VENUE SELECTION MISTAKES

The problem: Venues usually come in two flavors, the ones that give clients little or no vendor choice (hotels, country clubs) and those that allow clients to select absolutely any vendor they wish. The problem with the former is that clients would rarely pick these mandated vendors if not forced to do so. And the problem with the latter is that clients are often not able to pick as many as 8 to 10 vendors with confidence. The upshot is the same, venues usually don't give much though to helping clients select the right vendors. This matters because the stakes are high; one wrong vendor can ruin an event.

The problem: Vues aren't concerned about the planning process their clients must go through, so that process becomes needlessly difficult. Much of the planning process involves the selection and management of your many vendors. But there are many other examples of unnecessary venue-induced complication. This matters as planning burnout is real.

The problem: Venues intentionally make their all-in cost difficult to calculate.  We speak to this problem here. This matters because, well, its the cost of the event and will likely be considerable.

The problem: Venues in Nashville usually don't provide any of the Big Four. That's Audio, Video, Lighting and Stages. And because they don't, they don't share their importance with clients before they commit to the venue.  This matters because lighting, for example, is even more important than the bar and music. And the cost of these items can be staggering.

The problem: Most venues in Nashville (and all larger venues) require alcohol to be purchased through the venue. It's no secret that alcohol is a big revenue generator. And where there's big money, expect complication to make this cost seem less than it is. This matters because alcohol may end up being the single largest cost for the event, the choice of alcohol may be severely limited by the venue, and the process of selecting the alcohol will be complicated.

The problem: Venues often misrepresent their capacity to clients in order to book their event. Every day we see couples considering at venues that are either too small or too big for their expected guest attendance. This matters because the guest experience will be negatively affected if the event is either cramped or appears as if no one came.

The problem: Venues that have outdoor space often flaunt it in social media with photos taken on beautiful weather days. The problem is that uncovered outdoor areas are exposed to rain and sun, which pretty much describes every day of the year.  The other problem is that an unpaved outdoor area does not work well even days after a rain or anytime in when wearing heels.  Venues don't explain the high costs of the necessary tenting and flooring. This matters because clients often select these outdoor venues based upon the expectation that they will be able to use these spaces.

The problem: Some clients don’t know their preferred venue type or even location and therefore wasting a lot of time looking at venues. Selecting a type of venue early on (hotel, country club, museum, barn/farm, independent venue, etc.) will not only save time but also allow you to compare similar venues more effectively.  Also, in the case of Nashville, it’s important to know early on whether a downtown venue or a farm is preferred.

The problem: New venues advertise themselves as Nashville’s "newest venue". It's a strange claim to make, but happens like clockwork whenever a new venue opens. What other profession deems their inexperience to be their greatest asset? This matters because, as with any business, a venue's experience will have a direct impact upon the outcome an event.

The problem: Venues rarely publish the information clients want most on their websites: pricing, date availability, and tour signup. Most venues make clients email them to receive this information. Clients always complain about this. This matters because it wastes the client's time and delays the processing of important information.