Planning and Holding Events During Social Distancing, Part 2

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on planning and holding events during this period of social distancing. The COVID-19 outbreak has changed many parts of the event planning industry, including cancelling or postponing many events and completely altering the way many planning areas are carried out and applied.

At In The Event™, we’re proud to be taking great precautions while continuing to assist our clients with all their event planning and event rental needs during this period of time. In part two of our series, we’ll go over several changes that have taken place, or will be taking place, in the realm of actually holding events during this stretch, plus some general cost themes to keep in mind for your company and event plans.

Differing Conditions and Compliance

First and foremost, it’s important to note that within a country like the USA, with 50 separate states that have mostly been left to their own devices when it comes to outbreak response and safety, conditions will vary across the country. Certain areas that have done a great job distancing and preventing outbreaks may be eligible to return to full-on events far sooner than others, and this will be complicated further by potential future outbreaks in specific areas.

For this reason, event planners and companies will need to keep a careful eye on local government programs and restrictions while planning a given event. In many cases, large event planners may even coordinate with government or public health officials to ensure they are in compliance. The last thing you want is for your event to not only be found outside compliance, but also to put individuals at risk.

Safety Protocols

There are several forms of safety protocols that may or are likely to be put in place for events during this period of time, including:

• Distancing: Events may continue to be held in some areas with specific regulations on distance between attendees, generally six feet or more.
• Protective equipment: Attendees, organizers or others at events may be required to wear certain protective equipment, such as masks or gloves.
• Sanitizing: Events will include heightened care when it comes to sanitizing surfaces, with high-quality cleaning products and hand sanitizer on-hand in high quantities.

Cost and Business Models

Not surprisingly, these changes have already had a major impact on income areas of the industry and will continue to do so moving forward. Many businesses have to consider altering their models, particularly those who regularly hold events of any kind.

For more on how to plan and hold events during this period of social distancing, or to learn about any of our event planning or event rentals, speak to the staff at In The Event™ today.