The 2001 Blanton Ball was the first gala hosted by the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas. The museum is building a new museum on the University of Texas campus, so the success of the event was vital to raising the museum's profile and raising funds. Major donors and potential donors were expected from around the state and the nation, and university officials needed assurance that the event would go off without a hitch. As the event grew from 600 to 800 attendees, the event outgrew its original venue and another had to be found. Working with museum staff and the gala committee, Word of Mouth designed an event that could work in Gregory Gymnasium, a huge space on the university campus. Strong Productions of Austin and David Kurio Design transformed the gym into a banquet hall of glorious beauty.

Word of Mouth organized four separate field kitchens that served the multi-course seated dinner to guests in a matter of minutes. The evening also featured "synchronized service", in which all guests at a table are served virtually simultaneously.

The unusual logistical challenges, as well as the highly successful execution, resulted in the event being nominated for a 2001 Gala Award for "Best Off-Premise Catered Event" by ISES, the International Society of Event Specialists.