Gearing Up For A Professional Awards Banquet?

It's nearly that time of year again...the time when businesses

, clubs and professional organizations celebrate another successful year. Whether you're planning an event to distribute well-earned awards, to celebrate past leadership and welcome new leadership, or to celebrate another successful year or season, here are some tips for making your annual banquet the best ever.

1. Start planning early.

Haven't we all been to an annual banquet that was so haphazard, it looked as though it had been thrown together at the last minute? The earlier you begin planning an event like this, the greater your chances of total success. Remember, it takes time to have awards engraved, to order items of recognition, to arrange for presenters and to send out invitations, so it pays to start planning early.

How early you need to start planning depends on the size and scope of your event. A small, casual gathering with 20 or fewer participants may only a month's notice to begin planning, while a larger scale or more elaborate event may take several months.

2. Don't get too hung up on "how we usually do it"

With established clubs and organizations, it's easy to fall into a rut especially where the annual banquet is concerned. While you're certainly want to maintain any long-standing traditions or important points held by the club, don't feel as though you need to create a carbon copy of last year, where only the names have changed. Be creative and think outside the norm. Your guests will appreciate the variety.

3. Add some visual drama

The easiest way to incorporate this is with a rental projector and a digital slide show. You can include photos, video, graphics whatever images would be most appreciated in keeping with the theme and purpose of the event.

For example, you might want to include photographs of the award winners, you could have a "guess who's baby picture" contest, or you could include photos from last year's awards banquet.

Additional visual drama can be incorporated with flowers for centerpieces, or fun favors for guests. Inexpensive favors are usually appreciated when they are useful (like office supplies or household items such as candles), treasured as a keepsake (like a framed photo or recognition pin), or clever (in keeping with the club's or event's theme). Don't be afraid to add color, music, style and pizzazz -- use your imagination! The possibilities are endless.

by: Andy Grant

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