Planning a corporate event in Toronto can be extremely hard, stressful work.
Making sure your guests are entertained throughout the event is one of the keys to making sure it’s enjoyed by all and seen as a success after the fact.
how do you know if you are booking good or bad corporate entertainment?
How do you know what kind of corporate entertainment is right for your event?
What steps can you take to avoid disaster when booking your corporate entertainment?
Know your corporate event’s objective.
If the aim of the event is to educate people; then the entertainment might not be the key element of the event. You could hire some entertainment that can incorporate the educational message, but maybe you would do better to use some light form of entertainment during the break (in my case, close-up-magic) to help attendees unwind and relax rather than anything that is going to be overpowering.
If, however, you are organising a big corporate gala dinner/ awards night/ function; then you may need to book a headline that can really entertain the whole room (a stage magic act, for example!)
Know your audience.
The attendees of the event will also play a large part in your choice of corporate entertainment. Using a comedian or performer that is known for profanity or crude humour would not be appropriate for a corporate family fun day, but a good selection of street performers, face painter and caricaturists would be an excellent choice.
Likewise, a professional and experienced corporate entertainer like myself might not be the best choice for a family fun day, but it’s a safe bet for your corporate entertainment in Toronto!
Know the theme of your event.
The theme of any event will dictate the style of entertainment used.
If you have a Las Vegas theme then some fun casino tables, magic, “showpeople” and even an Elvis Impersonator would be appropriate.
If however your theme is more subtle such as a black tie dinner it might be a simple matter of booking a good event host to mc the evening and then a good function band to play two sets.
Know your Budget.
Always know how much of your budget has been set aside for your entertainment and be upfront with your suppliers. You can’t possibly start to research entertainment ideas until you know how much you have to spend in the first place.
While most professional corporate entertainers will have their fees, most will be open to fair negotiation if it means getting the entertainment right for your big event!
Know what is included in the Fee.
Some corporate entertainers may not be quoting an all-inclusive quote.
There are often things like travel expenses added on top of an artists fee dependent upon the location of the event.
You will also need to clarify whether or not they require you to provide a PA & lights or if they will be providing all their own equipment.
You don’t want to be left with any nasty surprises so always remember to ask these questions!
Know their experience.
Look for an ask for testimonials and reviews. Don’t be frightened to ask them what types of events they have performed at and how long they have been performing for.
Another good question to ask is whether or not this is their full time job or just something they do on the side for a bit of fun.
Some part-time entertainers are genuinely amazingly good - so don’t necessarily allow that to put you off! - but it’s always good to know first-hand exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
My final comment would be to try and make an effort to see whoever you’re thinking of booking for your corporate entertainment in person before committing to a booking.
As wonderful as show reels are; they don’t necessarily give you an honest picture of their performance - they’re designed to be the “highlights”.
Try to see what they are like when in front of a live audience. Failing that, ask for a video of a performance they’ve done in the past. Any professional corporate entertainer with enough experience should have no issue providing this to you!