The OpenWater Blog

Learning Series: Types of Events

The gala is the crowning gem of most awards programs. It’s the way you celebrate entrants, winners, and the industry you serve. However, there is no one correct way to throw an event. Instead, there are many different types of events you could throw depending on your unique audience and their preferences.

The type of event you select will affect various aspects of your awards gala celebration, including:

1. How attendees interact with each other;
2. What atmosphere will prevail; and
3. What the bottom line cost will be

Below, we discuss the four basic types of events, including:

1. Online;
2. Sit down dinner;
3. Cocktails; and
4. Ceremony only

to help you better determine which event will work best for your needs.

Online

An online awards gala is a new, novel idea and is quite unconventional. However, it’s easy and cheap to organize for programs that are experiencing a tight budget or are in their first few years of operation and need a way to throw a gala without the budget to do so.

If you don’t have to throw an online gala, you should stick to one of the other options.

Sit Down Dinner

Sit down dinner events are the formal, “tried and true” awards galas that likely come to mind when you think about the ceremony. Typically, communication is restricted to a single table, which can make it difficult for guests to interact with each other. Moreover, sit down dinners are the most expensive events, meaning you need a significant budget to throw one properly.

Cocktails

Cocktails can be formal, like sit down dinners, but come with a more relaxed atmosphere. If you want your gala to facilitate greater interaction between guests, a cocktail party is the way to go because it enables mingling and networking. Cocktails are also a great alternative to sit down dinners if you want a similar feel but are on a tighter budget.

Just a Ceremony

If you throw just a ceremony, it’s all about business. As you can imagine, this leaves little room for communication. And, while ceremonies are easy to orchestrate, rehearse, and budget for, it doesn’t provide an experience for attendees.

Which Type of Awards Gala Will You Throw?

The gala you throw affects attendee experience, organizational prestige, and reinforces the values your program stands for. As such, it’s important you choose your gala carefully from the options above in a way that makes sense both for your budget and your attendees.

Do you need help planning your gala? If so, download a free companion worksheet from Awards 101: The Missing Manual for Awards Professionals here.

Ashley Surinak

Ashley Surinak is the resident OpenWater expert on all things content. From the blog to guides and beyond, you'll find her at every turn in your OpenWater journey.

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