20 Ideas For Hosting a Memorable Award Ceremony
As Sally Fields famously said in her Oscar acceptance speech, “You like me, you really like me!” That sentiment is at the heart of all awards ceremonies: Receiving recognition for your hard work and contributions in a room full of your peers is not only emotional, but truly gratifying.
But not all award ceremonies can or should be as slick and glamorous as the Oscars. Whether you’re recognizing staff for their achievements, giving accolades to talented artists, or simply saying “thank you” to community members, let these 20 award ceremony ideas inspire you.
First thing’s first: What’s an award ceremony and why should you host one?
Before getting into specifics, it’s worth defining what an awards ceremony is. An awards ceremony is a formal-to-semi-formal event during which trophies are given to honor achievements in a particular field. They can be a stand-alone events, or part of a larger conference or summit, and are often compared to gala events.
Hosting an awards ceremony generates exposure for you and your clients in a number of ways. PR coverage through industry publications, direct contact with influencers, increased brand awareness, and the networking opportunities at the event itself. It also creates word of mouth buzz as those nominated and receive awards will naturally want to share through their own channels. It spreads the message organically and naturally, giving your clients and sponsors widespread coverage.
20 award ceremony ideas
Your guests have come for a show, so be sure to give them one. Simply reading out a long list of award winners’ names and watching as they have their photo taken can be a little tedious for non-winners. These award ceremony ideas explore how you can combine music, video, and light to create a real spectacle.
Awards ceremony idea #1: Skip the stage
If you’re working with a smaller number of guests, consider skipping the traditional stage set up. This allows for a more personal, and memorable experience. You can opt for a table at the center of the action, and add personal touches like place cards in lieu of name tags.
Awards ceremony idea #2: Bring in a visual artist
Keep guests talking with a large scale art piece or mural that ties the ceremony together. It can serve not only as a conversation piece but also as a prize for one lucky attendee or winner.
Awards ceremony idea #3: Make space and time for networking
Yes, honoring special guests is important, but many people attend award shows to mix and mingle. Tweak the layout of the reception, bars, and seating to provide more room for guests to maneuver and chat. Provide conversation starts to kick off their conversations!
Awards ceremony idea #4: Engage the crowd
It’s easy to lose attendees attention with the ubiquity of smartphones, so it’s important to keep everyone — especially those not nominated — engaged throughout. Award show specific trivia encourages audience participation, or if you want to go a more high tech route, try interactive zygote balls. Zygote balls change colors when they are touched and can also engage the audience by having them bounce throughout the crowd.
Awards ceremony idea #5: Add a festival component
Borrowing from popular festivals doesn’t have to mean bringing in live music. Consider this: What’s one detail your favorite festival executes well? Is it their unique location, or a special VIP area? Translate that element to your ceremony and venue for an impressive touch.
Awards ceremony idea #6: Try a new technology
From a VR component to “reflection mapping”, which uses mirrors, light, and sculptural form to dramatic effect, there are a lot of flashy options to wow attendees. If there’s been a new tech that’s caught your eye recently, try it out at your awards ceremony for an extra shot of pizzaz.
Awards ceremony idea #7: Keep the crowd guessing
If you plan to make your awards show annual, make sure to change things up every year. Whether you change the location, categories, or theme, try to keep it fresh. For example, one year TechCrunch’s Crunchies Awards allowed attendees to vote in a certain number of categories prior to the awards show.
Awards ceremony idea #8: Keep the stage clean
Don’t muddy up the stage with competing colors, signage, or anything that could distract attendees from the purpose of why they’re there: to honor the winners. If guests can’t see what’s happening on stage, you’ve already lost them. Use screens to keep the program accessible, and incorporate them in a way that grabs their eye and keeps it there.
Awards ceremony idea #9: Offer an award as a sponsorship opportunity
Bring in a sponsor who aligns with your goals and let them name an awards category that’s related to their brand. For example, if you’re honoring innovations in tech, teaming up with Squarespace, Slack, or any number of thought leaders in the tech industry has the added bonus of giving your award more legitimacy.
Awards ceremony idea #10: Livestream the show
Livestreaming an awards ceremony can be an event in and of itself, and a way to get guests unable to attend involved. Livestreaming is already a popular method for watching entertainment awards like the VMAs or the Oscars, and if you’re able to include hosts for separate livestreaming coverage and commentary, it becomes a different and more fun experience for viewers at home.
Awards ceremony idea #11: A special honor someone exceptional
While it’s always nice to get as many people involved as possible, consider a way to single out an individual. Whether it be with a Lifetime Achievement award or another special shout out, spend extra time shining the spotlight on someone who really deserves it.
Awards ceremony idea #12: Hire a comedian to host a roast
Comedians can poke fun at the many facets of working life — including awards ceremonies themselves. Look out specifically for someone who specializes in corporate gigs or who have experience in hosting to make sure your comedian doesn’t cross the line into the offensive.
Awards ceremony idea #13: Combine the awards show with another event
Whether it’s another event you plan to host or an established industry staple, combining your awards ceremony with another occasion can boost attendance rates. Since guests are already planning to go to the main attraction, attending your awards ceremony will be a no-brainer.
Awards ceremony idea #14: Hire a special keynote speaker
In addition to having a great host, awards ceremonies are excellent places to showcase unique speakers. Be sure to choose someone who represents your event brand and is recognizable to your guests.
Awards ceremony idea #15: Feed your guests
Remember how Melissa McCarthy snuck in extra sandwiches to the Oscars last year? Sometimes offering — or not offering — a meal is incentive enough to push guests over the edge. You can even theme your dinner to the awards show itself. For example, if you’re honoring the fitness industry, you’ll want to have healthy options.
Awards ceremony idea #16: Educate your audience
This one might not sound as splashy, but awards shows can teach their audience something they may not of known before. Dedicate a section of programming to highlight an important aspect of your industry, like the technical awards at the Oscars or Emmys. Or, use the opportunity to award someone for social impact to drive awareness and inspire action among attendees. It’s a chance to use your platform for something bigger.
Awards ceremony idea #17: Offer amazing swag, not just to the winners
Think about some cool, on brand swag bags to giveaway for all attendees. This will help connect guests to the event and raise brand awareness about your company.
Awards ceremony idea #18: Make entry into the awards show easy
Ensure those who wish to be considered for an award have an easy time with the submission process by streamlining it as much as possible. Start with your submission page, whether you have a fun explainer video or text, have the criteria for each category prominently displayed, and not hidden behind a drop-down menu.
Awards ceremony idea #19: Invest in real trophies
Formal pieces of paper look nice on a wall, but real trophies make super cool office decorations and can be a point of pride. Besides, what else are shelves for?
Awards ceremony idea #20: Roll out the red carpet — literally
Rent and roll out an actual red carpet to welcome all attendees or just the winners. Take it one step further and hire a photographer for “press” photos that people will love to post on social media.
Ready for your awards show?
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