Corporate Event Entertainment Ideas, Matched to the Event

Good corporate event entertainment does a job: it gets people talking at a networking reception, gives a client dinner a shared moment, or pulls visitors into a trade show booth. Start with what the event has to achieve, then pick the format. A live band, a seated show, a hands-on workshop and a strolling performer each solve a different problem.

Start with the event's job

Most company events fall into a few types. Each asks something different of the entertainment.

If you cannot say which job the entertainment has, you will likely end up with background music nobody hears.

Company event entertainment ideas

Strolling entertainment

Strolling performers move through the crowd and perform for a few people at a time. Close-up magicians, caricature artists and roving musicians all work this way. They suit receptions where people stand with a drink, because they need no stage and do not interrupt anyone who wants to keep talking. A performer who joins a group of strangers gives them a shared reaction and an easy opening line.

A seated show for the whole room

When you want everyone together for 20 to 40 minutes, a seated show does it. Options include a comedian, a mentalist, a parlour magic show, a speaker with a strong story or a short set from a musician. Clean material matters with mixed audiences. Ask any comedian for a set written for corporate rooms and check it against your company's tone.

Hands-on workshops

Cocktail-making, cooking, painting, improv and team challenges get people doing something together. They work best for groups up to the size an instructor can manage and for events where the goal is team-building. They work less well at a reception, where people want to move around.

Live music

A band or DJ is the right choice when the event ends with dancing. For a dinner, a trio or solo musician sets the tone without fighting the conversation. Book the music last if it is background, first if it is the main draw.

Unique corporate event entertainment ideas

If your team has seen the usual band and photo booth, look for something tied to the place or the company:

• A songwriter round. In Nashville, songwriters take turns playing their songs and telling the stories behind them. It suits a dinner because it is intimate and talk-friendly.
• A guest expert at the table. A distiller, chef or coffee roaster who talks people through a tasting.
• A live illustrator. An artist who draws the event or caricatures of guests to take home.
• A close-up magician at the client dinner. Performed at the table between courses, it gives each table its own moment.
• A charity build. Teams assemble something for a local cause, such as bikes or care kits.

Corporate event evening entertainment ideas

Evening events have a rhythm: arrival and drinks, dinner, a program, then either dancing or an early night. Entertainment should fit each stage.

1. Arrival: strolling entertainment or music while people find each other.
2. Dinner: keep it quiet enough to talk. A strolling performer between courses works here.
3. After dinner: this is the slot for a seated show, awards or speeches. Keep the total program short; attention drops after dessert.
4. Late: a band or DJ if the crowd will dance. If it will not, let people leave on a high rather than hold them.

Put the show before the awards if the awards run long. Put it after if you want the night to end on a laugh. Either way, tell the performer the exact time and length, and stick to it.

Trade show booth ideas to attract visitors

A booth has seconds to stop someone walking past. The ideas that work give visitors a reason to step in and give your staff a natural way to start talking.

• Live product demos. Industry research from CEIR found that demos and hands-on interaction are what attendees most want from exhibitors. If your product can be shown, show it.
• A booth performer. A close-up magician or another short-form act gathers a small crowd, which draws more people. The act should end by handing visitors to your staff, ideally with your message built into the routine.
• Something to try or touch. A sample, a challenge, a quick game with a small prize.
• Personal invitations before the show. Reach out to your target prospects in advance so they come looking for you.

Check the show's exhibitor rules before planning anything loud or crowd-based. Many limit sound levels and expect crowds to stay inside your booth, not in the aisle. Nashville's Music City Center, for example, hosts trade shows on a large downtown exhibit floor where aisle space is shared with every neighbor.

How to choose

Ask five questions before you book anything:

1. How many people, and do they know each other?
2. Will they be standing, seated or both?
3. How much time does the entertainment actually have?
4. Is there a stage, sound and lighting, or nothing at all?
5. What should guests say about the event the next morning?

The answers usually narrow the field to two or three options. Phillip Moore, a Nashville magician who travels for events, performs strolling close-up magic and a seated parlour show; see the corporate events page or the parlour show. For seasonal parties, read the holiday party guide.