New Year, New Location, New Venues!!!

Welcome to 2017!

With the New Year comes new beginnings.  Having run events in the London and greater London areas for the last 9 years, I took the decision towards the end of last year to move Daisy Events closer to home.  This will allow me the freedom to work with more clients, in more detail, and really get to know the area in which I live.

It feels like I am starting all over again at times, and in effect I am.  There are new Venues, new Vendors and a new Client market to conquer. Its no easy feat.

Venues have been my focus recently though, due to my brothers impending nuptials. I have a mighty list of potential venues, and have started my visits to some of them.  I have been pleasantly surprised by some, and disappointed by others.

As a planner, I look for a few essential things;

• Cleanliness of all areas - If they can't keep things clean on a standard day then I worry about big event days.
• Approach of all staff - Everyone from reception, to bar staff, to the event teams, represent the venues brand. As with cleanliness, if they have a poor approach on a normal day, how will they react when under stress?
• Flexibility with packages - Each event is unique.  I need to be able to find a venue that can accommodate my client.  The number of compromises they have to make should be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Flexibility of Space - The best venues are the ones that are not only flexible with their packages, but with the space too.  Being able to see the potential of all their own space, gives me great confidence that they will be able to see our vision for the event and bring something valuable to the table too.

All these things are important to me, as a planner.  If I can find these things, then the rest will fall in place around it.  I can organise vendors to counter almost anything else, but without the above things it becomes fruitless.

Creating the above list got me thinking about the things I ask my clients to consider when looking at venues;

• What is important to you - Aesthetics, price, flexibility, locality or services?
• What is the one thing you want to achieve - Is your event about the fun, alcohol, moments, or the extras you provide? 
• You may have a list of things from the above two points.  Be prepared to scrap or add to it when you start visiting venues.  Most people don't know what they like or dislike until they start looking a venues.
• Which leads me to my last point. Most venues will not be "ready to go".  There will be some décor, finishing touches and overall changes that need to be made. Be prepared to see past the current state of a room. Visualise the potential.

Having realistic expectations is the most important thing any client can take to any vendor meeting.  Be it Venues, music, flowers, or any of the plethora of aspects that come together to make an event perfect.  

Let me know what you think. How do you determine which vendors you want to work with? What things are important to you when looking at venues?

Charlotte

xxx