Event Manager: What They Do and What It Means to Work in Event Planning – BBS

21 January 2025

Event Planning: A Complex Challenge

Event planning is a multifaceted process that requires a good deal of expertise, experience and management skills. Its complexity increases in proportion to the size of the event and the client’s needs: organizing international events is a task that demands both creativity and strong leadership abilities.
Among the key professional roles in this field, the Event Manager plays a central role. But what does an Event Manager do, how much do they earn, and how can one become an expert in event planning?

 

What Does an Event Manager Do?

An Event Manager is a professional responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing all aspects of organizing an event. Whether it’s a conference, trade show, or corporate event, the Event Manager is in charge of the entire project. This involves managing a wide range of tasks: selecting the venue, managing the budget, negotiating with suppliers, and choosing the staff.
Despite the large differences between events in terms of scale and type, a detailed plan is always required. This plan is based on defining goals and budgets, managing logistics, communications, and event promotion, and providing oversight during the event itself. Therefore, the Event Manager must be able to manage multiple scenarios simultaneously, often under pressure, with great attention to detail.
The ability to coordinate all the involved resources, meet deadlines, and ensure the final experience meets the client’s expectations is the key to success in this complex profession, which requires cross-disciplinary skills.

 

How Much Does an Event Manager Earn?

The salary of an Event Manager can vary depending on several factors, such as experience, location, and the size of the event. Generally, a junior professional can earn between €20,000 and €30,000 per year, while a more experienced manager with greater responsibilities can expect to earn around €40,000 to €50,000 annually. For executives working for leading companies, luxury brands, and organizations dedicated to creating large international events, salaries can be even higher.
Often, an Event Manager can work as a freelancer, and in this case earnings depend on the number of events managed annually, contracts with agencies, and the relevance of the events handled. Event agencies may offer fixed salaries in some cases, while in others, payment may be made on a per-project system.

There are other professional roles within the event planning field that are often confused with the Event Manager. Let’s clarify them.

Event Planner and Event Specialist:

The role of the Event Manager is often confused with that of the Event Planner, but the two are complementary and distinct. While the Event Manager is primarily involved in the operational and logistical management of the event, the Event Planner focuses only on the creative and strategic aspects before the event takes place.
The Event Planner’s job is to imagine and design the event in all its details: the theme, atmosphere, design, and layout of the spaces. Their task is to create the “vision” for the event, ensuring it reflects the client’s needs. Their responsibility is to offer a unique experience that meets the objectives set by the client.

Another role in event planning is the Event Specialist, a professional who handles specific aspects of the event, such as managing technologies (audio and video), coordinating the support team, or analyzing post-event data.
Unlike the Event Manager, who oversees the event as a whole, the Event Specialist has a more technical focus and expertise in a particular area of event planning.

How to Start Organizing Events?

As with any field requiring high-level skills, it’s essential to gain practical experience and connect with the industry to start working in event planning.
While it can be helpful to collaborate with event agencies to acquire basic skills, it’s crucial to complete a dedicated educational program, such as a Master in Business Management or Event Management, to deepen theoretical knowledge, learn best practices, and most importantly, build a network within the professional world.

What to Study to Organize Events?

Event organization requires a combination of practical, theoretical, and managerial skills. The academic background that can guide one toward this profession isn’t fixed from the graduation – a solid starting point would be a degree in Business Management, Marketing, Communications, or Tourism. What’s more important is the subsequent specialization, necessary to acquire specific skills in the field of event planning.
At Bologna Business School, the Master in Business Management, Tourism, Heritage, and Events is the ideal formula for those looking to enter the world of complex events related to art, culture, and high-level tourism. Here’s the program.

Event Agencies: A Key Ally.

Event agencies are an important resource for Event Managers. These agencies specialize in the complex management of events and offer support in all stages of the process, from design to logistics. Collaborating with an event agency can significantly expand an Event Manager’s professional opportunities, as they deal with a wide range of clients, scenarios, and event scales.
Event agencies handle tasks such as venue research, catering management, technical equipment, service staff, and other resources needed to execute the event. In some cases, they may also provide strategic consulting services..

Working as an Event Manager means being a professional capable of orchestrating every detail of an event, ensuring that all involved parties collaborate, and that the final experience is of the highest quality. The Event Manager role is crucial in a ever-growing industry that spans hospitality, large corporations, luxury brands, and high-end tourism.

At Bologna Business School, among the various specialized training programs, the Master in Business Management, Tourism, Heritage, and Events is the preferred route to access a constantly expanding business. The demand for more personalized and complex events is on the rise. With a strong network of contacts – among the flagships of our School, – solid leadership, and a passion for creating unique experiences, the Event Manager profession can lead to a challenging career of great professional satisfaction.



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