Pre-Event Preparation and Setup
Pre-event preparation and setup involves conducting a walkthrough. A walkthrough is a viewing or physical tour of a given site or facility. A service professional team conducts a walkthrough prior to an event. The coat check captain performs a coat check walkthrough to determine the coat check layout.
Best Practices for Conducting a Coat Check Walkthrough
1.Before the Walkthrough
Bring all necessary documentation (e.g., BEOs, floor plans).
2.During the Walkthrough
Walk through the relevant area, visualizing the event flow in terms of the influx of guests arriving and guests departing. Remain aware of:
The location of the BOH and FOH facilities and equipment
The location of BOH and FOH entry points and exit points
The coat check layout (whether coat check closets or rooms, built coat check areas, sectioned coat check areas, or aisle coat checks)
As with any setup, the coat check captain must ensure:
All safety regulations and protocols are in place
There is clear access to pathways, walkways, and stairways
There are clear paths between the BOH, FOH, and other areas
There is clear access to BOH and FOH facilities and equipment for the culinary team and the service professional team
The coat check has clear entry points for guests, exit points for guests, and (if applicable) divisions between coat check staff interacting with guests to accept and return belongings and staff locating belongings out of guests’ view
The coat check has designated areas for equipment
3.After the Walkthrough
After completing the walkthrough, update any necessary documentation (if applicable) and use the rental list to begin to review, verify, and organize equipment and inventory.