Event Management?????

Goldenlady

Im currently working in retail, have been for the past 9 years. I am at quite a senior level and earn a good salary, thing is I actually realised in recent months that I HATE this industry and want to start a whole new career.
I know it will mean a pay drop, which I am willing to take once my job makes me happy. SO i have been thinking about event management..... throughout my current career I would have had to organise a number of events and loved it, I would love to hear from any one in event management to understand the scene in Ireland - are there jobs there? I am not afraid of hard work and unsociable hours, I just want to know what experience I should have (Any suggestions of part time courses I could do?)

thanks a mill
x

RATM

I'd be wary about event management - a lot of people have completed courses / diplomas in this domain and there just isn't enough jobs out there for the amount of people who have a qualification in it.

To be honest if this is really something you want to do then the better way to go about it is to think of event niches that are not yet filled and go about organising your own event and getting exhibitors, sponsors and crowds to attend. To give an example of computer gaming- Irish people are amongst the most avid gamers in the world yet there was only an event set up to cater for them a few years ago. You could decide to compete with something like that or else find your own brand new niche. Wedding events are also popular but I reckon that market is mature and sewn up at this stage.

To get ideas I'd look at the UK event market and see what is trending there. One niche I am aware of that has not yet been filled is an annual skiing/snowboarding event. Around 100,000 Irish people go to ski resorts every year yet there is no annual event in Dublin that caters to them. If you could get even 7,000 of those 100,000 to an event at €10 per head you'd be up €70,000 and that is before the pitches you'd be renting to all manner of outdoor clothing & ski companies, travel agents, etc

In theory you could still be working in retail whilst organising such an event in your spare time. Then if the event is a financial success you could quit your job and dedicate yourself to establishing it as an annual event with strong branding and building the numbers who attend year on year. You'd obviously need start-up capital for all this but as you say you're senior level in retail I'm presuming you have access to the first 20 or 30k you'd need to start up an event.

Goldenlady

Thank you RATM, really appreciate the response. Some good ideas there. I have put my name out to volunteer at a couple of music events this summer, so fingers crossed that will work out. I also have got involved with a friend of mine, again volunteering for ideas for her bar in terms of music etc. Its true, I just need to find a niche that would suit my skill set, and I certainly wouldnt be adverse to moving to UK if there were more opportunities over there. Looks like for the time being ill concentrate on volunteering and trying to build ideas....
Thanks for the advice.