Events held in the US range widely from small and simple to large and grand, depending on the nature of the event. Event planners work with a variety of people with different backgrounds and financial statuses. Event planners ensure that everything goes smoothly and according to the financier’s wishes and requests. To protect both parties from any unforeseen circumstance, it is necessary for the planners and the hosts to come to a simple agreement. Check out the event contract templates available below and share your ideas with a potential event in the future.

45+ Sample Event Contracts

What Is an Event Contract?

Any written contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties, commonly a promisor and a promisee, and in some cases, a third-party beneficiary. Event planners are keen on creating event contracts with the understanding it serves as a vital component in ensuring a successful event. Event consultants do so by pressing the signing party, in writing, to an agreed set of terms and conditions. People’s indecisiveness to write contracts stems from feeling scared or unsure of the content. The idea of agreeing to a settlement is a way for a potential lawsuit to arise between the parties. The contract highlights the outline of the proposed activities of the event with the expectation of the promisor. It helps to eliminate any sort of miscommunication between the parties regarding outcomes and event ideas. It also identifies any failures that might occur and any subsequent resort.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, as of 2020, the median pay of meeting, convention, and event planners ranges from 24.79 US dollars an hour and 51,560 US dollars a year. Event planners gather a decent amount of money for the events they make, considering events are held less since the start of the pandemic.

Components of an Event Contract

It helps to have a contract drafted to protect both parties because verbal agreements are not enough. The arrangement ensures that parties have a clear understanding of the function, meeting, or event schedule. Any additional information or aspects of the agreement also reflects on the contract. When planning and drafting the event contract, be sure to include the following elements.

Information of the contractor and the planner: The contract must indicate the details of both parties, including the full name, contact information, business address, business name, and position in the organization. The data is necessary for legal purposes in the case of unforeseen circumstances. It details who is involved in the agreement, and if problems arise, converse about significant actions.List of services provided by the event planner: Specifying in detail the services provided by the event planner is vital since it describes the services that are limited to the list the planner provides. Event planners have a broad range of services offered, and these vary from one event planner to another. No two planners offer the same services, which is why event contracts differ from each other. It helps to have a specific list of services the representative or the agency gives its clients. At the same time, the list of services that cannot be rendered appears in the contract. The list helps the client understand the limitations of services and refrains from demanding services not covered in the list. It is helpful that all of these items show in the contract for future reference in cases where the client asks or requests for particular services. It gives the planner the right to decline such requests. It is also advisable to write in a broad language to protect the planner against performing services outside the scope of duties.Payment schedule: All event contracts must contain payment terms and conditions and payment methods regarding the payment schedule. It is necessary to outline an estimated budget for the event because it helps the client to have a general idea of what to expect with the services. There is no problem with being detailed in the estimates because there is always room for negotiation later on. Begin with the initial deposit details and communicate with the client that no work begins in planning the event unless the deposit is made and received. The planner informs the client of the dates of the settlement of payments related to the event date. It allows the organizer to prepare the required services on the issued date. Produce a payment schedule with the relevant details to establish the best interval for the planner or the agency. Do not forget to include and discuss taxes and any additional fees.Terms for cancellation: Cancellation terms or a cancellation clause in the contract help the event planner from suffering monetary losses if the host cancels from the agreement. Emphasize that the initial deposit and all payments made up until the cancellation of services are non-refundable. It ensures that the organizer gets paid for the services made before the cancellation. The terms must be present because most of the job is complete before the event. The clauses state conditions that constitute a valid cancellation and the time a client can cancel before crediting the entire amount.Termination clause: The termination clause, or the force majeure clause, provides the event planner with legal protections if the cancelation of services happens because of unforeseen circumstances beyond anyone’s control. The clause gives the planner the power to cancel or terminate the obligations and services under extreme circumstances. The clause must state which services are covered, who has the authority to cancel, and what happens after the cancellation. The purpose of this clause is to protect both parties from any liabilities.Indemnification clause: An indemnification clause protects the event organizer from third-party liabilities. It means that the client cannot hold the event planner responsible for any conditions regarding losses, damages, liabilities, expenses, or injuries because of the client’s negligence.Cancellation-by-you clause: There are cases when the event planner is responsible for canceling the contract. The coordinator must list possible scenarios or conditions relating to a valid cancellation. They must inform the client of provisions concerning cancellation, which include finding a third-party planner or reimbursement.Media release clauses: Media release clauses are helpful for events concerning the involvement of media, including photo releases, videos, or recordings. It gives the planner permission to use and edit media during the event for promotional purposes.

How to Create a Comprehensive Event Contract

As stated above, no event contract is the same. It means the contract must satisfy the needs of both parties with inclusions depending on the terms of the agreement. Here are the steps in creating a comprehensive event contract.

Step 1: Meet Up with the Contractor of the Event

The first step to any event contract negotiation is to meet up with the contractor. It is better to discuss the terms of the contract first before discussing terms or payments. During the first meeting, the client and the event planner discuss the type, scale, and purpose of the event. These details help the organizer to visualize all services or products associated with the event itself. Both parties converse about what the contractor wants to accomplish before, during, and after the event.

