There’s just something about awards season that tugs on the heartstrings — the glitz, the glam, the amazing speeches…
Even though most people won’t score an invite to this year’s Academy Awards or the Golden Globes, there are loads of innovative, quirky, and fun awards ceremonies you can create.
At Eventbrite, we support organizations worldwide creating weird and wonderful award ceremonies for their communities, companies, industries, and friends.
Read on to get pro tips on how to engage award ceremony audiences, incorporate technology into your awards nights, and integrate cool award ceremony themes to make your award ceremony worthy of an Oscar.
Award ceremony ideas and tips
Awards night ideas to engage your audience
Ideas to incorporate technology into your award function
Ideas to spice up your award ceremonies
What is an award ceremony?
An awards ceremony is a formal-to-semi-formal event honoring achievements in a particular field. They can be stand-alone events or part of a conference or summit and are often compared to gala events.
Award ceremonies can cover various categories, including:
- Medicine
- Finance
- The fine arts
- Music
- Community engagement
- Sports
Generally, each award ceremony includes a range of award nominees — and you can hand out individual awards praising people’s efforts.
Normally this will be done through different award categories. For example, let’s say you’re hosting an award ceremony for a scientific body. You might create a category for most outstanding achievements, a category for amazing acts of service to the industry, or best new discoveries.
Why should you host an award ceremony?
An award ceremony is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the everyday heroes and individuals that often go unnoticed.
Research shows that recognizing and celebrating someone’s achievements can have a huge impact on morale. Hosting award ceremonies makes people within your community feel valued.
By setting up an award ceremony, event organizers are able to:
- Generate brand exposure through PR coverage and industry publications
- Create direct contact with influencers
- Build networking opportunities to expand your business
- Create word-of-mouth buzz as those nominated and receiving awards naturally want to share through their channels
- Spreads the message organically and naturally, giving clients and sponsors widespread coverage
- Support the communities you’re passionate about
With such a wide range of benefits, the decision to host an award ceremony is a no-brainer for event organizers. Not only is it good for business, but it’s a job you can be proud of.
Awards night ideas to engage your audience
There’s nothing worse than being trapped in a long and boring award ceremony. It’s your job to host a lively award event and keep your audience on the edge of their seats.
In the TRNDS 2024 report, 61% of eventgoers told us they want to be adventurous and experience new things in 2024 — so you’ve got to be adventurous when it comes to organizing your award ceremonies, too. Here are some pro tips to make it happen:
1. Skip the stage
If you want to give your awards night a more intimate feel, skip the traditional stage setup for a more personal and memorable experience. Opt for a table at the center of the action, and add personal touches like place cards instead of name tags.
Looking for some inspiration?
Circus Ring Of Fame Foundation’s recent Circus Ring Of Fame Awards Show upped the ante and built upon their theme by using a circus ring to present awards.
Replicate their quirkiness by creating a special set-up that’s unique to your awards ceremony. For example, if you’re hosting an award ceremony for a local baseball league, present your awards on the pitchers’ mound.
2. Bring in a visual artist
Keep guests talking with a large-scale art piece or mural that ties the ceremony together. It can be a conversation piece and a prize for one lucky attendee or award winner.
This is also a great opportunity to collaborate with local artists and introduce them to a wider community. By teaming up to create visual art for your award ceremony, you’ll be giving them much-needed exposure. Meanwhile, you’ll be getting a visual piece your guests will want to share on social media — boosting your profile and promoting sales for further events.
That’s a win-win for everybody.
3. Make space and time for networking
Many attend award shows encourage people to mix and mingle. Tweak the layout of the reception, bars, and seating to provide more room for guests to maneuver and chat. Don’t forget to provide conversation starters!
The American Advertising Federation Baltimore has built a pre-awards cocktail party into their event schedule for the 2024 American Advertising Awards.
This idea gives guests the opportunity to mingle and network (plus an awards show after-party).
4. Offer amazing swag
Think about on-brand swag bags to give away to your attendees.
This will help connect guests to the event and raise brand awareness afterward. Ask sponsors to contribute items to the event — and your swag bags don’t need 24-karat gold watches like you’d expect at the Academy Awards.
Instead, include practical items that are relevant to their sector. Reusable water bottles, promotional t-shirts, and food-based items are always useful if you run low on ideas (and relatively cheap to source).
5. Create opportunities for crowd participation
Just because people are sitting in the audience doesn’t mean they can’t be active participants in your awards night.
Activities like award show trivia encourage audience participation — or for a more high-tech option, try interactive zygote balls that change colors when touched and can bounce throughout the crowd.
To see crowd participation done the right way, take a look at the TV Timeout 2024 event hosted earlier this year by the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota.
