Preface                                            xv
Acknowledgments                                    xxv
    The First Steps: Initial Planning &            1  (46)
    Budgeting
      Determining Your Event Objectives            4  (1)
      How Much Can You Spend?                      5  (2)
      Event Vision                                 7  (10)
      Event Vision Q&A                             17 (7)
      Design Objectives of the Event Experience    24 (9)
      Initial Planning                             33 (5)
      Visualization                                38 (3)
      Monitoring the Budget                        41 (4)
      Event Design Principles Checklist            45 (1)
      Event Experience Design Objectives           45 (2)
    Organization and Timing                        47 (33)
      Critical Path                                47 (5)
      Function Sheets                              52 (6)
      Timing                                       58 (9)
      Date Selection                               67 (6)
      Critical Path Checklist                      73 (1)
      Charting Your Critical Path                  74 (6)
    Location, Location, Location                   80 (53)
      Site Selection                               81 (9)
      Location Requirements                        90 (3)
      Hotels and Convention Centers                93 (5)
      Restaurants, Private Venues, Catering        98 (1)
      Theaters                                     99 (2)
      Tents                                        101(6)
      Gala Openings in New Venues                  107(1)
      Contracts                                    108(2)
      Location Q&A                                 110(16)
      Move In Requirement Checklist                126(2)
      Event Suppliers' Setup Logistics Checklist   128(3)
      Event Suppliers' Teardown Checklist          131(2)
    Transportation                                 133(33)
      By Air                                       136(4)
      By Land                                      140(8)
      Transportation Q&A                           148(16)
      Transportation Checklist                     164(2)
    Guest Arrival                                  166(36)
      Guest Arrival Q&A                            169(13)
      Fanfare                                      182(2)
      Fanfare Q&A                                  184(9)
      Registration: Guest Pass Security and        193(1)
      Ticket Pickup
      Registration Q&A                             194(7)
      Guest Arrival Checklist                      201(1)
    Venue Requirements                             202(24)
      Room Requirements                            203(1)
      Room Requirements Q&A                        203(5)
      Staging, Audiovisual, Lighting               208(5)
      Staging, Audiovisual, Lighting Q&A           213(8)
      Lighting-Specific Q&A                        221(1)
      Venue and Event Supplier Checklist: Room,    222(4)
      Venue and Supplier Requirements, and
      Contract Terms and Conditions
    Who's It All For?                              226(21)
      Know Your Guest Demographics                 226(4)
      The Guest List                               230(4)
      Invitations                                  234(6)
      Media                                        240(1)
      Media Q&A                                    241(1)
      Children at Your Event                       242(2)
      E-vites, CD and DVD Invitations              244(2)
      Event Websites and Event RSVP Websites       246(1)
    Food and Beverage                              247(52)
      Examples of Texas Theme Parties with         248(3)
      Different Energy
      Food and Beverage Considerations             251(4)
      Menu Planning                                255(39)
      Staffing                                     294(3)
      Charitable Donations                         297(2)
    Other Considerations                           299(41)
      Entertainment                                299(2)
      Entertainment Q&A                            301(7)
      Photographers and Videographers              308(3)
      Photographer Q&A                             311(6)
      Themes and Programs                          317(10)
      Final Touches                                327(3)
      Staff, Supplier and Entertainment Work       330(5)
      Permits
      Event Risk Assessment                        335(5)
  Conclusion                                       340(12)
      It's a Wrap!                                 340(9)
      Applause! Applause!                          349(1)
      Your Next Event                              350(2)
Appendix A: Sample Cost Sheets                     352(24)
Appendix B: Sample Payment Schedules               376(10)
Appendix C: Sample Function Sheets                 386(20)
Index                                              406