Corporate Event Entertainment
It is NO fun …
Trying to come up with fun activities that is.
Everyone has been there, done that, seen it all.
So how are YOU supposed to get everyone involved and having fun?
For many employees, the highlight of the business social calendar is the corporate office party. When you are in charge of planning the festivities, the responsibility of ensuring that everyone has an enjoyable experience can be daunting.
By organizing a variety of corporate holiday event ideas, your guests can be fully engaged in the merriment from the moment they arrive until the party has ended.
Unique & Fun Ideas For Corporate Events
When considering different corporate social event ideas, choose activities that conform to:
- your company’s culture
- identity
- workplace atmosphere.
Here are some of the most popular games and entertainment options:
* The Mysterious Desk Item:
Many fun company event ideas are simple and inexpensive.
Gather several common items from the desks of different employees, and assign a number to each one of them.
- Coffee cups
- staplers
- calculators
- pens
are perfect for this activity. Everyone makes a list and writes the name of the owner next to the item. The person with the highest percentage of correct answers receives an award or door prize.
* Comedian:
Everyone loves a corporate comedian, and a holiday office party is the perfect venue to give your co-workers something to laugh about.
Since company sponsored events still require a sense of etiquette, always verify the comedian’s particular brand of humor is appropriate for the setting.
Vulgarity and sex-related humor is NOT suitable for corporate parties.
* Karaoke:
Karaoke remains one of the most reliable and inexpensive entertainment options for holiday parties.
Assuming the venue is suitable for loud music, Karaoke brings out the entertainer in everyone. Machines and disks can be purchased from electronics stores or rented from local music shops.
Co-workers may be reluctant to take the stage at first, but once the ice is broken, the fun really begins.
* Gift Exchange:
Each employee is required to bring an unusual, inexpensive gift. In fact, whacky and off the wall gifts are encouraged.
The gifts are arranged under the holiday tree, and each employee is assigned a random number.
The person with the first number chosen picks a gift and opens it. The second person can either steal the first gift or select a new one.
The game continues until every gift is opened, but each gift can only be stolen twice.
* Pass the Orange:
At least two teams with six players should be arranged in single file lines.
The first person in each line tucks an orange underneath their chin. The orange gets passed down the line until it gets to the last person, who comes to the front of the line and starts the process over again.
The first team to get their starting player to the front of the line wins the game.
The Key to Corporate Party Success
Corporate parties offer a great opportunity for co-workers to bond and learn more about each other outside the pressure of the workplace environment.
Planning activities that keep the party interesting and engaging will ensure a successful event that is remembered fondly for years to come.
For additional corporate event ideas and entertainment options, contact our office today. We can help put the fun in your corporate events.
Corporate Christmas Party Entertainment Ideas, Corporate Event Entertainment
Our corporate Christmas party is only a month away!
Christmas is fast approaching …
and everywhere is booked up!
Where are you going to hold this year’s corporate Christmas party?
Do not panic!
You still have 30 days to sort out this event. Although you may feel as though there is still a lot to do, you will soon notice that things come together very quickly!
So you have asked around at a variety of different venues and there is no availability.
This now means that you are going to have to hold the Christmas party at the office.
Ok, it isn’t what you originally wanted, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be a great night!
To help you arrange a fantastic evening, we have put together some ideas that will make your event go off with a bang!
1: Entertainment Networking
You need to make sure you hire some sort of corporate Christmas party entertainment, and as it is last minute you will likely find that most corporate entertainers are booked up.
If you have an established relationship with a corporate entertainment provider, ask if they can help by networking.
Corporate entertainers and corporate event suppliers develop strong relationships with the best in their business.
They may be able to provide you with the names of entertainers that might be available.
In our office, we prefer to establish solid relationships.
The best way to do that is provide stellar service.
If Tom isn’t available, or isn’t the right for your event, he can recommend entertainers that will make your function a success.
By doing this, we know that when you have a great time this year, you will keep us in mind when you need entertainment again.
Even when recommended, still make sure you look at some video and reviews before you book.
