"Newbies" and "Wannabes"

As of January 2010, this has become the new “hot topic” in many articles, blogs, and networking discussions in the event planning industry. However, this topic is not specific to event planners only, but to everyone in the event industry from caterers to florists, from deejays to photographers, from videographers to designers, and from coordinators to consultants.

Although this is not a new phenomenon, in the recent years we are really seeing an influx of emerging planners. Is it due to the current economic conditions or the hype of the industry being a glitzy and glamorous one? Clearly, without truly understanding the hard work and details that go into planning an event, one sees the final product and assumes that it is an easy and glamorous career.

First, let us differentiate the term “Newbies” from “Wannabes.” A “Newbie” refers to newcomers into the industry. Typically, they have the education; they may or may not have some practicum hours under their belt and are in their first year in business. A “Wannabe,” on the other hand, has done nothing much towards establishing themselves as real professionals, has no education and usually has minimal or no experience in the industry

I would like to emphasize that seasoned planners have nothing against “Newbies.” After all, all planners were once “Newbies” themselves.

Are they driving down the price structure? Yes, they probably are, and undercutting prices is a major problem. However, remember the saying, "What you pay, is what you get,” and consequently, seasoned planners should not feel that they have to compromise their brand and/or service parameters because of fear of losing a potential client to a “Newbie” or “Wannabe.” Another major concern to seasoned planners is when some “Newbies” and “Wannabes” blatantly copy/lift contents (verbatim) and pictures from their websites and use it as their own.

The truth is, it is not so much the threat or fear of the influx of “Newbies” and “Wannabes” that is the main concern for seasoned planners, but the lowering prices and standards and the blatant use of other planners ‘sweat and blood’ by some of these “Newbies” and “Wannabes.” What do you think?