How NOT to hold a graduation awards dinner

[Randy Steinman]

I simply need to share this, as a warning to every student who will graduate in the next few years. If you are a professor, please pay attention as well.

The other night, I was asked to represent our shop at a Broadcast-J graduation/awards dinner. The school has always been somewhat prestigious -- or so I thought.

After dinner and an industry guest speaker, the MC announced that it was time to present the awards. He introduced a pre-taped segment of two graduating students who were to "safely deliver" the list of winners to the podium. Fair enough. Kinda hokey. But, okay.

What followed was a dull, unfunny segment of these guys running all over campus. The premise of the video was they were trying to protect the list from two other students who were trying to steal it from them.

It was produced to look like one of those Billy Crystal 'Oscar openers', except that it was riddled with nothing but inside jokes and bathroom humor.

Had it lasted a minute or two, it would have been moderately digestible. This epic ran 14 minutes. It was excruciating. By the time the 'out-of-breath' students ran into the banquet room with the list, people had long stopped caring.

The award presentations then lasted 45 minutes. There were a couple of decent speeches. But after the major award was handed out, you could sense the general relief that a long evening was over.

Instead, the MC announced that the graduating class had prepared a taped tribute to their years at the school.

What followed was another 10-minute video of each graduating student reliving his/her favorite memories of the past three years. It included nothing of substance. There was nothing representative of broadcast journalism or higher education.

Instead, we heard Joe discuss how he got drunk every Friday night, and Sally share how she was gonna miss all her best friends. Again, inside jokes dominated the reel.

During this time, I looked around the room at some of the industry leaders in attendance. Their eyes were rolling back in their heads. These were people who had put in long days and wanted to get home.

After ten minutes, the tape went to black. There was a polite smattering of applause. But in a final insult, the screen again sprang to life with the one-word introduction of "BLOOPERS!"

And, so it began again. Eight more minutes of bloopers and out-takes from the crap we had already been subjected to during the two previous presentations.

The students loved it. They applauded. They laughed. The approx 40 industry people sat in disbelief. It was awful. It was embarrassing.

The bloopers finally ended and the MC said something like, "Well, as you can see, we had some real talented people in this grad class. Some real performers."

He invited the industry professionals to "stay around, answer questions and mingle", so that the students could make some contacts. And at 10:30 pm, the evening ended.

By 10:32 pm, the approx 40 industry people had made a beeline for the exits. I'm betting most won't be back next year.

Kids, if you are ever on a committee to organize a grad dinner... here are some important suggestions:

If you are going to have a video presentation, show them top samples of your award winner's best works. Be ruthless when deciding what belongs on the tape and what doesn't.

You have a captive audience of people you will apply to in the months & years to come. This is a perfect opportunity to impress them with what you have learned, and the type of work you are capable of.

Keep the formal part of the evening short. If you really hope to make some industry contacts, keep in mind they have probably been working since 8:00 or 9:00 that morning. They want to get home. They'll be much more willing to give you five minutes of their time at 9:00 pm... than at 10:30 pm.

Create an atmosphere of professionalism and class. Inside jokes don't fly. If you're hoping to be a great communicator, you need to connect with the audience member who has the least interest in what you have to say.

Don't hoot and holler like you're at a football game. Save it for the post-banquet class party later that night.

Needless to say, I was appalled at what I witnessed the other night. And I think I have as much patience and a sense of humor as most people.

I don't necessarily blame the graduating students. Obviously, they were lacking in guidance and direction. Somewhere along the line, a prof should have watched their video presentations and said, "Sorry, gang. This won't fly."

Always remember that your audience consists of former grads and potential employers.

Just something to think about, for your own graduation banquet. Trust me, it comes from someone who has been to a lot of them over the years. ;)

Randy Steinman

[Steve Scott]

Well said!

[Pennywise]

Was Sally hot?

[Laughing Angel]

Randy, you said it all.

graemlins/icon_pray.gif

[Diplomat]

A wise colleague here in town said it best about awards ceremonies: booze, schmooze, pass out the awards and get the hell out of there.

There is never any need for an awards ceremony to run into infinity. Sadly, those young people missed good opportunities to network.

[s'news]

Please don't blame the kids. Someone needed to ride herd on what they were doing. It appears that didn't happen.

[Diplomat]

Since Randy said he wasn't necessarily blaming the graduating students, I don't think anyone is really blaming them.

[Spike]

Thinking back to my own graduation screening, I remember that none of us really cared who was there for networking. That was our night to congratulate ourselves for what we considered to be a job well done. Maybe it wasn't very well done. But we felt a sense of accomplishment and wanted to celebrate.

So when I think of this awards dinner, it occurs to me that maybe it wasn't about all the industry people and alumni who were there. Maybe it was about the kids graduating. It'll be a long time before the overwhelming majority of them get to congratulate themselves in like manner. Perhaps they should just be allowed to have their fun. I'm sure that's what the school's instructors were thinking as well.

