EventPro Magazine - Spring 2015 EventPro Magazine Spring 2016 | Page 31
Bigger Events Need Better Planning
Don’t Overlook how important your site layout is.
By Tracy Lundeen
Don’t Overlook How Important Your Site Layout is.
From the perimeter to the center, your site layout is everything!
Where your food, exhibitors, attractions, crafters, portable
toilets and entertainment stages are located can mean the
difference between a great event and a poor event!
ACCESS is the key word! You want accessibility to all
of your vendors and activities and you do not want one
to distract from another. Maintain adequate walkways
for the public (keep in mind handicap and stroller access, etc.). Try to avoid sharing walkways for patrons
with vehicles other than small motorized vehicles for
trash pickup and staff transportation and security.
Following are several examples regarding simple layout
issues that will get you thinking about your layout. Avoid
distractions like putting a climbing wall or bounce house
forkidsnexttothefreefamilyentertainmentstageorhaving
loud distracting attractions or activities next to areas that
need a quieter atmosphere. Also, always keep portable
toilets away from food vendors. You’d be surprised at
how many times that mistake happens. Analyze and
think through your layout decisions. Additionally, make
sure you maintain accessibility for your vendors as well
as your patrons. Make sure you have easy access in and
out for your food vendors to re-supply and if you need
pumping service for portable toilets you have to have
easy access in and out for the pump truck.
Don’t forget that you have to have access for
entertainers/production people to easily load and unload
on to the stage and make provisions for parking for them.
If you follow the intent of this all your layout planning
will be much easier. One final thing, make sure that
you have access passes for all of your vendors, workers,
entertainers, etc. to allow them easy access to areas they
are authorized to be in. No pass-no access. Very simple.