Are there companies you suggest that are better for gaining credibility?

PP again. You can also start as an event staff member for various catering companies. I worked doing that as well.

Start freelance. That is how I broke into the field. Add your freelance experience to your resume and build a portfolio if you want to with the photos of events that you have planned or a listing of clients that can provide references/recommendation.

I'm a federal civilian andi hate my job. I have no path.

Fwiw, I might not want to do corporate meetings. I was considering more non-profit events and private events. But, it's all pie in the sky now. If any of you have friends looking to expand their staff, tell them to check here for me

Ugh, really? Hate event planning but was made to do a lot of it in my last job, which was with the government. Lots of conference planning. What do you do now?

Very good friend of mine plans corporate events -- the client is never happy, so she just hopes to minimize the unhappiness. Seriously, every single thing can go perfect, but if the napkins are an off shade of ivory, the client wants a discount.

Still, she enjoys the challenge and has traveled all over and met a lot of famous people over the years!

thanks for the feedback everyone.

I think I'm going to try to find something PT to do on my own time, but I do know it can me seasonal work with long hours, etc. But I like the idea of planning and working with vendors/clients and in the area of event planning, you have the chance to make people very, very happy (or miserable!).

I have a friend who plans large corporate events, and she started off in hospitality/hotels including wedding planning, then got into corporate planning where she was more interested in being. She recently got certified as a CMP, certified meeting planner I believe.

One thing to consider, at least in terms of corporate event planning, when times are tough economically (as they currently are for most) companies cut their lavish events first, and so meeting planning agencies cut their staff.

be ready to work long hours and not be home a lot. Events can be demanding and a lot of folks burn out fast.

You have to be ok with living on the verge of disaster at any event and being able to fix it ASAP.

Get a job with a Caterer or a Restaurant that has rooms for parties (like Maggianos).

You can get a certification. My friend has the following and plans corporate meetings for a large company.

http://business.gwu.edu/tourism/certificate/event-meeting-management.cfm

My relative did this and now has a multi million dollar business. But she was in the hotel and hospitality industry so she had a client base to rely on.

I would probably start it as a side business. Do some events at a reduced rate and try to build a clientele to start.

This is random...but I've had a few people in my life tell me that I would be a great event/meeting planner. I've actually tried to break in to such positions before with no luck - my resume shows nothing like this. However, whenever I've had to plan an event, from our forum at work to a short notice makeover event charity event, I've always done really well at it because I'm organized.

Does anyone have any advice on how to try to actually make the shift to something like this as a career? I think I'd be really good at it and a friend put the bug in my ear in agreement.

I can't just quit my job and start a business - I need my salary - or at least A salary!