JEM Events

Pro

Pricing: From $2,900Category: Corporate Event PlannersLocation: Sydney-wide

Highlights

Founder Jodie McLean holds an event management degree from Macquarie University
Runs conferences, retreats, gala dinners and expos in Sydney, interstate and in Bali and Thailand
Casual package of 20 hours of event support for $2,900 plus GST

About JEM Events

JEM Events (JEM Event Management Pty Ltd) is a Sydney business events agency founded by Jodie McLean, who studied event management at Macquarie University to degree level and has more than 15 years in the industry. The business has operated for six years and uses a Castle Hill postal address, but its projects reach well beyond Sydney: a 120-person Entrepreneurs' Organisation retreat in Phuket, a leadership program at Uluru, an 800-person careers expo at Melbourne Showgrounds and a four-day association event in Bali. Services come in three parts. Strategy covers the brief, concept and a draft budget, including a one-hour session delivered over Zoom. Planning handles project management, venue and catering, speakers, entertainment, AV, styling and event communications. Onsite management runs from bump in to bump out, taking in guest hosting, run sheets and supplier liaison. Formats include conferences and destination conferences, retreats and incentive trips, gala dinners and awards nights, product launches, Christmas and end-of-year parties, company anniversaries and exhibitions. For ongoing work there are Support and Planner retainers, and couples marrying in Sydney can book a separate on-the-day wedding coordination package. JEM suits associations, companies and not-for-profits that want outside help with a single event or a whole year of them. The case studies show measurable goals, such as lifting a coaching conference from 160 to 350 attendees while finishing $30k under budget. Clients work directly with Jodie, with extra team members on hand as backup. The agency limits how many retainer and on-the-day clients it takes each year, so availability is checked at enquiry.

Pricing

The Casual package is $2,900 plus GST as a one-off fee, giving 20 hours of event support to use within three months, suited to a single event or on-the-day help. Ongoing clients can take the Support package at $495 plus GST a month or the Planner package at $990 plus GST a month, both billed annually. On-the-day wedding coordination is a $1,990 package. Full event planning is quoted per event in writing, and the fee for a strategy session is refunded if you go on to book planning. A 50% deposit applies on signing, or 30% where fees reach $15,000 or more. Pricing depends on the date, guest numbers and inclusions — enquire for a quote.

How We Work

Work usually starts with the brief: JEM gets clear on objectives and audience, develops a concept and checks viability with a draft budget, and a stand-alone strategy session delivers a strategy document, a Zoom recording, a budget spreadsheet and a run sheet template. Planning then covers project management, work-in-progress meetings, risk and budget management, venue sourcing and inspections, catering, speakers, AV, styling and event marketing. On the day an onsite manager handles bump in, AV testing, guest check-in and badges, run sheet timing with the venue and caterers, MC liaison and pack down. Post-event, JEM can send feedback surveys and prepare a debrief report.

Frequently asked questions

What types of events does JEM Events manage?

Mainly business events: conferences, retreats and incentive trips, gala dinners and awards nights, product launches and brand activations, networking events, exhibitions, charity events, Christmas parties and company anniversaries. It also offers on-the-day wedding coordination in Sydney.

How far ahead should we book?

JEM suggests two to three months for small networking events, six to twelve months for larger conferences and ticketed events, and more than twelve months for destination or multi-day conferences. It has pulled events together at much shorter notice when its calendar allows.

What deposit does JEM Events ask for?

Its terms ask for a 50% deposit when the contract is signed, dropping to 30% when service fees total $15,000 or more. Events booked less than 30 days out need a 50% deposit straight away, with the remainder due a week before the event.

Does JEM Events work outside Sydney?

Yes. The agency is Sydney-based but has delivered events in Melbourne, Uluru, Broken Hill, Queenstown, Bali and Phuket, including destination conferences and leadership retreats.

What is included in the retainer packages?

The Support package gives 50 hours of event support a year and the Planner package 120 hours with a dedicated event manager; both include a project portal and a private WhatsApp chat. JEM takes a limited number of retainer clients and asks for an application.

Areas we service

Eastern SuburbsInner WestNorth ShoreNorthern BeachesHills DistrictWestern SydneySouth West SydneySouthern SydneySutherland ShireMacarthurHawkesburySydney CBD & Surrounds