Digital Nomad Life and Job Spotlight: Remote Event Coordinator

So you want to become a digital nomad?  Well, join the party because you aren't alone!  And luckily for you there are ten times more remote jobs available now than there were before the pandemic.  One interesting job I recently came across is Remote Event Coordinator.

Now this is not a new job by any means and the girls I was lucky enough to talk to have been doing it for a few years now.  They actually began before the pandemic. 

These two lovely ladies, Ruth and Laura, have interesting stories about how they got started, what they do for work, and living the nomad life.  It was such an interesting conversation I didn't want it to end.

If you're interested in becoming a digital nomad and working while traveling abroad, then this is the post for you.  Feel free to reach out to me or the ladies I interviewed if you have any questions!

Digital Nomad Job: Remote Event Coordinator

How did you get into remote event coordinating? What did you do before?

Ruth:  Prior to going remote I was working in a corporate job in Abu Dhabi.  I was there for almost three years working in the events industry.  I really loved my job because I felt in control and like I could go anywhere because I was working with clients.  

And most of the time I communicated via email and What'sApp.  So it seemed like as long as you had the internet you could do the job.  This was around 2015 - 2017.

So I thought why not get a job, the same thing that I do, but remotely.  Because I love traveling and I want to have that freedom to go anywhere and, at the same time, I can work.  

So I started searching for jobs in the event industry but it was so difficult. Because back then remote working wasn't as easy as now.  It was pre-pandemic and people weren't really open to remote working unless you were in the tech industry.

So back then I saw this post in a facebook group and I was still in the UAE. During that time, there were restrictions like you couldn't use Zoom or Skype or other tools.  So I was interviewed but during the final interview I couldn't get through Zoom so I didn't get that job.

Time passed and I decided to move to Armenia and while I was there, the position opened up again.  And I got the job.  It's interesting because they hired me pre-Pandemic.

Laura:  When I first started traveling, I started teaching English online and since then have transitioned into event planning, freelancing, personal assistance, etc.  Right now, I'm in the country of Georgia, eastern Europe.

So when I used to live in the US, I was an event planner but my focus was more on sports.  I planned soccer tournaments all across the US.  I also worked for a local Parks and Recs department and planned BMX, volleyball, soccer, and golf events.

My start to travel is interesting.  I had a two year plan and I was going to take a year off and go travel then come back to my real life and job.  So I was babysitting a lot to save up some side money.  

Then one night one of the parents that I baby-sat for told me they were leaving to travel for six months.

And I was like that is so cool.  They knew I loved traveling so later, when they got back, they asked me, "So do you actually just want to come with us for six months?"  They thought it would be better because I would be a constant in their children's life and they wouldn't have to get different nannies in every country.

So the next day I went in and had a conversation with my boss like hey can I take a 6 month sabbatical?  But they said, "Mo, if you go, you would not work for us anymore."  So then I talked to the parents again [to get some specifics].

I liked what I heard so later that day I put in my two weeks notice and moved everything into storage.  Then I met them two weeks later in Chiang Mai.  At the end of six months, they were ready to go back to their regular life in the US.

So I said I would go back with them and nanny for another 3 months.  But I still wanted to keep traveling.  So after that summer I left on my own.  Solo traveled.  Just living off of my savings.

Then I got to a point where I was like I either need to figure out how to make money online or I have to stop traveling.   So that's when I turned to English teaching because I tried looking for event planning jobs online [and, for whatever reason, I couldn't find any].

So I did that for about a year before I got my event planning clients.  And the drive for that was because, as you know, as an English teacher, or teaching in general, you burn out so quickly.

I didn't like being tied to a schedule or stressing about if my internet was good enough or if I needed a hotspot, etc.  So, in 2019 I had just the one client.  Then Covid hit and I lost him.  

But then starting in July 2020 when everyone decided virtual was the way to go, I just got flooded and now I'm at the point where I can't take on anymore clients because I'm at my limit now.  

Tell me about what you do.

Ruth:  My company educates investors, we have a research team giving them research [on real estate markets, etc.], and strategies to help investors.

