How To: Setting Up and Tearing Down an Event

How To: Setting Up and Tearing Down an Event

Woman setting up at an event

If you have ever hosted an event before, big or small, you’ll know that it can be very difficult to keep an event running smoothly from start to finish. One of the most stressful parts of any event is having a timely setup and tear-down.

However, don’t let this steer you away from hosting an event or stress you out during one. Luckily there are plenty of ways to get help for event setup and tear-down so that things go as smoothly as possible. Keep reading for a guide to helping you in your conquest of the event setup and tear-down!

Knowing Your Venue

Concert venue for an event

It is essential and a good idea to map out your vision for an event setup on paper, but if you are unfamiliar with your venue, it will be hard to translate your ideas into reality. Luckily for you, all you need to do to fix this issue is to visit the venue itself.

Familiarize yourself with the venue’s terrain, inside and out. Consider what time of day your event will be held, the weather for that day, the attendee’s ages and abilities, how accessible the venue is, etc. These are all considerations that will help you choose a venue but will help you decide how to set up the venue to maximize the event’s impact.

Things to familiarize yourself with to help set up and especially tear down of an event include trash routes to clean up throughout the event and after. Familiarize yourself with areas to break down props you may bring, such as tables and chairs. This will keep the venue organized and the event less stressful for you and your guests. 

Keeping the Venue Clean Throughout the Event

UniMovers helping with the set up of an event

While it may seem easier to forget about cleanup until the event is over, this will ultimately create a more stressful cleanup process for you and anyone helping you. Furthermore, having a messy event can stress your guests out and possibly ruin someone’s special day.

To avoid this be sure to have marked places for guests to throw their trash away throughout the event. As we discussed in the previous paragraph, have a designated trash route to be able to take the trash out during and after the event to avoid build-up or overflow.

When you have helpers with you at the event, you can easily assign jobs to your helpers, including clean-up jobs. Assigning a specific person or group of people to a centralized location for cleaning up trash will help keep the event running smoothly.

If you do decide to hire help for your event, look no further than UniMovers! UniMovers takes pride in hiring university students to grow their leadership and community skills while also giving back to the community! They offer a wallet-friendly flat hourly rate, just another benefit to hiring UniMovers to get the job done! UniMovers gives a portion of the profits from every move to a scholarship for college students and towards helping your local community!

Cleaning up during the event will not only keep your guests happy and stress-free, but it will also allow you and your helpers to have an easier tear-down at the end of the event. 

Safety Tips for Setup and Tear-down

UniMovers cleaning and tearing down an event

Of course one of the most critical parts of the setup and tear-down of an event is safety. You don’t want anyone getting hurt on the job or during the event because of a small mistake in precautions.

Whether you are just working with small props like tables and chairs or larger items like generators and electric items such as lighting, take precautions during setup and tear-down of the event. Make sure that chords, poles, ladders, etc. are out of the way during the event to ensure no one trips or falls. Keeping chords organized for electrical equipment will also help you have a faster and safer tear-down once the event has ended.

Even things as small as labeling should be in strong consideration when setting up your event. Make sure that all walking and driving paths are clear for your venue entrances and exits. This will ensure a safe entrance and exit for your guests, whether they are on foot or on wheels. For vehicles, it is a smart idea to have designated parking spaces, especially if you are requiring the help of support vehicles. 

Hiring help for the setup and tear-down of an event is only going to make your job easier and safer with more hands. UniMovers offers hourly labor services to help you move things around and pack and unpack equipment that you may need. Whether you are a business or hosting an event, UniMovers can offer you the help you need to make your day as stress-free and smooth as possible at prices you can’t beat! 

Conclusion

Events should be fun and exciting for you and your guests, no matter the cause. Don’t let the setup and tear-down of an event stress you out or ruin your day. By following this guide and taking proper precautions, you are sure to have a smooth and refreshing event leaving your guests wowed!

Let’s go over the steps to set up and tear down an event you should take.

  1. First, familiarize yourself with the venue you’ve chosen. Visit the place and do a walkabout to familiarize yourself with the inside and outside of the venue.
  2. Next map out your setup plans according to the venue’s size and capability. Having a plan is not only essential but will allow you to have more control and less stress when it comes to setup.
  3. Be sure to go over all safety precautions and keep things organized for an easy setup and tear-down.
  4. Look into hiring help that will benefit you with less worry about the job and prices.
  5. Finally, have fun with your event!


Let your day or your guest’s day be special and don’t let worry or stress ruin things! Have fun and follow this guide for a stress-free, exciting day!

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Reese Ledford comes from Fort Mill, South Carolina, right outside Charlotte, North Carolina. She is currently studying English and Political Science at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. In her free time, she loves to travel, draw, write, exercise, and spend time with friends and family.