EVENT Lessons from Oscar and Friends

I love awards shows. The pomp! The flair! The organization of it all! People asked me over the years where I picked up the flourishes that have added to the corporate events that I've successfully produced, and I have been inspired by several sources: rock concerts and television events, specifically award shows and variety programs. I recorded last night's Academy Awards for posterity, but here are some quick takeaways:

1. EVERYONE LIKES TO FEEL IMPORTANT AND RECEIVE AT LEAST SOME RECOGNITION -- In the past, an award presentation consisted of naming the nominees, possibly with a clip of their performances, and the winner is called. That was all the attention the nominees got. The producers of this year's show started what I hope is a new tradition. Five previous winners in each acting category gave a tribute to each nominee, calling out the uniqueness of the performances and praising each person's overall contribution. It was obvious that the nominees were genuinely moved. I mean, really, how proud must Anne Hathaway have been to have Shirley MacLaine spontaneously compliment her singing voice? When it was over, each actor, who had come a long way to reach that career point, felt rewarded. Think of that when planning your next recognition event, and consider those in your organization who made a genuine contribution, even if they didn't end up as number one this year.
2. RESPECT THE AGE AND LEGACY AVAILABLE TO YOU -- So the first person to honor that supporting actress nominees last night was Eva Marie Saint. What a dignified presence! What a strong clear voice! Oh, did you know Ms. Saint will be 85 this July? What a shame it would have been to overlook her had she been deemed "too old."
   
3. TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF YOUR PEOPLES' RESOURCES -- He sings. He dances. He's charming. Thank goodness someone thought of using Hugh Jackman as the host last night. At the relatively tender age of 40, The Sexiest Man Alive could contribute to the Oscar ceremonies for a long time. But this decision cam after spending several years going outside the film industry to find a host for the show. I suggest we all look for our own homegrown talent when planning our own events and create more pleasant surprises as we saw last night.
4. MAKE ENOUGH OF YOUR MOMENT -- It was terrific to see Jerry Lewis receive an overdue award for his charitable work. But I would like to have heard more from a man who has made films for 60 years, influenced an entire generation of directors (his book, The Complete Filmmaker, was the standard text at USC), and who patented the video assist system that film most movie makers take for granted. Yes, he appeared to be ill, but he is not likely to get such an opportunity again. I hope last night's event makes him more accessible to us.
5. USE YOUR TIME WELL -- How tedious it has been over the decades to introduce a couple of stars just to present one, two at most. Last night it made a lot of sense to present like categories together, such as all the music, the costuming and set direction together, et cetera. Nice plan, although I admit that it didn't have the effect it should have, as the show ran long anyway.

A televised awards ceremony may not seem pertinent to your own event. But consider that the Academy Awards are a global phenomenon that has survived for decades. This long-standing record of success offers some insight into what works and what doesn't.

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