My Journey in the Events and Wedding Industry

 One day, I got an email from a group of HRM students asking if they could set an interview with me. Here below are the questions they asked and the answers I provided. It made me realized how far I've come along in this journey to the Events and Weddings industry.

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How long have you’ve been an event organizer?

I’ve been an event organizer for 8 years. I started full wedding and events planning in 2011.

What motivates you to be an Event Organizer?

        My motivation is seeing couples and clients happy because I helped them achieve a memorable, beautiful and organized event. Creating venue and floral designs give me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

What is your professional background?

    
I graduated in the year 2007 with the degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Ateneo De Davao University. I became a Registered Nurse in 2008 and practiced the profession for a short time while I did emceeing gigs on the side during free time. It was during my emceeing experience I got transitioned into the events industry. I left my job as a nurse and pursued a career in online writing with a home-based company. During any free time, I hosted parties, debuts, weddings until I decided to enroll in a crash course in Event Planning in the later months of 2010. The following year 2011, I was already booking clients on wedding, birthday and debut planning. I left my online writing career in 2014 to pursue full time in the events industry. In 2017, I was able to have my business registered in the bureau of business and bureau of internal revenue to pay appropriate taxes.

Can you narrate your most unforgettable experience as Event organizer?

There are many unforgettable experiences I’ve had as an Event Organizer. Perhaps I would share the most recent (and most painful) instead. It happened last year 2018 when a bride, who apparently has indecision issues, changed her mind last minute about her wedding dress that she has paid in full. The dress was beautiful but she didn’t like it when she wore it. She rented another gown. Later, after the event, she wanted a full refund of the dress. I was trapped in the crossfire between her and the seamstress that I recommended. It was so stressful. It lasted for many months until we all have come to a compromise. She berated my performance during the event and forgot to acknowledge all the effort I made. Their wedding was beautiful but all she could see were my lapses. She listed all the mistakes I had but thankfully she sent it in a private message.

What are the lessons you have learned from this experiences?

                Because of the experience, I learned that I should stand grounded on my recommendations and suggestions because I know this industry better. I have worked with so many event suppliers. I’ve had my share of failures and successes. Most importantly, I learned hard lessons that became my guiding principles in doing business. I should not be easily swayed with the client’s whims when clearly what they are asking are out of context.

How that experience did affect your well-being?

                From that experience, I was resolved to weed out any undeserving clients. Usually clients with low budgets have more demands. So I am now keener in dealing with barely-paying clients and high-paying clients.

What are the challenges that you had encountered? How do you cope up with those challenges?

Challenges are always present in the event industry or in every aspect of life in general. You can’t have a rainbow without the rain, right?

• First and foremost, my personal circumstance is already a challenge. I have a 4-yo daughter, I have no yaya, I do all the house chores and we “tentatively” live in Gensan because my partner/hubby was promoted to Operations Manager in one of the call centers in Davao in 2010 and was transferred to Gensan Branch ever since. 

So to resolve this, I travel to Davao every time I have a meeting, so I only cater to set appointments ahead of time. I would plan everything from Gensan. I would ask my staff, sometimes my mom, to deposit downpayments, go to suppliers, check out dress designs, get the invites, make the souvenirs, etc… About 2 weeks before the event, if I could not find a trustworthy baby sitter in Gensan, I bring my daughter with me to Davao to prepare for the events. My daughter gets to take days of school absences because no one would stay with her when im in Davao. My hubby works at night and sleeps all morning. Just this year, 2019, we have finally decided that me and my daughter would move back to Davao while my partner does the travel back and forth.

• Second Challenge is my capital. To be able to compete well with other event planners and event stylists, I should be able to invest in expensive and nice event decors. I started this business with emceeing and I have no solid capital that can propel me fast forward and compete with others. I can only improve incrementally which thankfully God has been so generous to me giving me clients who believe in my work and in my worth.

 

So to resolve this, I just gradually buy little event decors when I have new booking. All of my professional fee in emceeing and coordination, I use them to buy fabric for the ceiling, vases, carpets, plastic flowers, backdrops, ets…. I also accepted online writing jobs in maintaining website content to make ends meet.

• Third Challenge is maintaining the sense of professionalism and performance of my team.  My team is great at following instructions. They are keen and able to perform what needs to be done. But retaining good and efficient staff is not that easy with all the opportunities presented to them. The thing about this business is that there are months where clients come in batches and there are months that leave us scratching our heads why there aren't bookings. My team is on-call basis and they have regular jobs to attend to. 

So to resolve this, I hold on to the most experienced ones and train new ones every chance I get. There are tons of lapses and it is expected of new hires even on the old hires. What Im really trying so hard to do is to increase the number of events per month so that my team will have continuous exposure to handling events.

Among the events that you have handled what is the most challenging one?

It was Dec. 22 of last year, we handled a wedding. That day, everybody was in a Christmas rushing mode and traffic was horrible. My coordinators came in late from the hotel and the ceremony music already started. I was there at the frontline and all eyes were disappointed at me for my staff not arriving on time. I was bombarded with insults and disappointed remarks that day and months later.

What insights can you share to other event organizers?

                I’m not sure if there are still insights I can share to other event organizers because I think somehow we have similar experiences in this industry and we thrive differently.

What qualities should an event organizer have to survive in the Event industry?

I think an event planner should have these qualities to survive this industry:

·         Perseverance

·         Persistence

·         Determination

·         Adaptability

·         Innovation

·         Quick Decision Making

·         Emotional Stability

·         Problem Solving Skills

·         Budgeting Skills

·         Marketing Skills

·         Creativity

·         Resilience

·         Confidence

·         Resourcefulness

·         Faith, Passion, Love for the work you do

·         Healthy Lifestyle

What else would you like to share?

You can visit my blog: www.leahjacobe.blogspot.com for the stories of my past events.