Originally published on the Jifflenow blog.
The venue makes your event. You can dress the place up real nice, make it shine, invite the best speakers and have great food. But the first thing that’s going to make an impression on your attendee is the venue itself. Where you choose to host your event will dictate how your attendee perceives the value of your event. But since none of us have access to unlimited budgets, there’s a handy checklist that we can use to check if a venue is the right choice for the event.
Capacity:
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Your event needs a place that can hold all the people you think are going to attend. On this note, it’s better to err on the side of caution, as you don’t want your leads walking away because the venue is too crowded.
Location:
The zip code of your venue matters when it’s being branded. The right location can get the premium quotient up, with minimal effort. If it’s an international event, makes sense to have it closer to the airport. Or at least, closer to the hotel that you have them staying in. In short, make sure that it’s easy to get there. We know this all to all fit your budget, which brings us to…
Budget:
While planning your event, having a pre-defined event budget can help you maintain your focus on the event as a whole, rather than just the venue. This ensures that you don’t get carried away with glossy brochures or ceiling-sprawling chandeliers. We know it looks cool, but if it doesn’t (directly or indirectly) contribute to your event’s objective, it has to go.
Services & Ambience:
Most event venues can be customised based on the catering services, and ambience your event requires. That’s why this not high up on the list. You just need to make sure that they fit your needs, and if your needs are in line with the objectives of the event.
Insider Info:
Ask fellow event planners or event managers about the venue. Certain venues have quirks, which if known prior to your event, can help your manage your event better. And hey, if you are lucky, you might even get a discount for dropping a name.
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Most event organizers recognize the importance of the venue while planning events. There are many aspects of planning that go into choosing the right venue for the event. Use the above checklist to assess a venue for your next event and let us know what you think in the comments below.
