By Anthony Bollotta
The intent behind recognition events is noble; reward achievement so as to better cultivate a sense of appreciation, and ultimately lift morale. Yet many recognition ceremonies become so beleaguered by program inefficiencies, they are anything but morale boosting.
1) OMIT LONG SPEECHES & DESCRIPTIONS
Nothing kills a recognition event faster than the slow droning on of a long oration. Even the most good-intentioned speech… one brimming with superlatives, loses its effectiveness when it carries on too long. The same goes for honoree descriptions.
Bottom line? Keep speeches short and to the point, and try not to use the opportunity to educate or proselytize. When describing achievements, remain focused on high points and leave the rest behind. And unless you’re hosting a roast, leave the jokes there too.
Recognition speeches should be congratulatory and respectful. Keeping them short shows a general respect for people’s time and plays to their short attention spans. Short speeches also do a better job of recognizing achievements because they don’t barrel past the tolerance level of the audience. To ensure speeches are kept short, script and time the entire ceremony, and use a teleprompter to keep presenters on track.
2) INCORPORATE MUSIC INTO THE CEREMONY
Music is powerful… especially when an audience can relate to it. It can turn an otherwise boring recognition event into a joyous, memorable occasion when used correctly.
To do that, take the time to choose music appropriate to your group… happy, upbeat music that is celebratory in nature. Have the music edited if at all possible, and use it for award walk-ons. The best award walk-ons comment lyrically on the award or the honoree, thus providing another layer of fascination.
It is important to keep in mind when using licensed music that the presenting company should first obtain Music Performance Agreements from the three agencies that collect and disburse music royalty fees: BMI (http://www.bmi.com), ASCAP (http://www.ascap.com) and SESAC (http://www.sesac.com). These agreements must be obtained by the presenting company and are not the responsibility of any creative talent hired to provide live or recorded music.
3) GET EVERYONE’S ATTENTION BEFORE STARTING
We’re not talking about keeping an audience’s attention. That’s an entirely different topic. We’re talking about getting it. For some, this is the biggest challenge of all. Their audiences are unresponsive to VOG seating requests, or those that welcome presenters to the stage. For these types of audiences, starting the award presentation with some kind of catchy, upbeat entertainment or comedian emcee can help to garner focus and prepare people for what’s to come. But “grabbing” an audience doesn’t have to consume time. One can do it quickly and efficiently by employing a little creativity and taking some calculated risk.
Rather than the incessant, ineffective VOG pleas to quiet down, consider employing a specially selected sound effect to cajole the audience into paying attention. Sound effects come in many varieties and can be purchased for pennies at both the iTunes Store, and at www.sounddogs.com. At both outlets, you’ll find a plethora of categories to search through ranging from the audibly inane to the delightfully whimsical, and purchasing is easy.
Naturally, the trick is in picking the right effect, which is done best with a keen knowledge of your group demographics. Hone in on one that will support your message, or more importantly, your brand, and keep it short and succinct.
For help building your next unforgettable recognition ceremony, call our experts at 619-295-3522 or email info@bollotta.com
