| For many years I have supplied music for and | | | | provide entertainment that will get people dancing |
| played in bands that provide music for corporate | | | | remember this fact. Sixties and Seventies. For |
| entertainment. Clients have included Audi, The | | | | some inexplicable reason this is the music that |
| Evening Standard, Sainsburys, P.C. World, | | | | gets people up on their feet.When choosing your |
| Safeways, Large corporate clients at Henley and | | | | music ask the band if they can cover this part of |
| Ascot, I.T.V. and H.M. Treasury. Because of this | | | | the corporate entertainment requirement. Get |
| experience I felt it would be relevant in putting | | | | samples of their music if need be. There is nothing |
| down some pointers in helping clients choose the | | | | worse than an ill equipped band struggling through |
| right kind of music for their particular corporate | | | | alien repertoire. However good the band is, if they |
| entertainment.Interestingly enough, most | | | | do not play the right repertoire, the right style of |
| corporate hospitality entertainment work tends to | | | | music then the corporate entertainment will fall on |
| require music as an ingredient to a larger recipe. | | | | deaf ears.Let me at this point provide a caveat. |
| What I mean by this is a great deal of corporate | | | | Your workforce work together They are not |
| events are offering a multi service package. | | | | always going to be the best of friends however |
| Typically an organization may be putting on an | | | | professional their relationships are at work. |
| evenings entertainment to thank its workforce | | | | Answer truthfully, will they really want to dance |
| for a particularly successful year. They may be | | | | together or is it asking too much? I would say |
| offering music, food, comedy, a close up magician, | | | | that in all the years of providing music for this |
| a casino and a caricaturist. The corporate client | | | | kind of corporate entertainment / hospitality , as |
| organizing needs to decide what part the music | | | | long as the music is right, the workforce tended |
| has to play in the days/evenings | | | | to dance 30 or 40% of the time. It could be said |
| entertainment.Questions he or she needs to ask | | | | that a workforce who will enjoy each others |
| are: Is the music specifically for entertainment or | | | | company in this way is a reflection on the talent |
| is the music for background listening?Do we need | | | | of senior management to create a happy |
| one style of music early on in the proceedings | | | | team!Corporate entertainment model 3. |
| and then a change of style later in the days/ | | | | Company Fun Day. |
| evenings entertainment?Do you expect the | | | | These come in two types. The type to entertain |
| corporate clients to be networking and discussing | | | | your own workforce or the type to entertain |
| business or are they just there for a good | | | | prospective clients. Both types of corporate |
| time?What overall atmosphere do you want to | | | | entertainment require music that is fun. This |
| project with the event?Is there going to be a | | | | means that the music must be perceived as fun |
| change of location for the music as the | | | | and the band must be perceived as fun. In both |
| entertainment event unfolds?Different styles of | | | | cases Jolly Dixieland Jazz or the summer sounds |
| music bands lend themselves to different | | | | of Latin music are most suitable.Ask yourself |
| corporate hospitality situations. Below are a | | | | these questions: does the band need to be |
| number of typical corporate hospitality events | | | | mobile? Meaning do you want the music to move |
| with music suggestions for suitable music | | | | around the site at various points in the |
| entertainment.Corporate entertainment model 1. | | | | proceedings? If so then the jolly jazz route is |
| Evening reception with dinner and speeches. | | | | most suitable. A good professional outfit of four |
| In a situation such as this you will typically need | | | | or five players can play acoustically and move |
| music from the outset as part of the meet and | | | | around a site as directed.If the band can be static |
| greet of the corporate evening. A four-piece | | | | and close to electrical power then either Jolly Jazz |
| swing or Latin group is ideal with a larger | | | | or Latin Music is suitable.Is the event outdoors or |
| ensemble for particularly large gatherings. A | | | | indoors and do you have provision for bad |
| professional outfit can pitch the music at just the | | | | weather? This is England, never trust to luck, |
| right decibel level so your guests can talk and | | | | assume the worst! Any band that needs power |
| enjoy the entertainment without it encroaching on | | | | cannot play in the rain for health and safety |
| conversations. The musicians would typically be | | | | reasons. At the first hint of inclement weather a |
| dressed in Lounge Suits or Tuxedos (or the | | | | band will have to breakdown their equipment. Build |
| female equivalent) to mirror what the guests are | | | | this situation into your corporate entertainment |
| wearing themselves. The music portrays an | | | | music decisions.How do you want the band to |
| atmosphere of sophistication, which again hopefully | | | | dress? It is a fun day after all! In the past I and |
| reflects the evenings overall ambience.It is rare | | | | my musicians have dressed as Elvis, Cavemen, |
| for corporate clients to want to dance especially | | | | Circus Clowns, in fact all manner of characters in |
| as clients there relationship is business not | | | | the name of corporate entertainment and |
| pleasure! In most cases it is more important that | | | | corporate hospitality. Good bands will have suitable |
| the band is flexible in when it is needed over the | | | | outfits for most situations but don`t hesitate in |
| course of the evening i.e. At the top of the night | | | | providing something off the wall for a special |
| for the reception, a smaller version of the band | | | | event. Most professional players have a strange |
| (The pianist maybe for the dinner), stopping for | | | | urge to jump into such costumes at the earliest |
| speeches and then after the speeches to play | | | | possibility! As someone who has played at a nudist |
| until other entertainment is put on for the | | | | camp and for a toga party, both dressed |
| corporate clients. In this situation give the band a | | | | accordingly, take my word for it!To draw this |
| clear idea of how you expect the evening to go. | | | | article together let me say this. Choose the right |
| What to wear, when they will be needed, when | | | | kind of music for the event. Brief the band |
| they need to get their instruments in the building | | | | accordingly but make sure you have a |
| and be set up, when breaks will be required, let | | | | professional and flexible outfit, things can change |
| them know if it is convenient or not to feed | | | | over the course of the event and you want to |
| them and then finally how they can leave when | | | | make sure the band are both co-operative and |
| finished so as not to disrupt the rest of the | | | | able to fulfill your needs. Don`t hesitate to ask the |
| entertainment.Corporate entertainment model 2. | | | | band for any special requirements you have. Do it |
| Company Party. | | | | in plenty of time so they have time to |
| Still corporate entertainment, still corporate | | | | prepare.The corporate entertainment and |
| hospitality but a totally different set of | | | | hospitality you offer to your guests reflects |
| requirements for the music. Ask yourself these | | | | directly onto your company. The music and |
| questions: Are your work force the type of | | | | musicians must be the type who are aware of |
| workforce who will want to dance at some point | | | | this. Dont go for second best just to save a small |
| in the proceedings? If they are, then a | | | | amount of money. You need a well prepared, well |
| professional band with flexibility is essential. My | | | | dressed band who are both polite and charming to |
| experience is that people of all ages will join | | | | your guests. They need to play the right kind of |
| together to dance to music from the sixties and | | | | music for the event in order to help make the |
| seventies. Whatever background music you | | | | day or evenings corporate entertainment a |
| require earlier in the day/evening be it Latin, | | | | resounding success! |
| Swing, Rat Pack or Lounge, if you are hoping to | | | | |