Need some new corporate event entertainment ideas?

Every event has a reason. Conventions, conferences, seminars and meetings may be to educate or motivate. Smaller events like holiday parties, picnics, charity drives or concerts may be to build staff morale.

Before you decide on entertainment options for corporate events, you need to be clear on the purpose. 

You want guests to have fun. You want to avoid boredom. But you need to make certain every speaker or entertainer you use contributes to the event goal. Keep that in mind as you continue reading.

Entertainment Options:

Corporate Comedy:

Naturally, since Tom is a corporate comedian, we want to share this option with you first. Comedians lighten the mood. Laughter reduces stress and the best jokes continue to be recalled in the work environment. That increases your event ROI, keeping the topic top of mind.

Corporate comedians are flexible and can fit beautifully in most types of corporate events.

Start your morning with a comedian bringing up the energy level of your conference audience.

Bring back attendee energy after a series of meetings.

Insert one into your keynote spot or as a short speaker set.

Hire a corporate comedian for after dinner entertainment at the big banquet.

Have a comedian host your awards ceremony to rivet attention.

A strong corporate comedian makes your job easier. Tom works with clients to make certain the material reflects their needs. Your show is personalized with client message and information about the audience. This helps the performance contribute toward achieving your event goals.

Music:

Music is another highly flexible corporate entertainment option for corporate events. Pre-recorded music can be used to gain attention, set a backdrop for social interaction or get people on their feet and moving.

Social hours, mixers or pre-dinner functions can feature a musician playing piano or guitar. An acoustic ensemble creates a nice ambience for these events. These same talents can also double to provide dinner music. This adds an air of elegance to your event.

Depending on your event, a DJ or a band may be a suitable entertainment choice. Although music tastes vary widely, if you have a feel for your audience, which you should, you can make an appropriate selection.

You could hire a wedding band. They are usually well versed in a variety of musical styles. Perhaps a tribute band might appeal to your group. Show bands tend to add theatrics, flair and costuming to make the entertainment exciting.

Depending on the scale of your event, celebrity entertainment may fit your budget. A private concert goes a long way to impress attendees. Just make certain the celebrity doesn't outshine the company. That calls back to the fact you must keep your event goals & message top of mind.

When hiring musical entertainment, keep in mind the sound levels. Some people have sensitive hearing or may not be in the mood for loud music. Offer them an alternative place to talk and socialize or they will head for the doors.

Team Building Entertainment:

If your event is focused on team building, you may want to think about other entertainment options. Perhaps instead of traditional entertainment, you would want to try physical activities. Tug of war, basketball or soccer, relay races and scavenger hunts could be fun.

Game shows also fall under this category. Teams compete against each other to win prizes.

Other team building entertainment options for corporate events include trivia, Iron Chef cooking competitions and go-kart races.

Variety Entertainment Options:

Tom falls under this heading too. Ventriloquists are considered variety entertainment by many corporate entertainment agencies. (Which is weird considering the top grossing touring comic – according to Forbes magazine – is a ventriloquist.) Still, ventriloquism is popular with all ages, despite the fact it isn't often thought about or seen in a live entertainment setting.

Magicians are another popular form of corporate entertainment. There are magicians who move about the crowd engaging people with interactive magic in their hands. One of the best is Mike Rose. Mike is known as the “Gala Magician” although he works many types of corporate events. His specialty is bringing people together in a hospitality setting. You'll see your attendees laugh, losen up and start to socialize.

Stage magicians are a common form of after dinner entertainment. The problem with magic is that chances are your guests have seen a full stage magic show. Many magicians purchase their effects from dealers and tend to favor the latest popular tricks. That can make a performance seem like your audience has watched it before.

If you want to work with a stage magician, talk to Nathan Coe Marsh of Florida. He is worth bringing to your event. Nathan incorporates new ideas and technologies into his act to make it fresh for the “seen-it-all” crowd.

Talk to your magician about the possibility of customized magic with your theme or product.  This helps keep the crowd focused on your company and message. Nathan can even produce your CEO or president on stage!

Impressionists are another form of variety entertainment. Larry G. Jones has starred in his own Las Vegas show and now travels the country offering musical impressions. Hiring Larry is like getting Elton John, Elvis, Tina Turner and hundreds of other singers.

Acrobats make an amazing entertainment option. Imagine people spinning on aerial fabrics or floating on trapezes above the crowd. On stage a team of acrobats makes everyone realize they need to hit the gym.

Technological Entertainment Options:

Virtual entertainment is on the way! Take your guests into the virtual world. Green screen technology can have them skiing down the alps or fighting villians with James Bond.

V.J's – Video disc jockeys can project everything from music videos to company logos. This technology creates a unique atmosphere for parties or product launches.

LED and Laser Technology creates amazing options. The Led dancers and 3-D Laser man always draw attention. Their black light movements astounded audiences on America's Got Talent. While the staging and lighting have to be perfect, if this is within your budget it can be a lot of fun.

Thanks to the internet,
todays entertainment options for corporate events
are almost endless.

The fact you want to find fresh, exciting performers for events shows you have your audience's best interests in mind.

Keep your event goals foremost when talking with potential entertainment partners. With over 30 years in the corporate entertainment business, Tom would be happy to assist you. There is no charge, there is no pressure. If he isn't right for your event needs, we are happy to make recommendations. We do not take commissions or add percentages to other acts. The only goal is to make sure your event is a success, so you and your company look amazing!

Contact our office today.