7 Ways To Level Up Your Corporate Event

When people think of corporate events, they think of crowding people into one room so they can trade business cards. Not only is this boring, but it doesn’t encourage guest engagement. This results in a forgettable event that your team members will yawn their way through. 

Want to level up your corporate event? We’ve put together these seven tips to make sure your corporate event is one for the books:

#1 Set a Theme

Your employees deserve a day to trade their suits, ties, and button-down shirts for something more fun. Say goodbye to boring black tie events by planning a themed party where your team can wear their best cowboy boots, 80s apparel, and more. You will be able to throw a corporate event that everyone will remember for years to come. 

Don’t forget that the rest of the elements should go with the event’s theme. For instance, if your corporate event is carnival-themed, you could serve fair food such as corndogs and popcorn. For activities, set up stations for classic carnival games such as “ring toss” and “gone fishing”.

#2 Hire a DJ

What’s one way to tell that a corporate event is a flop? The answer is if it’s too silent.

Spice up your event with DJ services that’ll make your employees want to breakdance and throw dance-offs. Your goal should be to get everyone dancing by the end of the evening. And if you’ve decided on a theme, you can request your DJ to play period-appropriate songs, too. ABBA’s best hits for a Mamma Mia-themed event, maybe? 

#3 Put Up a Photobooth

This isn’t prom, so don’t ask your employees, stakeholders, and more to pose in front of a backdrop. No one wants to be forced to pose with that one coworker they dislike. Instead, allow people to take pictures whenever they want, and with whomever they want. 

With a photo booth, everyone will be able to have a memento of the event. Plus, you no longer need to get a photographer who has to struggle to photograph everything that goes down. Be sure to find a photo booth company that offers print-outs and plenty of props. You could even request them to prepare unique props that reflect what your company stands for. 

#4 Be Eco-Friendly

Want to plan a corporate event that aligns with your sustainability goals? Work closely with your corporate sustainability committee to make sure that your corporate event is eco-friendly. Whether it’s saying goodbye to single-use plastic cups, or planning for proper garbage disposal, there’s a wide range of things you can do to reduce your event’s carbon footprint. 

Not only will you be able to save the environment, but you’ll also be able to show customers, clients, and potential investors that you truly value sustainability. From a PR standpoint, this builds your brand’s reputation.

Here are a couple of ways to plan an eco-friendly corporate event:

• Send e-invites instead of invites 
• Use recycled paper for gift bags, badges, etc.
• Choose an eco-friendly venue
• Borrow — don’t buy — decorations
• Consider creating a compost pit for organic waste

#5 Host a Sports Day

Host a company-wide “Sports Day” on a Friday afternoon so your employees can kick off their weekend in a fun way. This can build a stronger bond between coworkers, and make them feel more comfortable around their bosses! For even more fun, they can invite their families to the corporate event. 

All you have to do is find an open space where your employees can run around freely. Make sure there’s space for team sports games such as kickball, frisbee, basketball, and the like. 

Want your employees to compete? Consider using branded merchandise as the reward — but with a twist, of course. As a general rule, non-winners shouldn’t be able to buy the rewards from the gift shop!

#6 Social Media Wall

A social media wall is a live feed of posts from attendees. When employees post on their social media (e.g. Instagram and Twitter) and use the event’s hashtag, their posts will pop up on the wall for everyone to see. It’s a fun way to encourage engagement among your guests.

You will also be able to start a conversation about your event. The world can see your employees’ posts, so they’ll be curious about it (and your company), too. As a bonus, a social media wall can boost brand awareness. 

#7 A Weekend Away

This corporate event isn’t the cheapest, but it’s the best way to allow your team members to bond with one another. If you can afford it, plan a company retreat that’s far away from your corporate office. This will enable the workforce to really feel that they’re on a break. 

Remember that the retreat is not only a getaway, but that it also doubles as time for bonding and team-building. With that said, make sure the agenda revolves around the idea of “leave no one behind” like bike riding and hiking. To encourage team-building, get everyone to play team sports like basketball and kickball.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, corporate events don’t have to be a bore. As long as you have creativity, you can encourage your team to bond, and give guests, stakeholders, and more the time to get to know the company better. With these seven tips in mind, you can plan a corporate event that your employees will be talking about until the day they retire.