By deploying a crowd participation app, the event gave every audience member the chance to vote on all of this year’s Super Bowl ads in real time. At the end of the game, the audience favorites were recognized as the big winners of the night.
6. Keep the crowd guessing
If you plan to host your awards show annually, switch it up with a change of location, categories, or theme.
For example, TechCrunch’s Crunchies Awards have previously allowed attendees to vote in a certain number of categories before the awards show. You could also keep people guessing by not announcing the award nominees ahead of time — so your guests won’t know until they arrive.
Ideas to incorporate technology into your award function
We’ve already mentioned how important it is to keep your audience engaged, right? Another great way to create a more inclusive (and exciting) event is to integrate technology.
There are all sorts of amazing apps and tools that can make your award ceremonies run smoother. Here are a few of our favorite ways to supercharge your upcoming ceremony:
7. Incorporate VR technology
Incorporate a virtual reality (VR) component like ‘reflection mapping’, which uses mirrors, light, and sculptural form to dramatic effect. Alternatively, you could use VR technology to create immersive experiences for your guests before or after the show.
For lessons in best practice, check out WeCode KC and their recent Black History Month Extended Reality Experience.
VR headsets gave guests the chance to step into some pivotal moments in Black history and walk in the footsteps of unsung heroes.
8. Live stream the show
Live streaming an awards ceremony is an event in itself and gets more guests involved.
Think about entertainment awards like the VMAs or the Oscars that are live streamed. For a different, more fun experience for those at home, include hosts for separate live streaming coverage and commentary.
If you’re using Eventbrite to organize your award ceremony, live streaming is fast and simple with video hosting platforms like Zoom, Vimeo, Facebook Live, YouTube, or Twitch.
Want some pro tips on how to live stream your award function? Here you go:
9. Make your award ceremony virtual
If you’re organizing an annual ceremony for guests based at different locations, consider taking your ceremony virtual.
For example, the Data Visualization Society’s 2023 IIB Awards Ceremony + Day of Inspiration (Virtual) kept a running order that matched a traditional awards show — including a keynote speaker, letting presenters introduce award nominees and winners, and even breakout sessions for guests to mingle or network.
The key here is to partner with the right events platform. For example, Eventbrite seamlessly integrates with tools like Zoom to create dynamic meeting spaces or breakout rooms that complement your award ceremony.
Ready to learn more?
Ideas to spice up your award ceremonies
Award ceremonies can often be a bit formulaic and dry. To avoid yawning attendees, keep things fresh with elements they’ve never seen at an award ceremony.
To help you get started, here are three event ideas you’ll love:
10. Hire a special keynote speaker
Awards ceremonies are excellent places to highlight unique speakers. Choose speakers who represent your event brand and guests will recognize.
For example, Women’s Business Club UAE booked entrepreneur and CEO Angela De Souza for their upcoming Women’s Business Virtual Awards Finals. With her experience, she’s the perfect candidate for this audience. Best of all, it’s a virtual event — which opens up the awards show to the entire globe.
11. Educate your audience
Awards shows can teach the audience something new.
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. It’s a chance to use your platform for something bigger.
Collaborate with a local charity or cause that means something to you. For example, you could organize an awards show honoring LGBTQ+ business owners to align with LGBT History Month. This would also give you the opportunity to amplify your event messaging and help educate event guests about issues affecting this community.
If you want to set up multiple ticket types on Eventbrite, it’s super straightforward. Here’s how it’s done:
12. Honor someone exceptional
While it’s nice to get as many people as possible involved, try singling out an individual.
That’s what Dr. Dee Thompson did for the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Service Awards Ceremony & Luncheon event. This ceremony honored Grammy winner Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins for her work raising awareness about sickle-cell disease.
Take some time to reach out to big names in your industry that naturally align with the purpose and theme of your awards show. Whether with a Lifetime Achievement award or another special shout-out, spend extra time shining the spotlight on someone who deserves it.
Award ceremony themes to make your event stand out
Award ceremony themes are the perfect way to make your event a memorable experience. Because coming up with ideas isn’t always easy, we’ve done all the thinking for you.
Try drawing inspiration from these top tips:
13. Add a festival component
Borrowing from popular festivals doesn’t have to mean live music. What’s one detail your favorite festival executes well? A unique location or special VIP area? Translate that to your ceremony and venue for an impressive touch.
You could also create a festival atmosphere outside your venue to welcome your arrivals. Think food truck catering, carnival games, live performers, and craft activities. This will loosen everybody up on arrival to make your award ceremony even more fun!
