Music for Corporate Entertainment

For many years I have supplied music for and playedyou are hoping to provide entertainment that will get
in bands that provide music for corporatepeople dancing remember this fact. Sixties and
entertainment. Clients have included Audi, TheSeventies. For some inexplicable reason this is the
Evening Standard, Sainsburys, P.C. World, Safeways,music that gets people up on their feet.When
Large corporate clients at Henley and Ascot, I.T.V.choosing your music ask the band if they can cover
and H.M. Treasury. Because of this experience I felt itthis part of the corporate entertainment requirement.
would be relevant in putting down some pointers inGet samples of their music if need be. There is
helping clients choose the right kind of music for theirnothing worse than an ill equipped band struggling
particular corporate entertainment.Interestinglythrough alien repertoire. However good the band is, if
enough, most corporate hospitality entertainmentthey do not play the right repertoire, the right style
work tends to require music as an ingredient to aof music then the corporate entertainment will fall on
larger recipe. What I mean by this is a great deal ofdeaf ears.Let me at this point provide a caveat. Your
corporate events are offering a multi serviceworkforce work together They are not always going
package. Typically an organization may be putting onto be the best of friends however professional their
an evenings entertainment to thank its workforce forrelationships are at work. Answer truthfully, will they
a particularly successful year. They may be offeringreally want to dance together or is it asking too
music, food, comedy, a close up magician, a casinomuch? I would say that in all the years of providing
and a caricaturist. The corporate client organizingmusic for this kind of corporate entertainment /
needs to decide what part the music has to play inhospitality , as long as the music is right, the
the days/evenings entertainment.Questions he or sheworkforce tended to dance 30 or 40% of the time.
needs to ask are: Is the music specifically forIt could be said that a workforce who will enjoy each
entertainment or is the music for backgroundothers company in this way is a reflection on the
listening?Do we need one style of music early on intalent of senior management to create a happy
the proceedings and then a change of style later inteam!Corporate entertainment model 3.
the days/ evenings entertainment?Do you expectCompany Fun Day.
the corporate clients to be networking and discussingThese come in two types. The type to entertain
business or are they just there for a goodyour own workforce or the type to entertain
time?What overall atmosphere do you want toprospective clients. Both types of corporate
project with the event?Is there going to be a changeentertainment require music that is fun. This means
of location for the music as the entertainment eventthat the music must be perceived as fun and the
unfolds?Different styles of music bands lendband must be perceived as fun. In both cases Jolly
themselves to different corporate hospitalityDixieland Jazz or the summer sounds of Latin music
situations. Below are a number of typical corporateare most suitable.Ask yourself these questions: does
hospitality events with music suggestions for suitablethe band need to be mobile? Meaning do you want
music entertainment.Corporate entertainment modelthe music to move around the site at various points
1.in the proceedings? If so then the jolly jazz route is
Evening reception with dinner and speeches.most suitable. A good professional outfit of four or
In a situation such as this you will typically needfive players can play acoustically and move around a
music from the outset as part of the meet andsite as directed.If the band can be static and close to
greet of the corporate evening. A four-piece swingelectrical power then either Jolly Jazz or Latin Music is
or Latin group is ideal with a larger ensemble forsuitable.Is the event outdoors or indoors and do you
particularly large gatherings. A professional outfit canhave provision for bad weather? This is England,
pitch the music at just the right decibel level so yournever trust to luck, assume the worst! Any band
guests can talk and enjoy the entertainment withoutthat needs power cannot play in the rain for health
it encroaching on conversations. The musicians wouldand safety reasons. At the first hint of inclement
typically be dressed in Lounge Suits or Tuxedos (orweather a band will have to breakdown their
the female equivalent) to mirror what the guests areequipment. Build this situation into your corporate
wearing themselves. The music portrays anentertainment music decisions.How do you want the
atmosphere of sophistication, which again hopefullyband to dress? It is a fun day after all! In the past I
reflects the evenings overall ambience.It is rare forand my musicians have dressed as Elvis, Cavemen,
corporate clients to want to dance especially asCircus Clowns, in fact all manner of characters in the
clients there relationship is business not pleasure! Inname of corporate entertainment and corporate
most cases it is more important that the band ishospitality. Good bands will have suitable outfits for
flexible in when it is needed over the course of themost situations but don`t hesitate in providing
evening i.e. At the top of the night for the reception,something off the wall for a special event. Most
a smaller version of the band (The pianist maybe forprofessional players have a strange urge to jump into
the dinner), stopping for speeches and then after thesuch costumes at the earliest possibility! As someone
speeches to play until other entertainment is put onwho has played at a nudist camp and for a toga
for the corporate clients. In this situation give theparty, both dressed accordingly, take my word for
band a clear idea of how you expect the evening toit!To draw this article together let me say this.
go. What to wear, when they will be needed, whenChoose the right kind of music for the event. Brief
they need to get their instruments in the building andthe band accordingly but make sure you have a
be set up, when breaks will be required, let themprofessional and flexible outfit, things can change
know if it is convenient or not to feed them andover the course of the event and you want to make
then finally how they can leave when finished so assure the band are both co-operative and able to fulfill
not to disrupt the rest of theyour needs. Don`t hesitate to ask the band for any
entertainment.Corporate entertainment model 2.special requirements you have. Do it in plenty of time
Company Party.so they have time to prepare.The corporate
Still corporate entertainment, still corporateentertainment and hospitality you offer to your
hospitality but a totally different set of requirementsguests reflects directly onto your company. The
for the music. Ask yourself these questions: Are yourmusic and musicians must be the type who are
work force the type of workforce who will want toaware of this. Dont go for second best just to save
dance at some point in the proceedings? If they are,a small amount of money. You need a well prepared,
then a professional band with flexibility is essential. Mywell dressed band who are both polite and charming
experience is that people of all ages will join togetherto your guests. They need to play the right kind of
to dance to music from the sixties and seventies.music for the event in order to help make the day or
Whatever background music you require earlier in theevenings corporate entertainment a resounding
day/evening be it Latin, Swing, Rat Pack or Lounge, ifsuccess!