QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD
(OR SHOULDN'T)
ASK YOUR PLANNER
(OR SHOULDN'T)
ASK YOUR PLANNER
(AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WHY)
PART II
As we mentioned in our last post, not all questions targeted at wedding and event professionals have a black and white answer. If one fully understands why they are asking the question in the first place they will likely have a full comprehension of (and appreciation for) the answers they get back. It will also help one understand why THEY are asking the question and whether or not it is truly important to them.
Continuing from our last post, here are a few more questions that, in this Planner's opinion, you should -- or perhaps shouldn't -- ask your potential Planner and, more importantly, why.
Does your Planner have "Preferred Vendors"? Yes!
This can be a great question to ask however be sure to fully understand what you're asking before posing the question. First, understand the difference between "preferred" vendors and "exclusive" vendors.
Preferred vendors are vendors with whom the Planner has worked with many times, has a strong relationship, full trust and -- just as the term implies -- with whom the Planner prefers to work. However, by no means are you obligated to work with your Planner's "Preferred Vendors". As previously mentioned, your Planner has a responsibility to refer you to vendors who will provide the best quality of service but that are also within your personal budget and therefore while they may suggest their "Preferred Vendors" they cannot coerce you into working with them. After all while they may click with their "Preferred Vendor", you as a client may not. "Exclusive Vendors" -- while rare with Planners (you see this more often with venues, etc)-- are vendors with whom the Planner will work and only with whom they will work. In this case it is unlikely that they will recommend anyone outside of this "exclusive" vendor list.
The reason it's a good idea to ask whether a Planner has "Preferred Vendors" is that while the term can seem somewhat scary, it actually speaks to how a Planner manages their relationships within the industry and also how extensive their relationships with vendors can be. For some clients, it can be comforting to know that a Planner has such a close-knit professional relationship with "Preferred" vendors, while others may view a "Preferred" vendor list as being closed-minded and not open to their personal tastes. Whatever your view on "Preferred Vendors", make sure that you ask about them.
This can be a great question to ask however be sure to fully understand what you're asking before posing the question. First, understand the difference between "preferred" vendors and "exclusive" vendors.
Preferred vendors are vendors with whom the Planner has worked with many times, has a strong relationship, full trust and -- just as the term implies -- with whom the Planner prefers to work. However, by no means are you obligated to work with your Planner's "Preferred Vendors". As previously mentioned, your Planner has a responsibility to refer you to vendors who will provide the best quality of service but that are also within your personal budget and therefore while they may suggest their "Preferred Vendors" they cannot coerce you into working with them. After all while they may click with their "Preferred Vendor", you as a client may not. "Exclusive Vendors" -- while rare with Planners (you see this more often with venues, etc)-- are vendors with whom the Planner will work and only with whom they will work. In this case it is unlikely that they will recommend anyone outside of this "exclusive" vendor list.
The reason it's a good idea to ask whether a Planner has "Preferred Vendors" is that while the term can seem somewhat scary, it actually speaks to how a Planner manages their relationships within the industry and also how extensive their relationships with vendors can be. For some clients, it can be comforting to know that a Planner has such a close-knit professional relationship with "Preferred" vendors, while others may view a "Preferred" vendor list as being closed-minded and not open to their personal tastes. Whatever your view on "Preferred Vendors", make sure that you ask about them.
Does your Planner accept kickbacks/commissions/referral fees? Yes!
This is quite a heated debate among many Planners out there in the planning world. There are Planners who take kickbacks/commissions/referral fees in the industry and there are Planners who don't. In the event industry this can be quite common and in some circles, accepted. In the wedding industry it's less accepted and viewed by many as unethical. In the end, it is you -- the client -- who decides whether kickbacks or commissions are acceptable or not.
