Site selection

Some deem this to be the most important part of any event... and rightfully so. Yes that's right - it is a very important part of the event. When looking at the possibilities and the choices - this can be overwhelming. The cost, location and surroundings could also a big factors in what you finally select.
This is where the memories will be made. This is where you are having your event. Whether it be a birthday, wedding or conference - the venue will be your home for that time. If you are having a wedding in a venue - that has a bar with live bands that play very loud music after 9pm - this could ruin your evening. It's important to know what happens at these venues. Also - inform yourself to other events happening during your selected date(s).
But the other part that many do not look at is the staffing that is there. If at any point during your evening you need help or require additional items - how will the staff handle these requests. Are they an attentive bunch? Will they be able to accommodate the requests in a timely fashion? As much as you plan and you think that your plan is bullet proof, there is always something that will squash that notion quickly. How do you proceed? Have questions - and many of them. During your visit of the venue - ask those questions. Pose them as situational questions - like - If we need another mike at the last minute, who would I approach for this? If we needed more food - who would I approach and what could I expect? Those are not necessarily the questions you want to ask - but in some cases these are very important. This is especially true if your venue is supplying you with food (for example). Most venues will have a pre-event meeting to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This is when you could ask them the questions that have come up with since your initial meeting. If they don't offer a pre-event meeting - request it! An important piece of a great event is that all are on the same page and have the same expectations.