A gala in a heritage hall

A heritage hall gives a gala something a hotel ballroom cannot: a sense of occasion before anyone has said a word. Columns, high ceilings and a long history make guests stand a little straighter. The trade-off is that older buildings come with rules designed to protect them.

Let the building lead

Heavy décor fights a beautiful room. Warm uplighting on the architecture, low centrepieces and a restrained palette usually look better than covering every surface. Ask the venue early what can be fixed to walls and floors, and what cannot.

Choose the right space

Many heritage venues have more than one space: a foyer for drinks, a hall for dinner and sometimes an outdoor area. Walk the route guests will take, and decide where each part of the evening happens.

Production with care

Sound, lighting and staging need to work around the building. Load-in times may be limited, and some areas may be off limits to equipment. Build these limits into the run sheet from the start.

For more on which space suits which kind of gala, see Get Out! Events' notes on choosing a space for a Victoria Theatre gala. Confirm current rules with the venue before you commit.