For all of their events, I would prepare it.  I would coordinate the speakers, and I would coordinate with the onsite events management team.  So the day of the event, I would pass the details to the onsite events management team.

Once done they will let me know and I would do the post thing as well.  So it is just making sure I have prepared everything for the hosts, the guests, the speakers.  So it's mainly coordination.

Once the event is done I make sure that all of the deliverables, the presentations are on our database and online portal.

Before the pandemic, I would also have to coordinate the big monthly meetings and weekend conferences.

Since the pandemic hit in March all of our events turned virtual.  And instead of me coordinating to onsite event teams, I had to do everything.  

So I also am the one on the side of zoom monitoring the speakers and guests.  Kind of like a tech person during the event.  Like technical admin support posting links or handouts, etc.

Laura:  So I do a couple of things.  I am still teaching for a company called Hujiang.  It is an audio only company so I can just sit on my bed and teach and not have to worry about my background.  They have a kids side but I'm only on the adults side of it.  So I can actually have real conversations with my students.

At this point, I don't need to teach to support my lifestyle but I still keep them on board as a back up.  For example, in March 2020 when Covid first happened, I lost all of my event planning clients. 

They were not ready to go virtual for events.  And they needed to cut their expenses.  So the only thing I had was teaching.  Thank God I held on to it. But, right now, at this point, I am back with my clients and I have new clients so I still have them as a back up.

Teaching is only a couple hours a week.  Then in my freelancing side of life I do event planning as well as some personal assistant stuff.  All virtual.  For some event planning clients I have people on the ground executing the events but I do all of the planning leading up to it.

I currently use Upwork. I've found the best clients on there so far.  Some I go after myself and others come after me.

For one of my clients, I plan 3 virtual conferences a year.  And that is fully virtual.  It is a 24 hr worldwide summit.  So even with that one I just plan up to the event date and then I have moderators that actually moderate the event.  

So I don't even execute the event either.  Again it's about finding that perfect recipe, that perfect combination for my line of work and what I want my life to be.  

I don't want to be tied to a schedule.  I want to work when I feel like it.  When I have time and I am not doing something else.

How much can one make in your job?

Ruth:  Based on the statistics, you can get anywhere between $15 and $30 USD per hour.

Laura:   So teaching online that one can range from as low as $10 an hour up to $25/hour if you go through a company like iTalki, VipKids, Cambly, etc.

For event planning/ personal assistant, I started my rate at $20/hour which was enough for me to live on the road.  I have now raised my rate up to $50 an hour.  So now the lowest I will take is $35/hour and my high rate is $50 depending on what you want.

And my goal is not to work full-time.  Right now I am only working 15 - 20 hours a week.

What do you love about being a remote event coordinator?

Ruth:  The interesting part is that I get to talk to people in the higher positions like the CEOs, vice presidents, and even government officials.  So there are a lot of opportunities for me even if I am doing it remotely.

And I really feel blessed that my job wasn't that affected by the pandemic and it's just so nice that I dreamed of having this job and I have it.  

Events are something that I am really passionate about.  I am passionate about assisting clients and coordinating events.  Whenever I have an event, seeing how satisfied the attendees and executive team are, it makes me so happy.

Another thing that I love is that since it is real estate investing education and I am exposed to it everyday, it has helped me shift my mindset from being a homeowner to an investor.

So right now I started investing as well.  So it's not only working, I am also learning.

Laura:   I just love planning events.  Like events are my bread and butter.  So I like all the admin, the logistics, creating the agenda, working with the speakers on their messaging.  I just like events.  I don't know.  The organization, the logistics just make me happy and it is what I'm good at.

What don't you love about it?

Ruth:  Sometimes, although I have a Canadian number, [people in Canada] will want me to text them and that's a limitation because I don't have texting capability.  

That's a tough question because I can't think of anything I don't like about my job.  Mostly I hate external factors, like when my internet is failing.  And when there are a lot of outside noises, when I need quiet.

Laura:  With teaching, I hate being on a schedule and all the anxiety that goes with it.  I hate having to be top of your energy every 30 minutes.  I don't like that at all.

