Event Management: Internships Are A Must

Management is a practice where art and craft meet with sense and critical thinking. It is the process that involves being able to plan and organise resources available to you most effectively and efficiently. If you are someone with an inclination toward working in a fast-paced environment, if you possess good interpersonal and organisational skills, event management is a lucrative career for you.

Event management involves integrating many aspects such as dealing with clients and staff, managing the budget, organising the logistics, delegating tasks, and managing the entire project for big and small events such as conferences, weddings, exhibitions, fashion shows, ceremonies, etc.

If you choose event management as your career, an internship is the single most important thing to help you ace your game. It will expose you to the practical reality of being in the field with professionals who know their stuff. You would learn the art of dealing, negotiation, and many more skills that will help you by boosting your confidence.

Also Read: Preparing For The First Day Of Internship

Vasudev Garg, 25, absolutely adores his event management job. It was while volunteering for a college fest in his second year that he decided to pursue event management as his career. “My second semester in college was amazing. I enrolled myself as a volunteer in organising the college fest. I was given a small role and I guess I managed it pretty well. We had a literary meetup, treasure hunt, battle of bands, dance performances, and many other events.”

Vasudev continued working with the organising committee of his college and eventually went on to take complete responsibility for the events. He learned a lot under the guidance of his seniors and after graduation, he took up an event management internship in Ahmedabad.

The journey of following his passion wasn’t easy. “I had to unlearn almost everything that I carried with me from college. It was different on the ground. My vendors had changed, the nature of events had changed, there were so many elaborate settings, and lots of money was spent. I was forced to rewire my brain,” says Vasudev about his internship experience.

Learn the basics again and approach with a fresh mindset. “The idea of making mistakes would give me nightmares. In college, it was okay to make mistakes, but here, in the field, it was way different. I had to stay on my toes all the time,” he adds.

The internship is a grand exposure to the real world. It provides us with the platform to apply our learnings and gauge our capabilities. It also helps us understand if we are choosing the right career path for ourselves or not.

With more than three years of experience and after 250 plus events, Vasudev knows what it takes to master the profession. “You need to be a team player. That is going to be the strength. Internships will sharpen you up. Keep your eyes and ears open. Learn by observing and listening to your seniors. Whether it's setting up the stage, arranging flowers, painting the boards, getting the posters designed, or setting up the venue, you must be ready to take up any responsibility,” advises Vasudev

Event management internships teach you exactly that. The moment you are in the scene, on the set, you are required to be the best version of yourself. Whether you have a small part in the whole event or you are a manager for the entire event, a lot of things are dependent on you. Taking responsibility, being accountable, and getting the job done is necessary for the success of the event.

Since event management is entirely dependent on a well-functioning team, Vasudev shares some of his experiences with us on this topic. “Being a team player is necessary. There are so many people involved in making an event successful. These people come from different backgrounds, have different roles to play, and think differently,” informs Vasudev. Everybody has a different way of working too. As interns, they have to balance our style and adapt.

You need to gauge your organisational and interpersonal skills. Finding out where your strengths and shortcomings lie helps in getting better with time. Good interpersonal skills will make things quite smooth for you in this field. You can get things done involving other people.

Talking about challenges while interning, Vasudev highlights three most important points, “Do not be let down by criticism, be ready to sacrifice your personal life for a few years, and be patient. There will be people in your team who will criticise you for your mistakes. It is normal for people to criticise and it is normal to make mistakes. Do not let it affect your energy and passion. As an intern, you’ll have lots of responsibilities. Be prepared, they’re only going to increase. More responsibilities means you are trustworthy and capable of handling tasks. Most of your time will be spent in the field. Event management is all about patience. It will take some time before your team starts trusting you completely. It will take time for you to build your network. So, don’t hurry and keep going. You will have a great time as this is a great career once you have mastered the basics,” says Vasudev about event management

Event management is a rewarding career, both in terms of experience and monetarily. You need to become a team player, a master communicator, and someone ready to take on challenges.

Life has great things for you in its event management basket, if you’re ready to just go and grab it!