5 Tips For Hosting An Outdoor Business Event

There are lots of advantages to hosting a business event outside. It can often be cheaper to rent outdoor space out for a conference or workshop and it’s certain to make the event memorable (which is ideal if it’s a marketing event). However, the risk of hosting a business event outdoors is that bad weather could ruin everything. There are also certain practicalities to consider – what if you need electricity? Here are some tips that can help to make your outdoor event work.
Choose the right location
Certain locations are ideal for business events such as farms and country pub gardens. Something like a farm is unlikely to cost much, whilst renting out a whole bar’s garden might be expensive. You’ll need to ask about parking, putting up marquees and other decorations. Some locations may not want cars parking on their land. Some may even be funny about marquee tent pegs being hammered into the ground. Whatever the case, you should always ask.
Consider electricity supply
If you’re near a building, you may be able to use their electricity supply. In other cases, you may need to buy a portable generator. This can provide electricity for computers, lighting, audio equipment and outdoor heaters if necessary. A distribution board may be needed for events requiring lots of electronic items. You might be able to hire someone to take care of this side of things, as setting it all up could be stressful on the day amongst having to carry out other tasks.
Offer some shelter
In case it rains, it’s worth providing some shelter. Marquees come in all shapes and sizes and are perfect for these outdoor business events. Not only will they protect against the rain – they might also be able to provide protection from the wind and shade from the sun. If your renting out a venue with outdoor space, they may allow you to move your event indoors if it is raining, however some venues may not be able to do this.
Dress for the occasion
Being outdoors, you may want to think about what you wear. This will depend largely on the formality of the event. Bringing an umbrella might allow you to still wear a suit and keep dry if it’s a formal event. As for footwear, women may want to avoid heels if it’s going to be outdoors. Platform heels might provide more stability. Avoid colours like white that could get muddy.
Hire outdoor catering
An outdoor catering service could help to provide snacks and refreshments to guests on arrival. This might be helpful for warming people up on a cold day, or cooling people down on a hot day. A catering service will know the best way to keep foods away from the heat, as well as bugs and insects that could potentially ruin food.