Blog

Exiting an Event Hosting Service

Being with an event hosting service is not always a long-term commitment. Sometimes, a change in your event’s circumstances means it makes the most sense to move on and find a new service. While we have covered event services and your finances on this blog before, that is not the only factor to keep in mind when initially choosing a service. As a race director, you should also consider your exit strategy should you desire to no longer use the event hosting service.

How easy is it to leave a service? That largely depends on which service you opted to use to begin with. This is why initial research is key. Can you move your event elsewhere with a simple email or phone call? Does the event service allow you to simply “shut off” your subsite with them and move on, or do they create hoops for you to jump through? If migrating to another platform is a challenge, it may be in your best interest to keep shopping. The last thing you want is to be locked in to a hosting service that is not providing what you need.

This leads into the next point: contracts. A good event hosting service will not require a race director to sign any legal documentation that attaches them to the service for a period of time. If the service you are using has sent you a contract, read it closely—make sure you are not relinquishing any rights to the event or tying yourself down for an extended period of time.

As the race director, you should be the final word when it comes to hosting your event. While event planning services may have valuable resources and advice regarding the logistics of your event, they should not be designed to entrap you. Good event hosting platforms are built with race directors in mind, aiming to help them achieve their goals over anything else.