Expert advice on how to stage the perfect event every time "e;A terrific resource of information for anyone in the event-planning business."e; --James Spellos, CMP, President, Meeting U. Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies is a practical step-by-step guide to the strategies and techniques event-planning professionals use to bring people together. This comprehensive resource covers all the angles from the little details to the big picture to make sure your business meetings and special events come off without a hitch! Praise for Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies "e;Packed with valuable information in an easy-to-use format. [It] covers all the basics for the meeting planning novice."e; --Diane Silberstein, President, Diane Silberstein & Associates "e;A great resource book every event professional should have.... Checklist heaven! We all love our checklists, and this book is full of them!"e; --Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP

Expert advice on how to stage the perfect event every time"A terrific resource of information for anyone in theevent-planning business." --James Spellos, CMP, President, MeetingU.Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies is a practicalstep-by-step guide to the strategies and techniques event-planningprofessionals use to bring people together. This comprehensiveresource covers all the angles from the little details to the bigpicture to make sure your business meetings and special events comeoff without a hitch!Praise for Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies"Packed with valuable information in an easy-to-use format. [It]covers all the basics for the meeting planning novice." --DianeSilberstein, President, Diane Silberstein & Associates"A great resource book every event professional should have....Checklist heaven! We all love our checklists, and this book is fullof them!" --Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP

Introduction 1Part I: Been to Any Good Meetings or Events Lately? 5Chapter 1: Gearing Up for Meetings and Events 7Chapter 2: Strictly Business: Knowing Your Meeting Type 17Chapter 3: The ABCs of Meeting Preparation 25Chapter 4: Mixing Business with Pleasure: Events 43Chapter 5: Bringing an Event to Life 53Part II: It's All Show Business 75Chapter 6: Get Me to the Meeting on Time 77Chapter 7: Food for Thought 91Chapter 8: Great Speakers, Great Impressions 107Chapter 9: It's the Extras That Count 121Chapter 10: Is the Grass Greener Overseas? 129Chapter 11: Lights, Camera, Action! 147Part III: No Guts, No Story 163Chapter 12: Nuts and Bolts: Negotiating, Contracting, and Ensuring Safety 165Chapter 13: Working with Vendors 179Chapter 14: Drinking Champagne on a Beer Budget 189Part IV: Mission Possible: Building Bridges with Technology 201Chapter 15: Making Meeting Technology Work for You 203Chapter 16: This Phone's for You: Teleconferencing 215Chapter 17: Videoconferencing Made Easy 225Chapter 18: Holding Meetings Online 237Part V: Exhibiting at Home and Abroad 245Chapter 19: Planning for Gold: Exhibiting 101 247Chapter 20: Strutting Your Stuff: Exhibiting 201 275Chapter 21: Strutting Your Best Stuff Overseas: Exhibiting 301 285Part VI: The Part of Tens 297Chapter 22: Ten Alternatives to Meetings 299Chapter 23: Ten Common Meeting Mistakes to Avoid 303Chapter 24: Ten Top Negotiating Tactics 307Part VII: Appendixes 311Appendix A: Online Resources for Meeting and Event Planners 313Appendix B: Checklist Heaven 331Index 345