Comment: Book a seat - It's your party

In just over a week the great and good of the retail optical business and optometry will meet at the Hilton Hotel in London's Park Lane to celebrate the presentation of the 2008 Optician Awards. I bring this fact up not just to blow Optician's trumpet for putting in the effort to host the profession's night of the year, but also to remind the whole profession and industry that these awards are for them.

Each year, shortly after the Optician Awards have been presented, people ask me what the night was like, what happened and is there a DVD they could watch. I have to respond by saying the Optician Awards are for everyone to enjoy and anyone is welcome to book a seat. You don't have to be a sponsor, you don't have to be on a shortlist. You simply have to have a passion for optics and to enjoy a damn good party.