I read recently from a so-called 'events expert' that the stage was more important than any other aspect of the event.
WRONG.
At an awards night, 80% of their time is spent looking at or over the table.
Therefore the table, the centrepiece, the presentation of food and drink is far more important than the stage.
At the same time, the centrepiece must be designed so that most people can talk over it and around it.
It must also be so low that it never interferes with the view of the stage, the screen or other people at the table.
Sorry but too many times have I seen floral arrangments that destroyed the social flow or had to be removed before the stage was used.
A great event is never simple or formulaic.
Later in the night, the awards for these engineers had a table that was groaning under four bottles of wine, a bottle of water and anything else we thought they might need during each awards sequence.
It wasn't pretty but then again, no-one ever complained about having too much too soon...
did they?
