Because of the nature of issues discussed within an AGM, it is only natural for the event to have a formal feel that is also business-like. Participants are usually expected to arrive in formal dresses suitable for the occasion. Furthermore, the company’s financial statement is also distributed to its members to update them of the company’s progress.

Normally, the current chairman of the company stands as the host therefore making him responsible for organizing the event and making sure that all expectations are met. He is expected to come up with an agenda that will be sent along with the invitation for the upcoming event. Sometimes, these invitations are extended to third party participants such as member’s family and friends. Annual general meetings take time since there are many relevant issues to discuss and it is best to provide entertainment to keep your participants from getting bored. These tasks are best coordinated by a professional event planner, saving you time and energy in the process.

While event planners suggest that marketing can still be done during these events, it is highly recommended to keep it to a minimum and as subtle as possible. When launching an event like this, your primary purpose is to make your clients feel special. Event Marketing comes in only if there’s still room for it. Your clients must realize that their efforts are properly recognized thus encouraging them to do more. Usually, when you hold a client appreciation event, it is much more targeted, personalized and intimate, that being an activity your attendees enjoy the most such as golf, Spa, and overnight stays.

Appreciation events in general are held to give you, the host, a chance to say thanks to people who matter most. It can be for your staff, your company’s stockholders, your business partners or even a client that was able to save the day for you. Appreciation events can be given for big groups such as a sister company or smaller group of people. Furthermore, it can be in forms of gift certificates, spa packages and skill enhancing classes perfectly suitable for your participants.

Community events are also held for causes. Since it encourages community participation, more people are able to partake and share themselves to the cause. Some cities welcome events like these even if the event itself will require shutting down a street while other cities can be a little restricting, especially those busy ones.

Event planning wise, community events cannot be done in a snap. It requires months of careful planning and loads of permits to secure. For medium to large community events, there should be at least 6 months time allowance for preparation alone. It’s safe to say that community events are not for the faint of heart and an event like this is better off when handled by a seasoned event planning team. Also, a company-sponsored event is approached differently as one would when handling an affair that is supported by the community itself. In a community supported event, there will be local volunteers that are ready to help an event planner while a company-sponsored event will need donors and sponsors duly solicited by the event planner. Community events also involve security measures, crowd control, emergency plans and broader advertising methods.

One of the most important corporate events held for the benefit of its members and employees is training sessions. Training sessions are provided by department heads to familiarize their members of new policies and improvements within their department. Furthermore, training sessions are also given to new and incoming members of the department to ensure that these people will know what to do once they get on the job.

Training sessions can be done with minimal prep time for small groups. However, larger groups are best handled by an event planner since it will involve overall coordination for venue, food and others. Constant communication between the event planner and the business owners is a must for training sessions. Moreover, experts in the field should be contacted and coordinated at once.

Seminars can also be done to familiarize your clients of what your brand or product can do for them especially if it’s a new and unfamiliar brand you are currently launching. Consider this as your 15-minute chance to convince them to trust your brand. The key to a successful seminar is delivering the exact, desired value your attendees are looking forward to. It should deliver genuine, sincere information, no less.

Albeit short, seminars also have its own set of challenges for event planners. It still needs to be planned ahead of time and should be well-coordinated. The most important part of a seminar is having an expert resource person to talk and that alone can cause problems such as last minute changes and conflict in schedules. In seminar planning, your worst enemy is time but if planned well, seminars can yield sales, motivated workers or loyal customers that are sure to benefit your company tremendously.

What is a fund raising event?  This type of gathering is focused on earning money for a certain benefit.  Usually fund raising events will aim on raising awareness for certain causes by generating attention and gathering support for the said cause.

A very good example of a fund raising event would be to hold a raffle to benefit a school, church or other charitable institutions.  Another very good idea would be to hold an auction or garage sale of donated items for the benefit of others.  There are organizations that also hold “fun runs” or marathons.

Most often the money earned after the raffle or sales of the tickets, registration etc would go to the cause and fund research or would be used to buy equipment, food or other necessities.

Hosting a fund raiser is a very good way to get the community involved in certain projects.  It fosters team spirit and is relatively easy to do.  To maximize on cash, try soliciting for a venue and donations for prizes, food or man power.  Another excellent tip would be to ask your boss or company to sponsor said event.  It would be a win-win situation.  Your company gets exposure and points for contributing to the company and your cause will get some needed cash or equipment.

An album release party is held for the purpose of generating attention for a band or singer’s recent album release.  This is to showcase the band or singer’s talent in the form of a party that can be open to the public and press.

Album release parties are usually big events for big superstars in the music industry.  This is not only attended by the singers and bands themselves but also music industry big wigs who want to promote the latest single from a certain album and the album itself.  These are truly helpful especially if the band or singer is just starting out in order for the public to get to buy or purchase the said album.

These types of parties naturally attract other singers and bands as well in order to support their fellow musicians.  These can be held via a concert, an album launch at a hotel and will most likely include a press release and press conference as well.  A press release and press conference can serve as an interview or an open forum between the band or singer and the press where questions and answers are meted out and information can be disseminated to the public after wards.

Sir Elton John who is known for his outrageous parties is a well known music celebrity is also very notorious for his outrageous parties and support of his fellow musicians.  His parties are usually the talk of the town and are usually attended not only by big name musicians but by actors and other celebrities as well.

Promotional events can also be held simultaneously over different areas to ensure that the public and masses get wind of the product or service.  It is like a massive advertising campaign to get the public to purchase the product.

Movies and celebrities, causes, benefits, fund raisers and other similar events usually launch promotional events in order to help succeed or get attention for their projects.  The press is usually invited during such events again to help generate attention.

Promotional events are very helpful in launching products and services.  There can be a party and some advertisements in the paper, radio, TV and internet.  A press conference can also be held during a promotional event to help the public understand what the product and service is all about.

A grand opening is an event whereby businesses, institutions or organizations announce the opening of their new location.  Most often grand openings are preceded by other announcements such as “soon to open” or “watch for the opening of…”.  Grand openings can be formal affairs or casual affairs depending on the intentions of the business owner.  They can also be opened to the press and or public.  Organizing a grand opening for big companies can take months of preparations.

Some organizations and businesses prefer to have a “soft opening” before the big day.  This is for everybody within the business to get accustomed to duties, responsibilities and roles without the massive attention grand openings usually get.  This can last a few days, weeks or months, sort of like a practice before the main event.

Grand openings especially for huge businesses or organizations are very big events.  They can include fireworks display; round the clock press coverage, massive advertising campaigns and huge parties with celebrities and other well known people.  Grand openings can also be small and intimate open only to select and invited individuals.

A public event is an affair which is open to anybody and everybody.  A typical public event is usually held in a large open area to accommodate the number of people who may attend or visit the event.

A very good example of a public event would be a county fair.  During a county fair, people who wish to do business, sell different variety of products and services or buy products and services convene in one area where everything is accessible.   During a county fair people who want to sell home made jams, pies and other goodies  assemble in a large open area where everybody can see and buy their products.  Most of the time there are no themes for public events such as county fairs.  It is usually just a big get together for the community where everybody can enjoy and have fun.

Another example of a public event is the yearly Mardi Gras which takes place in New Orleans every Fat Tuesday of the year or Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.  These events usually attract thousands of tourists each year.  The main focus of both events is fun and it encourages people not only to enjoy each other’s company but in the case of Carnival to enjoy the unique culture of Brazil as well.