In this Planner's personal opinion, a Planner who accepts money or a percentage of the vendor's revenue in any form (otherwise known as a 'kickback', a 'referral fee', a 'commission', etc) in exchange for referring business -- regardless of the industry -- is putting their personal needs ahead of the client. Even if that Planner has worked with a referred company for years, if they are receiving any form of kickback consider that the said company must account for the percentage they are "kicking back" to the Planner and therefore the client is not saving money but could very well be paying more in mark-ups!
The best way to put it is this: Would you trust a doctor who referred you to a brain surgeon because he or she gets compensated financially for doing so?
Is your fee comparable to other Planners in the Industry? Yes!
Unfortunately there are two God-awful, giant and ugly misconceptions out there regarding Planners...especially Wedding Planners...and it's creating some confusion among clients.
Misconception #1: Planners are a luxury item.
Misconception #2: Planners are "cheap".
Unfortunately there are two God-awful, giant and ugly misconceptions out there regarding Planners...especially Wedding Planners...and it's creating some confusion among clients.
Misconception #1: Planners are a luxury item.
Misconception #2: Planners are "cheap".
While it's true that Planners were once utilized only by high society, today this is no longer the case. More and more individuals, companies and couples are realizing the VALUE of a Planner and how essential they are not only for creating a masterpiece of an event but ensuring that it runs flawlessly as well. Therefore more and more people are realizing that Planners are quite affordable considering this immeasurable value. Planners should be one of the first vendors you book for your event, not the last or when you think you might be able to "afford" them.
Regarding Misconception #2, unfortunately there are many misinformed people out there who believe that a Planner -- who will likely spend anywhere from 200 - 600 hours or more with a client planning their special event -- should cost less than that of a Photographer!!! To be blunt, this is absolutely ludicrous!
As mentioned before, the age-old saying rings true: "You get what you pay for". There is no such thing as an "expensive Planner" or a Planner's fees being "too high". Planners set their fee at a certain rate for a reason much like any other wedding and event professional. A Planner's fees reflect their level of experience, knowledge and years of practice, their reputation among clientele and within the industry, their guaranteed quality of service and, more importantly, their VALUE in ensuring a beautiful and flawless event. A low fee will reveal one of two things about the Planner: either they have little knowledge and experience in planning (and of the industry for that matter) OR they do not feel that they are worth more than what they are charging -- both of which should be giant red flags to you as a potential client.
That said, it's important to ask what the Planner's fee is and why the fee is set as such. And even more importantly, ask if their fee is comparable to others in the industry. If you've met with a few other Planners (as you should have!) and you find that one fee is dramatically lower than the others, obviously the lowest-priced Planner doesn't know the industry as well as they imply and that alone should speak volumes.
Can I get your opinion/advice on...what do you think of...have you ever worked with 'So and So' and are they good to work with, etc. No!
If you are meeting with a Planner for the first time to "interview" them (for lack of a better word), then you are there to gage their appropriateness as a Planner for your personal event. The Planner is not meeting with you to simply provide free advice.
So often, folks will meet with Planners with an expectation that if the Planner truly wants their business they will answer any question asked including providing planning advice, opinions on already-laid out plans or reviews of specific vendors whom the client may have in mind. This couldn't be further from the truth. As a potential client, you have likely done your research of Planners. You've scoped out hundreds of web sites and looked for reviews by former clients. And eventually you have narrowed down your list of Planners to those who you feel will likely do the best job of planning your event. That said, if you, as a client, are serious enough about a particular Planner to set aside time in your busy schedule (not to mention the Planner's!) and meet with them in person to get to know them even better, then you should have enough confidence that the Planner will be able to answer all your questions once hired.
Judging a Planner by their willingness (or lack thereof) to provide free advice just to obtain your business will merely provide you with questionable behaviour rather than confidence in the Planner. After all, a qualified and reputable Planner won't feel the need to "win" your business and view the information that they can provide you as an invaluable service worth its weight in gold. A Planner who jumps at the chance to offer free advice upon first meeting a client either doesn't value their knowledge and skill, greatly lacks confidence and feels that they need to "prove" something to a client or is struggling in obtaining business. All of which are, again, red flags to you as a potential client.
