What separates a well-run award show from one mired in confusion or controversy? The most successful shows — like the GRAMMYs — run like clockwork behind the scenes, delivering experiences that are not only smooth and secure but also fair, efficient, and meticulously planned.

At Yangaroo, we’ve had the privilege of working with some of the industry’s most prestigious award shows and auditing firms. Based on this experience, here are key lessons we’ve learned from the leaders in the space — and how your organization can adopt their best practices.

1. Plan Like a Pro: Build in Breathing Room

The best-run shows don’t wing it. They know every deadline and every milestone — from the call for entries to the final certification of results. These shows leave ample time between key stages (e.g., entry close → material review → adjudication → finalist announcement) to allow for proper vetting and resolution of any issues.

With Yangaroo Awards, you can plan and enforce timelines using custom workflows, automatic reminders, and deadline-based access controls — helping you stay ahead of schedule and avoid last-minute scrambles.

2. Put Quality First — Always

Top-tier award shows like the GRAMMYs, run by the Recording Academy, enforce uncompromising quality standards. Their success depends on airtight systems, extensive platform testing, strict data validation routines, and layered quality control procedures that eliminate errors before they happen.

We’ve engineered the Yangaroo Awards platform with that same mindset. From real-time validation of submissions to robust QA testing prior to launch, our technology and processes are built to uphold the highest standards of data integrity and user experience.

3. Trust, But Verify: The Role of Auditing

When the stakes are high, third-party auditing becomes essential. Major shows often engage firms like Deloitte, Ernst & Young, or PricewaterhouseCoopers to independently verify results and ensure fairness. We’ve built seamless integrations and standardized workflows with these partners to ensure that our data can be easily accessed, verified, and certified.

Not every show needs a Big Four audit, though. Yangaroo also supports partnerships with boutique legal and auditing firms — or can even provide in-house audit support for basic certifications. Whatever level of assurance your show requires, we’ve got the process to match.

4. Make Judging Transparent and Consistent

Well-run shows don’t just pick winners — they define how winners are selected. A clear adjudication policy combined with a structured, secure judging environment ensures both transparency and fairness.

Our adjudication tools are among the most advanced in the industry. We offer:

• Randomized ballots and access-controlled voting sessions
• Scoring options like First Past the Post, Weighted Ballots, Top X, and more
• Fan votes and social media integrations
• Material review time tracking to monitor engagement
• Ballot session reconstruction for full audit trails and accountability

The result? A competition judged on merit — and an experience your jurors can trust.

The Yangaroo Advantage

We’ve helped execute some of the most respected award shows in the world, and we’ve seen firsthand what success looks like: clarity, control, consistency, and a commitment to excellence at every step. That’s the standard we bring to every show — whether you’re a major global brand or a fast-growing industry awards program. Want to see how the pros do it? Get in contact with us now.