who may not have ever heard of it or know that one interesting fact about your hometown.


5. Blinged Out

Head over to Michaels or JoAnns and pick-up some self-sticking bling for attendees to bedazzle their lanyards.

Place a small bowl on each table and as guests arrive and take their seats, they can decorate their name tags.

Take it one step further and replace standard lanyards with a nice necklace. This is a nice idea for an all-women empowerment event. 


6. Tell a Story

Not only is it a cool name tag idea, but it is also a purposeful ice breaker.

Color code the badges by the table people are assigned. On their name tag include a few words. Once everyone is seated at the table, they will be charged with combing the words to form an inspiring message.

The host can tell them the ice breaker from the start. To make it more interesting, wait to see if the participants figure it out on their own.


7. My Favorite Things

Similar to some of the other cool name tag ideas, this one will list favorite things the attendees enjoy.

The items can be anything as long as it is not offensive or inappropriate.

Attendees should keep it classy but also fun. Instead of saying your dog, share the dog's name, especially if it's unique. Give the name of a favorite ice cream flavor instead of saying, ice cream.


8. Three Places I've Been

If you're at a conference, chances are you travel a lot.

Ask attendees to provide three places they have visited. Again, don't make it obvious. The places can be a city or a place. 

To make it interesting, narrow it down to a favorite attraction or restaurant in your favorite city. It does not have to be within the US. 


9. College GameDay

There are many self-made millionaires that never attended college—it doesn't mean they don't have a favorite college team.

At motivational conferences, consider doing cool name tags that incorporate college mascots.

There may only be one Ohio State University Buckeyes, but there are plenty of schools that share the same mascots. The object of the ice breaker is to see which college the tiger, bull, or knight represents.


10. Unusual Talent

We all have that one weird thing we can do that our colleagues know nothing about.

Share on your name badge and see how many people ask you to do it right there in the conference center.

Of course, you won't have to, but it could be equally interesting to tell them about it. Plus, the event organizer may not have enough insurance coverage for a fifty-year-old doing a break dancing demonstration.


11. On This Date

On this date, is a fun way to test your guest's knowledge of history.

In fact, the date doesn't have to be a historical reference at all. There are two ways this can work.

One, share the date and let people guess what happened that day. Or post a small snippet and have them guess the date. Double the fun if the guest was born on a historic date.


12. Hashtag Me

A younger audience will love this.

Have guests create a hashtag using four words or less. These cool name tags are sure to create a buzz. It can be a mood, a statement, or just a wacky saying.

Again, keep it classy and professional.


Ready to Break the Ice?

Event name badges can bring out your creativity. There are many ways to turn them into fun ice breakers and games. 

We hope you enjoyed this article and will give the suggestions a try. Learn more tips on business, networking, and event planning by scrolling through the rest of our site!

Things To Remember When Shopping For A Party Or A Special Occasion

Fashion is something that comes from within. When we think of parties, we want to recreate the looks of our favorite starts on red carpet. But simply copying someone else is not going to cut it for you. 

You have to work on your individuality and personality, if you really want to look attractive in parties. Our dressing tips can help you get in the spotlight and dominate the fashion game at every event you attend. 

A Wedding Ceremony 

Red, white and black are just few of those colors that everyone can rock. However, when it comes to weddings, these colors might not work. Try to look for bright yet subtle colored dresses for women to appear chic, simple but classy. Don’t wear too shiny or sequined dresses; go for the elegant dresses that accentuate your best features. 

Complement your dress with minimal makeup and keep the elegance factor alive. Add a regal touch to your outfit with a fancy hairdo. Keep it simple and watch everyone vouch for you to be the best-dressed woman at the wedding. 

A Cocktail Party 

You don’t always need a sexy dress to crash a cocktail party. Do something different this time. Don’t follow the herd. Try other options that no one has explored yet. Keep it casual by pairing a plain white t-shirt with a pencil skirt. You can add an appeal to your outfit by pairing a blouse with a pair of trousers with stilettos. However, don’t go for the looks that are too simple for a party. Don’t style ordinary fabrics including denim. Choose from metallic colors and complete your cocktail party dress by pairing it with a wine-colored pencil maxi dress. Add a statement neckpiece or a pair of long chunky earrings to adorn your party outfit. 