14. Hire a comedian to host a roast
Comedians can poke fun at the many facets of working life — including awards ceremonies. Look for someone who specializes in corporate gigs or has hosting experience so they don’t offend people.
Need some inspiration on how to set up the perfect roast? Take a look at RealFunny Comedy. Their recent Cupid’s Roast Battle event had a holiday theme, and organizers added a competitive element by encouraging roasters to go head-to-head.
You could recreate that for an awards ceremony by hiring a group of comedians to tell jokes in-between each award — and then let the audience vote on the best roast master of the night.
15. Roll out the red carpet – literally
Rent and roll out an actual red carpet to welcome all attendees or just the winners — their own VIP entrance! Take it one step further and hire a photographer for ‘press’ photos that people will love to post on social media. Include a branded wall as a background to elevate your game.
You could even take the red carpet treatment a step further and sell VIP tickets with extra luxuries. Your VIP package could include free travel to your event, champagne on arrival, and access to an exclusive bar space within your venue.
16. Make it a black-tie event
Encourage attendees to dress their best or get creative by asking for a specific color. Change it up with pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month or your company’s logo colors.
To see how it’s done the right way, check out event organizer Tamirah Leigh Lifestyle Design and their upcoming LadyPreneur Laurels Black Tie Awards Banquet Gala. Celebrating women in business, this black tie event certainly looks fun and formal — including a pink carpet to greet everyone attending the ceremony.
17. Combine the awards show with another event
Whether it’s another event you plan to host or an established industry staple, combine your awards ceremony with another occasion to boost attendance rates. Since guests are already planning to attend the main attraction, visiting your awards ceremony will be a no-brainer.
For example, you could organize an awards show honoring LGBTQ+ business owners to align with LGBT History Month. This would also give you the opportunity to amplify your event messaging and help educate event guests about issues affecting this community.
Award ceremony ideas to make your event run smoothly
Even an amazing event theme can only take you half the way. You need to make sure you’re doing everything you can behind the scenes to make sure guests feel comfortable and have a great all-round experience.
Here are some top tips to get you started:
18. Make entry into the awards show easy
Streamline the nomination process, starting with your submission page. Whether you have a fun explainer video or text, have the criteria for each category prominently displayed — not hidden behind a drop-down menu.
For example, with Eventbrite, you can set up custom forms to collect answers to any question you’d like. This makes for a great awards show entry form, and you can then use your Eventbrite dashboard to email your entrants about the next steps for your awards show.
Want to see how it’s done in real time? Here’s how you can email your registrants:
19. Feed your guests
Remember how Melissa McCarthy snuck in extra sandwiches to the Oscars in 2018? Offering a meal is an incentive. You can even theme your dinner to the awards show itself. For example, if you’re honoring the fitness industry, provide healthy options.
If you’re looking for banquet award ideas, check out ACSA Region 3 and their upcoming 2024 Administrator of the Year Awards Gala. They’ve complimented their awards show with a range of delicious drinks and dinner options to create a holistic experience.
But if you’re working with a venue that doesn’t cater, don’t panic.
Try partnering with a local chef or kitchen to cater your awards show. In exchange for boosting their profile through your event marketing, your chef might even provide a discount on your catering costs.
20. Improve visibility for guests
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 lost them.
Use screens to keep the recognition program accessible and incorporate them in a way that grabs their eye and keeps it there. It’s also essential you have at least one dedicated member of staff available to focus on the stage area and give presenters everything they need to keep the show running smoothly.
21. Offer an award as a sponsorship opportunity
Bring in a sponsor that aligns with your goals, and let them name an awards category related to their brand.
For example, if you’re honoring tech innovations, teaming up with a company like Squarespace, Slack, or other thought leaders in the tech industry has the bonus of giving your award more legitimacy.
Not sure how to approach potential event sponsors? Try using sponsorship email templates to help you connect with brands your guests will love.
22. Invest in real trophies
Everybody likes a bit of silverware, right? Formal pieces of paper look nice on a wall, but real trophies make impressive office decorations and are a point of pride.
That’s why AAF Memphis created gold and silver trophies for the winners (and runners-up) to take home in their upcoming 2024 American Advertising Awards. You can even up your game by personalizing your medals and trophies. That’ll go a long way in making your awards night look more professional.
Let’s roll out the red carpet
Hosting an award ceremony is an incredible way to bring communities together, recognize people for their amazing achievements, and expand your network as an events organizer.
You’ve just got to make sure you’re creating a ceremony that will engage your audience and keep things fresh — and a huge part of that is selecting the right events partner.
With Eventbrite, you can create VIP ticket packages for guests, streamline the check-in process with our Eventbrite Organizer App, manage your event marketing, email your guests ahead of the event, and everything in between.
