The event planning industry is coming into its own. What has been seen for decades as an elite service for the wealthy and/or corporate America is slowly transforming into a service that eliminates the hassle and headaches of planning events for American families and communities. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment of event planners is expected to grow 20 percent from 2006 to 2016. Apart from this raw growth of numbers, however, a significant shift in the make-up of event planning services is taking place across the United States.

Corporate vs. Private Event Planning
Much of the anticipated growth in the event planning industry still derives from the corporate world in the form of business meetings, conferences, conventions, etc. Yet, there are also indications that private individuals are availing themselves of these services more and more, especially as the industry becomes more trusted, widely recognized, and cost-effective. Indeed, as the economy has taken its downward turn, event planners have been able to insulate themselves from hardship, or at least keep their business afloat, by marketing their services to individuals and various niches within the larger marketplace. While many failed corporations are no longer spending lavish amounts of money on corporate events, the Joneses, Smiths, and Browns are still here, and they're still getting married, having birthdays, and celebrating rites of passage. As such, capitalism, in its purest form, is not dead: As more and more event planners materialize in the marketplace, the number of options is increasing, and the cost of event planning is decreasing.

How to Find an Event Planner
In truth, it's probably a lot easier to find an event planner than you imagine. There are 50,000-60,000 event planners operating in the United States, and if you live in a major metropolitan area, you're likely to find dozens, if not hundreds, of planners who are willing to bid for your event. What you need to find is the right planner for your event. While the flexibility of the profession helps make it "recession-proof," the wise consumer will still look for a planner with the experience, resources, and fees that match their needs. The planner a Fortune 500 company hires for their annual conference is not going to be the same planner you hire for your daughter's sweet sixteen birthday bash.

Event Planning Checklist
Naturally, you should look for an event planner with a good deal of experience with your specific event. Someone who has meticulously planned a dozen Bar Mitzvahs or large family reunions will bring an impressive catalogue of event options and problem-solving skills. To this end, it's important to realize that just because you can plan your own event doesn't mean you should. By hiring an event planner, you can often create a better event and one that's more enjoyable for you. Along with the specific rituals and etiquette of your event, here are a handful of universal components you should discuss with prospective planners:

    * Budget: Almost all events involve making some tough decisions and/or trade-offs, but these decisions can't be effectively made without setting a budget for the event. Often, you'll discuss the event budget and the event planning fee at the same time, especially with planners who base their charges as a percentage of the event cost, rather than a flat fee.

    * Event Site/Venue: Sometimes people already know where they want to host an event before they even talk to a planner. Other times, finding the right site is the biggest chore on the event planning list. Either way, you'll need to discuss the details, demands, and capacity of the venue/possible venues with your planner.

    * Scheduling and Dates: Setting a date and, if necessary, alternate dates for the event is the obvious priority, but you should also discuss a general meeting schedule for you and your planner as you plan and coordinate the event. On a similar note, event planners are capable professionals, but they're not mind-readers, and you should maintain active lines of communication with your planner.

    * Supplies, Props, Equipment: You and/or your event planner should sit down and make a comprehensive list of supplies and equipment that will be needed for the event. Common items include: portable toilets, tables and chairs, speakers, microphones, signs, electricity capabilities, etc.

    * General Logistics: You might think this is about it for event planning, but there are almost always another handful (it will seem like hundreds) of logistic items that need a planner's touch. Parking and "guest management" are just a few of the stickier items. Permits and security requirements are also too often overlooked with disastrous results: You don't want one of the best nights of your life ruined by a lawsuit the following week.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.