Finding the right entertainment for hire can definitely be time-consuming. However, if you’re looking for the very best, you might sometimes feel like you’re in over your head.
Organizing a corporate event is a complex task. After all, you have to offer your guests the time of their lives.
So how can you do that? Well, one important aspect to keep in mind is how such events used to be organized before in the company.
What worked and what went wrong? What were the themes they used and what kind of entertainment did they book?
If you’ve already got all the aspects covered except the entertainment one, we can help you out.
Here’s what you need to know about finding the right event entertainment ideas for your corporate event:
1. Defining Your Budget Is a Must 
First, you’ll need a corporate event checklist. It will help you assess all the expenses and aspects you need to take care of. Why is that important? Because, this way, you’ll know just how much money you can spend on entertainment.
If you find that you’re short on cash in that department, there’s no need to worry. There are some things you can do to increase your entertainment budget.
One smart move is to tweak other expenses a bit. For example, getting really expensive food might prove to be a bad idea. People care more about the experience than the food.
2. Research Booking Agencies That Offer Quality Entertainment for Hire
Researching entertainers online is a very time-consuming task. You’ll find a huge number of options, but you’ll soon run into trouble.
Actually, most of them will most likely be busy preparing and planning their shows. So, they often don’t have the time to answer your emails.
By choosing a booking agency, you’ll be able to scratch this task off of your checklist.
Why? Because you’ll have direct access to various entertainment for hire. Agencies often manage a diverse pool of performers.
Plus, you’ll also get useful information about each show and the booking process. They offer you promotional material as well.
They’ll even provide a contingency plan so that you can rest assured that your corporate event is safe.
3. It’s Easier to Hire Entertainment if You Know Your Audience
Before you contact a booking agency to ask about entertainment for hire, you should get to know your audience. Here are some questions to consider:
- How old are your audience members?
- What does your audience enjoy?
- Are they religious or political people?
- Would they like to dance or rather just sit at their tables?
- Will they bring their children along?
Your goal should be to please as many of your guests as possible. If there are children in the audience, make sure to choose entertainment that doesn’t contain foul language.
You’ll be safe with a clean comedian, for example. Dan Naturman is an excellent choice. His self-ironic style is hilarious, and his show is the perfect ingredient for a cool experience for your colleagues.
When Can You Consider Variety Acts?
Entertainment for hire can take many forms since it is a domain enabling artists to come up with niche concepts.
Since possibilities are endless, it can sometimes be problematic for you to settle for a single act which will potentially elevate your entire event.
Today we are going to focus on a single part of the entertainment sector, which is variety acts. They are any act which does not fall into the speaker/comedian/music industry. Practically speaking, this is where you will encounter the most diversity concerning off-the-beaten-track performers.
We have delineated a few situations wherein these acts would fit like a glove. Plus, we selected a variety artist for each context to illustrate it best.
1. When You Want to Inspire
Sometimes, a motivational speaker just isn’t enough. People hear this type of speech all the time. Unless you are a large enterprise which has a particular agenda (i.e., changes in company culture), motivational speeches can be replaced with a more off-the-cuff act which conveys the same amount of energy.
Ricky Kalmon is a perfect exemplification of how motivational speeches can be delivered.
His craft combines several ingredients for a maximum impact:
- Hypnosis
- Comedy
- Clean humor
- Motivational speech
“Change the way you think, and you can change your world.” is Ricky’s motto, the driving force behind an act which will galvanize your audience’s approach to personal development.
2. When You Want to Amaze
Are you looking to arrest your guests’ attention with a jaw-dropping moment? Do you want them hooked from start to finish?
Attention-grabbing moments are great when you are preparing for a product launch, a corporate party or a session opener.
The kind of entertainment for hire you could be looking for is Sofie Dossi‘s aerialist performance. With her otherworldly yet effortless moves, she is sure to entertain a wide range of guests.
3. When You Need to Create a Networking Environment
These days, most corporate or business events stress the importance of making connections in the entrepreneurial world. After all, it is people who drive companies forwards, so there is never too much networking to be had at a corporate party.
