A Step-by-Step Guide for Wowing Guests with the Best Corporate Event Entertainment

No corporate event is complete without great entertainment

Whether you’re planning an extravagant dinner party for managers or a week-long retreat for the entire team, you need to include entertainment. You can’t rely on just any kind of act, however, to wow attendees. To ensure your company-sponsored event is a success, you must account for its audience, theme, and overall atmosphere during the planning stages. If you’re unsure how to get started, here’s a handy step-by-step guide for delivering the best corporate event entertainment possible.

Define the Event’s Purpose.

Having a clear purpose in mind for the event will make every stage of the planning process easier. Some of the most common reasons to host corporate events include:

Showing employees gratitude for all their hard work
Showing clients gratitude for their business
Celebrating achievements within the company or for the business as a whole
Welcoming new team members
Offering team-building opportunities
Marking important anniversaries

Once you define the event’s purpose, you’ll be able to finalize all kinds of details with ease because you’ll have that jumping off point to refer back to as needed.

Consider the Company’s Goals.

What do you hope to accomplish by hosting the event? While there may be some overlap between the event’s purpose and the company’s goals, you can get a lot more specific—and creative!—with the latter.

For example, are you hoping to foster much stronger bonds between the different departments? Or maybe you want to ensure guests have such a good time that they’re talking about the event for weeks to come on social media?

Having a few goals in mind that you share with the entertainment company will make it easier for them to deliver on the experience you want to give attendees.

Confirm the Guestlist.

When planning corporate event entertainment, it’s imperative to know your audience. What are their expectations for the evening? And how can you take those expectations and turn them on their head?

If you’re not entirely sure how to wow your guests, talk to the director of the special event company. If they’ve been in the industry for any time at all, they should know what kinds of acts always leave audiences at the edge of their seats.

Devise a Theme

Like the company’s goals for the event, the theme can be as general or specific as you like. In most cases, it’s easier to get guests excited about a more specific theme, especially if it’s something they can take part in by donning certain attire.

As mentioned above, though, it’s important to know your audience. If you’re throwing a bash for your employees who just want to unwind, a theme contained to the food, music, and décor may be ideal.

If you’ve come up with a few ideas but can’t narrow them down, consider putting out a poll. Giving guests a role in the planning is a great way to foster excitement—and hopefully increase attendance!—for the event.

Put Together an Immersive Experience.

The most memorable corporate events engage guests from the moment they walk through the door, and they keep them on their toes until they leave. Here are some of the best ways to make an event more immersive:

Engage all five senses|Integrate special effects and technology into the space|Personalize the experience for every guest

Find the Talent.

Once you’ve decided on the event’s purpose, the company’s goals, the size and scope of the audience, and the evening’s theme, it’s time to take action. You need to find a special event company that can bring your vision to life.

This is where Zen Arts can help. Talent, training, and teamwork: That’s our trifecta, and we’ll bring it to you, so you can leave your guests breathless.

Get Attendees Involved.

While searching for talent, consider ways to get guests involved, so you can enhance the immersive experience. If you’ll be hiring a band, for example, can you build a dancefloor in front of the stage? If you’re serving a five-course meal to a more intimate gathering, can the chef cook the meal at the table? Whatever your vision, the right entertainment company should be able to help you pull it off (and make suggestions for maximizing enjoyment along the way!).

FAQs

How do you entertain guests at a business event?

When it comes to corporate event entertainment, there’s really no limit to what you can do. From aerialists and fire dancers to musicians and comedians, a reputable entertainment company should have all kinds of talented performers on hand who can wow your guests. Logistically, it’s wise to plan for small breaks between acts so attendees can mingle or grab a bite, but otherwise, why not keep the show going all night long?

What does a special event company do?

A special event company can help plan and organize your event and then ensure it goes off without a hitch. Naturally, different companies offer different services, so make sure to scrutinize any contracts they give you before agreeing to their terms. You don’t want there to be any surprises—or major oversights—on the big day.

How do you find the right entertainment company for your corporate event?

A quick Google search for entertainment companies in your area should yield lots of results. You can then narrow down the options by reading reviews from past clients and considering what kinds of services each provides. Then, start meeting with those that look the most appealing, and see what they can do for you!

Let’s Talk Budget!

If defining your event’s purpose is step one, creating a budget is arguably step zero. After all, you can’t book anything unless you know it’s within your means. If you’re not sure where to start on the financial front, your corporate entertainment company should be able to provide an itemized list of the kinds of fees you can expect to pay for certain acts. And if they’re not transparent about their pricing from day one? Steer clear!

Start Planning Your Event Today!

Zen Arts is the premier corporate event entertainment company in Los Angeles. Whether you’re hosting a small dinner party for your department heads or a huge gala for all your employees and clients, we can deliver an unforgettable and immersive experience for everyone. Request a quote today!

Talent, training, and teamwork: The Zen Arts trifecta.