Gala dinners live and die by lighting. The same ballroom can feel like a hotel function room or like a grand occasion, and the difference is mostly production.
During your site visit, ask to see the room with lighting in place. Table uplighting and a stage wash make the difference between a nice dinner and a gala event. Note how the room looks with house lights dimmed, because that is how guests will see it.
Stage and podium: sized for award photographs with several people on stage.
Screens: visible from every table, including those furthest from the front.
Sound: clear speech for the address and citations, plus music for walk-ups and dancing.
Lighting cues: separate looks for dinner, awards, performances and the dance floor.
DĂ©cor: centrepieces low enough that guests can see each other across the table.
Ballrooms and exhibition halls differ in ceiling height and columns. Check sightlines from the back corners before fixing the table plan, and confirm rigging points, power and set-up access times with the venue. These details change, so always check current details with the venue rather than relying on past events.
Run a technical rehearsal on the event day. Test every video, walk-up music cue and microphone position. Walk the award route from table to stage with the stage manager. Make sure presenters know their marks and the emcee can see the cue lights or a show caller.
Get Out! Events brings its own AV, staging and lighting equipment to most venues and coordinates loading and set-up with the venue team. That means one team owns the production plan from rehearsal to pack-down.
If you would like help shaping lighting, staging and the awards run sheet, speak to the Get Out! Events gala dinner team.
About this guide: Gala Dinner at Marina Bay Sands is written and maintained by Get Out! Events, a Singapore corporate event company at 14 Robinson Road #08-01A, Singapore 048545. It contains general planning guidance only; confirm current venue rules, permits and partner requirements before you book anything.