Success with Speakers Series: Something Different for Dinner

The typical dinner event schedule goes something like this: reception, dinner and then the featured speaker goes on at the end of the evening.

I have long advocated for event planners to dispense with convention and change the order of things.  There are several huge advantages to having the speaker go on before the meal and speak over a pre-set appetizer course:

-The audience is fresher.  Instead of subjected the audience to a speech at the very end of the day — after a heavy meal and maybe a glass of wine or two — an earlier talk means the they’ll will get more out of the presentation.

-The speaker can relax over dinner once the talk is out of the way and can enjoy the other guests at their table more.

-The table conversation is livelier after the speech, especially at the speaker’s table, because it keys off the presentation.  Instead of everyone breaking up after the speech and heading to the bar or back to their rooms, the earlier format will spur conversations that might otherwise not take place.

If there’s a Q&A session that’s part of the program you can do it right after the talk as usual, or hold it for the dessert course.  Splitting up the two elements this way works just fine.

I’ve found that once most people try this format – they much prefer it.  So do the speakers.  Sometimes, though, it’s a matter of convincing others in the decision process to change their thinking and try something different.