It’s all about crises management: Party Planner

What skill sets do you look for when hiring new recruits?
We don’t go by the person’s qualification. One has to be spontaneous and must have good communication skills. Even if someone has studied event management or even has an MBA degree, we test him/her on these yardsticks.

Does age also have a bearing on a planner’s productivity?
Yes, it does. We normally hire young people in the age group of 21-25 to do the running around and execution while the older folk are hired to deal with clients who are normally the crème de la crème of society. Sometimes situations spin out of control and a younger person might feel clueless about things.

The profession is all about crises management

You worked in the hospitality and advertising sector before foraying into party management. Can one shift between industries?
Yes, after all it’s people’s business. In all the sectors I worked, I used to service people. Other finer details of the profession can be learnt once you enter the business.

How is the party scene in Delhi? Do people spend a lot of money even on pre-Diwali cards party or Halloween?
Yes, people do spend a lot of money. Depending on the venue and the number of people who are invited at the bash, a host can spend anywhere between R2 lakh to R25 lakh. For the host, it is a status symbol. Guests too have high expectations — depending on the status of the host.

How is the Indian party scene different from that of the Western world?
In Western countries, when a banquet or a hotel is hired, the host doesn’t consider it wise to spend on its décor or beautification. When those people pay for the venue, they think it’s pointless to spend over and above it.

On the other hand, Indians like opulence. They want larger-than-life things, which means increased billing and in turn, more business for people like us.

What are the challenges?
The work is very creative and taxing at the same time. You can’t sell an idea again and again, especially when the guest list is the same for two parties.

Recently, we organised a party on the theme of luxury cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini and we organised around half-a-dozen such cars at the venue. We are now organising a Sufi night in which Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is going to perform.