Over the past 30+ years I’ve been in the entertainment business I’ve performed at a lot of company holiday parties. Different people have different ideas when it comes to company holiday party entertainment ideas. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with company holiday party entertainment.
I usually ask my clients what type of entertainment they’ve had at their corporate holiday party in past years. Some have had their employee’s band play while others have have magicians, casino nights, a DJ, comedian, juggler or other things.
Unlike a wedding that usually has a DJ or a band play at the reception, company holiday parties usually want something a little extra. They’ll hire a DJ or band for later in the evening when some people want to dance, but also an entertainer to start things off right after dinner.
From the food to the entertainment to the DJ or any other aspect of the party, if just one thing isn’t good it could ruin the party.
Many companies use most of their budgeted money on centerpieces, appetizers or other things that the people won’t remember as much as the entertainment. They are left with a small entertainment budget and get cheap entertainment that ruin the party.
DJs like Wayne Kinney from Rock Out Entertainment in Michigan aren’t cheap. He’s one of the best at what he does and his prices reflect that. He doesn’t just stand behind his booth and push buttons, he gets the crowd going and keeps the party rolling.
When companies call me and say the entertainment from the year before was horrible it always turns out they didn’t pay them very much and they got bad entertainment.
I’ve even had some companies call me to let me know their discount entertainment canceled on them last minute and they were in a jam. These people are sometimes surprised that a professional won’t fill in for an amateur at the amateur prices. It’s like saying the hot dog vender didn’t show up, but you’d like steak and lobster for the same price.
There is a difference in quality and a different price for quality and something that isn’t quality.
Company Holiday Party Ideas On A Budget
I’ve entertained at other parties that got a discount DJ that was playing rap music during the cocktail hour. He had a suit coat on over his Arby’s work shirt from his day job. The clients weren’t happy, but they got what they paid for. Trying to get entertainment with a small budget doesn’t always turn out that good. Good entertainment isn’t cheap and cheap entertainment isn’t good.
Your company holiday party entertainment is usually the finale of your party. This is the one time a year you show your employees you appreciate them and you can’t ruin the event with bad entertainment.
Having a budget set for the food, flowers, etc. is one thing, but don’t skimp on your entertainment budget.
I’ve told many companies over the years that it might be in their best interest to use their small entertainment budget and buy an iPad to raffle off. At least this way one guest (the person that won the iPad) will do away happy. If they hired entertainment for that tiny budget everyone will surely leave disappointed.
Clean Entertainment For Corporate Parties
Having an entertainer that works clean (no swearing, inappropriate jokes, etc.) for your party is a must. You don’t want to offend anyone. Even if you think dirty jokes are funny your co-worker’s 60 year old wife might not agree with you. Staying away from R or X rated acts is the way to go.
I don’t swear at all during my presentations and am as politically correct as I possibly can be. I feel you can have a great time, laugh until your sides hurt with someone that doesn’t drop the f bomb all the time. My presentations are something your 20 year old new hire would love as much as your 90 year old grandma. It’s take a long time to hone my act to get it that way and it goes over great.
When it’s your name behind booking the entertainment or speaker you can’t afford to have anything but the best. You don’t want to have to hide from everyone after hiring someone horrible.
Unique Corporate Holiday Party Ideas
You don’t want to have the same old thing over and over each year because your employees will get bored. Don’t be afraid to try new venues and other new things at the party.
Ask your employees what they want to do. Some companies want to have casino nights and do it year after year. When they ask their employees if they like it they sometimes find out they don’t.
If you don’t ask your employees what they like, you’ll probably never know. Send out a survey after your party asking what they liked and didn’t like. Most people like giving their opinion … some even when you don’t ask for it. We all know people like that. 🙂
As fas as casino nights so some people aren’t into gambling and want something that everyone can enjoy at once rather than being scattered all over the banquet hall.
Try to plan something that will get your employees excited to go to each year’s holiday party. You are paying the banquet center or other venue a price per person that you said it going to show up. You want everyone to show up that you paid for.
I went to one corporate party where 30+ people didn’t show up because of the bad weather. At $100 or so a plate that added up in a hurry for the company. The owner was really upset. I recall that was their last Christmas party.
By having something unique and surprises in store for them, they’ll want to go to the party. One company I worked for kept the entire event a secret to everyone else other than those that planned the event. They put all their employees and their guests on tour buses and brought them to the venue. It was at the AT&T Stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play. They had dinner on the football field, kicked field goals, etc. I’m sure they are still talking about that evening.
Most companies don’t go all in like that company did, but there are things you can do to make it memorable.
My company holiday party entertainment ideas for you are plan something that your employees say they want. Hand out a survey long before you start planning your event to make sure you are all on the same page.
Sometimes an open bar can be a problem. Remember if your employee gets drunk and gets in an accident you might be legally responsible for what happens.
Hire someone other than your employee’s garage band so everyone can enjoy the party and no other employee garage bands are angry you hired the other one. 🙂
Budget your appetizers, centerpieces, meals, etc. so you have plenty left over for your entertainment. Sometimes just the appetizers can set you back $20 a person or more. With 100 people or more at your party that really adds up in a hurry. If you have enough in the budget to have a ton of wonderful food and great entertainment then by all means go for it.
Business Entertainment Deduction
Check with your accountant to see what can be written off at a corporate holiday party. Sometimes the entertainment can be written off to a certain amount, but with the new tax laws it might not be able to.
One of my presentation options is motivational entertainment. It might be able to go into your education budget and be a tax write-off since you are hiring a speaker to educate your employees. It just happens my motivational speech is very entertainment and filled with audience participation and fun. It will fit into your education category and be a lot of fun.
Having motivational entertainment as your company holiday party entertainment is a win/win.
Hopefully these company party entertainment ideas helped you. If I can be of any other help please give me a call or use my contact form.