You’ve worked hard in choir all year; now it’s time to play hard. Katy, TX Choir director Ruben Alcala shares a comprehensive guide to planning an end of year banquet that sends your students off in style. You can recognize achievements, celebrate student-selected awards, and acknowledge your seniors in a heartfelt and memorable way. Check out the show notes for a detailed guide to planning your banquet, including a complete timeline and suggested award categories. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet: “Banquets are celebrations of our students and the hard work they have done.” - Ruben Alcala Show Notes:  Establish a Budget  Formal vs. Casual Rental Cost Food and Beverage Minimum Buffet vs. Plated dinner service Menu Audio and Visual Needs (some venues only cover certain aspects, charge for the rest) Time Frame of Event (some venues charge more depending on time) Fundraising Senior Gifts Programs vs No Programs Key People to recognize and invite  Principal Choir Vice Principal Booster Board     Venue  Will affect who can attend (Students only/ Family/ Dates) Location and Transportation School Restaurant Banquet Space New Venue- Set appointment for site visit, begin to plan room layout   Set a Date  Avoid School, Religious, Community events Set it at the end of your season Contract timelines Approval forms Set deadline for attendance- prior to when venue needs numbers Once order is in, that’s what you pay (Easy to add, cannot subtract)   Volunteers- Parent and Students  Student Officer Roles No Theme vs Theme (Choir Council) Slideshow (Historians) Set Up Parents Student Check in   Time Frame  Set Up Actual Celebration Tear Down   Theme/ Decorations Awards/ Recognitions  Student Chosen Awards (Jimmy Fallon-type awards)  Most likely to get caught texting Best Dressed Best Dancer (Guy/ Girl) Biggest Bromance Most Likely to lose something in the Choir Room Choir Mom. Choir Dad Punniest Most Likely to Smile Through the Tears   Director Chosen Awards  Rookie of the Year (Guy and Girl) Vocal Scholar (Top 2 GPAs) Service Awards (Volunteer) Best Dancer (Guy and Girl) Director Award of Excellence (Every Grade Level) Individual Ensemble Awards Most Improved Guy and Girl Booster Club Board Recognition Award of Excellence Scholarship Four Year Member 7 Year Member     Slide Show  Choir Historians Created Email set for members to submit photos   Senior Video  Student Created if possible Every Senior How Long Have you Been in Choir? What Was Your Biggest Achievement? Most Difficult Part of Being in Choir? Best Memory? How has your experiences in choir prepared you for your future? If you could give advice to yourself as a freshman, what would you say? Any last words to the choir?   Senior Will and Testament  What are you leaving To Whom Why Story   Traditions  Senior Girls wear prom dress Officer Induction  Passing of the Flame     Dance  Playlist Sample Outline 4:45                Officers,

End Your Year with a Blast: The Choir Banquet Bible, with Ruben James Alcala

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