However, how can you reach to people who – although sharing similar interests – have never met before? Entertainment for hire could harness connection and make your event a relevant moment in the participants’ lives.
Out of all the options, we think a mentalist act is ideal for a corporate networking setting. That is why an illusionist like Eric Dittelman can do the trick. The former America’s Got Talent participant will spark heated discussions related to his mind-reading skills.
4. When You Need Brand Awareness
Making people remember your company’s name and amazing services is an ongoing challenge you may try to meet by organizing company events.
In this case, you most likely need a versatile performer who is both experienced and open to new approaches. So how about 3 of such talented individuals?
We are talking about The 3 Painters, a bunch of outstanding artists dedicating their craft to showcasing anything in the most spectacular and tasteful way.
Use the Entertainment for Hire Services of an Agency
Of course, we only covered a few instances wherein you could use variety acts. However, as we stated in the introduction of the article, the possibilities are endless.
That is precisely why you will want to make the best choice and have an entertainment booking agency do that for you. This way, you save time and avoid the risk of getting lost in indecision.
How to Impress Your Boss: 5 Unusual Corporate Event Entertainment Ideas
Has your boss given you the task to plan the next corporate event?
In this case, you’ll have to take care of every aspect of the event, from choosing the venue to booking the entertainment. The responsibility may seem a bit overwhelming, especially if this is your first time.
We want to help. Here are five unique event entertainment ideas that are sure to impress your CEO or Chairman, as well as your colleagues and other attendees.
1. Digital Magician
Regular magicians are a popular choice when it comes to corporate events. However, if you’re looking for entertainment for hire that is more unconventional, a digital magician may be the perfect choice for your event.
Simon Pierro incorporates a technological marvel everybody is familiar with these days: An iPad. His innovative approach to magic will surely give guests (and your boss) something to talk about.
2. Sword Swallowing
We did promise you a strange and unusual event entertainment ideas. It doesn’t get much weirder than choosing a professional sword swallower as entertainment.
If your boss is one to appreciate risk-takers, then he or she will most likely appreciate someone like Dan Meyer.
He is a 7x Guinness World Record Holder, and his act will surely keep guests on the edge of their seats.
3. Live Shadow Performances
If your boss expects you to put together a sophisticated event that will wow guests, you should consider a shadow-dance performance as the highlight of the night.
A professional shadow-dance company will be able to create custom images that are relevant to the enterprise you work for.
Your employer will appreciate the business’s vision and goals being translated into shadow imagery.
4. Contortionists
Booking a contortionist will help you give your event a different twist. We mean that literally. It’s a choice that will show your boss that you’re able to think outside the box and get creative.
Here are some event themes that work perfectly with this type of entertainment for hire:
- A circus theme
- A masquerade theme
- An acrobat theme
5. Aerial Performers
If you’re looking for an unusual form of entertainment that will make your guests gasp, we have a suggestion for you: Duo Transcend.
You won’t have to worry about attendees getting bored at your event. Everyone will be fascinated watching the dramatic drops and suspended flying above.
Whether the event will be held inside or outside, this is an excellent entertainment choice.
Last Thoughts and Tips
The entertainer is usually the highlight of the event. However, make sure you focus your corporate event around your colleagues.
No matter how cool and famous the entertainer is, the event also needs:
- A roomy venue
- A quality sound system
- WiFi, since your guests will use their smartphones during the event, after all
- A cool theme
- Networking breaks
Finding entertainment for hire can be stressful at times, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep the tips presented in this article in mind, and you’ll be able to organize a great event.
Which One of These Event Entertainment Ideas Caught Your Eye?
Planning the next corporate event gives you a chance to stand out and show you are a reliable member of the company.
We hope you’re starting to see it more like a golden opportunity and less like an overwhelming task now.
Any of these event entertainment ideas will help you make the most out of these circumstances and get you noticed by your boss.
If you think some of these ideas might be suited for your event, you can contact us online. We are a booking agency and entertainment company with years of experience under our belt.
You can also find more alternative ideas by browsing through our list of speakers and entertainers.
