Concert event planning for beginners can be hard; there is a lot of work that goes into concert planning. While you may have an events manager on staff, they may not specialize in concert planning and your company and concert may benefit from working with a concert planning company.

Working with concert event planning services can be fun, affordable and most importantly can help you make the most out of your event. Keep in mind that while you can hire a concert event planner, there is still a lot of leg work that your event planner will be responsible for. Here are some things to think about when looking for a concert event planner:

1. Do you have experience in concert planning, or maybe you need someone to tell you how to plan a concert from start to finish?

2. The nuts and bolts. Concert planning services can help you with booking venues, artists and equipment rental needs.

3. Your budget. If your budget is tight, there are concert planning services that can help you keep your costs down.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine your specific concert event planning needs

There are companies out there that you can hire to help you with specific parts of your event, or that you can hire to plan your whole event. Determining what you need help with can go a long way in making sure your event takes off without a hitch.

I recommend: Spencer Concert Systems is a consulting company that can answer your many questions about planning a concert. RPI Entertainment and Media Group can manage your concert for you from start to finish. You won't have to worry about a thing with their help.

Figure out the nuts and bolts of concert planning

The nuts and bolts of concert planning are pretty obvious. You will need a band, a stage, a sound system and a plan to market the concert. Concert event planners can assist you in marketing your concert, booking venues, bands and rental equipment needs.

I recommend: American Entertainment Productions can help you with reviewing venues, stage and sound setup. If you need help marketing your concert, try Concert Marketing Solutions; they have a proven track record in helping you market your concert and sell tickets. Fishers Artist Agency has a large selection of musical talents and can assist you in booking your concert talent.

Keep your costs down with the help of concert planning services

There are many ways to keep your costs down when planning a concert event. Working with concert event planners on the local level will help you eliminate costs. Working with consulting firms can also help; you don't have to pay for all their services, just the ones you need.

I recommend: Use All Time Favorites, a search company that can help you locate and get quotes from event planners and concert producers all over the world. Everything Events & Entertainment.com provides free consulting for any questions you have with planning your concert.

Concert event planners use event planning skills, communication talents and industry resources to simplify the concert planning process for their clients. Concert planning companies oversee the entire concert event management process, from initial idea to securing talent to stage lighting and venue production. Equipped with experience and resources, a concert event planner can advise not only on concert event production, but can also help businesses generate additional revenue through ticket sales and sponsorships.

There are a vast array of concert event planning services available, ranging from small local talent firms to international event management companies. Before hiring a concert planning company, carefully evaluate the following:

1. Do the concert event planners have experience producing corporate events that generate business and increase brand recognition?

2. Do the concert planning companies offer specialized concert planning, production and talent acquisition services?

3. How much should your business pay for professional concert planning services?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Evaluate the concert event planning firm's experience with corporate events

Hire an event planning firm that has extensive expertise in concert planning services for business and corporations, and request references. Find out how the concert event planners will market your event and increase your company's brand awareness. Choose a concert planning service with experience in ticket sales and generating increased revenues through sales and sponsorships.

I recommend: Executive Visions provides concert and event planning services for globally ranked companies across several industries, and offers an online client list sorted by service type. The Event Wizard plans small business events for 20 people to large corporate events with thousands of attendees, and features an online client list. Gigi Rock Productions showcases an online portfolio of its event management and consulting projects.

Select concert event planners who specialize in concert production

Choose a concert event management firm that focuses specifically on concert and music productions. A specialized concert planning company will have a better understanding of and working relationship with the music industry. Additionally, a concert event planner has extensive experience in venue selection, staging and concert production.

I recommend: Gateway Productions specializes in concerts and musical acts, including signings, appearances and performances. VIP Entertainment offers a comprehensive concert event planning service with local, regional and national bands and performers representing a variety of music styles. American Entertainment has extensive experience in concert production and concert management, and offers services from concept through production.

Hire concert planning companies with competitive prices

Planning a concert is an expensive undertaking, but hiring a concert planning company will ultimately save your business money. Before signing a contract, be sure you understand exactly what is included with your concert planning services. Make sure all production expenses, travel fees and talent requirements are included in your concert planning price.

I recommend: Spencer Concert Systems offers hourly rates for concert planning services and consulting by phone, with on-site consultations available by request. Get a quote for live concert event planning from RPI Media Group. Everything Events & Entertainment offers a free event management consultation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be aware that the price quoted for concert planning services through an agency often does not include costs for the concert venue. Be prepared to budget your concert event planning services to include separate expenses for concert planning companies and venue costs.

