Event Venue Site Visits / Technical Recces

A good site visit prevents expensive surprises on build day. I carry out technical recces that capture the practical constraints of a venue and turn them into usable outputs for production planning: drawings, schematics, schedules, logistics plans and H&S documentation.

A lot of clients use me for northern venue recces specifically. If your team is based further south, it often isn’t a good use of time to send a PM or senior technician for a full day of travel just to confirm access routes, rigging constraints, power, network and sightlines. I’m based in the North West and can carry out recces quickly, capture the right information, and feed it straight into the drawings, schedules and documentation so decisions get made earlier.

What a site visit covers

Access and logistics: loading routes, dock/vehicle restrictions, lift sizes, hours, storage, waste, working areas
Rigging and overhead working: points/limitations (where available), access equipment, exclusions, working-at-height considerations, sign-off routes
Power and distribution interfaces: venue supplies, location of sources, routing, practical distribution constraints, temporary power considerations where relevant
Network and comms: venue network availability/limitations, cable routes, comms positions, any restrictions on temporary networks
Sightlines and audience experience: screen viability, ambient light, camera angles, stage positions, FOH locations
Venue rules and approvals: permits, hot works/plant rules, noise limits, curfews, venue specific requirements.

What you’ll receive

Typical site visits include:

A structured recce report (constraints, risks, actions and decisions required)
Photos and reference notes (key positions, routes, restrictions, and interfaces)
Measurements and layout notes to support CAD work and feasibility
A list of open questions for the venue/client (with recommended answers/options)
Practical inputs for: build schedules, logistics planning, and RAMS/CDM documentation
Where agreed: an initial layout sketch or early CAD mark-up to accelerate planning

How I work

Confirm the brief
Objectives, format (live/hybrid/virtual), audience, spaces, and what needs validating on site.
Set recce priorities
Agree the key risks to focus on (access, rigging, power, network, sightlines, schedule).
On-site technical visit
Walk routes, confirm constraints, capture photos/measurements, identify production options and workable positions.
Outputs and actions
Issue a concise recce report.
Follow-up support (optional)
Translate the recce into CAD/3D.

What I need from you

To make the recce efficient:

Venue name/address and access details
Date(s) and event format
Rooms/spaces in use and audience numbers
Any existing venue CAD/tech specs/rules (if available)
Your current assumptions (stage size, screens/projection, FOH needs, camera/streaming, comms, audience size)