Twitter is just one of many social media tools available to event planners, but it has become one of the fastest growing ways to network.  Below you will find a series of tips as to why Twitter is a good idea for your Event Planning Company.

1)      Networking

People are on Twitter at all hours of the day.  When a tweet goes out, many people will see it and it may land in front of your next potential client or referral.  In other words, one tweet can be the start of an entire conversation. To be sure your tweets are seen by the right audience be sure to include the most commonly used keywords to attract the audience you’re going after.

2)      Great Way to Find New Vendors

Are you looking to add to your vendor list?  Are you looking to network with local bakeries, music companies, bands, or even bridal outlets?  This is a great method for adding those connections.  Twitter gives recommendations of people to follow based on your interests. Be sure to pay attention to these suggestions.

With the search feature of twitter (search.twitter.com), you can look up a variety of topics that are of interest to you. This is also the same way others can find you which is why in tip #1, we mentioned to use keyword-rich tweets.

3)      An Introduction to Your Company

Twitter allows you to describe and position yourself in any way you want by using the tagline and intro areas. Be sure you are maximizing this so potential customers and vendors know everything they need to know about you within a few seconds of reading your profile.

4)      Plethora of Writers and Bloggers

Twitter is filled with writers and bloggers.  What does that mean for your event planning company?  It means reaching out to others by giving them valuable information about the planning industry as well as your company. If they like what they see, they could write about it and you can get a large new following you didn’t expect. They key is to make sure all of your tweets add value to your readers.

5)      Network with Others in the Planning Industry

Not only will you find new vendors through twitter, but you will also find other influential people in the industry.  People you could bounce ideas off of; get advice from; and hold networking events together. Occasionally there are twitter parties and meetups being put together in which a certain brand or company hosts a twitter party based on a specific topic.  Seek these events out in the events and meeting industry.

With the utilization of hashtags (a # followed by a topic) you can easily pinpoint those talking about the same topics as you, and anything related to your business.

6)      Great Promotional Tool

If you are involved in planning a big event that people are looking forward to,  Twitter is a great way to get the word out.  It helps to promote the event or service because often times you’ll have followers in your local area.  It can also help to promote your company website or blog.

Keep in mind, that with any social media platform, it is best to have a strategy for how to use it ahead of time. Twitter is the start of a conversation piece with others – so be sure your tweets and ideas are well thought out beforehand.

Lastly, social media is meant to be interactive and fun, so make sure you are maximizing both of those aspects.

- By Jamie Gall. If you would like to read more of Jamie Gall’s writing you can find her at Minnesota Girl in LA.

We spoke with a number of experts to learn where the up-and-coming destinations to hold meetings and events will be. Our top picks are based off of their accessibility, affordability, attractions, activities and choice of venues.

Boise, ID: Boise is quickly becoming a top destination for meetings, conferences and special events. The clean and friendly capital of Idaho is not only home to numerous museums, hotels, art galleries and delicious restaurants; it is also an outdoor paradise. The Boise River cuts directly through the city and includes more than 25 miles of river-front pathways as well as fantastic river rafting and fishing opportunities. The Bogus Basin Ski Area is less than an hour drive from the downtown, and climbs 3400 vertical feet through deep forests. For event planners,  the greatest feature of Boise is the Boise Centre, Boise’s convention center. The Boise Centre is home to 50,000 sq. ft of exhibition/meeting space as well as a 25,000 sq. ft. ballroom, an auditorium that seats 375 and state-of-the-art digital signage. Every year, the Boise Centre hosts more than 300 events and serves more than 200,000 guests. Currently, the total capacity for the Boise Centre is 4,200. Boise has become a popular destination for event planners due to its convenient location and abundance of recreational activities. For more information on Boise, please visit www.boisecentre.com.

