Other venues might skip requiring COIs or hiring security - but does that actually make it the norm?

In this episode of The Venue Helpline, we unpack why insurance requirements and on-site security aren’t just “nice to have,” especially for venues serving alcohol or operating in rural areas.

We talk about what most insurance companies expect, real-life scenarios where security made a difference, and how to confidently enforce these policies without sacrificing professionalism or profitability.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why requiring vendor COIs is a best practice—even if nearby venues don’t enforce it

- How insurance companies view security, especially when alcohol is present

- Real scenarios where having security prevented theft, de-escalated fights, and helped during medical emergencies

- How to update your contracts and vendor requirements to protect your venue and your couples

Helpful Links:

Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009

Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline

Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

If you’re posting on Instagram but still wondering how couples are actually using it when they’re planning their wedding, you’re not alone.

In this episode, we break down how couples really interact with Instagram while venue shopping, what they’re looking for when they land on your profile, and why pretty photos alone aren’t enough anymore.

You’ll learn how Instagram fits into the wedding planning journey, what content builds trust, and how intentional DM conversations can help move couples from scrolling to scheduling a tour.

• How couples use Instagram for discovery, validation, and decision-making when choosing a wedding venue
• What types of posts and profile elements help couples feel confident reaching out
• Why DMs play a critical role in modern venue sales and how conversations start organically
• How to stop “throwing content at the wall” and start posting with purpose

**Use code BOOKED for 10% off the the Booked in the DMs Mini Course:

https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/templates-tools/p/booked-in-the-dms

Subscribe for new episodes:

https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe

Call and leave us your venue frustration:

(713) 367-1009

Submit your challenge online:

https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline

Kids on venue tours can turn a smooth, well-planned walkthrough into a juggling act of snacks, meltdowns, and distracted parents. If you’ve ever tried to explain pricing while a toddler runs laps around the reception hall, this episode is for you.

Today, we’re breaking down how to handle family-filled tours gracefully - from setting expectations before arrival to keeping the tour focused when little ones tag along, and how to refocus the couple afterward so you don’t lose your sales momentum. This is a must-listen for any wedding venue dealing with distracted tours or split attention.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to set clear, kind pre-tour expectations about bringing kids
• Practical strategies for adapting the tour when little ones come along
• Tips for managing focus, energy, and safety without overstepping
• How to follow up effectively after a chaotic or distracted tour

Helpful Links:

• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

Hiring for your wedding venue but not sure what fair compensation actually looks like? In this episode, we break down real numbers, sustainable pay structures, and the exact model that helps venues grow without burning out their team or blowing their payroll budget.

You’ll learn how to structure base salary + commission for both sales and operations, how to decide whether to start with part-time or full-time support, and the one role you should hire first if you’re only ready for one full-time team member.

These strategies will help wedding venues build a profitable, sustainable staffing plan that scales with bookings, not stress.

• How much to pay sales and operations roles at a growing venue
• Why base salary + commission is the most sustainable compensation model
• When to hire part-time vs. full-time—and which role comes first
• How separating sales and operations increases conversion and protects your team

• Venue Hiring & Team Success Toolkit: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/templates-tools/p/the-venue-hiring-team-success-toolkit
• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline?
• Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

You know that vague WeddingWire or Knot message that just says, “What does a wedding for 100 guests cost?” It’s one of the most common - and most frustrating - types of inquiries venues get.

In this episode of The Venue Helpline, we’re unpacking how to reply without oversharing, underpricing, or getting ghosted. Learn a simple 3-step framework to turn low-effort directory messages into real conversations that lead to tours and bookings.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why directory leads aren’t low-quality - they’re just low-context.
• How to use the Acknowledge, Anchor, Invite framework to spark replies.
• How to automate your response templates while keeping your voice human.
• What to track to see which versions of your reply actually get responses.

Helpful Links:

• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

Setting sales goals can feel like walking a tightrope - too rigid, and your team feels restricted; too loose, and there’s no accountability.

In this episode of The Venue Helpline, we tackle one of the biggest questions venue owners face: should you set monthly goals, quarterly goals, or just “book as many as possible”?

You’ll learn how to create data-driven targets, motivate your sales team with stretch goals, and design incentives that reward performance without creating pressure.

• How to set realistic, data-backed sales goals for your venue
• Why stretch goals keep high performers motivated (without burnout)
• The difference between “as many as possible” and measurable growth
• How to use incentives, commissions, and bonuses to drive results

• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

Your venue used to be the go-to spot. But lately, inquiries are slowing down, referrals are dropping, and you’re watching newer venues get all the buzz. Don't worry, this episode is for you!

We’re unpacking The RELEVANT Framework, a powerful way to understand why momentum fades and what it really takes to stay visible in today’s wedding market. You’ll learn how each part of the framework (Reputation, Experience, Look, Engagement, Visibility, Authority, Novelty, and Trust) plays a role in keeping your venue top-of-mind with couples and planners.

Plus, we’ll share how the new Lead Conversion Lab and Tour-to-Yes Success courses can help you improve the client experience and strengthen your relevance long-term.

• The real reason your venue might feel invisible - even when you’re doing “all the things”
• How The RELEVANT Framework helps you identify and fix blind spots in your marketing and client experience
• Why relevance, not reinvention, is the key to staying booked and referred
• How the Lead Conversion Lab and Tour-to-Yes Success courses help elevate your customer journey and rebuild momentum

• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Learn more about Venue Help Desk online courses: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/venueversity
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.

Getting ghosted on a venue tour is more than frustrating—it’s a major time-waster for busy venue owners.

In this episode of The Venue Helpline, we dig into why no-show tours are happening more often and how to prevent them. Learn how to tighten your confirmation system, build pre-tour buy-in, and protect your prime Saturday slots from vanishing into thin air.

• How to create a tour confirmation process that actually gets replies
• Simple ways to get couples emotionally invested before they arrive
• How to set clear, professional boundaries for cancellations and no-shows
• What to do with that wasted time when someone ghosts their appointment

• Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline#subscribe
• Call and leave us your venue frustration: (713) 367-1009
• Submit your challenge online: https://www.venuehelpdesk.com/thevenuehelpline
• Enjoying The Venue Helpline? Leave us a review or share this episode with a fellow venue owner.