The last thing you want is your entertainment to spoil the event.
2: What About Food?
There are no caterers that can organize your food in such a short period of time.
Do not worry!
You could always pop to the local supermarkets to pick up some food or you could ring around different restaurants to see if they could sort something out for you.
It doesn’t matter what food you do, as long as it tastes good and there is enough of it people will be happy!
3: Decorate The Office
You need people to feel as though they are not in work.
You can do this by simply decorating the office with Christmas decorations.
Buy a couple of Christmas trees and plenty of lights and your office will soon look a lot more like Santa’s Grotto.
4: Drinks
The best way to organize your drinks for the evening is by simply calling it a “Bring your own booze” event.
That way everyone will bring what they like and that’s one less item on the list you need to worry about.
5: Music
This one is simple. You or someone you know must own an I pod. Set up some speakers and hit shuffle.
That’s your music for the event!
If you cannot use an I pod, there are a variety of different websites you can get free music from. Hook your laptop up to the speakers instead.
All of these ideas are very easy to organize within a short space of time and I am sure that you will have no problems hosting a fantastic event.
If you would like any more ideas or are looking for corporate entertainment for your company Christmas party, please contact Tom Crowl at: https://comedyventriloquist.com/contact-tom.
Corporate Event Entertainment
Corporate entertainers can bring laughter and enthusiasm to
- professional luncheons,
- training sessions and
- company retreats.
However, many human resource and executive assistants have discovered the hard way that not every entertainer fits the bill. By discussing your wants and needs with the performer, companies can avoid nightmare scenarios such as these:
Complaint #1: The corporate entertainer was late due to travel delays or miscommunications.
It takes a certain amount of professionalism for a performer to:
- handle contracts
- deposits
- arrange travel to the appropriate venue.
Experienced corporate performers stay in communication with event planners throughout:
- the planning process
- watching for weather developments and
- confirming travel reservations
so that the corporate event goes as planned.
A seasoned performer is also sure to relay any necessary equipment requests in order to reduce the possibility of any last-minute surprises.
Complaint #2: The corporate performer made inappropriate remarks.
Corporate performers understand the importance of your company maintaining a professional atmosphere and image, even during a relaxed evening or holiday party.
Seasoned corporate entertainers will not book or recommend other performers who might cause embarrassment or outrage among employers or management.
Complaint #3: The performance did not fit the event.
Seasoned entertainers take time to research the business enough to insure that the perfect message and tone are conveyed.
Quality entertainers know how to entertain a variety of crowds and understand the importance of choosing the proper venue for their act.
When a certain crowd or venue doesn’t fit the performer’s specifications, they are typically able to provide recommendations of others performers who may be better suited.
Complaint #4: The performer refuses to refund monies paid after failure to show or inappropriate behavior.
Most corporate entertainers realize their success depends on client satisfaction.
These performers stand by their word and act as professional as you would expect one of your employees to act.
If an emergency were to arise, most would help you find a replacement.
Complaint #5: The act was sweet but a little too short.
Seasoned corporate performers understand the importance of pleasing a customer.
A happy customer is a returning customer.
To insure that your expectations are met, always discuss the length of the performance before the date of the event.
Quality acts, like corporate comedian ventriloquist Tom Crowl, can bring professionalism and roars of laughter to your next corporate entertainment event. Event planners, businesses and organizations should contact Tom directly to plan a memorable night for everyone, including the organizers.
Ventriloquism
Just because you schedule entertainment …
Doesn’t mean people will watch it.
Or enjoy it.
Live entertainment can take a boring event and twist it into an incredible one.
It can also destroy the integrity of the event.
That is right – DESTROY.
These two polar opposites scare the heck out of most event planners.
How do you make certain you aren’t subject to the:
“OMG -who hired this act?”
syndrome?
Making your entertainment presentations successful depends on framing. And the process of framing live entertainment for events starts long before your guests arrive.
Targeting
The success of any entertainment boils down to targeting. The style of entertainment must match your guests’ preferences.
