Here are my main points I discuss with venues. They come in handy when it comes time to budget:

* Is it a union venue?

* I discuss whether or not I can bring in an outside vendor (my clients/production companies often have a preferred vendor that they need to work with)

* I find out if there are any mandatory venue charges (power, rig points, lighting and/or rigging labor, labor on staff like a head person who we need to add to our call times)

* I ask for a room diagrams and rigging points in a digital file

* I find out their Fire Marshall policies

* I ask for their a/v packet and pricing in case I need any last minute items on-site

* I ask to check out loading dock access to the ballrooms (sometimes rooms are on another level so you have to use an elevator that can determine scenic piece sizes or amount of time for load-in/out)

* I confirmed venue’s load-in and load-out time availability. Remember, just because the event starts Monday – doesn’t mean you don’t need the space reserved for load in and rehearsal on Sunday.

* Does the venue have risers and tables available – if so what’s their size and how many?

We chose a venue last week. As luck would have it, the favored venue did not support our load in and rehearsal time needs so we had to go with the second choice.

Happy surveying!