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.
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.
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!
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.
Corporate Christmas Party Entertainment Ideas, Corporate Event Entertainment
Why Hire Corporate Event Vendor Services?
Are you in charge of corporate holiday party planning? The next product launch event? Maybe you are looking for trade show booth ideas. Coming up with the right mix of theme and entertainment can be difficult. You don’t want to repeat the past and you don’t want a boring event.
Trying new corporate event services can be scary.
So what direction should you take?
Corporate comedian ventriloquist Tom Crowl has been in the business of making people laugh for over 30 years. He has worked almost every type of live entertainment event you can imagine. Tom has met and worked with top corporate entertainers, talent agencies and event planners in the business. And now he provides that expertise in a free, no-obligation corporate event services consultation.
If you want a corporate comedian to create interaction with your guests, Tom may be a perfect fit. If he isn’t, his rolodex of event entertainers will begin to spin and he will make recommendations. Tom can even put the act in touch with you so you don’t have to play phone tag or talk through a third party vendor.
Do you need more than one entertainer? Or several styles of live entertainment? We can recommend talent agencies that have proven their value to both clients and entertainers.
The Interactive Experience
Think of your function as a thrill ride. You want people to anticipate your event. You want them to view it with great expectation. There must be excitement and adventure that leaves everyone talking. In the end, you want them to line up for the ride again. This attention to detail sweeps people into your message and gives them something to remember.
Involving your guests takes corporate events to a new level. This attention to detail must be built in during the planning phase. Interactive corporate entertainment can play a huge part in the ride. Imagine bringing your people on-stage for unique experiences. These memories last a lifetime and give guests a shared bond that establishes camaraderie.
Lets collaborate on your corporate entertainment ideas. We can help you create an unforgettable event. From event planning help to other corporate event vendor services, Tom will work with you to make sure your needs are met.
Contact our office here, by email or call (410)596-4127.