Hiring the Wiggles, a children’s singing group, for your company’s executive board meeting may not be a good match.
(Unless your company produces them or sells children’s products.)
To target the entertainment you have to learn about the people you intend to entertain.
- What do they like?
- What are their hobbies?
- What types of programs do they watch on TV?
- What was the last movie they saw?
- Did they enjoy it?
- What do they have in common?
The more you know about them the better. You will begin to see patterns that allow you to consider entertainment options.
Still not sure which direction to take?
Try taking a brief survey of your attendees. Use a service like SurveyMonkey.com to request their input. Ask questions about
- potential venues,
- menu items
- entertainment.
The results will help you plan a stronger event.
It will also serve to promote the event and make guests feel invested and valued.
Consulting With Corporate Entertainers
Once you’ve selected the corporate entertainers for your function, seek their input.
They perform hundreds of times a year and understand how to create a successful presentation.
If your entertainer requires something, make every effort to have it there.
We’ve seen companies hire acts and then hesitate to spend money to contract in proper sound. The act suffers because things are not right and the client blames the talent!
If something is on the rider, budget for the expense.
If an entertainer springs something unexpected at the last minute, they should be responsible.
Making certain the act is staged and provided their technical needs is one phase of framing the talent.
Program Placement
Next you need to consider placement of the program.
Live entertainment consumes an important part of your event budget.
Many event planners want to leave the entertainment until the end to cap off the function.
Is that really the best spot?
In the case of music, it may well be. For other types of event entertainers it may not.
If your guests have had a busy day, they may be looking for a way out. Putting variety entertainment on last can provide that option.
Moving the entertainment immediately following dinner can frame the program in a different light.
After dinner people are still fresh and the program can lighten the mood. This will help food digest.
At the end of the program your guests will be wide awake and in a positive mood.
That means your speeches and other planned events will be better received.
This is a much better use of your budget.
Presentation
Finally: frame the entertainment with a proper introduction and send off.
The executive who says:
“Here is the show. Let’s hope it is better than last year.”
… sabotages your efforts.
The talent should provide you with an easy to read introduction to set a tone. Use it to create respectful anticipation.
For more help selecting and framing live entertainment for events contact Tom now. He works with you to create unforgettable event entertainment.
This article’s popularity lead to the creation of The Savvy Event Planner Podcast. Click the link below to check out episode 6 for an in-depth look at creating anticipation for live entertainment through proper framing.
http://savvyeventpodcast.com/6
Corporate Christmas Party Entertainment Ideas, Corporate Event Entertainment
I’m willing to bet…
That you’ve been to one.
The corporate Christmas party from hell.
They aren’t supposed to be. Read on to find out how to avoid a Christmas Party crash …
The office holiday party
- celebrates the season,
- rewards employees and
- builds the team.
In-office parties have become popular over the last few years. They are more affordable than an off-site party.
The biggest challenge is:
Making the party festive and exciting when held in the work place.
Here are our top corporate Christmas party ideas to make your event fun and rewarding.
1. The Secret Santa Gift Exchange:
Everyone pulls a name and purchases a gift for a co-worker.
This is a traditional type of event that may be hilarious.
Set a spending limit and challenge employees to find outlandish gifts.
If your office has a good sense of humor, this can be fun.
2. The Gift Swap:
Another style of the gift exchange, this creates a fun game.
Everyone brings wrapped gifts and each participant gets a number.
The first person selects a gift and unwraps it. The second person has the option of opening another gift, or “stealing” the first.
When a gift is stolen, the person without gets the option of stealing another, or opening a new gift.
To keep the game from getting insane, limit “steals” to no more than three.
That way the same gift won’t continue to get passed around.
3. The Ugly Sweater Contest:
We’ve seen some ugly holiday sweaters.
Invite people to wear their gaudiest holiday outfits and hold a contest.
Offer a prize for the person who wears the ugliest.
Perhaps they could win a clothing store gift certificate.
At the very least you could give them fashion advice.
