Course Resources Archive

This module outlines the niche sector of private individual or small-group social and celebratory events, and considers the particular skills set required of an events manager working in this area of the industry.

Getz (2007) identifies that the vast majority of planned events are small, and in the private or corporate spheres. This module considers celebratory and life-stage events to be private and planned functions that cover the range of human social experience from birth to death.

The module takes a dual perspective on these types of event: it firstly considers the important function that celebration and rites of passage play within the structuring of human society and how trends and shifts might influence the demand for, and form of, such events as well as outlining the particular skills, competencies, knowledge and understanding that an event manager would need in order to provide a professional and appropriate service to private or small-group clients.

i. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this module students should be able to:
a) Understand the role of celebratory events within society and acknowledge cultural distinctions.
b) Appreciate the range of skills required to design, plan, manage and deliver celebratory and life-stage events.
c) Identify best practice in strategic and operational event planning including consideration of client relationships, supply chain management, legal and ethical principles, financial considerations and the event management cycle.
d) Explore particular areas of celebratory event planning, such as venue selection, food and beverage provision, photography, floristry and decoration, and entertainment.
e) Evaluate current trends in private, planned events and consider how these impact upon the event manager.

ii. Skills
a) Project management
b) Problem solving 
c) Independent learning and working in groups
d) Communication
e) Specific vocational skills: design and plan a celebratory event for a particular client, demonstrating a combination of creative vision and good planning skills.

Staff / student contact: 18% including lectures, seminars, guest speakers and visits.
Student directed learning: 82% including independent learning tasks as detailed in the module guide, preparation for lectures, researching and presenting seminar material and preparing the event proposal for assessment.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.