Show that you are serious about what you do with concert event planning education and training. Taking courses demonstrates your dedication to the field as you invest time and resources into learning the latest news and trends in the industry.

An education in concert event planning gives you an edge when working with concert planning services, since you learn how to deal with security issues in addition to general planning and production. Some ways to attain a concert event planning education and training include the following choices:

1. Take online courses focused on topics applicable to concert event planners.

2. Utilize a concert event planning education and training to produce specialty concerts like storyteller concerts.

3. Learn about concert event planning services like security precautions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Utilize online resources to learn more about concert event management and marketing

Before working for concert planning companies, obtain an education in marketing and management. This helps you in organization and production value. Take courses on these topics online so you can learn while working around your own schedule. With online courses, you can stay up to date on your studies, even if you have to travel.

I recommend: The University of Central Florida offers a certificate program in event planning. The online courses take one to six months to complete and cover topics such as event management and promotion, as well as production and design. Gatlin Education Services offers online courses in event management and design. The courses cover special events and prepare you to work in today's market with understanding and practical industry knowledge.

Get an inside look in specialty live concert event planning by learning about a storytelling concert

When planning a concert in a specialty area like storytelling, it's important to know what unique circumstances you face. Taking specialized courses helps you identify these unique areas and trains you to use them for optimal performance and production value.

I recommend: The University of North Texas offers courses in planning and implementing storytelling concerts. It covers areas from practical experience to current concert storytelling trends. G. Lee Hearl offers a tutorial for planning and presenting a storytelling concert. The site covers organization, scheduling and publicity among other topics.

Consider security as you learn about becoming a concert event planner

As you learn how to plan a concert, consider security measures such as crowd control and dealing with potential risk. Added security at an event decreases the chances of unwelcome performance interruptions due to crowd control.

I recommend: Artists House Music offers an online video series detailing important aspects of concert planning in terms of safety. The two-part video course discusses crowd control and risk management, as well as liability issues. The Rent A Bodyguard Organization offers worldwide training to individuals interested in learning about concert security. It trains individuals one-on-one or through distance learning programs.

Planning and organizing a concert requires many details. You may hire a concert planning professional or service, or you may do much of the planning yourself. Regardless, you will need to make decisions about promotions, acts, locations and other details. If your concert is to promote a business, you will need to ensure that everything runs smoothly since the concert’s success will be a reflection of the business. Understanding concert event planning key terms can help you understand the things you need to do for your concert to run smoothly.

Action Steps
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Concert planning

Concert planning, also sometimes called concert event planning or music event planning, refers to the process of organizing and making key decisions about a musical event. There are consulting services that take care of all the planning for you, or you may wish to organize your own concert.

I recommend: DoSomething has a comprehensive explanation of concert planning, including a step-by-step explanation of everything a concert planner must do.

Celebrity booking services

If you want to draw a big crowd to your planned concert, a big part of concert planning will involve booking a celebrity act or singer. Celebrity booking services get in touch with agents for you and help you find an entertainment act available on your concert date.

I recommend: Executive Visions Inc (EVI) is a good example of a celebrity booking service; their services are similar to many similar companies.

Concert promotion

Concert promotion refers to the process of marketing and advertising your concert so that it will draw a large audience. It is essential in planning a concert to ensure that your concert gets the recognition and the profits you deserve.

I recommend: Fishers Artists Agency has a detailed explanation of what goes into promoting a concert.

Set list

A set list is the list of songs a musical act will play. The list outlines what the band will play and in what order. When planning a concert event, it is important to review this list to ensure that the concert will be long enough and that any breaks will be scheduled at the right times.

I recommend: WiseGEEK has a comprehensive explanation of the set list.

Concert promoters

Concert promoters are the professionals who handle the hiring of bands and employees for a concert. Concert promoters also take care of other details, such as finding a concert location and marketing. When planning a concert, you may need to work with concert promoters.

I recommend: HowStuffWorks has a detailed explanation of what concert promoters do.

Venues

Venues are the locations, such as auditoriums, clubs or outdoor areas, where a concert will take place. When organizing a concert, you will need to secure a location that will hold all of your expected audience.

I recommend: Event Connections offers a definition for venues.