Stage A Fashion Show

Stage a fashion show that will wow the crowd.

You've just finished your new collection of outfit designs and you want to celebrate your achievement by staging an unforgettable fashion show that will woo the crowd. Along with great designs, a successful fashion show requires a team of professional consultants supporting you and working together to communicate and emphasize your creativity.

Instructions

1. Decide on a budget and spend your money strategically. Think of what you realistically can spend for your fashion show. If your funds are limited, determine the most important areas of the event and focus your budget on them.

2. Decide on a theme. Your designs will dictate the overarching message and setting for your event. Music, lighting, set, makeup, hair, styling and catwalk must convey the same message to the audience: the core concept of the collection. Think professionally and spend your money understanding the bigger picture.

3. Decide what your end goal is for organizing the fashion show, whether it's greater exposure and branding, sales or both. Keeping your objectives in mind will ensure you don't waste time and resources focusing on unnecessary tasks.

4. Be imaginative in choosing the right venue. Preferably select a central, comfortable, wide location with a spacious backstage, a separate entrance and a high ceiling. A few of the most popular places to stage a fashion show are art galleries, warehouses, schools, the beach in the summertime and other outside areas such as rooftops.

5. Identify your audience and make an invitation list. Your public plays a big part in shaping your choices of music, catering and dress code.

6. Make your guests feel special and offer them cocktails or Champagne and finger food. Guests like finding goody bags on their seats.

7. Offer tasteful souvenirs like products used behind the scenes on models by the make-up and hair company you hired. Ask them to donate a moderate amount of products.

8. Ensure the magazine editors and news reporters at the event have seats as close as possible to the runway. They will help you spread the word about both your fabulous event and designs.

9. Invest in professional models and an expert casting director. He will advise you on the current trends and will offer insight into the taste of journalists, editors and photographers. Remember: Models are your show. Choose them with care and they will make your designs come alive. Look for models through agencies and online and hold as many rehearsals as necessary prior to the fashion show.

10. Pay great attention when choosing the music and the lighting for the event. Music should have a good, moderate beat by which models can walk at a normal pace. Music should engage and entice the audience. Keep the models' choreography simple so the focus remains on the designs, not on the persons showing them on the catwalk. Lighting is key and should be flattering, with lots of angles and colors.

11. Find a charismatic host who can present and describe each design in the show. Alternatively, you can do this yourself, if you're comfortable in front of an audience. A good script will help the audience remember certain items after the brief presentation on the catwalk.

12. Promote your show at least one month prior to the event. It is always a good idea to advertise your show on local radio stations, social networks and blogs, and TV. Offer collaborations to local businesses that will help you post flyers around town.

13. Post the photographs and/or videos on your brand's website and other online channels after the event.

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