Open Air Business August/September 2017

EVENTS
Detail
post-event as well such as litter
picking, remedial work on access
points and venues or cleaning up
roadways. These elements can
have a major impact on the budget
but are often forgotten as they
don’t constitute the core of the
event in the minds of some. Create
that checklist and make sure all
those elements are covered.
Manpower quickly eats into
budgets so make doubly sure
that any human resources have
been costed effectively. Are we
taking shortcuts and not allowing
for safety provision, medical
staff or sufficient toilets for
the numbers expected?
Have we considered the
ramifications of these
shortcuts on the
overall event if they
are omitted?
Contingency – have you
included a contingency figure
in your budget? Be honest with
yourself and your ability to cover
every eventuality. Be realistic and
allow a decent amount so that you
know you can bring in that extra
toilet unit or additional walkway
lighting without a big impact on
your cost control. Remember
though to include those elements
the following year so they don’t
appear in your contingency again
but are planned for properly. It’s
understandable to make errors
in learning but unforgivable
if repeated time and time
again.
Use event experts - they
may cost in the short term
but they can ensure that
your budget is appropriate
and may save you
money overall through their
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