Four Secret Tips to Make Your Corporate Event ROCK

Events can be the highlight of the year for many companies. Morale, job satisfaction, and retention rates have all been shown to increase from company events. Thoughtfully produced corporate events foster connections between colleagues and enhance company culture. After being involved in corporate events for 25 years, I have found these four essential and most often-overlooked tips make corporate events ROCK:

Theme
A fun and relatable theme gives corporate events a focus around which you can create your event decor, presentations, food, entertainment, and ambiance. If you make a theme too specific or irrelevant to your audience’s interests, participation will decline. Themes can be integrated into presentations and spoken components, and they make it easy for employees to remember your event. 

Picking a relevant theme your clients and employees can engage in also gives team members a way to participate in the spirit of the event – they become representatives of the experience you’ve created – and brings the spotlight of the event onto them – which is exactly what you want. You can encourage guests to dress up by offering significant prizes (free vacation days or bonuses) and giving out awards. Photo booths with props related to the theme  are excellent additions that amplify the theme’s visibility both during and after the event.

​

Lighting
Lighting can transform a space. You don’t have to spend a lot of money renting a venue for your corporate events – your office spaces can be vibrant backdrops to your special event. I’ve transformed ordinary conference rooms with event lighting that turned the spaces into magical wonderlands that facilitate more interesting conversations and memorable experiences:

King Arthur Court at The Intercontinental Hotel:​

The Florentine Ballroom of the Congress Hotel before lighting:

Here is the Florentine Ballroom with our event lighting:

Entertainment
Entertainment is typically the most memorable component of corporate events. Consider your guests’ demographics when choosing your entertainment. Most guests prefer music they recognize; younger audiences tend to gravitate towards pop and house music, so DJs like Greg Haus or EDM DJ Sean G Parks make great DJs for events with younger audiences. More mature audiences tend to appreciate music from their era like DJ Marc Mooser Moder or an Elton John impersonator/tribute artist like Crocodile Rockstar. Elton John has wide appeal with music spanning across 5 decades, so it’s a safe bet that his music will connect with a variety of people and demographics. Crocodile Rockstar’s Elton costumes are also spectacular, which adds flair and panache to special events of all kinds:

Beazley Phillips as Crocodile Rockstar:​

Whatever talent you choose to feature, make sure it resonates with your guests and elevates your event. Entertainment is a key component so you should make sure it is a net asset to your guests’ experience. 

Downtime
The connection that happens between colleagues during company functions is the holy grail for event producers. Downtime is possibly the most precious element of company events; it gives colleagues the time they need to connect, engage and enjoy their time together. Your responsibility as an event producer is to facilitate your guests’ journey to bond with each other and create more meaningful connections, so give them adequate time and conversation space to deepen their relationships.

​