Directing your Guests / Wayfinding

So today my blog post is all about signage to direct your event guests/attendees. This may seem like a simple task but it isn't always the case depending on the size of your event and the venue.

I have been to many different events throughout the years and often find that there is no signage (or barely any) welcoming guests or guiding guests to the event area. It's really important to have welcome and directional signage for your guests as it helps brand the event and more importantly directs your guests to where they need to be. You really want to make sure you are setting the right tone for the event right from the start. Think about it - if someone is having difficulty finding an event because there is no proper signage they will get very frustrated. A frustrated guest means they are having a negative experience and they will tell others about this bad experience and word will spread. You really don't want that, believe me. Make it easy and stress free for them from the beginning and they will be very happy.

Here are some general guidelines for welcome/directional signage:

• Make sure each sign is easy to read and visible. Use a large sized font and don't use a lot of copy. Make sure that guests can see it from afar. Keep it simple and to the point
• Use your event branding when creating signage. To show professionalism, promote the event brand and be consistent, make sure to use the creative that was used to make other event marketing materials (eg. website, handouts, posters, ads etc.)
• Do a run through. Go to the event venue prior to the event (I would recommend several months before if you can) and determine what kind and how much signage you need and where it should go. This will eliminate any guessing and will ensure you are well prepared. Once you have determined the signage details I would recommend recording this information in a spreadsheet so you are well organized.
• Find out from the venue what your limits are in terms of sign placement well in advance. Talk to the venue manager and explain to them what you want to exactly do with your signage. They will be more than happy to explain what you can and cannot do. For example, the last thing you want is on the day of your event finding out that you can't hang a large sign from the ceiling (that probably costs a lot of money)
• Make extra copies of signage. If money allows and it is possible I would recommend creating duplicate copies of signage in case you need to add more signage to an area or signage gets damaged. In events you always have to be prepared for the unexpected
• Double check and then check again. Make sure to thoroughly review all your signage before printing. It's a good idea to probably get a second and maybe a third set of eyes to review the signage, sometimes someone will see something that you don't. You really don't want there to be typos or grammatical errors on your signage. This will again add to the guests negative experience (I know that may sound silly but it's true)

Thanks for reading my first event planning advice post! There will be much more to come :)

Ta ta for now,

Shira :)