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Learning Series: General Gala Overview

At the heart of any gala is the awards ceremony. It’s the reason most attendees come to your event and, as you can imagine, has many moving parts that dictate its success.

To create a successful awards ceremony, it’s important that you consider each of the “key ingredients” to ensure nothing is left to chance. But, what are each of these key ingredients? In this article, we’ll give a general overview of each so you know where to focus your attention as you get started.

10 “Key Ingredients” to Awards Ceremony Success

When you want to begin planning your awards ceremony, there are countless factors you could consider. And, while 10 still sounds like a lot, each plays an integral role in the comprehensive success of the event.

These key ingredients include:

1. 1. Voice scripts – Script the wording of your awards ceremony, leaving some room for impromptu engagement.
   2. Instructions to awardees – Create a smooth flow and operation by telling awardees where they will enter and exit the stage, where to look for photos, and other stage-specific considerations.
   3. Keynote Presenters – Keynote speakers break up the awards ceremony and can add meaningful content to your ceremony.
   4. Seating – You must consider whether you’ll have auditorium seating or sit-down arrangements, both of which affect attendee interaction differently.
   5. Audio/Video – You’ll have some creative influence over the A/V arrangements at your event, although you’ll likely leave the execution to a professional company.
   6. Venue – The right location can significantly affect the outcome of your gala. Some factors you should consider include size, location, amenities, and ambiance.
   7. Types of Recognition – Are you going to hand out trophies, plaques, certificates, medals, or ribbons?
   8. Who You Invite – Finalists, judges, friends and family of the finalists, and sponsors are all individuals you may choose to invite to the awards ceremony.
   9. Staff Needs – You’ll need staff members to market your gala, make arrangements with catering companies, check tickets, and observe the budget. Make sure you allocate time accordingly.
   10. Gala Advertising – While most marketing is focused on the front-end of your awards program, you’ll still advertise your gala as well. You should advertise to your participants and others you feel would be interested in being a part of the celebration to generate more interest in your organization.

Want to Learn All of the Key Ingredients for Your Ceremony?

While the 10 ingredients above are a great place to get started with your ceremony, they aren’t an exclusive list.

Download our companion worksheet and learn the other 7 ingredients you should know with Awards 101: The Missing Manual for Awards Professionals!

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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