Indoor corporate event ideas NYC

It’s crazy hot outside today here in the Big Apple – like, ridiculously hot. So much so that no less an authority than NY1 morning news anchor and TrivWorks trivia event host Pat Kiernan says it’s likely to be the hottest one yet of the year:

Already 80 degrees in #NYC. Expected high is 97, which will make this the hottest day of the year.

— Pat Kiernan (@patkiernan) July 29, 2015

The city has issued a heat advisory, and my kids’ daycare notified us they’re keeping everyone inside today. But what if you’ve got an outdoor team building or corporate party planned for a day like today? There’s some steps that you the organizer can – and should – take, right away:

• 1.     Notify Attendees Immediately – Much like my daycare did, send an advance notice to your guest list letting them know A) you are aware that it’s insanely hot outside; B) informing them of steps you are taking; and C) what they should do (ie: dress appropriately, bring a hat, sunblock, water etc.)

• 2.     Move the Event Indoors – Especially if it is scheduled for midday, consider relocating an event indoors, if feasible. The venue and view might not be as glamorous, but your guests will be more comfortable with air conditioning

• 3.     Have Plenty of Water Available – Seems like a given, but you don’t want to wait until the last minute to ensure you have enough H2O on-hand. Arrange to have it delivered NOW

• 4.     Shorten the Event – Is there any flexibility to cut the event down time-wise? Perhaps skip some speeches, or even (yikes!) cancel the scheduled entertainment?

• 5.     Have a First Aid Plan in Place – Extremely hot days present a very real health & safety concern, and as the event organizer it’s your responsibility to ensure that you’ve got a plan in place should someone succumb to heat-related illness

• 6.     Have a Power Failure Plan As Well – One of the twisted ironies about hot days like this: everyone’s using air conditioning, which increases the likelihood of a brownout or unexpected power failure. Should this occur, here’s a list of ways to entertain people without power.

• 7.     Keep a Constant Eye on the Weather – In our neck of the woods, when it’s hot and sticky like this, there’s an increased likelihood of afternoon/evening thunderstorms. Keep a close eye on the weather forecast throughout the day, to see what’s coming your way

• 8.     Cancel/Reschedule the Event – A last resort, obviously. However, you should always keep this as an option, especially in the hours BEFORE your event is set to take place. Should you need to pull the plug on your event due to the high mercury level, here’s a list of steps to take when cancelling an event.

You may also opt to arrange a last-minute indoor corporate activity as well!