Event Planners: Who They Are and What They Actually Do

If you’re new to this world and find yourself wondering things like “What exactly does an event planner do?”, “What skills do I need?”, or “What does a typical day even look like?”—
Then this article is for you.

Let’s pull back the curtain on the world of event planning and dive into the honest, unfiltered reality of what it’s like to be in this fast-paced, rewarding, and sometimes chaotic role.

What does an Event Planner actually do?

Scroll through job posts or LinkedIn these days, and you’ll see “Event Planner” pop up with some pretty exciting buzzwords: creative, dynamic, travel opportunities, glamorous events…

But behind all the lights and Instagrammable moments is a job filled with challenges that demand grit, patience, and a whole lot more skill than just having “good vibes.”

1. Event Planners aren’t just “idea people”

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that event planners just sit around dreaming up fun concepts, choosing color themes, and decorating venues. Sounds fun, right? Well, real-life event planning is a whole lot more than that.

In fact, this role usually involves juggling five major responsibilities at once:

• Building the master plan: This includes defining the event’s goals, identifying the target audience, estimating the budget, choosing the right venue, and more.

• Coordinating teams and vendors: That includes working with audio-visual teams, caterers, printers, on-site staff, and anyone else involved in bringing the event to life.

• Managing timelines, checklists, and budgets: Down to the minute and every little detail—because if it’s not written down and tracked, it’s not happening.

• Handling on-site surprises: From a last-minute MC issue to sudden rain, you’re the one expected to stay calm and fix things fast.

• Post-event reporting and evaluation: That means reviewing the numbers, collecting feedback from attendees, and drawing lessons for next time.

So no, an Event Planner isn’t just creative—they’re also a master project manager disguised in a stylish outfit, juggling logistics behind the scenes while making it all look effortless.

2. Who does an Event Planner work with?

Here’s a fun fact that doesn’t get mentioned enough:

A great event planner never works alone.

To make any event happen, they have to coordinate and manage a whole network of people, including:

• Clients or internal teams – These are the people making the request (like a brand team, HR department, or communications unit).

• Vendors and service providers – From printers and AV technicians to logistics teams, transportation, and on-site crew.

• Creative and performance support – That could mean working with designers for backdrops, photographers, MCs, dancers, and more.

And most importantly, your own internal team – your fellow planners, assistants, and logistics staff. Event planning is all about teamwork. If you can’t communicate clearly or collaborate effectively, you’ll find yourself drowning in deadlines—unsure who to turn to for help.

3. A day in the life of an Event Planner: It’s not as glamorous as you think

Forget the image of sipping coffee while casually scrolling through colorful moodboards. A typical day for an event planner might start like this:

• Answering 30 messages from 5 different vendors.

• Crunching numbers in Excel to review budget breakdowns and make last-minute adjustments from the client.

• Making calls to confirm performance times with the band, checking in on the backdrop printing progress.

• Writing the MC script and building a minute-by-minute event timeline.

• Dealing with a surprise crisis: “The stage rental team just called—it’s raining, and they can’t set up today!”

And when event day finally arrives? Get ready for 14 hours straight, outdoors, on walkie-talkie, constantly on your feet, running from task to task, managing hiccups big and small.
Until finally—the applause starts, the guests are smiling, the client is happy… and you can finally breathe a deep sigh of relief.

4. What Skills Do You Need to Become an Event Planner?

Loving events is a good start—but it takes a lot more to become a great event planner. This job is a blend of soft skills and specialized know-how. Here’s what really matters:

a. Time management and multitasking

A solid event planner usually juggles at least five things at once. Being able to multitask, set clear priorities, and stick to tight deadlines isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for survival.

b. Communication and persuasion skills

You’ll deal with all kinds of people: clients (who sometimes don’t even know what they want), your internal team, vendors, KOLs, guest speakers… Strong communication, active listening, and the ability to persuade are key to keeping everyone on the same page.

c. Problem-solving and staying calm under pressure

No event goes perfectly. Mic not working? Speaker shows up late? Banner has the wrong date?
A professional planner doesn’t panic—they focus on fixing the issue, keeping their cool, and motivating the team through the chaos.

d. Creativity and trend sensitivity

Events today aren’t just about pretty stages—they’re about creating memorable experiences.
Great planners understand what excites their audience, keep up with new trends (tech, interactive formats, media strategies…), and find fresh ways to make their events stand out.

e. Reporting and post-event analysis

Once the confetti settles, it’s time to look at the numbers. You’ll be the one analyzing feedback, budget efficiency, attendance, engagement, and media performance. This step shows your professionalism—and helps you improve next time.

📌 And one more thing: Knowing how to take care of yourself and stay positive is a skill in itself. You can’t pour from an empty cup—especially when you’re the one keeping the whole team together.

5. Is Being an Event Planner a High-Paying Job? What Does the Career Path Look Like?

Event Planner Salary: What to Expect

The answer? It depends—on where you work, the types of events you handle, and how much experience you’ve built after years in the field.

• Just starting out (Fresher/Assistant): ~6 to 10 million VND/month

• Mid-level (2–3 years of experience): ~12 to 20 million VND/month

• Senior/Manager/Event Lead: 25 million VND and up, depending on the scale of the projects

If you’re a freelancer, you’ll likely be paid per project—anywhere from a few million to tens of millions depending on complexity and scope.

Career Progression in Event Planning

Your path might look like this:

Event Assistant → Event Executive → Event Planner → Event Manager → Account Director/ Creative Director

Over time, you can also branch out into related fields like marketing, internal communications, or brand activation, especially if you develop the right skill set.

Should You Pursue a Career in Event Planning?

Being an Event Planner isn’t always as glamorous as the photos on Instagram. It’s standing under 39°C sun. It’s staying up till 2AM setting up a stage. It’s fixing a sound system failure mid-show. It’s staying calm when a supplier is late just hours before the event.

But it’s also a job that shapes you into a multi-talented warrior—someone who can be both creative and logical, a good listener and a decisive leader. It teaches you how to read the crowd, understand what the client truly wants, and connect departments and vendors like pieces of a finely tuned orchestra.

If you’re considering this path, ask yourself:

• Do you enjoy turning a vague idea on paper into something real—an experience that people attend, feel moved by, and remember?

• Are you ready to work under pressure, with unpredictable hours, in an environment where no two days are the same?

• Can you imagine standing quietly in the back of a venue, watching the event unfold smoothly, and knowing that you made it happen?

If your answer is yes, then take the leap.

Don’t wait until you know everything—because this job teaches you on the battlefield. Every event is a real-life classroom. Every mistake is a valuable lesson. And the good news? You won’t be alone. The event community is full of seasoned planners willing to share, just like this blog post is doing for you now.

More posts for your event journey:

📌 5 Quick Tips for Writing Event Proposals Like a Pro

📌 Company Trip: Comprehensive 8-Step Checklist