Anyone who has ever organized a corporate event knows that it’s hard to please everyone attending. However, while it might be impossible to tap into your guest’s sensibilities, you can at least make sure that they’re having a good time.
Everyone wants to plan fun corporate events guests will honestly enjoy and remember with a smile on their face. The best way to do that is to turn your event into an entertaining experience. Whenever your guests think back to it, they’ll reminisce about how much they enjoyed their time.
Planning an exciting event that strengthens relationships between team members and reduces stress is not always easy to do.
To help you out, we’ve shared four actionable tips you should keep in mind for a successful event everyone will love and make your event more entertaining.
1. Plan Fun Corporate Events and Include Group Activities
Before diving into the subject, remember that social distancing measures need to be maintained.
This might sound like the antithesis to organizing a group activity, but keep in mind that going for a virtual/hybrid event is always an option.
During this type of event, participants can group into physically separate teams, but in contact with one another through technology.
There are loads of fun activities that can be done together, think of sports or maybe even board games.
As for online events, you can do a lot of activities over a webcam or, since we’re online, actual virtual games shows like Bingo and Corporate Feud can be played together.
2. Gamify the Entire Experience
Event gamification might sound like a new and zany concept, but in fact, it has been practiced at corporate events for years.
Organizations have either added game-like elements to their event or even developed smartphone apps that tracked the participants’ scores based on whatever activity they engaged in.
For your corporate event, you can integrate small competitions, a point system, problem-solving tasks. And you can even add a set of prizes and rewards to incentivize people to participate.
3. Include at Least One Interactive Activity
Activities that require the audience’s participation make events more dynamic, more engaging, and more fun. It other words, it makes them better.
Activities are also a great way to add more excitement to your event and perhaps even promote a bit of positive competition among guests. Consider interactive virtual activities like a celebrity chef or Virtual Sommelier and Mixologist.
However, to be effective and support your desire to plan fun corporate events, activities should be well thought-through. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The activity should suit the overall style of your corporate event. Making guests run an obstacle course can be an excellent idea for a relaxed company party picnic. Not so much for a corporate gala, however.
- Take the agility and the ability of guests into account. While some may be down for a game of soccer, consider that not everyone on your guest list will be keen or able to be part of something so active. Pick something everyone can be involved in.
- Ensure that your chosen venue is right for the activity you picked, in terms of available space and facilities.
4. Consider Taking the Event Out from the Office
Even if they like what they do and appreciate their colleagues, reporting to work every day, dressed in the same professional attire to work with the same people, can become a grind for most people.
If you want to plan fun corporate events, give your guests a break from their usual routine and take your event away from the conference rooms they know so well.
A change of scenery can not only be refreshing, but it can also change the way guests interact with each other – and encourage them to show a more relaxed side of themselves.
So, if the weather and the venue allow it, consider scheduling part of the event outside.
Another great idea is to choose an unconventional space like an ice skating rink, an amusement park, or something unexpected, like a bowling alley, for example.
5. Offer Interactive Food and Drink
The vast majority of corporate events will offer some food and drinks, but why not take it to the next level and wow your guests by adding a virtual beverage making activity?
Nowadays, many different options allow you to feed and delight guests at the same time with DoorDash and UberEats. Or you could hire virtual celebrity chef guests could watch their food being made right in front of them. It’s a lot more surprising and so guests are more likely to remember it.
6. Add a Surprise Activity
Everyone loves surprises, especially when they’re about to amp the entertainment value.
After you’ve completely organized your event, you can add an extra activity that your guests won’t be aware of.
If you want to build a sense of anticipation, you can add this activity as part of the event program under an unassuming name, not give out the surprise, but to have the guests guess what it might be.
This surprise activity can range from being a virtual concert, a presentation about a highly revered topic, or even a professional entertainer’s performance.
7. Prioritize Entertainment for Fun Corporate Events
Don’t Skimp on Professional Entertainment. Many organizations make one mistake to undervalue the importance of entertainment and either not allocate budget for it or leave it out entirely.
If you aim to provide your guests with a truly unique experience, the best course of action is to leave the entertainment aspect to the pros.
For your corporate event, you can hire the services of professional entertainers, who are well prepared to work with audiences and can bring a degree of entertainment unlike anything else. Many performers can match your vision and provide your guests with a good dose of fun.
Bring Entertainment to Your Corporate Event
We hope that the ideas we’ve featured in this article have inspired you to make your event a bit more entertaining.
One of the most effective ways to ensure your events don’t feel stale and predictable is to invest in high-quality entertainment. Entertainment can make any event more exciting – turning it into an engaging, memorable experience for all those involved.
From virtual magicians and comedians to professional keynote speakers and more, you can choose from a wide array of premium entertainers featured in our portfolio. At The Grable Group, we can provide you with entertainment solutions for any event – either in-person or virtual/hybrid. Start browsing now, and take the first step towards finding the right entertainment for your next event.