Meeting, convention and event planners have to figure out their clients’ needs and requirements in terms of exhibit space, lodging, transportation, telecommunications, audio-visual displays, print- and web-based materials, and food and beverages, among other necessities. A lot of time is dedicated to reviewing proposals and contracts and negotiating with facilities and suppliers.

Some would call this a logistical nightmare: nearly 50,000 registrants, more than 2,000 music festival showcases, almost 1,300 conference sessions, more than 1,000 exhibit spaces and almost 300 film festival screenings. But for Mike Shea, chief logistics officer for the popular South by Southwest annual conference and festival in Austin, Texas, orchestrating an event of this magnitude has become second-nature, though it’s not without its fair share of headaches.

"One year, massive downpours turned a grassy park into muck and mire, threatening two days of free concerts," Shea recalls. "We decided to blanket the park with hay, and we paced the park from end to end and arbitrarily determined that 10 steps equaled one bale of hay. To remove the muddy hay afterwards, our solution was (to use) homeless men with pitchforks – four words your insurance company doesn’t want to hear."

As Shea can attest, an event requires considerable planning of details big and small, from choosing a venue and reviewing contracts to juggling guest lists and issuing name badges. Overall, an event planner should be a highly flexible task juggler, especially when problems arise with vendors, clients make last-minute changes or, in Shea’s case, when a celebrity panelist locks himself or herself in a bathroom while wearing a live wireless mic. Ahem.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.5% employment growth for meeting, convention and event planners between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 9,900 jobs should open up.

A bachelor’s degree is generally the preferred education background. Some schools offer event and meeting management degrees, but real-world experience may be the most important factor in getting a job. In terms of job advancement, you might move from a small organization to a larger one or gain additional certifications through continuing education that may help you find higher-paying work. Over time and with experience, you could open your own meeting planning firm or become an independent consultant.