As for event planning, I learned very quickly that if you have a low rate, like my $20/hr client, he is the biggest pain compared to my $50 or $40/hour clients.  [But overall], I am at the point in my life where if I don't like it, I won't do it.

What personality traits are necessary to be a remote coordinator?

Ruth: Number one, you have to have discipline because you are working by yourself and no one's watching you.  So you really have to make sure you are disciplined and doing what you say you are going to do.

The next thing is you should be well organized because you are coordinating the event, the schedule, the speakers, all the things that are required to have a successful event.

You should also be flexible because even if it is not a live event there will be changes.  So you really have to be flexible at all times.

And always think outside the box.  Just in case something happens, you can easily think of solutions of issues that you face as you go along.

Laura:  Definitely organization.  You should see the spreadsheets I have of everything.  So organization for sure.  Two, is being able to talk to anyone.  I mean like I said earlier I'm talking to head honchos at Microsoft, Boeing, Booking.com, setting up these events or like having them be speakers at my events.

So just being able to be a normal person and not get like "Oh my god I'm so nervous!"  Just being personable and being able to talk to anyone.

Also, being creative.  So this is always an interesting one for me because I don't think I'm creative.  But with events you need to be a little creative. 

Like how are you going to make this event different than the hundreds of other ones out there?  How are you going to expand your audience, how are you going to get new audiences or members at your events?  

What are the most important things one must do to make money in this field?

Ruth:  I think what the pandemic has taught us is to network.  Because there will be a lot of facebook groups, or opportunities on Linkedin but if you don't have the right network you might have a hard time getting the job that you want or the rate that you want.

So it is really important that you network and really see if the network you have is the right people to be around.

[As for pay,] the first thing is to do the research.  Because that's what I didn't do the first time.  And I wasn't in the right range because I didn't do my research first.  So you really have to find what's the range for that position.

And never accept something low because you feel that you will not get the client.  That's one of the mistakes that the freelancers are now committing.  

You have to know your worth because your client is not hiring you to pay for your bills.  They are going to hire you and pay you according to what you can bring to the table.

Laura:  With Upwork, I've realized that clients on Upwork will hire for the job within 3 days.  So if you are not one of the first 5 to 10 applicants on the job, you basically have no hope for the job.

You need to job search multiple times in a day.  So you have to have time and dedication to job searching.  Now if they come after you that is a little different.  

Also, don't be afraid to take low end clients at first just to build up your profile and reputation.  Like you are not going to secure a $50 / hour client right off the bat.  

It doesn't matter if in the in-person job you are the best, online, it is all about the reviews.  It's not going to happen overnight.

Also, if you are an American trying to get on Upwork.  Filter by US only and you'll get better clients.

What suggestions/ tips do you have for people who want to become remote event coordinators?

Ruth:  So first off, you have to make sure you have the right skills and you really enjoy it.  Not because you see someone is enjoying and you think, maybe I will be happy doing that.  That is not the right mindset.

Our chief growth officer would always say this.  "Use your strength, sell your weaknesses."  So only focus on your strength because if you exert effort to enhance your weakness your results will only be mediocre.

Really find out what are your strengths and use that.  If you are good at graphic designs, maybe you can do that and enhance it.

[For technical skills]  Of course, you will have to know how to create emails. And knowledge in using spreadsheets and sharing documents.  And you [should be] a fast learner in terms of using CRM or databases and project management tools.

Laura:  English teaching is one of the easiest jobs to get into.  And honestly it's fine to just start out doing that so that you can see if you like living and working on the road and to see if you can handle it.

And yeah for event planning all the things I said above.  Also, do not use a recycled cover letter.  You can use the same template but you need to put something in there that shows them that you actually read their job posting.

Also, get a local sim card from each country and make sure your phone is unlocked because then you can hotspot from your phone.

Digital Nomad Life

What are the highlights/downsides of being a digital nomad?

Ruth:   The highlights would be the freedom to be anywhere.  I mean not during the pandemic.  But also, because you are doing what you like and at the same time enjoying your life.  So it is like the work-life balance is there.

