Choosing the right entertainment for your business event can be vital to ensure everyone has an enjoyable time. For example, hiring a heavy metal band may not be the best idea if you’re trying to seal a deal with senior business colleagues.
The first thing you need to figure out is what type of event you are hosing. Is it a social event like a Christmas party, or will the focus be more on education and business? This will help you determine what kind of entertainment you need.
The Sound of Music
If you are trying to create a party atmosphere, then hiring a band is a great way to go. Have a think about who you are entertaining and what kind of music they would appreciate and go from there.
Whether it be a 60’s cover band, modern cover band, local original band, or otherwise. If the dance floor is full, you’ve done well! Just be sure the music isn’t too loud; people can’t mingle if they can’t hear each other talk (this happened to me at a work Christmas function and it put a bit of a damper on the night).
Again, if you want your event to have a party vibe, a DJ might also be effective. While (in my opinion) they don’t create the same atmosphere as live music, they will probably have a greater selection of tunes. Bands tend to have their own style and set lists, so if you’re after a song they don’t play, you’re generally out of luck.
If you’re hosting a more intimate event and want a low-key, relaxed atmosphere, you might want to consider a solo acoustic act. Acoustic guitar is a beautiful thing to listen to; add a soothing singing voice and you’ll find a jovial mood floating through the air in no time.
Instrumental music is always an option. You can ham it up if you want something energetic and fast paced, or for a calmer vibe, hire an acoustic or classical instrumental act.
Roving Entertainment
Try thinking outside the box for your entertainment. While you can’t go wrong with music, you could hire something different like a mime, magician or comedian. I’ve been to a few events recently with some musical comedians who doubled as the MC for the evening! Just keep your target audience in mind when selecting your act; crude jokes may be funny, but you don’t want to go offending anyone.
Photos
A slideshow is always a nice touch at any event. If you’re hosting a retirement dinner, photos of the guest of honour and their achievements over their career could be displayed throughout the evening. On the other hand, if your event has more of a business agenda, slideshows of new products and ideas could be displayed as the night unfolds.
Photo booth. Need I say more? Everyone loves them. They’re fun, silly, and I’ve never seen anyone in a bad mood around a photo booth Hiring one of these for your social event will provide hours of entertainment for your staff and guests. Guaranteed.
As you can see, it’s not always black and white when it comes to hiring entertainment for your business event. Do a little research, make things fun and interesting, and you’ll be sure to create a memorable evening for all! If you’d rather have someone else take care of business then consider using an event management company or someone that specialises in staging rental to help out with the technical side of entertainment.
Article by Danielle Henderson
