Welcome back to The Venue Podcast, where your hosts, Kinsey Roberts and Lindsay Lucas, dive deep into the practicalities of launching an outdoor venue.
This episode, Part Two, builds on our previous discussion, shifting from mindset to offering you hands-on advice to make your outdoor venue venture a reality.
Whether you're considering a semi-permanent structure or dreaming big with a pavilion, this episode is packed with insights drawn from our extensive experience and interactions in the industry.
Understanding Local Regulations: One of the first steps in your journey should be familiarizing yourself with local zoning laws and county codes. Kinsey and Lindsay share the importance of approaching these discussions with hypotheticals to keep your cards close to your chest during the early stages. It's about navigating the bureaucracy efficiently while planning for your venue, ensuring you're compliant without limiting your future options.
Financing Your Vision: The financial landscape for outdoor venues, particularly those not considered permanent structures, can be complex. Lindsay, our finance guru, breaks down the nuances of securing loans, such as the SBA 504, and the recent changes in refinancing rules. It’s crucial to understand how these factors can impact your funding strategy and the importance of planning for financial sustainability from the get-go.
Marketing Matters: Once you've cleared the hurdles of approval and are ready to start construction, it's time to ramp up your marketing. The strategy remains the same, irrespective of your venue type. Share your journey, host 'dusty boot tours,' and engage with your community. Early marketing efforts are key to booking clients quickly and building momentum for your outdoor venue.
Kinsey and Lindsay wrap up with a reminder to revisit Part One: Owning an Outdoor Venue for a holistic view of starting an outdoor venue and invite listeners to share their progress or questions on Instagram.
