Finding the Right Venue for Your Event
The Great Vegas Festival of Beer is held at The Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in the heart of DTLV. It is a fully turfed facility complete with a full concert-style stage, restroom trailers for all attendees, an elevated VIP area complete with cabanas and seating, and so much more. A great choice for hosting this event!
The things you need to think about before booking your event venue.
You’re ready to get the ball rolling on your next big event; maybe you outgrew your original venue, you’re moving into a new market, or targeting new attendees. The first step is finding a venue.
What are the key elements to look for when choosing a venue? Brothers Molloy Events specializes in large events like festivals (particularly beverage and sampling events), fairs, community events, and large scale productions, and uses these three major concepts when choosing a venue.
Hosted on the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont. All event equipment had to be planned for, budgeted for, and set up. Sometimes the gorgeous location is worth a little extra hassle!
1. Venue Amenities
Beyond if the space can hold your estimated guest count, the first question to ask (it’s a big one) is “what comes with my venue rental?” Here are a few of the big-ticket items we consider when choosing a venue:
Does it have restrooms, wastewater and hand sinks?
Does it have tenting or an indoor back-up plan for weather?
Does it include tables and chairs?
Is there a perimeter fence to secure the space?
Is security included? How many crew members would be needed?
Is there sufficient power?
What are the audio-visual capabilities?
Do they include trash removal and cleaning crews?
Are there limitations with permits, policies, or do they require certain food and beverage vendors?
Knowing what the venue includes can help you determine what else you will need to outsource, and can give you a better idea of budget.
Uncork Me Detroit 2024
Uncork Me Detroit was held at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. Home of the Detroit Tigers, this venue is well-known to Michigan locals and frequently hosts large scale events that draws crowds.
2. Location Consideration
In big cities, attendees often expect large-scale events to be near the heart of the city. Brothers Molloy Events signature event, Uncork Me, is known for being downtown in some large cities – like Madison, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Portland, Maine. Attendees enjoy feeling like they’re part of something big in the middle of a big city.
When choosing your location, think of the demographic you’re targeting, and determine if that demographic is concentrated where you’d like to host the event. Does the venue frequently host events with that demographic? Is it a place they’re familiar with?
If you choose a venue a way out from the city center, the next point – parking and transportation – will be even more important.
Uncork Me Wisconsin 2024
Held at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, WI. The venue does not have it’s own parking, but there are large garages within a few blocks, and is a very walkable area of Madison. Directly on the bus line, plenty of bike parking available, as well as plentiful hotels within walking distance, this venue provided great transportation options for attendees.
3. Parking and Transportation
A lot of organizers overlook a piece that is so important to attendees – where do I park? This question can sometimes make or break attendance. If parking’s a hassle, it may be enough for them to not attend at all. As you check out a possible venue, be sure to also evaluate the parking and ask yourself where all of your attendees will park.
Make sure to have parking and rideshare information easily available to attendees. The event experience starts way before the walk through the venue doors - don’t let parking become a dark cloud on an otherwise amazing event.
When planning an event that includes alcohol, considering alternate forms of transportation is essential and ethical.
Are rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft available in the area?
Are local taxi companies willing to partner for sober rides?
Should I consider shuttle transportation?
What are the public transportation options and hours for the area?
Feel overwhelmed just thinking about that first step in the event planning process? Give Brothers Molloy Events a shout. We’re here to help with comprehensive event planning and execution wherever you are in the U.S.