You're facing conflicting opinions on the event venue. How do you navigate team tensions to reach a decision?

When choosing a venue for clients, consider how it enhances the experience's narrative. For instance, if the client wants to showcase the brand’s future vision, an observatory aligns perfectly by symbolizing looking far ahead. Certain elements, like having everyone use the telescope and dining under the stars, are essential and non-negotiable as they reinforce the narrative. Conversely, aspects not tied to the narrative, like the type of food served, can be more flexible. The venue should be an integral part of the story, not just a "container."

What are the minimum requirements you need from a venue? I like to work from the MVP and then add the bells and whistles afterwards. Don't overlook accessibility and local amenities. If your team has differing opinions on what is required - get that nailed down before you search for a venue. There's less likelihood of disagreement when everyone is onboard with exactly what is required.

Creativity is not democracy. Creativity is a dictactorship. "Pep Torres" Creativity often thrives under a singular vision, where decisive leadership is key. In creative endeavours, particularly those involving innovation or artistic expression, too many voices can dilute the original vision, leading to compromised outcomes. True creativity requires someone who can make bold decisions and maintain a clear direction, ensuring that the final outcome reflects the original vision and achieves maximum impact. In this sense, creativity needs control to thrive. All voices will be heard, but the final decision rests with a single authority to ensure ideas reach their full potential.

You can use your event budget to eliminate stupidly high event quotes quickly. Discuss with the team how well each viable venue fits the essential requirements. Take some team members with you to do a walkthrough of the possible venues and get them to do a write-up for the rest of the team members.

I'm happy to listen to everyone's side of the story. If there are strong voices on each side for or against a venue perhaps consider making a list of the positives and negatives and see which venue comes out tops. I'm not against a vote from each team members but I do think the event organiser should have some say in the final decision.