So You Want to Direct a Pageant

So you would like to direct a pageant? It’s not going to be easy and it can take a couple of times before you get it completely right. Here’s just a few hints and tips on how to run a successful pageant.

1.) Come up with a good name for the pageant. Here are some examples of pageant names that are in use: Miss Relay for Life, Miss Reelfoot, Miss Western Days, Miss Lake County, etc… Make sure your name isn’t already taken by another pageant in the area.

2.) Don’t use judges that are from the same town or even the same county. If they know a girl they can either score her bad or try to make her queen. That’s just one way your pageant can become rigged.

3.) Find a place with good lighting and possibly a stage. Most high schools will rent out their stage for you as long as you call ahead of time.

4.) Decide if you want to start a BIG pageant or just a small local pageant. If you do a BIG pageant you must decide on what days they will be, if they include interview, swimsuit, evening gown, talent, questions, etc… These pageants are usually done in hotel convention centers. If you do a small local pageant you can decide if onstage questions is a must for your pageant, but beware some girls refuse to do these kinds of pageants. You can also decide if you want to do side categories like most photogenic, best hair, prettiest smile, best dressed, best model, etc… I wouldn’t advise best personality unless you do onstage questioning.

5.) Decide what your prizes are. You can use trophies, certificates, crowns & tiaras, roses, money, gift certificates, etc… I would use trophies for the Queen and her court along with a Crown & roses for the Queen. Side Categories would get certificates.

6.) Most pageants start around the end of March and end in May. There are some pageants that go on every holiday. Some of these can be a big success if they are advertised to a wide group.

7.) Decide if you are having a open pageant or a closed pageant. Open pageant means that it’s open to any girls in any county. A closed pageant means it is only open to girls in the county the pageant is being held.

8.) You also need to decide if you want to include girls over the age of eighteen. You could do a Misses which would include anyone not in high school to the age of 25. Then a Mrs. which would include anyone engaged, married, divorced, or widowed. Doing a misses pageant usually doesn’t get a lot of attention unless your pageant helps them get to a preliminary pageant for a state pageant. (good idea to look into if you do a BIG pageant)

9.) Create a application (can also be used as a flyer) for the girls to complete. Make sure you ask for name, address (if you plan on starting to mail future pageant applications), age, eye color, hair color, dress description, hobbies, future occupation, parent’s names, and who they are sponsored by.

10.) Then you need a announcer. This person will read out the first names of the girls only until the winners are announced. This way if a judge might know the person she won’t completely know until after the pageant. She will ask the girls to parade around the stage once then call each girl one by one onto stage. Then she will ask them to parade and stop on stage so the judge can see all the girls. (depended on your stage you may just want a few girls at a time on this part so the girl’s aren’t crowded).

11.) Create score cards for the judges that you can give back to the girls so they can have feedback. This is a great way to keep getting the girls to come back to the pageant. Include Walk, Dress choice, hair, makeup, smile, and overall. Then put the number 1-5 beside each category so the judges can circle their choice. Also leave a spot and put “notes to girl” so the judge can tell them what they liked or didn’t like. Also leave a spot on top for the judges to write number and first name of the girl.

12.) Of course you also want to make the judges happy. The score card is just one way to make their job easier (plus it’s easy for side categories). Make sure you get comfortable chairs and a nice table. Dress it up with a table cloth, flowers, and a bowl of peppermints. Make sure to give them glasses of water and a pretty jug that has ice water in it so they can refill their cups.

13.) We can’t forget to make the audience happy. Make sure you have concessions, enough seating, and a nice slow music playing in the background (this music will also help the girls walk slower on stage for the judges to score). Having raffles in between pageants or even while they are waiting on who’s going to be queen is a good way to keep the crowd happy. You can ask for donations to the pageant from shop owners. Things you could raffle off would be free movie rentals, candles, free tanning, a ham (or turkey), etc…

14.) Make sure the stage is presented nicely. Having great decorations always makes it look pretty. Try plants, columns, streamers, etc… Make sure you have a chair for the reining queen or whoever will give out crowns and trophys. Make sure the chair is close to the trophy table.

15.) Ask for donations from people to help the pageant out not only with things for raffle but money also. Tell them that their name will be read aloud between each group and put in the program to show them your gratitude for helping make the pageant possible.

16.) How much should it be for the girls to enter? If you do just pageant make it $15. If you have a pageant plus side categories make the pageant $10 with side categories $5 dollars each or they can do all side categories and pageant for $25. If you have 5 or more side categories they will most likely enter all because it’s a discount.

17.) How much should admission be? I would let one person in free with the girl to help her get dressed. Admission should be free to children under 5 and $3 for everyone else.

18.) How much should raffles be if I choose to do them? I would make a sign up sheet at the admission table and charged $1 per entry. Make sure you have what your giving away on the entry sheet and don’t forget to put it in the program and tell the announcer to tell the audience.  Someone will not have noticed it at the table.

19.) If you do photogenic make sure you let the contestant know that a sticker with her number will be placed on the back of the photo. Don’t allow anything bigger than a 8X10. No more than one photo.

20.) If you have a stage and it’s well lit I would either dim the lights over the audience or cut them off completely. Gives the pageant a better mood plus it will help girl’s that have stage fright. Make sure your audience is able to see to walk around though.

Hope this has helped you in starting your pageant. Or even if you are just trying to make your pageant even better. If you have any more questions about how to direct a pageant just comment this page and I’ll be sure to answer them for you. Have fun!