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There are a lot of steps you have to take when planning an event. If you’re looking for an event production agency to help lighten the load, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of agencies to choose from. How can you determine which ones are best for your needs and expectations? To support you in this process, we’ve created a checklist for you that outlines what to look for in an event production agency. Compare your potential agencies with this checklist to get an idea if they’ll be a good fit for you!

5 Things You Should Look for in an Event Production Agency

When you’re searching for an event production agency to work with, there are five key things you’ll want to look for. These five factors can help you find the right agency for your company that wants a collaborative partnership, rather than just a vendor relationship. 

1. They Understand Your Goals

Your event has specific goals—whether it’s building trust with your consumers, meeting a sales goal, or promoting a new product. Every event has a purpose. The production team you work with needs to be invested and fully understand your goal. They should see your goal as their own—tailoring every part of the event planning process and the event itself to meet your expectations. 

 

We believe that goals are the foundation of event planning, and whoever you choose to work with should have this same understanding. As you shop around for an agency, pay attention to how they ask about your goals. Are they asking detailed questions to ensure they understand? Is goal setting a part of their process? If not, this should be an immediate red flag for you. 

2. They Respect Your Guardrails

The event planning industry has gotten itself a bad reputation for not sticking to its clients’ guardrails (e.g. budget, venue, timeline, attendees, etc.). There’s a common sentiment that event planning agencies will go over budget or just paint pretty pictures that aren’t structured in the event’s reality. 

 

Luckily, not all event production agencies are like this. You should be on the lookout for an agency that not only asks about your event’s guardrails but also has testimonials and positive reviews from past clients who can attest to their ability to respect the facts of the event. 

3. They Execute Creative Realities

As we mentioned before, some event production agencies seem to only paint a pretty picture of an event. But a pretty picture is just that—you need someone who will work with the box you give them and then create outside of it to its full potential. 

 

This idea of creative realities is essential to event success. Not only do creative realities keep you within the guardrails you set, but they also help you push the needle in your event since you’re working with an industry expert who knows how to build upon current trends in the space. 

 

Look at your potential agencies’ portfolios and case studies. Are they pushing the needle in every event? Have they won any awards or recognitions? Do their events stand out against other events you’ve seen or attended? Be wary if they don’t display any case studies or if you’re not seeing the creative execution you want for your own event. 

4. They’re Transparent in Communication 

You’re invested in your upcoming event and rightfully so. Ensure that any agency you work with understands this and includes you in all communication and decision-making. If you want a more hands-off approach, their communication should still, at the very least, give you an understanding of where the event planning is at and what budget decisions are being made. 

 

You should not feel in the dark about your own event. 

 

See what an agency’s reviews say about their communication. Ask them what kind of progress reports you can expect. Both these things can help you sort through which agencies are transparent in communicating and which may be quieter in an engagement. 

5. They Foster Partnerships  

If you’re looking for a real relationship with an agency and not just a vendor, you’ll want to find an agency that sees its clients as partners. Collaboration should be at the heart of all they do. We know you’re deeply invested in your event, so you should have a say in how involved you are in the agency’s decisions for it. 

 

Some agencies may even ask you if you want a more hand-off approach or if you want to be included in every discussion and decision. See if their reviews affirm the level of collaboration you want. Does their website talk about partnerships and a collaborative approach? Ask them directly about their process. Taking these steps will give you an idea of whether the agency you work for is more vendor-based or partnership-based. 

akire productions Goes Above & Beyond for Your Event

At akire productions, our unique approach ensures that we hit every one of these checklist items. We understand that at the heart of events is human connection, so we treat every engagement with the people in mind first. If you want to see your event create a genuine, lasting impact on your attendees, akire productions is here to help. We’ll take your event and elevate it to the best it can be. Get in touch with our team today to see how we can benefit your next event!

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