About Chicago
Located right on Lake Michigan in Illinois, Chicago is one of the largest cities in America and has plenty to see and do. Chicago is well known for its stunning skyscrapers and architecture, including what was once the tallest building in the world, the former SEARS Tower. Also known as the windy city, Chicago is a well-developed city with interesting sites and a ton of history to explore.
The weather in Chicago is quite nice most of the year, except for the wind, which is a constant, hence the nickname. One thing to be concerned about is the winters that often hit the great lake states. If you’re looking for an interview venue in the winter, better make sure you pick one that’s easy to get to and fully indoors.
Interview Venue Options in Chicago
Setting up for an interview takes more than finding the right interview venue. You have to make sure you have all the production equipment you need and that your interview guests are well taken care of, including getting to the interview and staying well fed and happy. These types of accommodations are a lot of work to put together and it can feel overwhelming trying to manage it all.
- Recording Equipment
One of the most important parts of the interview is not just the guests, but making sure that the interview gets recorded. You can’t rely on the interview venue to have what you need and you don’t want to use sub-par equipment either. That’s why renting your own recording equipment is the safe choice. You’ll have what you need without having to worry about the quality of the recording that you make.
- Transportation
Depending on how familiar you are with the location and the number of participants in your interviews, it can be difficult to make sure that everyone gets where they need to be on time. That’s when hiring a private company to handle transportation can save the day. Since having everyone drive themselves and relying on public transit is not usually feasible, this is a smart way to ensure that everyone can get around without a problem. This is particularly important if you have attendees coming from out of town.
- Catering
Having food available for your interview guests and staff is only logical. Everyone gets hungry and keeping people fed is a way to keep everyone happy and productive, not to mention you don’t want growling stomachs in the middle of an interview. Bringing in catering is the right call. Whether it’s sandwiches and sides or a full meal with all the trimmings, a local caterer can feed as many people as necessary and do so with great food.
Interview Venue Companies in Chicago
Once you’ve narrowed down your Chicago interview venue, begin planning how to organize it.
- Second City Sound
When you’re holding an interview, the last thing you want is to have the recording be of poor quality. It is important to find the right gear you need to produce a high-end interview that not only you, but the interviewees can be proud of. Second City Sound has all the recording, AV, and technical equipment you need to make sure your interview is as professional and well put together as you want it to be. Gerry Formicola and the team have decades of experience backing their knowledge up.
- RB Private Transportation
The most important rule about doing interviews is making sure that the person or persons you’re interviewing don’t get lost on the way to the interview. Since it’s not easy to get around most cities and if you’re new it’s even more difficult, having private transportation is a solid choice. RB Private Transportation handles all your personal transportation needs in style with everything from town cars to limousines. Over 1,000,000 miles logged and 9,000 customers mean excellent service every day.
- Fanfares Catering Service
Making sure everyone gets fed is an important part of the process of putting together an interview. You don’t want to just have coffee and donuts if your interview is going to take a while. Hiring a caterer to have food trays or meals available will make everyone happy. Featured in The Catering Times magazine, Fanfares Catering Service has the experience you need to handle any type of event large or small. The team at Fanfares treats every client with special care, so you won’t have to worry about quality or professionalism.
Pros and Cons of Interview Venues in Chicago
Chicago is a big city with a ton of stunning architecture, plenty of sights, nature, and even sports teams and nightlife if that’s what you’re into. Many people love living there for the sheer variety of everything that it has to offer. As great as it is though, Chicago does have its share of downsides like every city does.
Advantages
- Seasons
Chicago is one of the few cities that generally experiences all 4 seasons. This means if you like spring or you’re a fan of the changing of the leaves in autumn, you can see all of it in one place and enjoy it for as long as it lasts.
- Public Transit
For such a large city Chicago has an excellent public transit system. This may be in part to the way the city was built, but it’s quite easy to hop on the train to get where you need to go and you don’t have to worry about trying to drive or the weather.
- Vendor Selection
An interview venue in Chicago will be well-equipped thanks to the abundance of talented vendors in Chicago. From florists to photographers, there is no shortage of anything.
Disadvantages
- Traffic
While the public transportation system may be good, if you do choose to drive in Chicago, you need to add extra time to your day. Like most major cities, Chicago has an issue with the congestion of vehicles on the road no matter where you travel.
- Winter weather
Chicago may have great seasons for you to experience, that doesn’t mean that mother nature always cooperates. When winter decides to hit Chicago, it hits hard, and when spring showers decide to come, they bring floods. Be sure to check the forecast before planning anything outdoors after your interview.
- Cost of living
Perhaps partly due to how well developed the city is, Chicago boasts a higher than average cost of living. This is something you’ll need to take into account before you book your interview venue so that you don’t go over budget.
Famous Locations in Chicago
- Art Institute of Chicago
If you’re interested in a bit of history and art combined, then the Art Institute of Chicago is the place for you to go. The building itself is over 100 years old and features exhibits from the likes of Monet. The entire institute is massive and features every type of art you can think of, so there’s sure to be something that meets your fancy.
- Millennium Park
If you’re a fan of nature, then you have to see Chicago’s Millennium Park. Featuring a garden, fountain and outdoor concert venue, the park is a great place to explore nature or to take in an event when you want something a bit more exciting to do.
- Navy Pier
Have you ever thought about visiting a shipping pier? Well, you should. In fact, Chicago’s Navy Pier is part amusement park and part shipping port and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. You’ll find tons to see and explore in the city with sights around every corner.