These ugly sweaters and outfits will create laughs and break the ice.
A fun way to start any office holiday party.
4. The Cookie Swap:
People become Betty Crocker during the holiday season.
You’ll find co-workers bringing baked goods to work to share their creations.
Why not use this idea to launch your holiday party?
It takes care of providing refreshments.
Plus the leftovers create a great way to swap recipes and build food friendships.
5. Door Prize Bonanza:
Everyone gets a ticket and throughout the party random numbers are called.
Creative prizes can make the bonanza more fun.
Lunch on the company, an extra day off, a better parking space or other affordable perk can brighten anyone’s day.
6. Unique Entertainment:
Hiring a corporate entertainer is always a great office holiday party idea.
The right entertainment can liven up your party and generate tons of fun.
Karaoke can be good for some laughs if you are on a tight budget.
Other ideas include a DJ to play music.
The problem with music is it can drown out conversation. There is a wide variety of musical tastes too.
Make sure to hire someone with a diverse musical library.
You may even want to consider a corporate comedian. They can poke fun at the business culture and get everyone laughing.
Naturally Santa is always a great surprise guest at corporate Christmas parties.
If you event celebrates several holidays, you may wish to avoid the jolly elf.
So what do you think? Share your corporate Christmas party ideas with us by e-mailing Tom.
If you are planning holiday party entertainment, contact our office to discuss your vision. We will be happy to offer suggestions and help you find the right corporate entertainment for your event.
Ventriloquism
Searching for entertainment ideas for events?
You want something different.
The standard fare of live entertainment options won’t cut it. If guests see another magician make a bowling ball appear, they might scream. Jugglers that toss knives around the CEO are hilarious the first time, but it becomes passé the second. You’ve even had standup comedians, but some of the topics can be touchy.
Bands seem like a good option until they start playing. It is a given not everyone will like the music genre selected. The evening’s networking is over the moment the first note begins. Those who don’t enjoy the music will leave and people will begin to drift apart. Your event and message is over as the music dominates the rest of the evening. There is no cohesive group for your parting remarks.
We’d like to share another entertainment possibility you may not have considered. Ventriloquists. Ventriloquist comedy is extremely popular right now. Jeff Dunham’s YouTube videos have millions of views and gained him fans worldwide. Thanks to this mega-stardom, Jeff has toured the world. His program has drawn tens of thousands in non-English speaking countries. He sells out 11,000 seat venues here in the United States. All based on the power of the puppet!
Ventriloquist Terry Fator won America’s Got Talent in their second season. Thousands of votes from people across the country carried him to the million dollar prize. Terry went on to sign the most lucrative deal ever offered to a talent contest winner. Today, Terry headlines his own theatre in Las Vegas. In 2015, another ventriloquist, Paul Zerdin, won the show. Proving that ventriloquists are more popular than ever.
Even with the success of Jeff, Terry and other top ventriloquists, the skill is rarely seen live. Part of this is due to the number of professional ventriloquists. Ventriloquism is a difficult skill to master. It is more than just playing with a puppet. A good comedy ventriloquist must be in expert in several areas:
- Comedy
- Vocal Manipulation
- Puppet Manipulation
- Lip Control and sound production
- Ad-lib and Improvisation
- Audience Engagement, and
- Script Customization
All of which must be accomplished at the same time!
Comedy ventriloquist Tom Crowl provides entertainment for corporate events and special events. His act travels across the United States and has performed at five star resorts along the Mexican Riviera. Crowl creates personalized ventriloquist comedy acts for his clients. These routines involve and engage his client’s products, people and messages.
In addition to being a top comedian ventriloquist, Crowl also teaches the art to others. In the ventriloquist community (yes, there is one) Tom is considered a leader in his field. Tom’s Learn-Ventriloquism on-line course was groundbreaking use of internet technology to teach the skill.
As a co-founder of the International Ventriloquist Society, Tom is friends with some of the best ventriloquists working today. When you need live entertainment for corporate functions, contact our office. If Tom’s act isn’t right for your event, we are happy to help you find talent that will wow your audience.
