DEVENT — Event planning by Dprime

DEVENT planning resources

Staff Awards Night Planning: Nominations, Seating and Run Sheet

An awards night combines an internal decision process with a live event. Decide who owns nominations and approvals, then plan how the audience will experience the evening.

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Agree categories and decisions

Define the purpose, eligibility, nomination deadline and who will make or approve decisions. Tell staff what information is requested, who will see it and when the outcome will be communicated.

Plan the guest experience

Choose a time and location that take account of shifts, travel, caring and access needs. Explain invitations, any guest allocation and meal arrangements, and provide a private contact for requirements.

Prepare the presentations

Check the correct pronunciation of names, award descriptions, presenter order and accessibility of the stage or presentation area. Confirm who has the certificates or awards and how confidential results are protected.

Coordinate seating and food

Build the seating plan from the confirmed guest list and venue layout. Share dietary requirements only with the people arranging food, and provide a process for late changes before the venue deadline.

Rehearse and brief the team

Put arrival, meal, awards, speeches and departure in a run sheet. Test microphones and slides, give the MC a current script and name a contact for changes or an absent presenter.

Worked example · illustrative details

An awards dinner for several teams

The organiser confirms recipients with the approved selection group, checks name pronunciations and seats staff using the final guest list. The MC receives the presentation order shortly before the event, and a backup presenter is identified.

Your next steps

  1. Agree nominations, eligibility and approvals.
  2. Invite guests and gather necessary requirements.
  3. Prepare names, awards and presentation order.
  4. Rehearse the run sheet and technical handover.

Common questions

Should recipients be announced before the event?

That depends on the organisation’s process; agree who can access results and when they will be shared.

Do all awards need a stage presentation?

No. Choose an accessible presentation format that suits the event and recipients.

Useful next steps

Keep the next step connected

Event planning tasks and timelineKeep event preparation tasks and the event-day schedule connected in one organiser workspace.Event guest list managerOrganise households, guest names, bride and groom sides, attendance and reserved places in one event guest list.Event budget planner in Australian dollarsPlan event expenses, review supplier quotes and track recorded costs alongside your guests and event tasks.

Continue planning

How Online RSVPs WorkUnderstand the journey from a household’s private invitation link to a saved attendance response.Managing Family RSVPsKeep one household invitation while recording which named family members will attend.Collecting Meal Choices and Dietary NotesCollect useful food information from guests and communicate the relevant requirements to your caterer.Preparing a Guest List for DEVENTClean up an existing spreadsheet before entering households and named guests in DEVENT.

Explore DEVENT before choosing your plan

Try sample tools and review current access, plan availability and automatic communication requirements.

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