The Yukon, Canada: From breathtaking mountains to serene meadows, the Yukon is the ideal choice for scenic events. The Yukon is home to four unique communities: Whitehorse, Dawson City, Carcross, Tagish and Teslin and Haines Junction. Each community has their own distinctive venues, restaurants, hotels and attractions. The biggest venue to host events in the Yukon is the Yukon Convention Center. In 2011, the Yukon Convention Center played host to the Scotiabank Hockey Day. More than 300 guests attended the infamous Canadian day, and were treated to sporting events, galas, luncheons and media events, as well as a final gala and silent auction. Surrounding venues in Whitehorse that are recommended for large scale events include the Yukon Arts Centre, with auditorium seating for up to 426 and the Mount McIntyre Convention and Recreation Centre, which boasts over 21,000 square feet of meeting and event space. For those meeting-goers who wish to enjoy the sheer beauty of the Yukon, there is a number of activities they can engage in, including white-water rafting and heli-hiking in the summer, and snowmobiling, dog sledding and igloo building in the winter. Despite the chilly weather in the winter, holding a major event in the Yukon during the winter can actually include more activities for your guests. Special events in the winter include the Yukon Quest International Dog Sled Race, where mushers and their dog teams race the wilderness terrain between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Sourdough Rendezvous, a winter carnival that takes place during the last weekend in February. The Yukon is now also easier to get to than ever, thanks to 2 ½ – 3 hour direct flights from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. For more information on the Yukon, please visit www.meetingsyukon.com.

Sonoma, CA: Napa Valley, known for it’s scenic wineries, has some serious competition. Located just 30 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sonoma County is home to more than 300 wineries, 40 spas, 500+ restaurants and boasts more than 55 miles of gorgeous coastline along the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay. Sonoma County features 6,6000 full and limited service hotel rooms, each of which offer flexible meeting spaces for event planners, as well as numerous wineries, golf courses, restaurants and unique venues with meeting spaces. To make Sonoma County even sweeter, the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau is currently offering an incentive program to planners who book their meetings and events in Sonoma County. For more information on Sonoma County, please visit www.SonomaCounty.com.

Baja, CA: Although Baja has always been a popular destination for weddings, it is quickly becoming a top destination to hold meetings and events. In June 2012, the Los Cabos Convention Center will open with its first event, the G-20 Summit. The 653,400 sq. ft. Convention Center will be able to accommodate over 6,000 guests and is currently being designed to be a “green” facility complete with energy efficient solar panels. Los Cabos itself is home to San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, two cities that are ideal for meetings and events. Cabo San Lucas is located at the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and is known for it’s glitz and glamour. Cabo San Lucas is particularly known as a prime sport fishing destination, but is also home to a number of luxury resorts, restaurants, etc.

“There are a number of great restaurants in Los Cabos,” says Keith Malone, director of www.baja.com. “Sunset Da Mona Lisa (Cabo San Lucas) offers gorgeous views of the ocean and is ideal for weddings and events, La Panga Antigua (San Jose del Cabo) has won a wide variety of awards and Deckman’s at Havana’s (San Jose del Cabo) exotic menu will have even the most ardent gourmand swooning with pleasure.”

For more information on Baja, please visit www.baja.com.

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on her Twitter page.

Lets get started with the interview.

Max: When did you realize you wanted to become an event planner, and what drew you toward the industry?

Ivette: I think I realized I wanted to become an event planner on my 14th birthday. I hosted a party at my parent’s house and cleared the living room of furniture to create a dance floor. I remember thinking how ugly our living room curtain was, so I grabbed some blue and yellow tissue paper and created some funky block art pattern by covering the entire wall with tissue. Since then, birthdays and holidays were simply excuses to plan themed parties, host movie nights and dinner parties, and max out my credit card at Party City. I have such a need to play hostess, that it is only natural that I found myself in the event industry. It didn’t hurt that my sister (who is seriously awesome at interior designing) and mother (a talented seamstress) are such brilliant creative types as well. So in a way, I guess you can also say it runs in the family!

Max: It looks like you’ve been working at a South Beach hotel for almost four years now. I’m sure the experience at a popular, high end venue has been amazing. Can you describe what your current day-to-day is like?

