Gathering people together to make change happen is what Pyramid events are all about. Helping to throw a huge bash to raise funds for the Pacific Science Center, producing a concert to celebrate the Pike Place Market’s centennial or coordinating SAM Olympic Sculpture Park’s Grand Opening—all these projects have two things in common: a great audience and a great cause.

There is no one secret to creating a successful event. The truth of the matter is that event work is all about the details, and details take time! These simple steps can help you navigate the daunting process of creating a memorable event—and then getting people in the door.

Step 1: Decide what you want
First and foremost, exactly what do you want to get out of your event? Are you raising money? Generating awareness of an issue? Motivating people to do something? Once you’re sure of your goals, you’ll be able to create a streamlined vision for all that follows. From this preliminary work, you can turn that vision into reality—all the way from messaging and materials to style and content.

Step 2: Do your homework
Next comes development of your event framework. Research the best possible partners, speakers, presenters, entertainers and emcees for your event. Talk to others about what’s worked for them. This step can also include the creative development of your event brand: Start gathering imaginative ideas for your event’s look and feel while staying focused on your key messages.

Step 3: Location, location, location
Explore different venue options! Hold your auction on stage in a theater, have your reception in an urban park, host your cocktail party on the roof of a fantastic building. There are plenty of venues off the beaten path that can add charm and energy to what could be an otherwise run-of-the-mill event.

Step 4: Create something unique
The program you develop for your event should be in line with your goals (see step 1!)—but it should also be interesting, motivating and should drive your audience to action. For example, to celebrate the Pike Place Market centennial, Pyramid produced Market Party, a concert at the Market attended by over 10,000 Seattleites. Alongside a unique roster of amazing Seattle talent, we assembled a headliner band, The Iconics, made up of Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Chris Ballew (Presidents), John Roderick (The Long Winters) and many more. We asked these artists to play only Seattle-centered songs and to include various Seattle personalities as special guests. The result was a once-in-a-lifetime concert that Seattle won’t soon forget. Creating unique and thoughtful programs like this can take time and energy, but they are worth it.

Step 5: Get your people there!
You can have a great program in a spectacular venue with the best of everything, but your audience will not attend on its own. Your audience outreach begins with your planning process—this should never be a last- minute thought. And there‘s no secret formula to filling the room other than good, old-fashioned human communication.

The key to generating a buzz? Get out there and talk up what you’re doing! If you’re not excited, why should anyone else be? Remind your board members to do their outreach. Create a host committee and stay connected to them so they stay motivated. Connect online by creating a MySpace page for your event. Reach out to community leaders and key contacts to get them on board. Don’t stop talking up your event!

While consultants and event coordinators can help your organization develop a clear event vision, an effective event brand, a great program and rock-solid logistics, there is one thing that only you can do successfully. Only your team can get your network to attend.

So, what’s the long and short of a successful event? Be creative, think big—and get on the phone!

Last Thursday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle held its annual fundraising dinner. Attendance at the event increased five-fold over last year, yet it was more intimate than ever before. Roughly 1300 Jews and a few non-Jews — that is as many as were at Bill Clinton’s fundraiser for Maria Cantwell — gathered at the Sheraton on September 28, exactly two months after the hate crime shooting that killed one and critically injured five Federation staff.

The dinner gave the Jewish community an opportunity to move forward in strength. There were people there who have never been connected to the “organized” Jewish community, folks who were old-timers in that regard, young and old, big and potential donors, politicians and the public.

We laughed, we cried, we raised a lot of money.

This event reminds us what community dinners and luncheons are really about, what they can accomplish beyond just the fundraising. As Robin Boehler, Chair of the Federation’s board of directors, said, this event is mostly about connecting. In her parting words, she challenged people to connect to the community this year: Don’t be alone, don’t feel alone, don’t miss this opportunity to build community. We are all stronger from tragedy and move together in strength.

As we read seemingly daily about shootings and deadly accidents, we feel the pain of the victims and can only hope they have strong communities surrounding them, supporting them and sustaining them as they move forward and begin to heal.