The 2022 RAMMY Awards
Client: Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
Event Date: July 24, 2022
Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Event Challenge: Producing a large scale, budget-conscious event utilizing numerous event spaces
RAMW has been presenting the RAMMY Awards, which recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations in the restaurant industry, since 1982. The annual RAMMY Awards have been an event that RJ Whyte Event Production has produced since 2013, but each year presents new challenges to overcome.
With over 1,000 event attendees, each aspect of the event, from guest experience to sponsor management had to be extremely well thought out and planned. Not only did this event feature a large amount of attendees, it also used multiple spaces throughout the Convention Center in order to optimize the guest experience. By expertly planning each step guests would take throughout the night, we were able to ensure guests could easily navigate their way through the space, with the help of a few volunteers and directional signs guiding the way. Upon entrance, guests were led to registration where they were greeted and checked in. They then made their way to the pre-function space where they could get their pictures taken on the red carpet, stop by one of the bars for a cocktail, or grab a bite to eat from a charcuterie station. The award show took place an hour after doors opened, giving attendees plenty of time to peruse the pre-function space and catch up with fellow restaurateurs. Finally, the night concluded with a party in Hall D featuring the RAMMYS first ever headliner act, Cash Cash.
With an event space as large as the convention center, it’s always important to keep budget constraints in mind when planning the guest flow. Working in a large space with tight budget constraints is always challenging, especially with the large number of vendors that are needed to transform a venue for an event like the RAMMYS. RJ Whyte is no stranger to working with a multitude of vendors, and thus we knew exactly what needed to be done to keep our team on schedule and on budget.
Floor plans were created and updated with meticulous precision and then shared with vendors to ensure everyone was on the same page. Before load in began, we had a strict schedule highlighting when each vendor would begin and end their portion of load in. Keeping everyone in the loop, ensured we worked seamlessly as a team. Each vendor fit together like the cogs of a well oiled machine which translated into the ultimate experience for event attendees and provided an easy transition for Cash Cash to take the stage.
As a result of our careful attention to detail, guests had the best possible experience. Whenever problems popped up, as they always do with these large events, each person knew exactly what to do or who to contact to get them resolved. Years of experience has taught us that preparedness is always the best way to minimize problems, and thus the budget. Time to start planning for next year's RAMMYS!
