Bring Down the House: 5 Tips for Hosting An Awards Ceremony

There's nothing sadder than a lame awards ceremony. It's the perfect contradiction in terms.

Some of the most prestigious events in the world involve giving awards. They're a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate achievements. But, you need to get it right.

That's why we've put together these five tips for hosting a proper awards ceremony.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Failure to establish a budget has sunk many an event, either in the early stages or (even worse) on the day.

As with many things, planning in advance will save your bacon. Take the time to front-load the heavy work into the planning stages. By spending more time going through the fine details while it's all conceptual, you'll speed up the process of making it a reality.

A thorough plan will establish your budget, your aims, your theme, the scale of the event, and so on. Be exhaustive!

Pick A Killer Venue

A shoddy venue can bring down even the most prestigious event. Your choice of venue says a lot about you, from the respect you have for your guests to your generosity.

And that's leaving aside the basic practicalities of a good venue like comfort and facilities.

Picking a great venue sets the tone for your event, so take the time to get it right. That doesn't mean you need to blow the budget on a venue, though. Depending on the nature of your award show, it could be more appropriate to book a venue for its fun factor or theme.

Avoid Sir Drones-A-Lot

There's nothing like a mumbler or a rambler to put a damper on your ceremony.

Finding confident public speakers can transform your ceremony from a painful, meandering affair to a polished celebration with respect for your guests' time.

Speaking in public with confidence is a rare gift, so don't be afraid to spend money on it and save yourself from embarrassment.

Shout It from the Rooftops

Awards don't mean much in themselves. They're given weight by their prestige, their audience, and the wow factor of the ceremony.

An invisible award ceremony doesn't do anyone any favours. So make sure to get your invites out early and take the time to market your event. The more attendees you reach, the more prestigious your ceremony - and the same goes for the calibre of guests you convince to join you.

Splash out on Prizes

Your guest list might bring prestige to your ceremony, but it will fall flat if the awards aren't up to scratch.

Save a good chunk of the budget for the awards themselves. You want your recipients to feel celebrated, so splash out on award worth their time.

If you want more practical awards, pair a cheaper trophy with excellent prizes to create a memorable gift.

And the Award for Best Awards Ceremony Goes To...

With these simple tips, you should be able to plan and deliver an awards ceremony capable of showing respect to your recipients. Get it right, and people will be talking about it for a long time to come.

Looking for more advice on how to give awards? Be sure to follow our blog.