Also, you get to meet a lot of people.  People that you would not be able to meet in your normal life.  Hmm, what else?  Getting the chance to really enjoy and learn new things.  

Things you would not have realized you would love because you are not exposed to it.  But now since you are , you would appreciate it and somehow it affects you in a positive way.  

It changes your life and your mindset so thats the highlight for me.

So the downside I would say is you, somehow, you would miss having long term connection with people.  Although yes you can have friends anywhere but you will have a limited long term connection with people.

Laura:  Well, let's start with the downsides, so if you have family back home, [it can be hard.]  So, when I first left, one of my nephews had just turned 1 and for birthdays etc. I am always there over the phone through Skype so he now thinks I live in a phone.

Another downside to it is you'll get restless easily.  So after a couple months, I am like ready to go to another place.  

Another thing is it can be frustrating or hard if internet is not easy to come by.  Or if you have power cuts and how that affects your work.  That can just be frustrating to deal with.  Those I guess aren't downsides but they are struggles.

The positives , you will meet and make friends in a matter of minutes.  Like I have made lifelong friends that I only knew for like a day before they or I went to another location.  But, honestly, I have a deeper, better connection [with them] than some people I have known for years.

You are going to learn a lot about yourself and that is for traveling in general.  You can work from anywhere in the world as long as you have wifi and electricity.  And that is so freeing.

I just feel like you are able to create the life you want to live being a digital nomad.  At least for me.  

Now this is more travel than being a digital nomad but for example, living in the US, I was on anxiety medication for like ten years.  Once I started traveling, I haven't taken it since.  I don't have that stress or anxiety.  It's just gone.

Being in the US I used to use Proactiv skincare and now I don't even use that anymore.  

[And quietly her skin is amazing!  Traveling does the body good!]

My quality of life has skyrocketed and my cost of living has plummeted.  I've been on the road now for 4 years and I cannot live in the US for a multitude of reasons.

How much do you need to be a digital nomad?

Ruth:  It really depends on the country or places that you'd like to visit.  And what you would like to do while you are there.  There was a country, Estonia, I think, that announced that they were going to have a digital nomads visa.

And there are more now.  So in terms of amount you will need to be earning, $3,000 - $10,000 monthly to get the visa.

Some people with certain passports are lucky because they don't need to get a visa and can easily go where they want to go regardless of how much they are earning.

Laura:  So that depends on what countries you want to go to.  Right now I am at a pretty consistent budget of around $1000 a month give or take.  So my budget for the last two years have ranged from about $800 to about $1300.  Now keep in mind, I still to this day have a storage unit back in the US.

So that includes my storage unit, setting money aside for visa runs, or vacations, or just my next plane ticket.  It includes my health insurance that is worldwide.  Also, it includes putting money aside every month into savings and a retirement account.  

So I would say the actual cost of living within each country I'm in is usually around $30 a day on average.  I've had this budget in all of South East Asia and now Eastern Europe.

What problems have you encountered abroad?  How have you dealt with them?

Ruth:  This wasn't a problem but a challenge.  When I needed to finish a task and I was at the airport in Qatar during my layover.  Good thing there was a good internet service in Qatar.  

If I were in a different airport that is going to be stressful for me.  But it was a good thing that I was able to find a good spot there.

Laura:  Yes, let's see. Some places there's definitely a language barrier or a culture barrier.  I solve the language barrier by google translate, showing a picture of what I am asking for, or trying to mimic what I need. 

There are some definite cultural barriers.  For example, when I was in Dubai, as a female I couldn't be in a taxi driven by a man.  So I had to wait for a taxi driven by a female.  There are some other countries where women don't have a voice and I really struggled there.

Being a white female from America, I am used to being able to say what I think no matter what.  And so that doesn't always work in other countries. It's not going to be received well and you might not even have a voice.  

So it is learning how to still appreciate their culture without attacking it for not having the rights and liberties I'm used to and still finding beauty in that country.

In India, as a foreigner you can only get 1gb of data a day and I blow through that in an hour.  To get this other sim card I need to give my father's last name and have a local reference.  Also, they had daily power outages so I had to get a backup generator.

