Five steps for throwing a successful charity Gala.

So you’re throwing a Charity Gala. Organising an event that raises money for a good cause can be an extremely rewarding experience, but it’s also a challenging task to manage. As one of Brisbane’s best gala venues, we’ve put together five easy steps to follow to ensure your charity gala is a success.

Step 1. Pick a theme

When picking a theme for a charity gala, it’s a good idea to keep things simple. Pick a clear theme that won’t get too confusing and will make things easy when it comes to decoration and costume. Some good theme ideas for charity gala’s include ‘golden glitter party’, or an ‘All White Party’, or a ‘Welcome to Summer Party’. Once you have settled on a gala theme, stick to it and consider it in every element of your planning process. It is the smaller details that will really get the attention of your guests and make your gala even more special.

Step 2. Pick a function venue

When choosing a function venue for your charity gala, there are a number of things that should be considered. This includes:

• Budget: How much do you have to spend on the function venue alone?
• Capacity: How many people are you hoping will attend your charity gala?
• Weather: Is it likely to be hot or cold? Wet or dry?

While a good gala venue is key, it is important to be realistic about your budget and how much you can spend on hiring a function room.

Step 3. Invite guests/sponsors

When it comes to hosting a charity gala, your guest list can make or break the event. A charity gala is all about raising money and you need to make sure that the guests you invite will provide appropriate donations. You’ll also need to approach some sponsors who are willing to get behind the cause and contribute some money, or goods to the event.

Step 4. Organise entertainment

The entertainment at your charity gala will be responsible for the atmosphere of the event. If you want to host an elegant soiree you might consider hiring a string quartet, if your goal is to get everyone up and dancing a cover band might be more appropriate. It worth investing in entertainment as the last thing you want is for your guests to get bored.

Step 5. Organise Catering

No one likes being hungry, that is why organizing the catering is one of the most important steps of organizing a Charity Gala. You have a few options, you might like to treat your guests to a sit down three-course meal, or instead you might opt for cocktail style canapes to be handed out throughout the night. Remember while there may be some budget restraints, it is always better to over cater.