This event we produced for the Pikes Peak Partnership, who provides resources to people with mental, physical and cognitive disabilities. It was their annual fundraiser that had bad attendance and no press. Their Executive Director went to a Forté Events produced event & asked for our help. We moved the venue from a hotel ballroom to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame (obvious fit for the theme & a lot less décor needed!) We kept the name ‘Denim & Diamonds’ and really played up the diamonds aspect. All guests went to a guarded room with a table of diamonds on it. Three were real diamonds, the rest cubic zirconium. Each guest picked out a diamond that was put into a numbered & branded jewelry bag. Local jewelers were onsite and verified the actual diamonds and the three winners were announced during the program. 
We also provided a ton of activities at the event: western themed food stations, a live country band, line dancing lessons, an arm wrestling contest, bungee bull competition, live rope tricks & lessons, ‘diamond dusting’ face painting for adults and a photo booth with Denver Broncos players. There truly was something for everyone! The press responded to the event and helped us promote the fact that you could win a real diamond by supporting this great cause. A local country radio station even did a remote broadcast from the event. The end result was a doubled attendance from the year before (& a lot more money raised!)
Lesson to take from this: find a press-worthy aspect of your event to help get people in the door!
