When you are planning a company holiday party, picnic, employee benefit or other business event and are looking for appropriate and unique entertainment ideas for the corporate world, here are some things to consider.  First is to try and take an informal poll around the office to see what type of entertainment people are considering.  Unless there is a clear theme mapped out already which makes selecting the entertainment much easier, this is a great first step to take.  Next you should find a knowledgeable entertainment company that understands the corporate world and has booked acts for it and ask them for some suggestions as to what they think might be a good fit for you.  This is not to say that you should take what they say and book an act solely based on that, as it would be a big mistake, however you can use that information and compare it to what you heard from your colleagues at the office and get their thoughts on the options as well.

Next you should make sure you are clear about the budget that you will be working with when you are talking to the entertainment company.  Like most other events, a corporate event is the time when you want to get the best quality performer that money can buy.  Remember that if you choose an act because you got a great deal, and that act is less than stellar, you are going to have to explain your decision to your boss or your guests as well as being the one responsible for booking the bad performer.  Using an entertainment company is a wise decision as they filter out the amateur acts from the professional ones, saving you time. Make sure you get to see a video or demo of the performer you are thinking about booking, or if you have the chance, go see the act live as this is the best way to see what you think of the performer.  Once you have chosen an act, be sure to read the contracts the entertainment company provides you with.  What other requirements will be needed by the act?  If you are booking a musical act, are they bringing their own AV equipment, or are you going to be providing it at the venue?  Will the performer need a dressing room or backstage requirements such as snacks or bottled water?  These types of things are important to keep in mind when choosing the type of entertainment you want.  Most entertainment companies will make it clear what, if any special needs the performer has for his engagement. Some performers require very little besides basic AV and a stage.  This includes comedians, magicians, dancers, singers and others.  Follow these simple steps and you are sure to have a great entertainer at your next corporate event.

Here are some unique entertainment ideas for your next corporate event or convention.  Enjoy!

1. Find an act such as a comedian that perhaps can poke some fun at your CEO, do an impersonation of him, or even make light of your industry as a whole.

2. Hire a magician that can incorporate your sales message into his magic, or cut your CEO or receptionist in half.  He might even be able to vanish the CEO, much to the delight of the employees.

3. Book a  vocal improvisation group to take requests from the audience and spin them into a funny performance.

4. You might be able to get a musician to write a short song about your company and play it at the event.

5. Find entertainment that reflects the current trends in pop culture such as a political election, popular TV show, or anything else that is on everyone's mind.

6. Lastly, the best way to create a unique entertainment experience for your event is to get the talent to customize their performance for your event.  This is guaranteed to make your event memorable.  Talk with the entertainment company and brainstorm how they can customize the act to fit your specific event and company.  You will be rewarded with lots of positive feedback from all the attendees.