Ivette: Working in the convention center of a hotel has been immeasurably beneficial to my career. I would highly recommend it to someone starting out in the industry. Every day I take home a learned lesson to apply at eventsbyi. The volume of business, the long hours, and the variety of shows and events we put on every day has allowed me to experience every type of event under the sun. I’ve seen it all from medical conferences to weddings to trade shows to press junkets. The day-to-day is ever changing and hard to explain, but expect to spend a lot of time on your feet! It is often a balancing act between our client’s interests, the hotel’s interests, and the third party players so the position will teach you a lot about compromising and choosing your battles wisely while still maintaining positive relationships with all involved. It’s been interesting to say the least!

Max: You also have your own company called eventsbyi. One thing that really stands out to me is the high quality, free tips you give your readers on your blog. It’s great and shows you really know what you’re doing. What are your main goals for the company this year?

Ivette: The blog is an addition we made this year. Personally, I started out as such a “do-it-yourselfer,” so it seemed logical that when I became an event professional, I would share my wealth of knowledge with all who wanted to hear. You’re not the first to mention how much information I share for free, in fact my boyfriend thinks I’m crazy to reveal all my secrets! But it has really helped my company build credibility among my readers. And if there is one thing my clients can attest to, it is how important it to me to build trusting relationships. Attracting more readers and expanding the blog are main company goals in 2012. In the coming months, you will see more “How To” videos, DIY projects, reviews of events we’ve attended or planned, giveaways from some of our event partners, and anything else our readers want to see.

Max: What do you think the most difficult thing is about being an event planner?

Ivette: Planning an event is a lot more complicated than the general public tends to think. But the most difficult part is not choosing the menu, applying for permits, getting your floor plan approved by a fire marshall, or managing the budget. The most difficult part of being an event planner is giving your client what he or she wants. It could be that your client has no idea what he or she wants, or maybe he or she knows exactly what they want, but have a hard time explaining it to you. It really takes a special skill to listen and bring to light what your client’s dream event looks like. Unfortunately, I see so many planners out there that plan an event the way they like it, not taking into consideration what their client’s wants are. But once you’ve discovered what that dream event looks like, the rest is just paperwork.

Max: What is one event or accomplishment you are most proud of your work on? And why?

Ivette: I am most proud to have gone out on my own as a freelance events professional. After all, I could come up with several reasons why not to—no time, no money, no energy, too much competition, it’s too difficult. Once I took the leap of faith, however, it’s inspired me more and more to push my limits. It’s incredible how much I’ve done and how its captured the public’s attention in such a short period of time. I feel incredibly blessed to be doing something I enjoy every day and I encourage anyone else who is thinking about going out on their own to do it, no matter how much you have going against you. Just don’t compete with me, you’ll lose!

Max: How do you think your company can stand out from the competition?

Ivette: If I have to mention one thing that sets us apart from the competition, it has to be reliability. I like to think my company is in the business of selling “peace of mind” more than just providing event planning services. If you’ve ever planned an event yourself, you can relate to how stressful and hectic it can get, especially on the day of. At eventsbyi not only do we take that stress away from you, but you can trust that we will do it expertly and as planned. I promise no e-mail goes unanswered, no phone call goes unreturned, and no detail is missed! We work hard to earn your trust, and by the end of the planning process, you won’t need to think twice about what we’ve promised you, because you KNOW we will deliver!

Max: If you had to give one piece of advice to someone who wants to become an event planner but has no experience at all, where would you tell them to start?

Ivette: There are many opportunities in the event world, but it all depends on your market and where you are located when you are deciding where to start. Some parts of the world, like New York City, London, and D.C., are hubs for mega third party meeting and event planning companies. In other locations, most of the event jobs are found within companies and businesses, hotels and other venues, or event vendors. Are you the creative type who enjoys creating floral arrangements and producing visual elements? Then start with a decorating company. Are you the “techy” type who may enjoy producing shows? Then start with an audio visual company. Do you like the idea of event planning, but need something stable without a lot of travel? Consider a position at a Hotel or event venue in Banquets, Catering, or Convention Services. Decide who you are, consider your lifestyle, and find a position that matches your interests. And lastly, do not be afraid to start at the bottom. The event industry is ever changing and if you work hard you can rise to the top quickly. I started as an Administrative Assistant in Banquets and have twice been promoted to Management within 4 short years.

