Searching for event planning jobs can feel confusing—because the work doesn’t always show up where you expect it to.

In this episode of So You Want to Be an Event Planner, we demystify the event labor market by breaking down where event planning and event management jobs are actually located. We explore the main employer types—venues, agencies, brands, nonprofits, associations, governments, vendors, and freelance work—and explain why job titles can be misleading in this field. This episode reframes career mobility as a strength and helps listeners understand how to evaluate roles based on environment, not just titles.

If you’re trying to figure out where to apply—or why event jobs are so hard to spot—this episode brings clarity.

1. Event jobs exist across multiple employer types
2. Vendors and freelancers are central to the event ecosystem
3. Job titles often hide the real work being done
4. Event careers are rarely linear
5. Understanding environments matters more than chasing titles

1. Employer types
2. Vendor ecosystem
3. Freelance labor
4. Embedded departments
5. Career mobility

Look up one job that isn’t labeled “event.”

What event-related responsibilities does it actually include?

Episode 5: What Are The Source (Undergraduate) Majors if I Want to Work in Live Events

Once you know where jobs live, the next question is academic: what should you study—and does it really matter?

1. Hotels and convention centers
2. Event and experiential agencies
3. Brand-side event teams
4. Associations and nonprofits
5. Event vendors (AV, production, tech)
6. Freelance event professionals

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. Apple
2. Movable Inc.
3. Dorito
4. Bank of America
5. Wells Fargo
6. Smith and Nephew
7. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation