"Weather" or Not

By this time of year in Milwaukee, we’ve usually had several sunny days of temps in the mid-70s. Not this year! When I woke up this morning it was gray, rainy, and 55 degrees, and I couldn’t help wondering how this weather would affect outdoor events happening today.

Milwaukee is known for its incredibly short Festival season which spans from June through September; multiple events happen back to back nearly every day of the week.

Our winters are tough; this year was no exception with several days of polar vortex fronts causing temperatures to plummet to around -40 degrees. If anyone is ready for some sunny warm weather, it’s Milwaukeeans!

Out Of Control

For someone who produces mainly outdoor events, weather is always top of mind; ironically it is also the one thing that cannot be controlled. The steps, expenses, and time leading up to actual event days never change and event producers can lose significant amount of money if the weather takes a dive.

Large events sometimes have their own meteorologist right on site to help stay on top of ever changing weather patterns. Decisions to delay the start of an act or move people inside quickly can be instrumental to the overall success of that event.

Insurance vs. Assurance

Weather insurance is available for events, but there are pros and cons to buying it. Sometimes the cost of weather insurance makes it prohibitive for a small nonprofit to purchase. Simultaneously, it is the small nonprofit that needs it the most!

Type “weather insurance” into Google and full pages of paid ads by insurance companies that sell it will pop onto your screen. It’s big business! The cost is based on the statistical probability that the adverse weather will occur at your exact location on the exact date and time of day of your event based on historical weather data and the total amount of expected revenue that you would like insured.

Right now the average cost for weather insurance is around 2-3% of the entire cost of your event. With recent changes in weather patterns across the world, event organizers can expect to see those costs increase to as much as 10% or more.

Just how does weather insurance pay out? Gray, cold and overcast with small, brief rain showers here and there, albeit annoying, may not convince an insurance company that “adverse weather” was a factor for a pay-out. Read the policy very carefully. Sometimes a quarter-inch of rain reported by your nearest National Weather Service office is just enough to cause lower attendance than usual resulting in lost sales which can trigger the insurance to kick in.

While all this talk about weather insurance may have actually just confused you, as an outdoor event producer who has to worry about everything from terrorism, to performer no-shows, to contractor negligence, and every other unexpected occurrence, weather insurance might be one purchase that will help alleviate your existing long list of worries.

Rain Or Shine

In the meantime, even when the weather isn’t ideal, get on out to support that local event you’ve been planning to attend.