Max: Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with us and help share your experiences with our readers. I really appreciate it!

To read more of Ivette’s planning tips, be sure to check out her company blog and website. She really does an amazing job.

1)      Make Your Own Drive-In Movie Theater

Pick up a projector, and a movie that goes along with it.  Drive up to your garage, or even somewhere deserted with a bed sheet, and set up your own drive in Movie Theater.  Just make sure you test out the projector before the big date so you know it works properly.

2)      Progressive Dinner

Instead of a typical dinner date, spice it up a little with a progressive dinner.  Pick out 3 to 4 different restaurants and venue change in between courses.  Attend one restaurant to try an appetizer, go to another restaurant for the entrée, and then one more for dessert.  At the end of the night, hit up a bar for end of the night drinks.  With this different take on dinner, it will be a memorable date.   This may be harder to do for Valentine’s Day because of the long wait times, but would work great for the weekend after.

3)      Scavenger Hunt

There are two different ideas in how this date could work.  The first is each day leading up to the date, give your date a question with two options.  For example: red or white? fast or slow? indoor, outdoor?  These questions are related to the date.  Red or white means the color shirt you would wear.  Fast or slow would mean fast food or eat in restaurant for dinner, and indoor, outdoor would mean an indoor date or an outdoor date.  During the date, let them know how they arranged the date.

The second way of doing the scavenger hunt is giving them a card on the day of the date with a clue that leads them to a new location where another card would be waiting for them.  There would be about 3 or 4 clues that lead your date to where you are.  It could be a fun picnic at the end of the night, it could be to a rock concert you both have wanted to go to, or even an amusement park.  The destination as to where your date ends up is truly up to you.

4)      Bring a bit of International Flair Home to Dinner

What does this mean?  Does your date love Sicily? Perhaps Paris?  Or has always wanted to visit London?  Well, take the time to create a dinner that replicates that area, then cut out parts of the city and decorate your home.  Hire a friend to be a waiter that night and bring a piece of Sicily, Paris, or London to your date.  It would be one truly memorable date.

5)      Take a Class Together

Do you have a love for art?  Perhaps you have always wanted to learn more about wine?  Or your date has never learned how to tango dance.  Find a class you could both enjoy together and take it.  There are plenty of watercolor art classes around.  There are plenty of dance classes around from tango to salsa to ballroom dancing, and wine is always an enjoyable subject.

No matter what you end up doing this Valentine’s Day just remember to have fun, and enjoy each other’s company.  Some of the best date ideas are ones that allow freedom and a night of overall fun.  Do not forget about the amusement parks around town, the opportunities to be a tourist for a night, or the silliness that you could get into on a night on the town.

- By Jamie Gall. If you would like to read more of Jamie Gall’s writing you can find her at Minnesota Girl in LA.

The side patio can accommodate up to 35 to 40 guests and is ideal for more intimate gatherings. The side patio includes a large fireplace, two spacious couches and mini cocktail tables; making it easier for guests to mingle.

For larger gatherings, the back garden patio is an ideal setting–it can seat a dinner for 85-115 guests and entertain up to 130-140 guests. Both patios feature luscious gardens, making them idyllic settings for spring and summer events.

In the last year, Dominick’s has held a number of soirees. The biggest by far was Details Magazine Cover Launch. The launch included an exquisite dinner, drinks and a guest list that included a mix of celebrities including Dominick’s regular, Ryan Reynolds.

One of the more unique events that the restaurant held was a stunning moss, wood and apricot themed wedding. The restaurant underwent a remarkable transformation for the event, which left owners Warner Ebbink and Brandon Boudet speechless.

Owners Ebbink and Boudet pride themselves on the number of variety of parties that they have held in the last year. They believe that each person’s event, party or celebration is really their own, and that they are there to help bring their vision to life inside of Dominick’s.

For more information on Dominick’s, you can visit www.dominicksrestaurant.com.

-Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on her Twitter page.

The shop has played host to a number of parties, including their own grand opening party in April. The event’s official title was the Black Banditz Grand Opening & Pre-Coachella LA Bash, which also helped benefit VH1’s Save the Music Foundation. This particular event was shop manager Dre Barranon’s favorite event that Black Banditz has held, due to the sheer size of the party and the support that they received from celebrities, friends and the artistic community. Celebrities included Jenna Jameson and Daviegh Chase.

