The benefits of a staff party at your own venue

Mental disconnection. A staff party has only one goal: leaving the work atmosphere behind for a while. On your own workplace, that is harder. People think about pending tasks, see their desk standing there or talk about work. A solid decoration plan and a strong programme are essential to break through this.

Practical limitations. Most offices are not designed as event spaces. Think insufficient sanitary facilities for larger groups or poor acoustics. Other risks: too few power sockets for technical equipment and limited loading and unloading space for caterers. A professional assessment of the space is step one.

Permit obligation. Even on your own site, you may face permit or notification obligations. If there is music after 11 pm, if alcohol is served or if temporary structures are placed. Check this well in advance with the municipality. More about permits for events →

Safety and responsibility. At an external venue, the venue manager shares responsibility for safety. On your own site, you carry that responsibility in full. Think: escape routes, fire safety, first aid and responsible alcohol use.

Not every workplace lends itself equally well. The most successful 'own venue' parties take place in spaces with character. Think a production hall, a showroom, a large warehouse, a factory hall or a company restaurant with enough space. Open, high-ceilinged spaces are the easiest to transform.

Small, low-ceilinged office spaces are the hardest. Not impossible, but you have to invest extra in atmosphere and decor to remove the 'office feel'.

Outside is a special category. Your own courtyard, roof garden or car park can be a stunning party venue in good weather. Account for weather conditions and always provide a backup: a tent or covered space as a contingency plan.

Industrial property (sheds, warehouses or factory buildings) is particularly well-suited. The raw look offers the perfect counterpoint to a warm, atmospheric party setting. The contrast makes the transformation extra tangible.

Transform the space entirely. Invest in decoration, lighting design and ambient lighting. Remove or conceal as much of the daily work setup as possible. The more the space changes, the stronger the party feel.

Hire professional parties: a professional caterer, a sound and lighting company and possibly a venue builder. These parties are used to converting 'non-venues' into party venues. Don't do this yourself if you lack experience.

Arrange sufficient sanitary facilities. Too few toilets is one of the most common complaints after own-venue parties. Hire temporary sanitary units if your own facilities are insufficient.

Think about parking and accessibility. If the car park is used as the party venue, arrange an alternative. Communicate this to employees in good time.

Appoint an event coordinator. This is someone who does not celebrate on the day of the party but makes sure everything runs. Think the caterer on time, the band setting up and the suppliers loading and unloading. This can be someone from the team, but consider a professional event manager.

A staff party at your own venue is not always the best choice. Choose an external venue if you have a small team and your own space is too large or too bare. Also choose external if your team urgently needs real disconnection from the work environment. The same applies if your own space is acoustically or logistically too limited, or if you want to create a special atmosphere you could never match on your own site.

The decision is about more than budget. It is also about what signal you want to send. An external party says: 'we are taking you somewhere special.' A party at your own venue says: 'look how special our own place can be.' Both are powerful. It is about which message fits best at this moment. 15 original ideas for any staff party →

The venue rental disappears, but that does not mean a party on your own site is cheap. The largest cost items are varied. Expect catering (per person), sound and lighting (equipment hire and crew), decoration and build-up, entertainment, sanitary units (if needed) and event management.

As a rule of thumb: expect 60 to 80 per cent of the budget of a comparable external event. You partly offset the saving on venue rental with extra investment in atmosphere and logistics. Those you have to create yourself on your own site. An external venue has this built in.

Always request multiple quotes for the individual suppliers. And budget a 10 to 15 per cent buffer for unforeseen costs. Especially if you have never organised a party at that venue before.

We are used to working at venues that are not designed as event spaces. From company halls to open-plan offices, from showrooms to multi-storey car parks. We know how to transform a space entirely and turn it into an unforgettable party.

Want to know what is possible at your venue? Invite us for a site visit. We assess the space, advise on layout and programme, and make sure the party truly is a party. Regardless of where it takes place.

Call 085 401 40 14 or email hello@live-impact.nl.

Seriously fun.