Throughout my career, I have entertained at hundreds of banquets and have seen how fortune 500 companies produce awesome banquets and events. Here are a few insider tips and tricks to make your banquet fun, exciting, and memorable.
Open Bar
If your budget allows, have an open bar. This loosens people up and makes your banquet feel a lot less like work. Your attendance will also be a lot higher. If you don’t have the budget for an open bar, give out drink tickets that are good for one or two free drinks. This won’t break your budget and employees will still get free alcohol.
Music
During your cocktail hour and dinner, play music to lighten the mood. I have seen so many banquets drag because there was no music. Music makes the atmosphere fun and puts people in the mood to chat. It’s always best to have live music such as a string quartet, but at the very least play music without commercials. Also, make the volume low enough that people can talk without yelling.
Food
Do not cut corners with this expense! Everyone will notice if the meal is cheap. If possible, have at least a three course meal that is served at the tables. No one likes long food lines! Also, be sure the catering company or event center has enough wait staff. I’ve seen banquets fail miserably because the food takes too long to be served (one half of the room was finished eating as another part was just getting their meals).
Table Games
Employees should be encouraged to sit with people from different departments. A great way to get them talking is to place small games or puzzles on the tables. Wooden tic tac toe, peg games, or nail puzzles are great conversation starters. They also make great gifts for people to take home.
Photo Booths
These are gaining popularity in the banquet market. They are a simple and goofy way for attendees to remember their evening. Be sure the photo booth you rent has a lot of props for the employees to wear. Also, make sure that the photos are either printed on location or can be send via email or text. Do not go with a company that charges extra for printed photos.
Awards
The award ceremony should take place after dinner. Don’t present your awards while people are eating or while the wait staff clean the tables. If you give out awards, also give away something really useful, such as a gift card or a Rolex.
Entertainment
Entertainment is the perfect way to wrap up an evening. Once again, don’t cut corners with this expense. With shows like America’s Got Talent, people are used to judging the quality of an act. Hire an entertainer who specializes in corporate entertainment and has a proven track record.
Takeaway
As you plan your banquet, ask yourself if you would want to attend if you weren’t part of the company. If you think it’s dull, you should rethink your activities. Also, build up excitement about your banquet. Send emails and hang up posters releasing details about the event over a two or three month period. More people will want to attend and will have a better evening when they know they will enjoy the event.