A Dinner Party

Before attending a dinner party, it is always advised to ask the host which look is welcomed, a casual one or something more elegant. You can complete the party vibe by adding a pair of studs. Choose footwear that goes with your outfit. It can be anything from heels to a bright- colored pair of pumps. If you aren’t carrying any jewelry, wear a scarf around your neck. The majority of the time, dinner parties are more of a private affair. So try to keep it rather subtle. If you want to give your outfit an edge, you can add pashmina shawls or stalls with your basic outfit. 

Official Dinners 

You cannot wear your nine to five looks at an official dinner. You need to put a little more effort to break the monotony and steal the spotlight at a corporate event. You need to go with an outfit that makes you look chic yet professional. While attending a corporate dinner, you can pair dress pants with refined pullovers and sweaters. Throwing a coat over can help you get through those chilly nights. 

If you are heading off to a party straight from work, you can cover your party dress with a dull shade layer. You can even bring some Georgette or chiffon ruffled shirts and a pair of metallic heels to easily transform work dress into a party outfit. 

If you are too lazy to do all that, you can accessorize your work outfit with bolder jewelry including pearls or thick neckbands. A little tweak in your day to day outfit can make you look entirely different and all set to attend a corporate dinner party. 

Club Parties

Club parties are something we all long for the entire week. During the weekends, all we want is to forget our lame jobs and slide into a hangover. To make the most out of your time at the club, you need something flowy and comfortable to wear. To complete your laid back party vibe, go for a comfortable dress and pair it with sneakers. If you want to go for a more chic look, wear a pair of heels instead of sneakers. Accessorize your outfit with hoop earrings and add to the playful vibe. Follow these simple tips to own the dance floor.

11 Fun Group Outing Ideas for Businesses for Team Building

Could your team use some time away from work to unwind and have some fun together? Have you considered a group outing?

It doesn't need to be a major event that requires travel and hotels. In fact, there are many group outing ideas that are likely right in your neighborhood or at least nearby. We'll take a look at eleven of these top team building activities here. 

Top 11 Fun Team Building Activities


1. Arcade

You really can't go wrong with arcade games. The older members on your team will find them nostalgic, and the younger members will get a chance to play some old school games. You could even split up your group into teams and offer a prize like a free lunch.


2. Trampoline Park

There's nothing more freeing than getting everyone together to jump in a room full of trampolines. Even the most serious members on the team will be hard-pressed to not smile. 


3. Breakout Room

There's serious camaraderie to be developed when working together to escape from a sinking ship, land a hijacked plane or break out of the scary basement of a serial killer. Head to an escape room to find a game that's just right for your gang.


4. Volunteering Event

Want your team to take part in something meaningful? Take them to volunteer at a homeless shelter, food bank, retirement home, or cleanup project. The team-building aspect is built right in.


5. Laser Tag

This activity is essentially paintball without the pain or the mess. And there's something empowering about getting outfitted with special reflective gear and a gun that doesn't cause any harm.


6. Bowling

Bowling doesn't easily lend itself to cutthroat competition. This isn't to say that it can't be competitive.

But bowling is mostly a goofy and enjoyable experience that happens to be done in proximity to a bar. Speaking of which...


7. Happy Hour

You don't necessarily have to be involved in a game or project. Just kicking back and unwinding with the team after a long work week is a great way to share some laughs and remember not to take things too seriously.


8. Board Game Tournament

Grab some board games and then break your team into groups of four. The winners of each game are further broken into fours until a winner is crowned. To keep it casual, invite the team to dress down and then order in some grub.


9. BBQ and Games at the Park

When the weather is good, head to the park with food to throw on the barbecue, and a wide selection of lawn games like cornhole, ladder golf, and Frisbee. 


10. Sporting Event

Get your group together and hit a sporting event at lunch or after work. If tickets to your professional sports team are out of reach, consider going to a college or semi-pro game. Watching the enthusiasm of minor leaguers for the game can be pretty inspirational.


11. Improv Comedy

Laughter is the best medicine. So if things have been tense with your team lately, take them to watch a comedy troupe doing improv at the club. They often interact with the audience, so it could be a very hands-on and memorable experience. 