Corporate Christmas Party Entertainment Ideas, Corporate Event Entertainment
The holidays are fast approaching. It is already time to start scheduling the corporate Christmas party. Where did the year go? No use wondering, you’ve got to start planning early if you want a Christmas party to remember.
No need to panic though. Corporate entertainer Tom Crowl is here to help. From date to done, we’ll cover each step of the job to make your life easier. Here are the basic planning steps to make your corporate holiday party incredible:
Decide On A Date
You may want to check around the office to get some input. Weekends are popular for hosting events, although weeknights can be easier to schedule. If you plan on a weeknight, be sure the event ends early enough everyone will show up for work the next day.
Will your event be a Christmas party? A Holiday Party? or a Winter Party? That can affect the date too. A corporate Holiday party should fit between holidays and you will need to make certain it doesn’t fall on one. A Winter party can take place any time, including January.
Holiday activities fill calendars fast, so make certain yours is on everyone’s schedule early. A corporate party with no guests won’t go over well with management.
Timing Is Important
Will you be holding an after hours party? Luncheon events work well too. Although not everyone heads back to work. That is why one company hired buses to transport their workers to a corporate Christmas luncheon. Employees didn’t have to worry about parking, or drinking. The company didn’t have to worry about getting people back to the office.
Perhaps a happy hour right after work would work well too. Depending on the style of Christmas party you are planning, these options should be considered.
Find A Venue
Now that you have a date and time, you need to choose a place to hold the party. Your office is a budget friendly choice, but only if it is big enough to party comfortably.
If you’ve got a small company, the party could be held at the home of the boss. Local bars could set aside space for your group when having a happy hour. Some companies even hold their office parties at bowling alleys, giving them a team building fun activity.
For larger groups, hotels and conference centers are a good place to check. Does your company have any hotels they work with on a regular basis? Talk with the person in charge of scheduling travel arrangements for your company. They may have a hotel contact that can save you money on space rental and catering.
Creating A Menu
Will you need to have food catered? Or will your event be potluck? From a cocktail hour to a seated meal, every event’s food requirements will be different.
Appetizers are fine for a happy hour. For longer events, “real food” is usually served. Will drinks be a part of the plan? If so, an open bar can make budgeting tricky. Some companies offer drink coupons with a cash bar beyond the initial service.
Will deserts be on the menu? Chocolates, pies, cakes and other sweets add to the budget. Talk with your caterer about options to get the most bang for your buck.
One last menu note: plan for dietary restrictions. Kosher, vegetarian and gluten free options should be considered.
Don’t Forget Corporate Christmas Party Entertainment
You want employees to celebrate the holidays, and entertainment lives any event. People remember two things about most parties, the food and entertainment. So don’t skimp on your corporate entertainer!
There are tons of live entertainment options. For Christmas parties, Santa can make an appearance. Of course, putting a hat on the boss and letting him or her hand out bonuses is a good option too.
Business comedians can also liven the party by personalizing their act. Using current office and industry trends, employees will take the laughter back to work. This is a great way to relieve stress and help people relax.
If funds are tight, karaoke may be a good entertainment option. Hold your own Star Search and find the voice in your office.
Make sure to contact your entertainment choices early. The holidays is a busy time and schedules fill quickly.
Announcing The Event
Once the details are in writing, get the announcements out right away. Put the date on the office calendar and make sure everyone knows to hold the date.
You may focus on smaller details once the foundation of your event is in place. There is still a lot to plan, but napkins, place settings, centerpieces and door prizes are the window dressings. With the major pieces of the puzzle in place, the rest of the parts will fit together with ease.
When you are planning your corporate Christmas party entertainment, contact Tom. Just call (410)596-4127 or email him at tom@comedyventriloquist.com.
We hope this article helps make your corporate Christmas party planning a bit easier!
Ventriloquism
Comedy Ventriloquist or Standup Comedian
Is A Comedy Ventriloquist Better Than A Standup Comedian?
