What is a Corporate Event?
There are two ways to answer this question. The fun way is to define it by what it does.
Nothing comes close to creating a buzz around a new product, improving your employees’ productivity, or making your team members more appreciative than a corporate event.
Whether you organize a team-building exercise or a fun picnic with games like dumb charades and Karaoke on the side, a corporate event needs to pop up. It is only through that “pop” that the crowd will get energized, you will come up with new ideas, and your business goals will get closer to you.
However, organizing a corporate event is not easy; there are multiple aspects you need to focus on. Also, not all corporate events are the same. Therefore, this blog will focus on a particular type of corporate event—a fun corporate holiday party—which is the most energizing and creates the most excitement among people.
Step 1 – Set a Budget and Stick to It
Before you get lost in the excitement too much, let us curb it down a little bit. You are on a budget, which is why you need to stick to it throughout. Plan activities and venues that fit it perfectly. The corporate event needs to be fun, but it also needs to be within a budget big enough to make it significant but small enough not to worry about it. And once you have selected a budget, stick to it.
Step 2 – Pick a Theme for the Corporate Holiday Party
While you can go all gung-ho and let your employees move around and enjoy at their own pace, keep one thing in mind. They are a team, and a corporate event needs to be a team-building exercise as well. Therefore, choose a singular theme. You can choose one depending on the season or your region.
A winter wonderland theme will be perfect for an event around Christmas, while a masquerade ball will make your event more elegant. Picking a retro style can sweep your employees in nostalgic vibes, or a tropical holiday can add some green buzz to the mix.
Step 3 – Book a Venue That Fits the Size of Your Team
Assume that you are a start-up. Now, you won’t be doing something as outlandish as booking a venue similar to the Met Gala that can house a thousand guests.
Similarly, if you are a big corporate powerhouse, you won’t be going after something small—you will need to think big. But it is not only about the size but also about the activities that you will pursue.
Step 4 – Plan Activities That Boost Morale and Let Your Employees Blow Off Steam
Nothing is more boring than a party where corporate people stand around in their corporate suits with whiskey in their hands while talking shop. While it may have some novelty, when you are planning a holiday party, you need to embrace your inner child and let your employees do the same.
Therefore, plan activities that will let them have some fun. A Karaoke station is perfect. The songs and singing, combined with the team smiling, are great for the morale. Also, to make the event more memorable, add photo booths to the mix.
Step 5 – Always Have Good Food at the Corporate Parties
Another big point is to have good food. Trust us, we at Caught in the Act know that no matter how lavish your parties are, there will be some people who will just be there for the food. But don’t just stick to junk food; be creative.
Keep a list of everyone’s dietary needs as well. For example, if someone is vegan, ensure you have those options as well. Better yet, keep tabs on your employees’ cultural backgrounds and surprise them with some regional delights. This will add more spark to communication and will let them engage with each other better.
Step 6 – Get Better Entertainment
Karaoke is a good way to entice the crowd. However, if you are willing to take things up a notch, you can also add some games into the mix.
A small basketball event with “bonuses” as wins will really boost the employees’ competitive spirit. Other competitive games will spice things up, too, and will help burn off all the calories from the party food.
Create a Corporate Event to Remember
Now that you know how to plan a corporate event, are you ready to take the next step? There are still some things that you need to add to blend more finesse into your events to transcend from an office outing to an event to remember. That’s where Caught in the Act can step in.
As leading event organizers, we know how to organize a corporate event in a way that your employees will never forget. So, let us discuss the budget and get to organizing.