Things to Consider Before Choosing Your Venue

The Venue is one of the very important items that should be on every planners list. It should also be the first item to be sorted out, because really, without a venue, how is your event supposed to hold. Most of the time, the venue selection takes the largest chunk of whatever budget a client has. That is why one cannot afford to make a mistake at this stage (it would be a catastrophe)
In choosing a venue for your event(whether corporate or otherwise), here are some of the things should bear in mind:

Assessing the Venue:
Before choosing a venue, always endeavor to make site visits to the number of shortlisted potential venues you have, so that whichever one you choose, you'll know you made your choice out of a list of other options.

Accessing the Venue:
The venue must be easily accessible by you and your guests. If for example, you were getting married in a church before the reception, it is important that your reception venue isn't so far away from the church venue. Especially in Lagos, where traffic is inevitable, you don't want you or your guests getting frustrated before arriving at the reception venue.

Space:
Obviously you need a venue large enough to hold all your guests. The size of the venue must be right. It must be commensurate with the size of your guests.

This also includes the parking lot. It must be taken into proper consideration, as you do not want your guests getting frustrated because of lack of adequate parking space. (Everyone is conscious about security these days, no one would prefer to park along the main road).

Price:
It is very important that the price of using the venue MUST be in agreement with what your budget reads. If adjustments have to be made, it should be very minimal.

Venue Condition:
Your event venue must create a favorable impression. The furnishings must be clean and in good condition. Make sure that there are sufficient rest-room facilities

The color of the event space:
 Will the color of the space or walls blend with the decor you intend to use?

Room Planning Consideration:
All entrance and exit doors, stage location, fire exits, layout for sitting audience, size of available furniture, camera risers, audience microphone...All of these should be considered also.

Staff Reputation:
Does the venue have a good reputation for service? Are they flexible in dealing with requests? Is there a properly experienced manager?

Audiovisual Needs:
PA system and microphones, broadband wireless, data show projectors, flat screen monitors, sufficient power outlets?

The list is not exhaustive, but for whatever event you a planning, your planner must ensure that all or most of these things are considered before choosing "the venue".