ABSTRACT
The lead-in is the distance between receiving the confirmation and the date of the event. The work of planning the event truly begins once confirmation is received and the job is no longer speculative. It can be seen, therefore, how important it is to submit a proposal in good time and receive the confirmation from the client as quickly as possible because these impact on the amount of lead-in. The venue for the event is a key factor and most elements of an event rest on the size, location, restrictions and cost of the venue. Venue searching is so critical and the research so demanding that it has become a stand-alone sector of the events industry. There are venue-sourcing companies, agencies, freelancers and location scouts. When taking a client on a tour of shortlisted venues, the event organiser should have already ensured that each venue is suitable for the event requirements, and is available on the date of the event.
