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Portable Church Venue Choice | What To Look For In A School Part Four
January 25, 2016

Today, we continue our discussion of using a school as the venue for your portable church. When you are renting an environment, you don’t always have complete control. In the case of using a school, there may be certain policies and procedures that need to be followed, as well as school board rules that may prohibit or limit what you can do within the space. It is important that you know what all of these rules are ahead of time so that you don’t run the risk of negatively impacting your (and other future church’s) relationship with the school. However, we’ve found there is always a way to work within the rules and policies and still be able to launch a successful portable church. Let’s discuss some of the areas where you need to determine your level of control:

What kind of control will you have?

Lighting and Electricity – Don’t be caught off guard on this one! Will your team have control of the lighting and electricity on Sunday? There are many schools that shut off the power over weekends or holidays. You want to know that the lights, heating, and water are going to be on when you walk in the building early on a Sunday morning. You’ll also want to find out in advance what to do in those emergency situations when you show up to one of these not working!

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Equipment Installation – There are pros and cons to installing gear at your venue, but if you are able to create a long-term contract with the school, find out if they will they will allow you to install some of your equipment or gear. If they do allow for installation, consider any potential downfalls. When in doubt, let us know what your scenario is and we can help you process, too!

What To Look For In A School Part Four

Signage – Will the city allow you to place outdoor signs by the building and on the streets? This is a big question to ask and each city has their own rules. We’ve seen some churches get a large sign that covers the outdoor school sign. This helps with branding and recognition, but this may need to be cleared by the school as well. Also, you need to consider if you can easily direct visitors with signs placed throughout the school. Tight hallways with drywalled ceilings make it tough to do signs well. Remember, the cost of signage adds up; the more you need, the higher your costs will be. Also, remember being buried in a neighborhood often demands a bigger need for signage.

That’s it for this week! What are some of the things you’ve encountered that churches should consider? Tell us below in the comments.

To learn more about what to look for in a venue, check out these posts: 

Does the school have the space that you need?

More Location Considerations

Does the school have the resources and equipment you need?

Availability and Accessibility