The Event Planning Toolkit

Jones draws on 30 years of professional experience in this winning debut that strips the mystery out of event planning. Writing for those who “find the thought of planning an event to be an intimidating prospect,” Jones lays out the project management basics needed to put together a business, family, or community events. Her tips cover logistics and essential resources (money, space, people, and connections), and she offers straightforward advice on how to assemble a team, design an efficient room layout, and manage aspects such as sound, lighting, and parking. The author also gives solutions for common complications, among them finding a speaker and rounding up volunteers, and an appendix of budget worksheets, event agendas, and equipment checklists rounds things out. Along the way, Jones writes of her experiences in event planning and how she made use of her missteps as “prime example[s] of how not paying attention to a seemingly minor detail can create a lot of unnecessary stress and scrambling.” This comprehensive, encouraging guide is a great resource for anyone planning an event, large or small. (Dec.)