People often hear “corporate event” and think it’ll be all work and no play. But they should be about cutting loose and celebrating your business and employees. Planning a party for your team members can be a fun mix of team building and entertainment. Get started with these 11 corporate entertainment ideas and make your event one to remember!
1. Hire a Hypnotist
Watching their co-workers frantically look for their belly button or crow like a rooster is guaranteed to keep your guests entertained! This type of performance requires a company culture of fearless extroverts, though. If your office mates love lighthearted teasing, a hypnotist could be a winner for your group!
Professional hypnotists know how to work with the crowd and encourage lots of audience participation. Setup is usually straightforward and only requires a few chairs and a microphone.
If you still want a mind-bending experience for your group but with less pressure on the audience, try booking a local mentalist instead! They can wow the audience with interactive performances that show off their “mind-reading” abilities, like guessing an audience member’s thoughts, predicting behavior, and more.
Shows with these performers are usually around an hour long and can fit easily into most event types, like holiday parties or quarterly meetups.
2. Book a Corporate Comedian
Everyone loves to laugh, so a corporate comedian is perfect for your company parties! They know the material that will hit a professional’s funny bone. Whether they’re talking about junky copiers or the person stealing lunches from the break room, corporate comedians are a great idea for your next corporate event.
Stand-up shows can last anywhere from a short set of 30 minutes to a full hour of comedy. Since there is little setup, comedians are perfect for virtual events! It can be tough to find corporate event ideas that include the whole team if you have a hybrid office, so virtual entertainment options can help.
3. Get Your Game Show On
Ambitious teams like sales and business development live to win. Get the rest of your team into the competitive spirit and book a live game show! Energetic hosts will lead the “contestants” through interactive games like “The Price is Right” or “Wheel of Fortune.”
As escape rooms become more popular, many mobile game companies have expanded their selection to include these in their lineup! Scavenger hunts are also a fun alternative if you want to get your team out and moving.
Mobile game shows, scavenger hunts, and escape rooms can be set up almost anywhere and are great for audiences of all ages! You can even tout these activities as a team-building event to the big bosses — there’s no way to say no to that.
4. Hire a Roast Master
Close-knit teams can have a blast with a good old-fashioned roast! Whether it’s poking fun at your industry, your company, or your boss, this type of corporate event entertainment is not for the faint of heart. Things can get a little sassy, but it’s all in good spirits!
Book a professional roast master to write tailored material for the event and lead the big show. They’ll often ask for input from the organization, so get your inside jokes ready! Roasts are great for retirement parties, milestone celebrations, and new product launch parties.
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5. Invite a Celebrity Impersonator
In the world of pop culture, there’s always something interesting going on. Invite an impersonator to add some “U.S. Weekly” drama to your corporate entertainment with a faux celebrity appearance! Musical impersonators like Michael Jackson or Elvis (or other popular tribute bands) can put on a show complete with costume changes and all the hits, followed by a meet and greet.
Celebrity impersonators are great for themed corporate parties and can pose for photos, mingle with the crowd, or even sign autographs. Find look-alikes for Oprah, Cher, James Bond, and more! You’re sure to get some unforgettable photos for your company newsletter or social media page.
6. Book a Magician
Magic is a no-fail entertainment idea for corporate events! It’s fascinating to any age and profession, so booking a corporate magician is definitely going to be a crowd-pleaser.
Professional magicians can tailor their act to your event. Most of them offer both a full-stage show for a large-scale special event or strolling close-up magic for more intimate gatherings. These performers are great for company Christmas parties, fundraisers, or even virtual events!
7. Party with a Cover Band
You can’t go wrong with live music, so cover bands are a staple in corporate event entertainment! You know your audience better than anyone, so consider which era of music they would enjoy. An ’80s hair band? A ’20s swing band? Booking a cover band guarantees that they’ll be playing songs that your guests can sing and dance to!
Most cover bands are happy to take requests but also have an extensive setlist with all the hits. Plan on booking them for 3-4 hours to really have a good time that lasts from cocktail hour to the last call!
8. Hire Circus Entertainment
Local circus entertainment acts are ideal when you want show-stopping corporate event entertainment. The creativity is endless, as well as the costume and performance options! Acts like jugglers or stilt walkers can provide strolling entertainment, while fire eaters and aerialists can take center stage.
Circus performers work well for everything from launch parties to Halloween parties to holiday events. Shows can be tailored to accommodate everything from crowd size to budget. Be sure to share things like your party’s color scheme so they can coordinate their costumes!
9. Throw a Casino Party
Are you planning a party for a gambling crowd? Trying to woo new potential clients? While flying to Las Vegas would be an amazing company retreat, casino rentals are the next best thing! A casino party would also be a great way to bring in money for a charity event or fundraiser.
With professional dealers, Las Vegas-style games, poker tables, and more, casino rental companies provide everything you need. Take it to the next level with a live band, Vegas showgirls, and a photo booth for photo ops! Hosting a Vegas-themed party should definitely be at the top of your corporate event ideas.
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10. Book Dueling Pianos
Having one rowdy, key-banging, soulful-singing pianist at your party sounds like a great time! What about two? Dueling piano shows can play just about any request your attendees have, and they do it with flair. Their high energy and musical talent keep your event rocking all night long!
You can expect the dueling musicians to riff on everything from each other to the song requests your team gives them. Think of it as less of a concert and more of a medley of comedy, song choruses, and roasting!
11. Set Up a Comedy Improv Show
Improv is a comedic skill like no other and ensures that your event will be completely unique. A comedy improv show can turn everyday people, places, and things into hilarious scenarios. Improv shows are an unexpected surprise for corporate event entertainment!
For more theatrics, most comedy shows can also work with you to create a murder mystery party. These work best for smaller groups that love interacting and getting into “character” — but are definitely an unforgettable option! The scripts and characters will be sent ahead of time, so you have plenty of notice to encourage your team to learn their parts.
Comedy improv shows and murder mystery parties are both unique entertainment ideas for corporate events, including holiday parties, team builders, and company retreats.
Planning your corporate event entertainment is all about bringing your team together to have fun, share laughs, and grow closer as a company. With all of the awesome options out there, we know you’ll find something that fits both your budget and company culture! 🎉
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.
I have recently been put in charge of a big work event. After reading this article, it is clear that celebrity impersonators can be a fun, light-hearted way to entertain a large group. It is a great point that they are able to mingle with the crowd. I will definitely use this advice while planning the party!
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[…] 11 Not-Boring Corporate Event Entertainment Ideas – Corporate events usually mean one thing: people want to cut loose! And they expect to be entertained. If it’s up to you to plan a corporate event, you could be feeling a little overwhelmed. Besides booking the bartenders, you may be looking for other corporate event entertainment, and we have 11 ideas to help! 1. Hypnotist […]
I found it interesting that circus entertainment acts like acrobats and aerialists can accommodate a good crowd size. Our party planning committee for work needs a good party for Christmas that can get the employees more excited. I’ll have to share this with them to spark more ideas.
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