FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT PERELMAN, PIONEER & COMPANY

What do you consider your strengths?
	A meticulous approach to meeting our client’s goals, for event creation, impact and budgeting;
	Excellent, long experience in site layout, installation, vendor coordination and operations;
	Strong writing and publications skills;
	Good communications skills, both to internal and external audiences;
	Commitment to quality in organization, operations and results.
What kinds of projects are you best suited for?
	Long experience with civic, festival and institutional events of all kinds;
	Strong record in corporate branding and marketing programs;
	Unique background in sporting events, from turn-key creation and execution of smaller events to managing a division or department of a very large program, such as at the Olympic Games.
Who are the primary event managers on staff?
Our event planning is handled primarily by company President Rich Perelman and Director of Operations Pat Harris:
	Mr. Perelman has been a key player in some of the world’s highest-profile events over the last 25 years, including five Olympic Games, the Centennial Celebration of the Statue of Liberty, the National Columbus Quincentennial, Pan American Games, political conventions, concerts, street festivals and much more. He served as the Vice President for Press Operations for the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, responsible for the logistical support of the professional and personal needs of the 9,150 news media who came to cover the Games. He founded Perelman, Pioneer & Company in 1986 and has provided analytical support for event marketing issues for the California Park & Recreation Commission, the Southern California Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New Los Angeles Marketing Partnership and corporate clients such as Smart & Final and Unocal. His Perelman, Pioneer team has ensured the success of civic, political and sporting events including the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah; the 2003 and 2004 Home Depot Track & Field Invitationals; the 2000 Reform Party of the USA National Convention; the three-day Long Beach Live! street festival and business-to-consumer and business-to-business programs for the Eastman Kodak Company, the Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Company (now AT&T Wireless), the Los Angeles Times and others.
	Ms. Harris has been a member of the Perelman, Pioneer team since 1993 and has not only managed numerous large-scale events, but created client confidence in the success of each through a detailed, ongoing communications program. Keeping all of the many players in each event well informed has been a key to the delivery of client requirements in diverse programs such as the seven-day, 11-event Grand Opening of the Long Beach Convention Center Expansion; the cross-cultural Japan-America Week program; three years of the Aquarium of the Pacific Spring Concert Splash; the historic 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and multi-city business-to-consumer programs for Diners Club, Hewlitt-Packard and others.
Do you fund-raise or sell sponsorships?
No. However, we have excellent relationships with professionals who do handle these areas and can recommend them to interested clients. We have worked on projects in tandem with them where sponsorship sales were needed in the past.
What geographic areas do you work in?
Although based in Los Angeles, California, we have long experience with programs in Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. We will be pleased to work with clients anywhere around the globe.
Do you provide fee and/or total project estimates?
We are generally pleased to provide live fee proposals for our projects at no charge, based on a detailed statement of the scope of work that is provided to us. Development of overall project budgets, however, are generally considered as a work product and are subject to a fee payment, either on an hourly basis or on a fixed-fee contract.
How are your fees arranged and paid?
We are flexible on how fees are calculated: either by hourly billing (itemized on each bill) or by flat fee for each engagement, based on a specific scope of work. We have found that nearly all clients prefer a fixed fee, based on a short, written agreement with a carefully-outlined scope of work. Projects undertaken on an hourly basis require an opening retainer, against which hourly fees are billed on a monthly basis. Projects with a fixed fee require progress payments which are itemized in the client agreement.
What is your policy regarding reimbursements for advanced expenses?
We bill expenses related to the work of specific clients at cost, without markup. Such expenses are billed monthly, accompanied by available documentation such as receipts. Home office expenses for which we bill our clients includes costs for courier services, photocopying and printing, postage, shipping, supplies, telephony and travel (if any).
What is your policy concerning travel?
Perelman, Pioneer generally works within the travel policy of the client company. However, we request business-class airfare for transoceanic travel.
What kind of insurance do you carry?
In addition to state-required worker’s compensation insurance, Perelman, Pioneer carries a comprehensive general liability policy with a combined single limit of $2 million. For most events on which we work, we require that special insurance acquired to cover that event include Perelman, Pioneer as an additional insured.
Who can I contact for additional information?
Feel free to contact either Rich Perelman or Pat Harris at (213) 365-7965, by facsimile at (213) 365-7895 or via electronic mail:
	Rich Perelman: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
	Pat Harris: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it