And as for missing the chance to network, I doubt they missed that much, even if there were industry hotshots there. Really, what's a few minutes with a big contact at a dinner really going to accomplish, when it's followed by a few minutes with thirty or forty other students, none of whom the contact will be able to clearly remember tomorrow? That's not really a venue where someone can really evaluate a graduate's potential anyway. "Yeah, send me a tape," is about the best one can expect. I doubt very few people get their "big break" at a mass gathering like that.

It's not that I don't think a networking opportunity is completely wasted. A chance to talk to someone is better than NO chance to talk with him. But I think some folks are overestimating the value of such a brief chat. The kids will get more mileage out of networking with their own classmates, the ones having fun with them.

If these things are really that boring... Don't go.

[Grotto]

I don't know, Spike. I assume the industry folk were INVITED to attend the thing. How many times do grads get the chance to have the ear of so many potential employers? Why not gear the event towards getting the grads that networking chance...and then have something for the students later?

I just think you have to take advantage of every chance you get. Do something memorable when you meet a potential employer...and they will remember you.

[That Camera Guy]

This was THEIR event. You said that they all enjoyed it and loved the videos. So, the presentation met the needs of the intended audience. Case closed.

You were a guest there and you shouldn't expect everyone else to cater to YOU.

[The Mockingbird]

I have come to the conclusion that journalism get togethers are the one place in the world where you can find people who actually give a rat's ass that you are a journalist.

Of course, they usually want you to give them a rat's assload of caring more than they want to reciprocate.

Finally, one last thought: has there ever been an awards dinner that was remotely interesting? Because I can't think of one...

[Consider This]

Originally posted by That Camera Guy:
This was THEIR event. You said that they all enjoyed it and loved the videos. So, the presentation met the needs of the intended audience. Case closed.

You were a guest there and you shouldn't expect everyone else to cater to YOU.Great attitude. Invite people to a banquet -- people in a position to help your career -- bore them with material that they don't understand or find entertaining then tell them afterward that if they didn't like it? Too bad. They were only guests.

If those people weren't the intended audience, why were they invited?

I wish this kind of thoughtless arrogance surprised me but it's all too common in teevee news. People have the same selfishness when they report, anchor and even shoot stories. It's all about what they want. They sometimes broaden their intended audience to include their colleagues, their competition and future bosses but rarely do they seem to care what people outside their immediate clique think. You know, like regular viewers.

Watch any TV newscast and see how often the people on camera seem to talk for their own benefit or amusement instead of yours.

[Mom]

At graduation dinners as in showbiz there's a caveat we should all observe: Always leave them wanting more. This was obviously more an example of: Always leave them racing for the exits like lemmings over a cliff.

Randy, you should save your post and include it in Medialines' "Best of" or whatever it's called so folks can refer back to it when the next graduation dinner rolls around. As the original poster and as a moderator, it seems you have the power to do just that. ;)

[That Camera Guy]

Originally posted by Consider This:
[QUOTE]I wish this kind of thoughtless arrogance surprised me but it's all too common in teevee news. I had the same thought but for the opposite site of the argument. I know you work in TV because you think the event is all about YOU and everyone should pay attention to YOU and care what YOU think.

It wasn't your event. If you didn't like it then don't go next year. The topic poster, in my opinion, sounds very arrogant while describing the event. They were students. Give them a break.

[Omega Man]

Graduation is a time for celebration and looking back on your years at the school.
It's also a transition. A shift to a time when kids should start acting like adults and prepare themselves for the real world.
I agree w/ Randy.

[Grotto]

Originally posted by That Camera Guy:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Consider This:
I wish this kind of thoughtless arrogance surprised me but it's all too common in teevee news. I had the same thought but for the opposite site of the argument. I know you work in TV because you think the event is all about YOU and everyone should pay attention to YOU and care what YOU think.

It wasn't your event. If you didn't like it then don't go next year. The topic poster, in my opinion, sounds very arrogant while describing the event. They were students. Give them a break.</font>They WERE students. This was a graduation event. Like it or not...the industry guests were probably there to see who would be potential employees. With a job market as tight as ours, any opportunity you get to be noticed is one that you have to take.

I mentioned earlier...if you want a party to blow off steam and have fun with your work then do not invite potential employers. Have a seperate event for students...and have another event as a networking tool.

[ZuZu's Petals]

Originally posted by That Camera Guy:

You were a guest there and you shouldn't expect everyone else to cater to YOU.No. You invite someone to an event - a party - whatever, because you want them to enjoy themselves. (even if your ulterior motive is selfish ...ie . networking)
When you have guests in your home, you cater to them... food, entertainment, etc. do you not?

If that is not how you view the role of host/guest may I suggest picking up an etiquette book?

[Lazlo Toth]

The original post in this thread seemed kind of long. smile.gif

[Spike]

Every year the NYU Film School has a graduation screening. I once shot a film that was shown there, so I went. The whole thing was terrible. Terrible films, terrible presentations, terrible awards show. This is considered one of the top film schools in the country, yet the overwhelming majority of the graduates are not ready to tackle anything higher than production assistant. It had all the inside jokes and the self-congratulation that Randy described. None of that really surprised me, though, because I had been through my own graduation screening at my own film school and had already seen all this.