Can you customize your services to meet my personal planning needs? Yes!
You've likely been hit over the head with this expression as well "No two people are alike". That said, why should you, as a client, be pigeon-holed into specific "Packages" for planning services with set fees? Most Planners have a wide range of services from full planning, event design and consulting to what some refer to as "partial planning" and "day-of" coordination. Regardless of how many services a Planner provides or what those services may be, a good Planner should have the ability to provide flexibility with these services and customize them to the client's needs. And as the service is customized, so is the fee accordingly.
Labelling a package a cute name will not change the fact that it is still, in fact, a package deal. After all, a Rose by any other name is still a Rose. When building a new home, you wouldn't want a Home Builder who forced you into one specific model of a house -- the same house with the same designs as everyone else on the block -- would you? No. You would choose the Builder that enabled you to choose the kitchen you want, the flooring you want, heck, the style of brick that you want! Choosing your Planner is very similar. A good Planner can customize their services to what it is that you need as the client, not what is easiest for them to perform.
The list of questions doesn't end here. However, in this Planner's humble opinion, the questions listed in these posts are a few of the most important -- and yet least understood -- questions that you should pose to your potential Planner. You will likely spend anywhere from three months to over a year planning your event with your Planner. Be sure that he or she is someone with whom you "click", in whom you have full confidence and most importantly, is someone who you now fully understand.
So often, folks will meet with Planners with an expectation that if the Planner truly wants their business they will answer any question asked including providing planning advice, opinions on already-laid out plans or reviews of specific vendors whom the client may have in mind. This couldn't be further from the truth. As a potential client, you have likely done your research of Planners. You've scoped out hundreds of web sites and looked for reviews by former clients. And eventually you have narrowed down your list of Planners to those who you feel will likely do the best job of planning your event. That said, if you, as a client, are serious enough about a particular Planner to set aside time in your busy schedule (not to mention the Planner's!) and meet with them in person to get to know them even better, then you should have enough confidence that the Planner will be able to answer all your questions once hired.
Judging a Planner by their willingness (or lack thereof) to provide free advice just to obtain your business will merely provide you with questionable behaviour rather than confidence in the Planner. After all, a qualified and reputable Planner won't feel the need to "win" your business and view the information that they can provide you as an invaluable service worth its weight in gold. A Planner who jumps at the chance to offer free advice upon first meeting a client either doesn't value their knowledge and skill, greatly lacks confidence and feels that they need to "prove" something to a client or is struggling in obtaining business. All of which are, again, red flags to you as a potential client.
Can you customize your services to meet my personal planning needs? Yes!
You've likely been hit over the head with this expression as well "No two people are alike". That said, why should you, as a client, be pigeon-holed into specific "Packages" for planning services with set fees? Most Planners have a wide range of services from full planning, event design and consulting to what some refer to as "partial planning" and "day-of" coordination. Regardless of how many services a Planner provides or what those services may be, a good Planner should have the ability to provide flexibility with these services and customize them to the client's needs. And as the service is customized, so is the fee accordingly.
Labelling a package a cute name will not change the fact that it is still, in fact, a package deal. After all, a Rose by any other name is still a Rose. When building a new home, you wouldn't want a Home Builder who forced you into one specific model of a house -- the same house with the same designs as everyone else on the block -- would you? No. You would choose the Builder that enabled you to choose the kitchen you want, the flooring you want, heck, the style of brick that you want! Choosing your Planner is very similar. A good Planner can customize their services to what it is that you need as the client, not what is easiest for them to perform.
The list of questions doesn't end here. However, in this Planner's humble opinion, the questions listed in these posts are a few of the most important -- and yet least understood -- questions that you should pose to your potential Planner. You will likely spend anywhere from three months to over a year planning your event with your Planner. Be sure that he or she is someone with whom you "click", in whom you have full confidence and most importantly, is someone who you now fully understand.
No comments:
Post a Comment