Event venue closing

Like everybody else, I was shocked and completely livid when I heard that reBar, an event space in the DUMBO neighborhood here Brooklyn, had abruptly closed – blindsiding employees and clients alike who had scheduled events starting that evening, with the owner absconding with the payroll and deposits.

As a NYC corporate entertainment event professional, I can’t think of anything worse than a venue closing when I have something scheduled; as a human being, I can’t imagine anything more devastating for those who expected to hold their wedding or other special occasion at the shuttered space.

It seems so far from the realm of possibility, yet for the people affected directly by the reBar fiasco, it is very much a reality. It also begs the question: now what?

There are no easy answers here – however, if you or somebody you know ever finds yourselves in this horrible situation, I can offer the following pieces of advice:

• Don’t Panic – Probably the hardest thing to do, given every molecule in your body is currently wracked with rage and anxiety. When disaster strikes, I remind myself to take a deep breath and then, more importantly, a step back – look at the situation, realize it CAN be handled, and get to work.

• List Your Options – Grab a piece of paper, and jot down every possible solution, no matter how outlandish or obscure: alternate venues, time change, postponement – and yes, even cancellation. Just seeing your options on paper is quite relieving, as it gives you hope that you can indeed work the problem.

• Manage Expectations – No matter what happens, this event is NOT going to be going the way it was originally supposed to. Make sure both you and your attendees are realistic on what to expect, given your situation; if it is entirely beyond your control like reBar, guests and vendors can be extremely understanding and flexible. So should you.

• Roll With It – When my wife and I got married, we planned the entire thing ourselves – 220 people, with SO many details! You of course want everything to go perfectly, however the reality is that something likely will not go according to plan. As such, we agreed from the start to roll with anything that didn’t go right; that we weren’t going to let any glitch, snafu or even major catastrophe ruin our special day. This is perhaps the one piece of advice you should pay most attention to if your venue closes –roll with it! Be open to things you might not have otherwise, and keep an eye on the big picture.

I can’t think of anything more devastating than having an event venue close on you. However, like the folks with events planned at reBar, you will figure it out, get back on your feet, and do what it takes to make your event a success.

(Image courtesy of Ben Yakas/Gothamist)