Every year the NYU Film School invites practically every producer, director, writer and actor in New York City to come to its graduation screening. Hardly any of them show up. Why? Because they're too busy? Nope. They don't come because they know what to expect. They know the show isn't for them, but for the kids to congratulate themselves on their "accomplishments." They also know they're not likely to see anyone with promise who won't rise up above the rest on his own.

NYU knows these people probably won't show up, but they invite them anyway, even though they also know the show isn't for them. Why? Mostly just courtesy. It's an easy way to acknowledge former students and others who have made good. If they didn't invite someone, what kind of message would that send?

They also do it "just in case." Because you never know who might actually show up and see something that catches his interest. Maybe one of the new graduates will get his short thesis film optioned to be made into a feature. It's a real long shot, but you never know.

I haven't been to a broadcast journalism awards presentation, but I wouldn't expect it to be much different. The show is for the kids. Industry people are invited both as a courtesy and "just in case." But face it, most of the people just coming out of journalism school aren't going to be that promising or impressive. And if they are, they'll claw their way up above the rest on their own.

As I've said, a few minutes "networking" with potential employers isn't going to do them much good. And that's not what the kids are there for. It's a graduation celebration, not a job fair. Instead of suggesting a separate party for the kids to have fun, I would suggest instead that the school actually sponsor a job fair and invite all those same industry people back to give the kids that chance to network.

The irony is that without the free food, few of those industry insiders would show up.

[Mr. Pratfall]

Those little productions sound like the sort of things that should have been at a separate event for students only.

[Clever Login Name]

Whether it's an opportunity to network or not, it's also a showcase of your school and its journalism department ... and you don't invite industry people and run the risk of making a bad impression. As s'news pointed out earlier, there was a failing in the leadership there that failed to look at this with a critical, independent eye. The invitees may not remember any of the students by name a month or a year from now, but they'll look at the "Education" line on the resume and definitely have second thoughts about any prospective job candidate if they left this event with an uncharitable opinion of the school and its alumni.

[adam &amp; doctor drew]

Randy-
I'm curious... if a student there had tried to network, how far would they have gotten?

is Spike right?
would they have been lucky to get a cursory "send me a tape"?
would they have been forgotten the next day?

[Clubbeat]

Too bad for those kids. No guidance on how to organize an event like that. (It will come back to haunt some off them).
Nevermind the fact about the stated obvious...that good opportunities to network and impress were squandered.

Yeah, I know. Some will say the kids worked hard, they earned it, they deserve it, blah, blah, blah.

Does not mater.

Even without input from faculty or staff, they'r old enough to know better than to present bathroom humor and inside jokes to outsiders. That says to me that in addition to not learning how to put on an event, these kids never learned anything about decorum.

i worked in a J-School and let me tell you, when industry types from outside the market come to visit, be it for a graduation banquest, ot a lecture, most of the students here are on point. they know it means a potential contact or even job prospect. It's called professional development and it's part of what we teach our students.

I think more J-school progams should offer it.

[Diplomat]

Networking is more than just being told "send me a tape." It's about making contacts for now and for the future. It's an opportunity to get to know each other and find out if you'd enjoy working together. It all starts with the brief meetings you have at events like these.

[Randy Steinman]

Some interesting points by all.

First of all, I didn't mean to come off sounding "arrogant", as one poster suggests. Believe me, judging by comments I have since heard from others in attendance that night, my critique of the event was fairly tame.

I just want to clarify a couple of things:

This is a longstanding event, dating back at least 30 years. In the past, guest speakers have included network anchors, reporters and managers. Admittedly, the banquet was more prestigious 20 years ago than it is today.

The audience at this year's dinner included (at least) three local ND's, one Assistant ND, two EP's and at least two AE's. The room was "littered" ;) with former grads who still work locally. Plus, a bunch of broadcast nobody's (like myself).

A shop will usually buy a table of eight, then ask certain newsroom employees to attend. The event has a corporate feel to it. In the past, it's been a great place to see old friends/colleagues I never see anywhere else.

But it's also a chance for students (and espy grads) to introduce themselves. For many, it's their first legitimate networking opportunity. Let's be honest, it's not every day someone still in J-School can simply walk up to a News Director and strike a conversation.

Our shop never hires right out of school. At least, not reporters. But whenever someone from these dinners has ever asked to send me a reel, I've been more than receptive. Especially if I just saw some of their award-winning work on display. I recall seeing some quality stuff over the years.

Sadly, everything they showed last week showcased a bunch of poor actors in Keystone Kop routines. It's too bad, too. As mentioned in my original post, we were a captive audience. Personally, I wanted to be entertained by some up-and-coming future broadcast journalists.

For them, it was really a wasted opportunity. I do agree 100% that the videos would have been much better-suited to a post-banquet party for the students themselves. Presented in that environment, they would have been perfect.

For what it's worth, the President of the University was also on hand at the awards dinner...and was apparently livid. I have to assume that any profs or instructors responsible for the banquet's organization have since received an earful.

That's about it. Thanks for the discussion.

And, sorry about the long posts, Laz. ;)

[Pennywise]

You still didn't answer the most important question: Was Sally hot???

[The Mockingbird]

I thought Super Sally was just someone's alter ego for joke posts.