There are many different things you can do to promote your business without having to invest a lot of money. One such thing is to enter industry awards. On average, you’ll pay anywhere from $70-100 per entry and the return is international/national or local recognition with your peers and credentials for your customers. Regal Tent Productions has been blessed with many international awards over the past 15 years, but it was my recent experience as a judge for a national award ceremony that opened my eyes. With many event industry awards fast approaching, I’ve highlighted my top 7 tips…
1. Believe in yourself
One of the most common things I hear from people is: “I just wasn’t sure that my project was award-worthy”. There is a common perception that your event is only award-worthy if you’re working with ample budgets. But, the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. Most awards are based on creativity and logistical achievements. What you did with the budget and parameters you had is of utmost importance. So, believe in yourself and your event and showcase your achievements.
2. Don’t wait to start your award entry
Your memory is freshest during and right after the event. As you’re working through the project keep a log of challenges and achievements. And once the event is done, filter and organize the information. The same goes if your team is working directly on the event. Have them keep a log and hold a post-event meeting to identify the key information. The worst thing you can do (which I’m very guilty of) is scrambling at the last minute to remember the details, get your information together and write a compelling entry.
3. Find the essence
Every good story has a theme that weaves itself through the words. Just like the best authors, find your theme and build your entry around it. A theme helps you stay focused on what you want to say and what makes your story compelling.
4. Keep it simple
Keep in mind that the people reading your entry will be reading at least 40-50 others. Imagine having to read that many short stories. It’s only human that your eyes start to glaze over after a while. So, keep it simple. Answer the questions directly, concisely and passionately. Don’t write a book and introduce your best statements IMMEDIATELY.
5. Stand out, stand out, stand out
This goes hand in hand with my last point. Just like a supermarket shelf with hundreds of brands screaming out at you, the most successful brands stand out. They use compelling words and beautiful images.
6. Invest in a great photographer
Pictures tell half the story. In addition to showcasing the end product, take pictures of your challenges – a difficult site, damaged items delivered to the venue, limited access, etc. It all contributes to telling the judges why you deserve to win the award.
7. Check your work
Missing information can get you disqualified. Check and double check the criteria sheets to ensure you’ve included absolutely everything (my recommendation is to have someone not involved in the entry do this – a fresh set of eyes). If supplying a CD or DVD, make sure it works! I can’t tell you how many entries I’ve seen that can’t be judged because the DVD wouldn’t work.
Also, spelling and grammatical errors can distract the judges from your story. Make sure your entry is professional and error free.
If you’re in the special events industry, take a look at this list of upcoming award opportunities:
ISES Esprit Awards
Special Event Gala Awards
BizBash Awards
Event Solutions Spotlight Awards
Canadian Event Industry Star Awards