Venue Site Visit - Checklist

Most venue problems are discovered on the day of the event.

By then, the contract is signed, the deposit is paid, and your only options are managing the damage or explaining to the CEO why the internet isn’t working.

This checklist was built to catch those problems weeks before — when you still have time to fix them, find an alternative, or renegotiate.

What’s inside:

15 specific, actionable checks — each with the exact question to ask, what a good answer looks like, and which red flags should make you pause.

The checks cover:

• Venue capacity in your actual layout (not the headline theatre figure)
• Natural light and blackout capability
• Internet speed — with how to ask for evidence, not assurances
• AV inclusions vs. hidden charges
• Loading access for production and external suppliers
• Catering capability at your scale
• Dietary management process
• Sound bleed between event spaces
• Exclusive use — what it actually means
• Staffing ratios for dinner service
• Option periods and cancellation terms
• Your dedicated contact on the day