VENUES - It's All About Location
This section helps you determine what kind of venue would be best for your event. Factors, options, pros and cons of each type of venue are offered.
Where you are going to hold your performance is vitally important; it's the dwelling in which your event is going to find a home. In the industry this is known as the venue, the place to which people come. Just as when you invite guests to your home and want them to feel warm, appreciated, and intrigued by the other people you've invited, the same applies to the "guests" who are going to come to your venue. They may be the general public whom you've never met, and they may be paying for the privilege, but you should prepare to invite them in with the same care you accord your near and dear. Many of the same considerations apply: you want your audience to be able to find you easily, be comfortable when they're there and go home feeling warmed by what you've all shared, but instead of worrying about your cooking, you're going to hope you've picked the right film.
Your choice of venue will be determined by:
Attendance:
This means the number of people you think will attend. In some instances this can be tricky, but it is important your venue not be too small or too large. Turning away people in some instances can work in your favour for publicity, but you aren't satisfying the demand. However, in a large theatre nothing looks worse than a half-empty house. Your projected attendance will determine not only what venues you need to look at for capacity, but also what venues your event can afford.
Costs:
You need to know the cost of the venue and what is covered by that cost; then you have to balance that figure with what you can afford. Venues almost never come free, and there will be additional costs if you have to temporarily install additional equipment if the venue is not equipped to screen the format(s) you require.
Accessibility:
Is your venue accessible? Is it on the public transport route(s)? Is it near, or itself, a known landmark? Is it safe? Are there adequate parking facilities?
Physical Characteristics:
Is the theatre appropriate to the audience you have in mind? Somewhere funky with ancient seating may not be right for an audience of business professionals. Are there adequate rest room facilities? Is there a crying/baby room for harried parents? Is there wheelchair access and, more importantly, a place for wheelchairs that does not obstruct the aisle?
Staff:
Assess the quality of the theatre staff - manager, projectionist, ushers and box office staff. Are they going to be helpful and a pleasure to work with?
