How do I review an event planner’s cancellation and postponement history?

Begin by asking the seller for a log of cancelled and postponed events, covering the date of the booking, the date it changed, the reason and the money involved. Match each entry to the signed contract and the financial records. Did the deposit stay, get refunded in part, or get credited to a new date? Who decided?

Look for patterns. Do the problems come from one kind of client, such as large corporate events, or one season? Are some were caused by suppliers or venues letting the planner down? A string of postponements with the same reason may point to something fixable, or to something that is not.

Ask what the contract says about cancellation and how often it has been enforced. Check whether postponed events have turned up in later months, because moved events can make revenue look better than it is. Your lawyer can review the standard contract, and your accountant can tell you how deposits are recorded. Finally, speak with a few past clients, including one whose event moved. Their account of how the planner handled the change tells you about service and about disputes that never reached the books.

Key takeaways

• Request a full log of cancelled and postponed events with reasons and money outcomes.
• Match each entry to the signed contract and the books.
• Look for patterns by client type, season and supplier.
• Speak with a client whose event was moved or cancelled.