Group Outing Ideas Will Bring Your Team Together

We hope these local group outing ideas have inspired you to do some more team-building without having to break the bank.

And for even more articles about ways to make work more efficient and effective, keep checking back with our business blog. Stay inspired!

Event Planning 101: 5 Tips to Plan a Corporate Event

Looking for an event planning guide? Successful corporate events require you to have great organizational skills. You will also need to engage in strategic planning to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

To make your event less challenging, there are some "event planning 101" tips that you can follow.

Let us discuss 5 essential tips for you to plan a memorable and successful event.


1. Start With a Venue For Your Event Planning 101

To reduce the stress of planning an event, you can start by finding the perfect location.

When you are making arrangements for your corporate event, choosing the venue is the most important task. You need to plan ahead of time to secure your special venue.

Does your venue fit your needs? Who are the attendees? Should you send out business event invitations to your intended guests? 

Choosing a venue might seem overwhelming, but it is easier than you think.

Take the time to think about the purpose of your corporate gathering. You should also learn about the background of your guests and how many will be in attendance. 

Use this information to find an appropriate venue. Research different spaces that are a good match for the theme of your gathering and select the best one.

The location you choose should reflect the taste of the people coming to your event.


2. Use Professional Services

If you are an amateur, you might need help from professional services. Regardless of the size of your corporate gathering, you can get assistance from top event planners.

Whether you need a spacious facility, wireless Internet, or special equipment, you can experience modern technologies to bring your ideas to life. From concept to completion, event experts are ready to customize your event.


3. Set Your Budget

Do you have a strict budget for your event?

One important rule is to avoid going over budget. You must focus on your budget and also pay close attention to the money you're spending.

In some cases, you might find that the event you plan could turn out to be more expensive than you expect.  Therefore, you should make certain that you have extra cash to cover unexpected expenses.


4. Send Out Invitations

Once you create your guest list, you need to mail out invitations.

Be sure to send your invitations to clients weeks ahead of your corporate event. You don't want to take the risk of sending them out too late and losing some of your valuable guests.

When you are creating invitations, be sure to include RSVP options, so that you will have an idea of how many people will attend.


5. Make Seating Arrangements

Use a seating chart to make your guests feel relaxed and comfortable. Determine the most suitable seating layouts for your event. Your seating plan should be simple, organized, and easy to read.


Get Started With Your Event Ideas

Keep these tips in mind for your next corporate event. This information is critical for the overall success of your special occasion. It also helps you to reduce the difficulties of arranging an event.

Event planning is an essential aspect of business, but there is much more to learn. If you enjoyed reading about event planning 101, check out the business section of our website for more information.

Tents For Different Occasions: How To Choose The Perfect One!

Planning to organize an event? Whether you want to throw a casual party or you want something formal, a tent can give special feels that is festive, unique and whimsical. It also guarantees that the best memories are not dependent on the weather. 

Imagine having a fete in nature with the perfect backdrop and scenic view to create the mood and theme of the event. With that, deciding the right tent for your next event is one of the many decisions that go into setting an outdoor event. But, the most important question is whether to buy a tent or rent it? 

Renting Or Buying? 

Buying a new canopy tent is quite a big investment up front, but after a few years, it would be worth. On the contrary, renting might be a low investment, it could cost more in the end when you'll spend huge on many transactions. To identify which option is perfect, ask yourself: 

How Many Times Do You Need A Tent? 

If you are a person who loves outdoor parties, or you have many events coming, buying would be great. So, if you want the tent purchasing makes sense, you need to use it multiple times. 

How Long Will You Leave The Tent? 

Do you often have a one-day event or it's for longer days? For how long your tent will be up? For short periods, you can go for renting. However, for long commitments, buying will be the best option. 

How Will You Set Up The Tent? 

Will you be able to set up yourself or you would need someone's help? Are you able to do maintenance on your tent or you need someone for repairs and cleanliness? Think of these factors and then make a decision. 

The Shape And Size Of The Tent? 

Of course, buying an older tent can be affordable and easy on the pocket; it will not be in as good condition as a new tent. Moreover, the small size tent is cost-friendly and are easy to clean. However, large tents are bulky and add up to costs like transportation and more. 

