Planning an event:
Venue check list
It is always best to actually check out a space, check
out there web site, and if possible talk to someone who has used the venue
before. Try to talk to the sound tech or email them your sound requirements
before the show.
Questions to ask the
venue:
Business stuff:
1) What are the rental fees?
2) Do they take a percentage of the door?
3) Do you have to pay for personnel: door, sound
etc?
4) If they do take part of the door and you pay
personnel- does that come out of the door?
5) When can you get into the space?
6) How long can you stay in the space?
7) Is there a deposit?
8) What do they expect from you?
9) What is the capacity?
Tech stuff:
10)
Will they provide
on sound person for you?
11)
Lighting person?
12)
What sort of sound
system do they have?
13)
Can the have electronic bands?
14)
What sort of
lighting system do they have?
15)
What is the size of
the stage?
16)
Is there any sort
of acts they can’t have (fire, nudity)?
17)
A sound check
provided?
18)
Best way for
performers to load in?
(Find out what your
performers need sound, stage, and light wise)
PR help and Niceties:
19)
Do the have a regular ad in local
papers?
20)
Do they flyer?
21)
Do they have a
web site? Email list? Any PR help?
22)
What do they want you to have in your
flyers and PR about them?
23)
Do they give out drink tickets? Or water
for performers?
24)
Any guest list policy?
25)
Do they give a
door start?
26)
What sort of crowd do the get normally?
27)
Will they let you put up a poster
in the club?
Things to remember when making a schedule
1)
Don’t
start the show as soon as the doors open
2)
Start
with a DJ or music of some sort
3)
Don’t
schedule performers till you have to leave
4)
Give
your self some padding time
5)
Remember
certain acts take awhile to set-up, like bands
6)
Certain
act take a while to clean –up
7)
Remember
to make time in the schedule for this
8)
Have
an MC
9)
Have
things for the MC to say or music for during long transitions
10)
Start
with a lively act
11)
End
with either your best, so people will stay
12)
Try to vary your type of acts
13)
Keep
up an energy flow – don’t have dead time (unless need for
transition)
14)
If
the show is long do have break
15)
Keep slower & mellower acts short
(unless that is the theme of the slow)
16)
Remember
dance acts need a clean stage (or section of the floor)
17)
Find out from performers when they like
to go on.
18)
Remember
bands ( who take awhile to set-up) should have bigger sets then dance or spoken
word acts
19)
Really
mess or equipment heavy acts go on last or before a break
Things to ask performers
1)
What
is there sound requirement?
2)
Lighting
they would like?
3)
What
is there set-up time?
4)
Any
stage size needs?
5)
Any
prop or special A/V needs?
6)
Do
they do anything mess on stage? (drag queen acts are famous for this)
7)
People
on the guest list?
8)
What
do they charge?
9)
What
is their act? (which I guess you really should know before you book them. But
performance art acts make change from show to show)
10)
Get a description for the PR
11)
Find
out how they want to be listed on flyers
12)
How
would they like to be introduced?
13)
Any
special they want?
14)
Can they list the event on their site?
Email it to their list?
15)
Help
flyer?
BE
KIND
1) Thank everyone – performers and venue folks
2) Bring food for perfoformer and share it with
venue staff
3) little gifts (99 cent gifts or cards) are great
4) Tip Venue staff
5) Make sure MC thanks everyone
6) Make sure MC tells people to tip the bartenders
7) Treat everyone well – never yell.