What to Expect at an Award Ceremony
Principal Consultant, Boost Awards
The time has come – after months of planning, collating info, crafting your written submission and maybe even presenting to a panel of judges…it all leads up to the big day – the award ceremony! So, what can you expect at the event? Glitz? Glamour? Dad-dancing at the post-show disco? These come as standard! But to help you navigate through what else you can expect, here’s a few insights:
What will happen on the night?
Most award ceremonies tend to be split up into four key sections:
- Drinks reception – a chance to socialise and network around the bar ahead of being seated.
- Dinner – a three or four-course meal, with tables usually consisting of 10 or 12 guests.
- Award presentations – what you’ve all been waiting for!
- Post-show bar and entertainment – usually the likes of a disco or casino (don’t worry, there’s no risk of losing your house, as they usually use ‘fun’ money rather than hard cash).
Managing Consultant, Boost Awards
The time has come – after months of planning, collating info, crafting your written submission and maybe even presenting to a panel of judges…it all leads up to the big day – the award ceremony! So, what can you expect at the event? Glitz? Glamour? Dad-dancing at the post-show disco? These come as standard! But to help you navigate through what else you can expect, here’s a few insights:
What will happen on the night?
Most award ceremonies tend to be split up into four key sections:
- Drinks reception – a chance to socialise and network around the bar ahead of being seated.
- Dinner – a three or four-course meal, with tables usually consisting of 10 or 12 guests.
- Award presentations – what you’ve all been waiting for!
- Post-show bar and entertainment – usually the likes of a disco or casino (don’t worry, there’s no risk of losing your house, as they usually use ‘fun’ money rather than hard cash).
Will I have to give a speech?
For those lucky enough to collect a trophy on stage, sadly it’s unlikely you’ll get the chance to give a speech thanking your colleagues and family for believing in you – it’s not the Oscars! Due to time constraints, it’s usually just a quick handshake with the compere and sponsor, a photo, and then back off to your table while you take in the enormity of having just met Kriss Akabusi in the flesh (sorry, I mean ‘take in the enormity of winning’!).
It is, however, becoming increasingly common for award organisers to do post-stage interviews, whereby, once you’ve come off stage you then get whisked aside to a separate room where you’re asked to give a speech to camera, which will ultimately be posted on the awards website.
A few final top tips for awards ceremonies
- Take plenty of business cards and make sure you network. At the largest of these events they’ll likely be up to 1,500 people in attendance, so it’s a great chance to connect with people that could become valuable contacts. Keep an eye out for the seating plan, as that will show you who is in attendance – and crucially, where they’re sat!
- Bring some cash. Most awards will feature a charity collection or raffle mid-way through dinner, with an envelope on the table for donations.
- Make sure you catch the eye of the photographer. They’ll usually be a one walking around taking photos throughout the course of the event, and it’s a great opportunity to get a professional group photo of your team.
- Remember to chase up the organisers for copies of your photos in the weeks following the event. Some organisers will send you relevant photos as a matter of course, but often you’ll need to give them a nudge, and don’t be surprised if there’s a small fee required to get copies of them.
- Above all, support and respect your fellow nominees. Whether you win or lose, be gracious and sporting, and remember that there’s always next year!
- And lastly, don’t get too boozed up, and avoid piling canapés into your handbags and jackets for a midnight snack later.
“I would like to thank all of my team at the nursery for believing in me.”
“I would like to thank all of my team at the nursery for believing in me.”
Will I have to give a speech?
For those lucky enough to collect a trophy on stage, sadly it’s unlikely you’ll get the chance to give a speech thanking your colleagues and family for believing in you – it’s not the Oscars! Due to time constraints, it’s usually just a quick handshake with the compere and sponsor, a photo, and then back off to your table while you take in the enormity of having just met Kriss Akabusi in the flesh (sorry, I mean ‘take in the enormity of winning’!).
It is, however, becoming increasingly common for award organisers to do post-stage interviews, whereby, once you’ve come off stage you then get whisked aside to a separate room where you’re asked to give a speech to camera, which will ultimately be posted on the awards website.
A few final top tips for awards ceremonies
- Take plenty of business cards and make sure you network. At the largest of these events they’ll likely be up to 1,500 people in attendance, so it’s a great chance to connect with people that could become valuable contacts. Keep an eye out for the seating plan, as that will show you who is in attendance – and crucially, where they’re sat!
- Bring some cash. Most awards will feature a charity collection or raffle mid-way through dinner, with an envelope on the table for donations.
- Make sure you catch the eye of the photographer. They’ll usually be a one walking around taking photos throughout the course of the event, and it’s a great opportunity to get a professional group photo of your team.
- Remember to chase up the organisers for copies of your photos in the weeks following the event. Some organisers will send you relevant photos as a matter of course, but often you’ll need to give them a nudge, and don’t be surprised if there’s a small fee required to get copies of them.
- Above all, support and respect your fellow nominees. Whether you win or lose, be gracious and sporting, and remember that there’s always next year!
- And lastly, don’t get too boozed up, and avoid piling canapés into your handbags and jackets for a midnight snack later.
So, there you have it, everything you need to know about the world of award ceremonies!
If you fancy becoming one of the elite who succeeds at taking home a trophy at events like these, please don’t hesitate to contact our team here at Boost Awards – with over 2,000 wins under our belt, we’re in the perfect position to help.
Tel: 01273 258703 Email: info@boost-awards.co.uk.
So, there you have it, everything you need to know about the world of award ceremonies!
If you fancy becoming one of the elite who succeeds at taking home a trophy at events like these, please don’t hesitate to contact our team here at Boost Marketing – with over 2,000 wins under our belt, we’re in the perfect position to help.
Tel: 01273 258703 Email: info@boost-awards.co.uk.
