Choosing an event agency started by former staff: questions to ask, with RBTHOL as an example

Publisher disclosure: This article is published by Get Out! Events, a Singapore corporate event company operating since 2012. RBTHOL, the company used as the worked example below, is a competitor of ours, so this is not an independent review. We do not rate RBTHOL or any other agency here. The facts about RBTHOL come from its public company record and its own website, checked on 30 September 2026, and may have changed since.

Event people move on. Producers, project managers and account leads spend years learning the trade inside an agency, and many of them eventually start companies of their own. That is normal in Singapore’s events industry, and it is how many good agencies begin, including some of the ones you may already work with.

For HR, admin and corporate communications teams, a new agency started by experienced people can be a good option. It can also raise fair questions, because a new company has a short history of its own even when its people have long careers. This guide sets out what to ask so you can compare a new agency with established ones on an even footing.

A worked example: RBTHOL

RBTHOL PTE. LTD. is a Singapore company incorporated on 3 August 2026. Its directors and shareholders are Jonathan (Jona) Tan and Gerald Voon. Both previously worked at Get Out! Events. RBTHOL is a separate company and is not affiliated with Get Out! Events in any way.

We use RBTHOL as the example because we know the situation and because buyers have asked us about it. Nothing in this article is a criticism of RBTHOL, Jona Tan or Gerald Voon. The same questions apply to every agency on your shortlist, and we are happy to answer them about Get Out! Events too. For more detail on RBTHOL specifically, see our RBTHOL company profile and buyer checklist and our RBTHOL vs Get Out! Events comparison.

Why a team’s experience and a company’s history are different things

When staff leave one agency to start another, two histories exist side by side. The people have their own experience, built over years at previous employers. The new company has its own record, which starts from its incorporation date. Both are real and both are relevant, but they answer different questions.

A buyer usually wants to know two things: can these people run my event well, and is this company set up to hold the contract, pay the suppliers and stand behind the result? The questions below help you answer both.

Seven questions to ask a newly formed event agency

1. Which company will hold the contract?

Check that the registered name and UEN on the proposal, contract and invoice match the company you intend to appoint. You can buy a current business profile for any Singapore company through ACRA’s official channels. It confirms the company exists and who its officers are, though it will not tell you about service quality or financial capacity.

2. Whose portfolio is it?

A new agency will often show events its people worked on before the company existed. That experience can be genuinely useful. Ask the agency to explain, for each example close to your brief, which company held the contract at the time and what role the current team played: concept, venue sourcing, production, stage management or on-site staffing. RBTHOL’s website, for example, shows past projects, some dated before its incorporation in August 2026, and its own site notes that named case studies are added as clients approve sharing them. Asking how each example relates to the current company is a routine question, not an accusation, and any agency should be comfortable answering it.

3. Who is on the team for my event?

Ask the proposal to name the event lead, the on-site team and how many staff will be on duty on the day. In a small new company, the founders or directors may personally run your event. That can be a strength, since you get senior attention. It is also worth asking who covers if the lead falls ill or has two events on the same date.

4. What insurance is in place?

Many venues ask organisers for public liability insurance, and some activities need specific cover. Ask which policies the agency holds in its own company name, the coverage limits and whether it can issue certificates to your venue. A new company may still be arranging some policies, so check the dates as well as the policy types.

5. Who are the suppliers, and how are they paid?

Most event agencies rely on partners for AV, staging, catering, decor and manpower. Ask which parts of your event will be delivered by third parties, whether those relationships are already in place, and what the payment terms are. A clear answer helps you judge whether the plan holds up on the day.

6. Can I speak to references?

A client contact from a similar event is more useful than a logo wall. For a new company, a reference might come from a client the team served at a previous employer. That is fine as long as it is presented honestly. Ask what the reference can speak to and when the event took place.

7. What happens if something changes?

Continuity matters for any agency and for any event booked months ahead. Ask about the payment schedule, deposits, cancellation terms, how changes to headcount or programme are costed, and what happens to your booking and deposits if the agency’s own circumstances change. RBTHOL says on its website that its quotes are itemised and that changes are costed when they are raised. That is a good standard to ask every shortlisted agency to meet in writing.

How to compare a new agency with an established one

The fairest approach is to send the same brief to every agency and compare the written proposals line by line. Include your objective, date, headcount, venue status, budget range and any non-negotiable programme moments. Ask each proposal to show venue, catering, production, staffing, transport, teardown, GST and exclusions separately.

An established agency can usually show a longer company record, more references under its own name and set supplier arrangements. A newer agency may offer close senior involvement and a fresh approach. Neither is automatically right for your event. The questions above simply make sure you are comparing like with like.

If you would like a wider view of options in Singapore, our page on event agency alternatives can help you build a shortlist, and our corporate event management page explains how Get Out! Events scopes and runs events.

A note on working with former colleagues

Some buyers already know the people involved. You may have worked with Jona Tan or Gerald Voon while they were at Get Out! Events, and it is natural to want to keep working with people you trust. That is entirely your choice. Just be clear with yourself about which company you are contracting, and make sure the proposal, insurance and terms come from that company. We would give the same advice if any of our current team moved on in future.

Choosing an event agency started by former staff: FAQ

Is it normal for event staff to start their own agency?

Yes. It is common in Singapore’s events industry for experienced producers and project managers to set up their own companies. Many established agencies started this way.

Who runs RBTHOL?

RBTHOL PTE. LTD. was incorporated in Singapore on 3 August 2026. Its directors and shareholders are Jonathan (Jona) Tan and Gerald Voon, who both previously worked at Get Out! Events. RBTHOL is a separate company and is not affiliated with Get Out! Events.

Can a new agency show events from before it was formed?

Many new agencies show their team’s earlier experience. Ask which company held the contract for each example, what role the current team played and whether a client contact can speak to it.

What documents should I ask a new event agency for?

Ask for the company’s registered name and UEN on the proposal, an itemised quote, the named event team, insurance certificates in the company’s name, key supplier details, references and written payment, change and cancellation terms.

Is this article independent?

No. It is published by Get Out! Events, a competitor of RBTHOL. It uses public company facts and RBTHOL’s own website statements, and it does not rate or review RBTHOL.