You are planning an event and need live entertainment. Your group loves to laugh so someone suggested a comedy. Now you are tasked with finding a standup comedian who has material that will appeal to your audience.
We don’t envy you. To determine if the comedian’s material will be right for your guests, you have to watch a lot of video. The jokes blend together after awhile. Didn’t you already hear that joke? Was it on another video of the comedian you are watching? Or was it said by another comedian that you have already rejected.
You may be laughing at times, but will the audience laugh? Everyone has different tastes. And will the comedian stay clean? Some members of your group can be prudish when it comes to humor.
Now you’ve found a comedy ventriloquist. It seems like standup comedy, yet totally different. People are convulsing with laughter on the video. You want your audience to laugh that hard. Could this be right for you?
Sure it could, and here are three reasons a comedy ventriloquist may be better than a standup comedian for your event.
1. Point Of View:
A standup comedian provides their point of view to create comedy. If your audience doesn’t see things from that angle, they will not engage and laugh. A comedy ventriloquist provides several points of view using different characters. Comedy is created from this contrast. It also creates situational humor rather than the standard setup and punchline. That type of comedy appeals to a wider range of people.
2. Visual Appeal:
A standup comedian is alone on stage. If their humor isn’t engaging the audience, they have nothing. A comedy ventriloquist adds another dimension. Puppets have a magnetic attraction when they come to life. Their features draw the eye. Your program suddenly becomes more visual and feels larger.
3. Depth Of Material:
A standup comedian can talk about anything. While this may give them a wide range, the depth of their material is limited. A ventriloquist can take the comedy further. The ventriloquist’s puppet can do anything and share the adventure. Misunderstandings & confusion will elevate the laughs. The puppet can increase the comedy by talking about dealings with members of the audience. It allows a unique personalization of the program.
If you are looking for comedy, consider a stand up comedy ventriloquist. Contact our office for more information. If a comedy ventriloquist act is a good match for your audience, we will be happy to help. If Tom’s act is not right, we can still help you line up some unforgettable comedy entertainment.
Corporate Event Entertainment
The term “corporate event” covers a wide range of event styles. They could be large multi-day conferences with thousands of attendees. A corporate event could also be a small meeting with only a couple of executives. Whenever your company hosts an event, no matter what size, its reputation is on the line.
Corporate event planners can help you avoid the problems that make businesses look bad. With the right planner, boring events become a thing of the past. A good event planner listens to your needs and understands your goals. They work with you to make sure you host a seamless event that pushes all the right buttons.
Finding the right corporate event planner for your function can be difficult. You want to make certain they have expertise in the type of event you are planning.
Here is our list of the Top Traits of a
Great Corporate Event Planner:
1. They Are An Idea Generator:
A great planner develops ideas based on your needs. Not just themes or decorations. They have a firm grasp of locations that will meet your requirements. They will offer ideas for the menu, staffing and service, entertainment possibilities and more. If your budget is stretched, they understand how to find sponsorship and can make those suggestions too.
2. They Remain Flexible:
Great corporate event planners are open to suggestions. They are willing to morph their suggestions to accommodate the client. The planning will evolve and change as things progress. You definitely want someone who can roll with the punches and still knock the event out of the park.
3. They Understand The Importance Of Decor:
Decorations are far from the most important aspect of an event. People do not remember the color of napkins or the centerpiece of the table a year after the event. But decor creates ambience that is still important to your function. Your decor must work with the theme. It must be reasonable within your budget. Decor should never interfere with sight lines or communication between guests.
4. They Should Have A Plan:
Everything should be mapped out and most important, shared with vendors and organizers. Good plans fail when people aren’t in the loop. Does your caterer understand the chain reaction caused by slow service? Does your speaker realize what guests are missing when their speech runs long? Everyone should understand their role in the bigger picture.
5. They Must Be Able To Delegate:
A corporate event that falls on one person is extremely stressful. An event requires a team. A great corporate event planner develops their team with each person’s strengths in mind. They have great relationship and leading skills. They communicate their needs, place faith in those they send forward and keep tabs on the results.
