Event Setup Tips to Minimize Long Lines at the Porta-Potties

Photo courtesy Mark Williams, Purple Potties

Before portable restroom operators seal the deal on event rentals, there’s back-and-forth about the number and types of units. The right mix and quantity ensure that a venue can meet demand. But it doesn’t necessarily reduce queues. Equipping clients and staff with best practices can improve customer satisfaction and guest experiences. Use these event setup tips to minimize long lines at the porta-potties.

Establish Site Placement Guidelines

At a minimum, provide customers with basic information about unit placement, explaining requirements for access and spacing. A simple bulleted list will do. Or, add a diagram to help event organizers visualize the event setup for toilets and accessories. Turn your guidelines into digital and physical assets so they’re accessible to new and current customers.

For example, you can format a list and diagram as a PDF file to share via email and create an image to send via text. Update your website with event setup tips and site placement guidelines, such as FAQ questions and blog posts. The earlier you can bring attention to the fact that setting up portable toilets correctly can reduce long lines, the easier it will make future conversations and actual site placement.

Discuss Event Setup with Customers

A meeting to estimate toilet and sink rentals can also be a great time to talk about site layout and traffic flow. Crowd size, timelines, and event type help you determine how many units are needed, while having a site map or doing a walkthrough provides further insights. The latter can highlight potential bottlenecks near high-traffic areas, where guests gather under shade or near water. For example, at large events, it often makes sense to put sinks outside of the portable toilets or separate men’s and women’s units when possible. You can suggest upsells or add-ons, from standalone sanitizer stations to solar walkway lighting, and demonstrate how the accessory helps event attendees get to the restrooms faster and safely.

Train Staff on Event Setup Tips and Best Practices

Even when everything is a go, drivers can run into issues on the day of the event. Equip them with information to give the event organizer, from site placement requirements to tips for spacing units. Make sure your staff understands the basic concepts for keeping restrooms accessible and lines short. A tip card in their wallet or saved to their phone can help them remember the guidelines.

Aside from your best recommendations for executing events, remind teams to:

• Place clusters of portable restroom units about every 150 to 200 feet throughout the venue
• Provide enough units to handle heavy use near exits and entrances, but ensure the lines won’t block walkways
• Establish zones about 75 feet away from food vendors and beer gardens, allowing for convenience without congestion

Minimize Long Lines by Educating Customers

A successful event begins long before a client contacts your portable restroom business. Educate customers and help guide them toward event setups that fit their vision without causing unnecessary delays at the restrooms. A proactive approach can streamline delivery and lead to happier event attendees, benefiting your business.

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