Some countries are easier then others to be a digital nomad in.

Everyone says it is so dangerous traveling as a women.  As a digital nomad woman, what precautions do you take?

Ruth:  That's actually a question I got from my colleagues when I said I was traveling solo in 2014.  ["Is it safe?"]. But it's like you are not safe everywhere.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years of traveling solo, it's follow your instinct.  So if you feel that something is not right, follow your instincts.

And always learn your way around the areas you are in.  Because when I was in Venice, before I went there I familiarized myself with the area so that if something happens I always know where to go.  

And I always make sure that I'm in an area with a lot of people.  So always know where is the main road and, you know, the safe spots.

And stand your ground.  I had this experience where I was hosted by this local man and the conversation was leading to something else and I said no and he respected that.

Another thing, we really have to protect each other so if there is another woman around who needs help, lend a hand.

Laura:  Yes, so these were put into place when I was traveling by myself.  So, as a US citizen, I register with the US government with the state department for each country and it's called the STEP program.  

But basically you are just letting the local embassy know what dates you're there.  So if there was an emergency, they know how to contact you.

I also had it arranged with my mother that if she and I had not made at least some kind of contact - a text or a phone call - at least once a week that that would probably be an issue.  And that she should start putting stuff together to make a missing person's report.

Also, be active in the female travel groups.  There has been a lot of times where you being active kind of keeps the people looking out for you.

Oh another tip, as a female traveller always join a female only group in that city like Chiang Mai nomad girls, etc.  So be active in those groups as well.

If you are staying by yourself like not in a hostel before you leave the apartment, write on a notepad the time you left and where you were going.  So if something happens, there's at least a starting point for authorities to know where you might have gone.

But honestly nothing different than what you would do back home.  Be diligent but don't assume everyone is out to hurt you.  There are a lot of good people in this world.  But, at the same time, listen to your gut instincts and if something doesn't feel right, leave.  

Have a check in with someone and it can be something simple like just a text message.  And I usually copy my mother on all my flights and hotels.

Anything new on the horizon for you that you'd like to share?

Ruth:  Actually that's funny, I have this project with a friend.  We are doing a podcast.  It's about adulting.  Anything that adults are having a hard time talking about like life decisions, money, relationships, and opportunities.

We haven't launched it yet but we already have the recording ready.

Laura:  So actually since being here in Georgia , I have actually become a professional soccer player.  So I just signed a second season out here in Georgie to play professional soccer with the team that won the league last year.

Oh and I guess I also just launched my YouTube channel.  I guess those would be the exciting things. 

Recommendations for Starting Out as a Digital Nomad

Laura:  Honestly, Bali and Chiang Mai are two of the best places to start out as a nomad.  One, it's cheap.  And two, there are communities there of people just starting out or ones that have been there longer that you could brainstorm with.  So for newbies I definitely recommend Chiang Mai and Bali.

Closing remarks:

Ruth:  If you really want to have something, [ask for it].  Cause the funny story here is that I wrote a letter in 2015 at my desk.  I was saying something like how I wish I could be working somewhere else far from here doing the same thing.  And in 2018, I got what I asked for!  So it's a part of the law of attraction.

If you want something say it out, write it out, visualize it.  Anything that you can tell the universe that this is what I want.  Sooner or later you will have it. Exactly what you asked for.

Want to know more?

Check out Laura's blog, Adventure Travel, where she'll take you along with her on her amazing adventures.  Plus, word on the street is that she'll be putting up info on budgeting and cost of living for digital nomads.  Woop woop!

Also, Ruth's podcast is out!  You can find it on Spotify, iTunes, and Google Podcast!

All in All

So happy I was able to chat with these amazing women!  Truly inspiring stories!  And I gained so much knowledge and insight into the life of a digital nomad.

Now I really really really want to become a digital nomad too!  You?

There are so many remote jobs out there for anyone who wants to become a digital nomad.  Remote Event Coordinator is just one of them.  And it might not be for you.  

So join some facebook groups, get on Upwork, and find the job that is perfect for you.

It's time you and me both start living the dream!