Catering an event is a stressful and difficult job. The more experience the catering company you choose has, the more you can relax when it comes to planning your event. Here are some reasons why you should ask how long a catering company has been in business before hiring them!
Dealing with Different Party Sizes
The size of the party can make all of the difference when it comes to catering an event. Larger parties require more catering staff on deck to make sure that time from kitchen to plate to guest is as short as possible. A big problem that many newer catering companies run into is not having experience with the logistics of very large events and therefore not knowing how to strategize for dealing with the high demand.
If you’re planning an event that will have a guest list that includes hundreds of people, you may want to consider going with a company that has been in business longer and that has catered bigger parties before. While a newer company might feel ready to tackle a large party on paper, there’s a pretty big difference between thinking you’ll be able to pull it off and actuallybeing able to accomplish it.
Working with Different Venues
There are so many different types of venues that caterers have to work with these days, from your traditional banquet hall to loft-style rooms and refurnished warehouses and barns. Different venues come with different amenities. For example, some have commercial kitchens on site, while others don’t. The more experience your catering company has dealing with different types of venues, the easier it will be for them to quickly adapt to the venue that you have chosen. They will be able to know what additional equipment, rentals, and staging might be needed to pull off your perfect event.
A company that’s been in business for several years is likely to have worked at most of the bigger venues in the city, while also having extensive experience working in any type of environment. While working with a company that doesn’t have much experience with unique or unusual venues isn’t a hurdle you can’t overcome, it’s important to sit down with your caterer and make sure they have a thorough plan for working with your venue.
Problem Shooting
There are a lot of things that can go wrong on the day of the event. Everything has to be finely orchestrated, and the smallest error can snowball into larger, more serious problems if not handled correctly. This is where experience becomes truly invaluable.
A seasoned catering company has seen it all; its staff members have weathered all kinds of last-minute problems and have become pros at handling any issues quietly and efficiently, so that nothing gets out of hand. A company that hasn’t been in business for very long won’t have as much experience with day-of disasters and this can spell big trouble if they’re not equipped to deal with any and all challenges that may arise.
Testimonials and Referrals
Finally, testimonials and references are one of the most invaluable resources you have when booking a catering company. Having solid examples of past performances alongside examples of previous dishes served can help ensure you’re hiring the right company. The longer a company has been in business, the more testimonials you’ll have at your fingertips as you begin your research. The internet can be an invaluable resource for information from past clients and fellow vendors.
Reading through testimonials, and not just those on the company’s website, can give you real insight into how they actually will perform on event day. Therefore, going with a company that has scant referrals or testimonials can represent a big risk; you can’t corroborate their promises with the experiences of previous clients. Testimonials don’t always corroborate either; with companies that have been in business longer, you’re more likely to catch any problems beforehand through testimonials that speak to issues clients have had in the past.