6. They Follow-Up And Evaluate Results:
Was the event a success? If so, why or why not? What can you do differently in the future to improve and make things run smoother? Great corporate event planners always study their creations and find ways to improve. That is a part of what makes them great.
Questions to ask before hiring a corporate event planner:
It is important to interview an event planner just as you would any employee. They may be a consultant, but you need to know they are the right person for the job.
Here are some basic questions to start your interview:
- What is the most recent event you have organized?
- Have you supervised events like the one we are planning?
- What were your responsibilities for that event?
- How many people attended?
- Did the attendance meet or exceed the client’s expectations?
- Did anything unexpected happen?
- If so, how did you correct the problem?
- How much time will you need to plan and promote the event?
- Will you need additional people from the company to assist?
- Do you work out of your own home or office? Or does the company have to provide one?
- Will you be there on the day of the event?
- If you will not, or something happens, who would be there?
- Do you charge a flat fee?
- If not, what items or services do you bill?
- Do you have references we may contact?
If you will be working directly with the planner, make sure it is someone you like. An in person interview helps you gauge how they communicate and react. They will be representing your company. Make certain you trust and are comfortable with them.
Follow these tips and you will narrow your search to a great corporate event planner for your company. If you have any questions about this article, or need information regarding corporate event entertainment, please contact our office.
Corporate Event Entertainment
There is nothing worse than when a corporate event you’ve planned for a long time doesn’t turn out the way you expected. Tom Crowl, who has been in the entertainment business for the past 30 years, has kindly shared with us 5 corporate entertainment fiascos that he has come across over his time in the industry. It is never nice for the corporate entertainer or the event planner when moments like this happen, but hopefully these 5 fiascos may help you when planning your next event.
“Learning from failure can lead to success!”
EARLY DEPARTURE:
There was a group of people in government meetings all day long, who were tired and knew they had flights early the following morning. Dinner had turned up late, putting the group in an irritated mood. Several long speeches made staying awake almost impossible. Then the MC said “We are going to take a ten minute break before we start the entertainment.” As soon as these words were spoken, there was a mass exodus to the door. The event planner ended up with no audience meaning that the entertainment budget was blown paying for an act to fly in and not perform.
DON’T LAUGH WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL:
A Corporate Comedian was scheduled for a Fortune 500 event. The event planner decided that their schedule was tight and decided to have him perform during the meal. The comedian was informed of the change on arrival. He knew it wouldn’t work, but the event planner was insistent. This was a problem. It is hard to laugh and eat at the same time! Due to the guests’ attention being split, the act failed miserably. This now meant that the act and the event planner looked bad in the eyes of management due to poor planning of the program.
SIGHTLESS ENTERTAINMENT:
The audience couldn’t see the program. The venue staff had laid out the room with poor sight lines to the stage. Balloon centerpieces further blocked the view. As a result, the guests couldn’t see the speakers or the entertainment. That meant that they were not engaged or paying attention. The event suffered as a result.
NO SHOW:
An act was hired through an entertainment agency. Due to miscommunication and improper follow-up, the details were not being confirmed in writing before the event. The entertainer never showed! This left the event planner out of pocket and with no act to fill the entertainment space during the event.
WEATHER TROUBLE:
A national act was being brought in to entertain a group of people. Weather delays forced him to miss his flight, which created a nightmare of calls and last minute shuffling to replace the him. Guests were understanding, yet disappointed that the entertainment they thought they would see was cancelled. Steps can be taken to avoid problems caused by travel delays. Event planners should discuss alternative travel measures a few weeks before the event.
Each of these short stories about corporate fiascos is true. A bit of attention and forethought could have prevented them. Keep these in mind to help shield your next event from disaster. It can all be avoided with the right event planning process.
If you would like any further advice on corporate entertainment or tips on how to avoid fiascos like these, please contact Tom Crowl here or by calling (410) 596-4127. He looks forward to speaking with you to create a memorable company event.