Step 2: Negotiate the Terms of Agreement

Once the event planner organizes information from the initial meeting, the creation of an event contract follows. The agreement must suit the needs and requests of the contractor according to the discussion with the organizer. The event planner lists all the services and products requested, including the services outside the scope of the arrangement. It is also advisable to negotiate an estimate of the total amount due based on the assistance by the organizer.

Step 3: Settle On the Payment Schedule and Terms

Once the terms and conditions are clear with both parties, they settle on a payment schedule, along with the terms and modes of payment. Include the negotiation on the initial amount and succeeding installments due dates. Make sure that the contractor understands the schedule and pays the dues on time. It ensures a smooth transaction between the parties involved in the agreement. It also gives the contract ample time to prepare for the needed services before the date of the event.

Step 4: Include Safety Clauses

For the benefit of both parties, include clauses that secure and detail liabilities in cases of cancellation, termination, or indemnification of the contract. These clauses protect the event planner from losing money if unforeseen events arise throughout the event planning process. Include a cancellation clause for the client’s benefit in case the organizer opts out of the contract. Make sure that these clauses are properly and openly communicated between the parties to avoid conflict and confusion.

FAQs

Does an event planner earn good money?

On average, event planners gain decent amounts of money per hour, event, or year. However, some factors contribute to event planners gaining higher pays. These include skills, career path choices, raises, and promotions. For skills development, it is desirable to know about current trends. Gather information related to the event of the contractor. Start being organized by using daily planners or monthly calendars as well as to-do lists. As an event planner, it is also necessary to establish a broad network of connections. Make sure that the people in the network are reliable and organized to exude confidence to the clients. Career path choices also contribute to earning a decent amount of money. A hospitality degree, a public speaking course, and a marketing degree contribute largely to marketing the skills of an event planner. A sure way to increase earnings is to get a raise. It is essential to build up your client base. The more people know about you and how good you are at your job, the more opportunities arise and are made abundantly available. Remember to give clients business cards to grow the client base and ask clients to mention the business to people who need planning services. Titles are critical to increasing your market value. Make sure to ask management for a promotion based on the performances and opportunities generated towards the company. It is noteworthy to do this on good terms and communication.

Is event planning a good career path?

Event planning seems like an easy career path looking from the outside. However, there are plenty of factors that contribute to being a reliable and excellent event planner. The entire experience is challenging, exciting, and rewarding. There are plenty of opportunities and advantages related to event planning. One is it’s full of variety. Event planners control how wide or narrow they want to launch their professional range. Most event planners focus on different events ranging from weddings, team building activities, corporate events, lunches, and even world-class events. Planners can also opt to start their own business through freelancing, a planning agency, or in-house employment for a particular company. Some also shift from one to the other throughout their career. The job in itself is mobile; it’s a career that allows the organizers to travel freely. Event planners also have the advantage of working from the comfort of their homes by only having their phones, laptops, computers, and a stable internet connection. It is advantageous, especially when meeting with clients and suppliers, inspecting venues, and sampling products. Event planning also engages critical thinking, social skills, organization skills, attention to detail, and punctuality. It also encourages the use of imagination in creating unique and beautiful events. Every event brings a different excitement and challenge to an event planner’s career. There is no one solution to a problem, and it enhances creativity and problem-solving skills. Lastly, hard work is always worth it in the end. Once the planner poured their heart and soul into the event, the satisfaction is beyond compare. If you’re interested in an exciting, rewarding and career that offers variety, then a career path in the event planning industry is perfect for you.

What are the common challenges faced by event planners?

There are plenty of problems event organizers face before, during, and after the event process. It’s advisable to know what possible problems arise to prevent them from happening and cause confusion. Understaffing is a frequent problem and impacts the whole event. It is advantageous to prepare a list of names of the staff member along with their specific roles and responsibilities. Another problem for event planners is overspending. It happens because of quick requests and alterations, so it is desirable to create a list of all products and services associated with the event plan. Networking is also a common challenge faced by many event planners. Despite the busy event, there are plenty of opportunities to expand your networking circle. It could be in the form of a quick party after the event, mid-event lunch consultations, and even social lounges. Disregard of a backup plan is also one of the shortcomings event planners have to face. No matter the situation, it is always appropriate to design a backup strategy and consider venues, insurances, and other plans other than the initial. Another problem is the number of guests joining an event, whether it is less or more than what you expect. It is essential to adjust all event plans accordingly to the number of attendees, making sure to accommodate them in the venue.

All events vary in length, time, and the number of people attending. It is necessary to know the complete details of an event to ensure proper communication between both parties. Make sure the parts of the event contract reflect, especially payment terms and details, protective clauses, and necessary details about the contractor and client. It is also important to consider writing the contract with the proper knowledge of all event details. As an event planner, it is necessary to make sure that all things according to plan. In the words of Oscar Auliq-Ice, “Things don’t always go as planned, but it’s when you make a plan out of the unplanned and make the best of the unlikely things In life.” Check out the event contract samples in the article above, and make sure to bring out the best of your creativity in the events you plan in the future.