Event Management Business: Being an usher can usher in millions of naira for you

 

I started with no dime, but with wisdom and people around me... —Adesegun Oluyimika, Director, Delectable Ushers

ADESEGUN Oluwayimika, the Director of Delectable Ushers, Alawode Avenue, Oke-Itunu road, Mokola, Ibadan has always been an events person. As a Psychology student in the University of Ibadan, he was holding a programme, ‘Expression’, which earned in accolades from students, lecturers and other people. The laudable way he coordinated ushers for the programme and the commendation of the guests to the programme about the ushers gave him an insight into usher services business.

“After my service year, I briefly worked in a photography studio, but my interest in usher services business and entrepreneurship encouraged me to pick up in the business. I started usher services business without any dime, but with the wisdom of God and the people around me, I made headway.

“One of the attendants of my programme in school, a politician, wanted to commission a project, so I spoke with him and he agreed to engage seven of my ushers for the programme, at just N3,000 because we were students.

“Now I have 25 permanent ushers on my pay roll, and so many temporary ushers. Our dexterity and expertise in the business have got us good jobs in the business, as my ushers have had the privilege to coordinate at one of the events of former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; some members of the state and national assemblies, just to mention a few.

“The business has earned me a lot, in terms of recognition, connection and money, while I continue to learn more about the business, both in the country and abroad, because I can see a bright future in the business, as Nigeria is fast becoming an organised nation,” Adesegun said.
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Being an usher can usher in millions of naira for you

YOU will find beautiful young ladies (and a few times with boys) at the entrance of every function worth its name. Their job is to smile at guests, receive them and ensure they are sitted in the right places and to make sure they enjoy the function. They have nametags on their chests, like ‘call me,’ ‘At your service,’ among others. They dress smartly in uniform that complements the function and they will most likely be strutting on high heels. They are events ushers.

The strides of many people, nowadays, to spice up their events with colours and styles, propel them to thrust the coordination of their events to professionals. This continues to grow on a daily basis. And it makes events ushering service a worthwhile and profitable business.

Start up cost
Though usher service is considerably capital intensive, yet one can start with little or nothing. You can start with just a pen, paper, your personality and the people around you.

But no matter the scale at which you are starting the business, if you want to make a great deal in the business, you need to register your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and have a functional office. These are necessary because what you charge your clients mostly are rather considerably high, especially when you get big jobs. This will portray you as a serious person to deal with. You can convert one of your rooms into an office, in case you cannot afford it at the start.

Also, you must have at least two costumes, English and traditional, for your ushers. Though you can ask your ushers to get smart white and black attire as English costume, but you must get the traditional, like Ankara or Aso Oke, because they must be uniform.
You must also get your ushers ready. You need to note that your ushers must be good looking, cheerful, learned, highly intelligent, eloquent in English, ebullient and polite, with good courtesy.

Who can do the business?
To begin a career in usher services business, you must be genuinely interested in the industry, be charismatic, a good communicator and psychologist and level-headed. You need to be able to remain calm under pressure, be a good leader, coordinator and human manager.

Learning
Learning the basics in the business is continuous. Because the business is more of management and coordination, any form of formal education and/or training in communication, management and planning will help a great deal. There are also institutes in Lagos, among other states in the country and abroad, where the business can be learnt.

Planning and research
Do as much research and be as passionate about the usher services industry as you can. Evaluate your local competitors to know their strengths and weaknesses and how you can explore these to your own advantage.

Many usher service operators mainly use ladies. You can use sissy. Many use white top and black skirt or trousers as English costume; you can give a modern and classic touch to your white and black costume to make it more appealing to the guests.

You must also find a means of selling yourself at every event you organise or attend, thereby including the name of your outfit on the tag your ushers wear, or customise their attire with the name of your outfit.

Your research on how to have an edge over your competitors and make yourself compelling to your clients will reveal more ideas.

Costs and potential earnings
Your cost includes making your ushers look charming. You can decide to deck them with the same hair style, show and make-up. You may need to spend more if the occasion calls for your ushers to be in suits or Aso Ebi. Though the event owner mostly supply the Aso Ebi, if they want the users to be in uniform with the guests, but you are responsible for the sewing. You must always ensure uniformity in the costume of your ushers.

The kind of event your ushers are coordinating, the demand of your client on the outfit of your ushers, the location of the event and the professionalism of your ushers, among other factors, will determine your cost and charges. Having considered the needed factors, you can charge minimum of between N5,000 and N10,000 per usher for an hour seminar, if the event is taking place in the city where your office is based.

Reputation and marketing
As with all industries, word of mouth is the key. In this digital age, word-of-mouth includes online social networks too, such as Twitter and Facebook pages.

No matter how successful your online campaign is, however, at the end of the day, you can’t really buy reputation with advertising, but by successfully coordinating a number of successful events and building up good relationships in the industry, and your reputation will soon tower over your competitors.

You can as well do trial runs. Most of this will be free. Be meticulous and do it as if you have been paid millions for it, and get the free clients to recommend you to at least three people. Though this will cost you money, because you must make your ushers look compelling and pay them handsomely, as most of them may not reason with you, especially when you are using graduates as ushers.

Offer good incentives to whoever recommends you. Before you know it, you will have the crème de la crème on your clients list, and millions of naira will start rolling into your account.

• Written by  africanjoe

• Source: Tribuneng.com

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