Black Banditz is set to undergo some exciting new changes in the new year. Barranon has been very sly about what some of these new changes will include, but he did hint that vanity lights will be one of the changes that will help to enhance upcoming events.

“All I can say about the renovations is that it is going to be an absolutely different experience. The renovations will take the shop to a more mature and professional level,” says Barranon.

In the meantime, Black Banditz is currently planning their one year anniversary party. Set to take place in February, the party’s concept is still undecided but there is a possibility that there will be a battle of the bands between Black Banditz and neighboring clothing shop, Kill City.

If you are looking for a venue to host an art show, underground event or even a more unusual party, Black Banditz is the ideal space. Shop owner Daniel Regan is proud of his unique shop, and hopes for it to be the next great venue.

“We are a lifestyle shop that encompasses hair, fashion, music and tattooing,” says Regan. “We want to be the epicenter for cultural and underground events.”

For more information on Black Banditz Tattoo Shop, please visit www.blackbanditz.com

-Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on her Twitter page.

Here are some of our tips for hosting on a fantastic Super Bowl Party.

1)      Make it Cozy Around the TV

During the Super Bowl, the TV is a huge component.  Make sure your TV is centrally located so everyone has a good angle to watch the game and commercials. When the game is not on, everyone is glued to the commercials.  When the commercials are not on, they are glued to the game.  So, make a cozy environment around the TV.

The big question is this: is there enough room?  If your couch and chairs cannot hold all your guests, do not be scared to use the floor. The floor can be comfy if you throw some big pillows down around the room. Don’t be afraid to do so.

2)      Wear Jerseys and/or Team Colors

Invite your guests to wear their favorite team jerseys.  If they do not have a football jersey of their own, invite them to wear the team colors of the team they want to see win.  The Super Bowl is about a winning team, and wearing the pride of your team, so let them SHOW it.

3)      Get Creative with the Food

There are a variety of ideas to bring a little football magic to the food you will be serving.  There are everything from ’stadium cakes’ to ’football pizzas’ to ‘football cheese balls’.  There is a possibility for every idea.  Start thinking creativity with how you want to showcase the food you will be serving. The internet has some great recipes you can browse.

4)      Provide a Meal

A lot of Super Bowl Parties are snack induced.  Trust me, those are very important, but don’t forget to serve an easy to eat meal.  Some favorites are: Sloppy Joes, Burgers, Pizza, and Stadium Dogs.  You can easily keep with the snack theme, but incorporate a meal since game time is 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST.

5)      Play Super Bowl Squares or Have a Raffle

When guests arrives at the beginning of the game, invite everyone to write down their guess as to what the final score of the game will be.  At the end of the game, look through the numbers and give a door prize to the closest guess.  Perhaps someone hit it right on.

A more traditional game is Super Bowl Squares. Prizes are awarded at the end of each quarter based on the scores of the game. Check out the complete rules.

6)      Sit Back and Have a Few Laughs

After the majority of Super Bowl games I remember watching, it’s the commercials that get talked about the next day, more so than the game.  Just sit back to enjoy the commercials with friends! No matter if you’re into the game or commercials, it’s guaranteed to be a good time.

Have fun with it, and most importantly, enjoy your company!

- Jamie Gall

WitZend Live, a hidden gem in the heart of Venice, California has brought on “Andy Dick and the Bitches of the Century” show every Monday night in January.

EventPlanning.com had the pleasure of checking out the show and the venue this week. Being a long time Andy Dick fan from The Assistant days, we jumped at the opportunity to see Andy perform on the Westside.

The evening started with a standup comedy performance by Lucas Dick, Andy’s son. It appears as though Lucas is just starting out in his comedy career but his presentation and jokes got laughter from the crowd. The first half of his routine was focused around being Andy’s son which triggered laughter from the crowd. Then came comedian Dwayne Perkins for a short 7 minute act followed by the headliner, Andy Dick.

