Consolation prizes are given to contestants who don’t win the top prize in a game show or contest. They can vary from items donated by sponsors to high-value gifts. Offering them creates goodwill towards sponsors and can attract future contestants.
In the game show of life, some people win trips to Hawaii and some… well, they get a nice set of luggage. Not everyone manages to win the top prize in a contest or game show, but this fact isn’t always easy to digest. This is usually when a consolation prize makes a welcome appearance. This is generally a parting gift given to contestants who either did not win the competition or did not appear on stage at all. It is meant to console the contestants who can only watch the winner walk away with the big cash prize or the fancy automobile.
What constitutes a consolation prize varies from contest to contest. Some game shows may use items donated by sponsors as parting gifts to losing contestants, while others may have a prize for second or third place. In the spirit of offering real consolation, this type of prize is often something of a fairly substantial value, such as a new computer or a high-quality set of suitcases. While it may not be as valuable as a new car or a trip to an island paradise, the item could prove very useful or satisfying to the contestant who receives it.
Sometimes a consolation prize is thematically linked to the grand prize. While the winner may be traveling to Rome, Italy, the runner-up may be receiving an elaborate dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant. The winner of a contest might walk away in a sports car, but the second-place winner might receive NASCAR-related clothing and memorabilia.
Not all contests or game shows offer consolation prizes to losing contestants, or may allow players to keep any winnings accumulated during the game. A consolation prize can be just the experience of being in a TV studio or meeting a favorite celebrity or two.
Offering some sort of consolation prize to contest finalists is generally considered good form, as it creates a sense of goodwill towards the sponsors of the event. This can be very important if the contest runs regularly or if the awards show needs to attract a fresh supply of contestants.
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