How To Choose The Perfect Tent? 

Now that you know whether you need to buy or rent, have a look at a different type of tents: 

● Frame Tent

These tents are quite pleasing and are perfect for formal events. Having a varying width of 10'-40' these tents fit in everyone's needs and space. Also, these tents are sturdy and can easily hold lightweight accessories like fans, lights, and other decors. The freestanding ability of these tents makes them ideal for floor plans and other layouts. However, these tents are hard to transport and also have more hardware. 

● Pole Tents

Pole tents are designed from the ground or grass areas; it uses stakes to tie them offering support to the tent. Generally, pole tents have one pole in the center, which can be used as a centerpiece. People also love the appearance of pole tents, as the graceful curves, peaks, and dips make it quite appealing. 

● Cross Cable Tents

These tents come with a central high peak tube that is attached to the cross cables. These tents are also known as high peak tents, which you can also combine to form a frame. 

● Pop-Up Canopy Test

These tents are modern takeover to the lightweight ones and can bring comfort to any place. Whether you want to set up the pop-up canopy on the beach or in your backyard, the options are endless. Also, buying these tents are quite affordable and efficient.

● Star Tents

These tents have a unique shape and can be used to give more eye-catching appeal to events. These tents possess star-like shape which is created by two poles and fabric sides, which is stacked in a circular shape. This will create a tent's perimeter and give it a unique shape and flexible fitting. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right tent for your occasion is crucial. So, if you don't want your tents to hang with wind and other weather conditions, keep the above tent tips in mind and then make a decision.

SELF Magazine Park Workout Playlists

Contributed by Courtney Horan, Author of the healthy living blog Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life. Courtney is a former teacher turned personal trainer, who loves blogging about healthy food and fun fitness ideas. You canconnect with Courtney through her on Facebook and Twitter.

Hey guys! This was supposed to get published yesterday, but since I was dealing with those photo issues, I never got the chance. So just popping in quick this afternoon to give ya a little heads up on a fun event that may just be happening in a city near you:

SELF Magazine’s Workout in the Park

This is the 19th year of the Workout in the Park series, and the event will be happening in CHICAGO, NEW YORK, & SAN FRANCISCO.

From the calendar listing,

“SELF Workout in the Park is a unique experience filled with a day of fun and invigorating classes from CRUNCH gym, beauty and fashion consultations, nutritional know-how, and tons of freebies and giveaways from SELF and our sponsors.  The event has been inspiring tens of thousands of women for 19 years to energize their lives.”

Workout in the Park 2012 inspires healthy, happy lifestyles with high-energy exercises, fashion tips, beauty consultations and great giveaways. It will also unveil some hot new exercise trends from CRUNCH, including: 

• Fly Girls— Stay super fly by counting down to your favorite 90s pop hits with easy-to-follow dance routines.
• POUND Rockout Workout— Fuse pilates-inspired movement with the art of making music at this trendy new class that uses Ripstix™, weighted drumsticks, to work the core, upper, and lower body. 
• Hippie Yoga— i.e. yoga that focuses on opening up the hips! Leaves you feeling restored and renewed like no other.

A one-year SELF Magazine subscription is also included with every Workout in the Parkticket.

WHERE ARE THE EVENTS?

• San Francisco (Little Marina Green): May 5, 2012
• New York (Rumsey Playfield, Central Park): May 12, 2012
• Chicago (Butler Field, Grant Park): June 2, 2012

WHEN: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., rain or shine

HOW TO GET TICKETS? Tickets for SELF magazine Workout in the Park are $20 and can be purchased in advance of the event at www.SELFWorkoutinthePark.com, beginning on March 15, 2012.

In honor of the upcoming events, SELF magazine also put together a few new rockin’ playlists, and asked if I’d be interested in sharing them with all of you. Of course I’d love to share – I mean, who couldn’t use a hot new workout playlist every now and then, right? So, here ya go!

New Workout Playlists

I always thought the Workout in the Park would be fun (I’ve been reading about it for years), but it just never seem to work with my schedule. Is anyone else planning on attending any of the events listed above, or have you attended in the past?

Word on the street is that Dolvett Quince (the awesome trainer on The Biggest Loser) is hosting the events…

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