The most impressive find of the evening was the WitZend venue itself. Situated on Lincoln Boulevard, if you do not know the address, it’s an easy location to miss. Once you get inside you are greeted at the bar by friendly staff.

As you continue inside, the stage area is small but has a great feel to it; perfectly sized for the venue itself. The room holds about 80 people.

WitZend also features a menu with appetizers, pizza, sandwiches and salads. I can vouch for the pizza being tasty.

The venue has an interesting history. In the 1960s the building was a bar called 4H Club, frequented by Jim Morrison & The Doors before closing down in the 1970s. For the next few decades the building held retail businesses before being purchased by current owner Jeb Milne in 2005. In June of 2011, Milne retrofitted and reopened the doors as WITZEND, a live entertainment restaurant and bar.

Venue Website: WitZend Live

Venue Event Calendar

The three day event was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from January 8th through January 10th. It is organized each year by Shawn Collins and Missy Ward, who put on an “East” version in New York and a “West” version in Las Vegas each year.

Major brands that attended were Groupon, Google, ShareASale and LifeLock. The conference boasts over 5,000 attendees each paying over $1000 per ticket.

Keynote speaker was the entertaining and motivational Eric Thomas, who’s Youtube video quoting “when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe” went viral in late 2010.

In a non-conference sponsored event, Tiesto started things off on Saturday night with a hugely popular performance at XS. The music hits kept coming with another non-conference sponsored event with LMFAO performing at Marquee on Monday night, January 9.

Piggybacking on the event was event promoter Darren Blatt’s Affiliate Ball. Darren has scored major music acts for previous marketing conferences, put together great crowds and emcees his own events. He has the rare ability of being good at doing all three. The concert was a private event for Affiliate Summit attendees.

This year Darren secured Nelly to perform at the Rio Hotel’s Crown Room which attracted 2500 Affiliate Summit attendees and sponsorships from Russell Simmons’ Rush Card, FriendFinder Network and several other companies.

Nelly put on a great performance in an intimate setting. I’m sure Nelly is used to performing at much larger venues but he was still entertaining in a 3000 seat venue by pulling a few girls to the stage and serenading them with his slower hits.

Here is a video of Nelly performing at Affiliate Ball:

Other celebrity attendees included Kate Gosselin, who was representing Coupon Cabin under her new gig as a contributing mom blogger. Kate has been writing about one article per week offering her readers money saving and coupon advice, which began on November 22, 2011. Monetary terms of her sponsorship deal have not been disclosed.

Kate Gosselin and CouponCabin team accepting an award

Kate Gosselin and Affiliate Summit co-founder Shawn Collins

Nelly performing at Rio's Crown Room

Eric Thomas "The Hip Hop Preacher" keynote speach

Kardashian is set to host the NYE event at Tao Nightclub in Las Vegas. She has reportedly been paid $600,000 for the engagement, which includes future hosting events. Tickets for Tao’s New Years Eve event range from $175 – 225.

The event begins at 9pm and tickets get guests hors d’oeuvres, open bar from 9pm – 11pm, champagne toast at midnight and entry into LAVO Nightclub at The Palazzo Hotel.

TAO has been long known for putting on great events and is one of the few Las Vegas nightclubs that has been able to keep their audience coming back, and continue being popular long beyond the average life span of a Las Vegas club. A big part of their success is paying top dollar for the hottest celebrities for hosting birthday party, holiday and New Years Eve events.

Other celebrities hosting New Years Eve arrangements include:

• Katy Perry asking for $250,000 to host NYE with no takers (hosting did not include a performance).
• Mariah Carey’s rumored price tag of $500,000 fetching no takers either.
• Ashton Kutcher turned down many several “huge money sums” offered to host NYE events.
• Mike “The Situation Sorrentino” is hosting New Years Eve Weekend at Chateau Nightclub in Las Vegas.
• DJ Pauly D is hosting and performing at New York City’s Espace from 9pm – 3am.
• Carson Daly is hosting the NYE event for Television (NBC) where he will have guests Drake, Tony Bennett and Cee Lo Green.

Remember if you’re hosting your own New Year’s Eve party here are some tips.