Company Party Entertainment vs. A Lousy Economy

I’m no economist but from here, the economy looks lousy. I’m pretty sure it looks similar from where you’re sitting too. In spite of things looking lousy, you’re still, as a forward-thinking business person, going to reward your loyal and hard-working staff. You’re planning the yearly company celebration.

But, cash is tight. What’s a small to medium-size business to do? Is it possible to have a fun and memorable party on a trimmer budget than in years past?

Yes it is. You just have to remember to cut corners on things that won’t be remembered anyway. Is table service remembered more than a buffet? Probably not, and it takes far fewer banquet staff to set up a buffet than to serve each guest individually. You may also consider choosing menu items that are not on the top of the right hand page (where restaurants put their most expensive items).

Decorations, that are thrown away immediately after the event, are a great place to economize. And rarely are the decorations remembered anyway.

You may even want to plan your party on a weeknight or after the holidays. Hotel banquet rooms can sometimes be booked at a discount on a weeknight or after January 1st.

Now what about entertainment? Should you hire entertainment at all? If you don’t you run the risk of everyone bolting out the door after dinner feeling cheated. Should you shop for cut rate entertainment? If you’re willing to take a big risk. You might get lucky and hire an inexperienced and cheap DJ, band or comedian that doesn’t fail you.

Your problem is, most employees will remember last year’s entertainment, whether good or bad. It’s probably best to give them high-quality entertainment to remember. Good, engaging entertainment can help build a bond between employees that lasts longer and is more rewarding to the long-term success of a company than any centerpiece will ever be. 

Ask your employees what they remembered from last year’s event. My guess is it won’t be the grub or the garland. It’ll probably be the entertainment… and the astonishment at how Peggy from accounting got so loopy after only one Cosmopolitan.

So, to keep Peggy and the rest of your staff happy and loyal and motivated; cut corners on the items that will end up in tomorrow’s trash, invest wisely on things that will reside in your employee’s brains throughout the year. And make sure someone who’s sober gives Peggy a lift home. You want Peggy around to astonish once again next year.

Love, Romance and... Hypnosis!

Sometimes a letter arrives in my email box that makes me smile. Here’s one of those letters, printed in its entirety:

Hi Rusty--

Come back soon!
Eve