Event Planners are continually ranked on a list that most people don’t associate us with. In January of this year both CareerCast and Forbes named Event Coordinators as the 5th most stressful job around. Granted, in our day to day business operations we are not faced with life or death choices, but the amount of pressure and expectations placed on us by others and ourselves can feel like there may be no tomorrow.

In our world, Disney isn’t the only company that get’s to make magic. Every day we get to make dreams come true for our clients. Although these dreams appear effortless there’s a whole lot going on behind the scenes that goes into making them a reality. We are professional problem solvers. A problem is an intricate unsettled question and we’re the ones charged with finding a resolution- much like the engineers who rescued the astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission except Tom Hanks and Ed Harris are rarely in attendance.

We solve problems daily. Whether we are working on the timeline and how to squeeze an extra hour into the day for family photos or where to source peonies in the middle of August; every step forward in the planning process is the result of a solution to a problem. It’s our series of small victories that lead to the ultimate victory- the seamless execution of well organized and beautiful party. One where our hosts can be guests and where their closest friends and family had “the best night ever!”

On the flip side of all the organization, production meetings and walk through’s, you can never plan for the unexpected all you can do, and be, is prepared. The astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission never trained in a simulator to rectify the blown oxygen tanks. Nor did they train in the art of jury rigging over 248,655 miles away from Houston. But, through the resourcefulness of their team on the ground and the astronauts ingenuity they defied all odds and returned home, safe and sound.

The actual day of the event should be the easiest. It’s a series of well rehearsed actions and steps that have lead everyone to this point.  We’re not Debbie Downers, but we do know that ultimately something unplanned is going to happen. And when that unplanned problem happens, in the middle of your dinner service for 300, it’s because of all the hard work and diligence that has lead to this point you are able to shift your focus to solving the problem while the guests continue to enjoy their dover sole.

Solving problems is as natural to us as using a telephone to place a call. Although it may be second nature, we’re always on our toes anticipating the unexpected to rear is mischievous head and when it does we’re there to calm it down and serve it a slice of cake!

Cite CareerCast, Forbes, Wikipedia.