The Right Event Elements Can Showcase Your Organization’s Work
When taking a look at the specific elements of your event, look for opportunities to tell your organization’s story. At first glance it may seem like there isn’t much opportunity to carry your work through in your catering, music selection or event elements, but spend some time thinking them through with a lens to your work and see how you can make direct and indirect links to your work.
At Latino Network’s Noche Bella, they thought through how to bring every element of their event back to their core vision, “Our thriving Latino community is respected and engaged.”
Their venue selection had to allow them to be able to bring in the local, Latino-owned Mayahuel Catering to create an inspired menu showcasing the best local ingredients. Not only is the food fantastic and a hit with guests, it provides a very unique alternative to standard gala dinners that sets them apart from many of the other events in town. The chefs briefly took the stage to introduce the menu, personalizing the food in a way seldom seen at larger events. Their VIP tables also enjoyed tequila tastings, making them coveted seats in the room.
Latino Network also chose performers that showcased the spirit and talent of their community. The amazing Edna Vazquez and her Mariachi Band performed a two-song intro that really called the audience to attention and set the stage for an energetic and dynamic program. To showcase some of their work in the community Latino Network put dancers from their newer program Corazon Alegre Ballet Folklorico on stage to perform the dance “El Naranjo” from the Nuevo Leon region. It was a great way to engage the audience and showcase their program work in the community. Then they closed out the night with a great dance party set to the sounds of Dina y los Rumberos.
The silent and live auction items at Noche Bella featured the work of those in the community as well as generating interest from their core audience. Their “Fiesta in a Box” live auction package featured food from another great locally-owned, Latino restaurant as well as traditional San Jarocho music, and there was a mural featuring the work of youth from Latino Network’s programs. These items continued to showcase business leaders who support the organization as well as the dynamic programs of Latino Network in a tangible way.
All of these threads wove together a rich evening of programming content, food and entertainment to create a multi-level guest experience that conveyed their mission and work from all angles of the event.
Photos by Izzy Ventura and Andie Petkus
