play money total with a real dollars dona- tion to a charitable organization.
In fact, Dwyer noted, “We partner up with a group known as ARTwithPURPOSE to create an out-of-the-box event idea for companies who want to give back to the community while having fun at the same time.
Through this program, the art in
each project is created by participants, and then ARTwithPURPOSE transfers that art either to a tile, apron or hug me pillow. Projects are then donated to a charity, such as a children's wing of a hospital, or used as a giveaway for an event.”
Reed added, “One of our clients, a phar- maceutical company, held an event with us and our friends at ARTwithPURPOSE, and created a whole wall mural. We’ve also seen other companies create art for an event and then transfer it to everything from t-shirts to table covers.”
Another option for groups, due largely to the popularity of the HBO show Boardwalk Empire, is holding an event with a “Roaring ‘20s” speakeasy theme. These events are very flexible in terms of budget, and Kathy Reed Productions can offer a big, theatrical event, or one that is cost-conscious and still a whole lot of fun.
“A Roaring ‘20s Murder on Cue murder mystery is another great option,” added Dwyer, “because we can take our murder mystery concept and adapt it to virtually any theme the planner wants for their group and event.”
The importance of fun and play as part of an event simply cannot be overstated, noted Dwyer.
As a matter of fact, on the corporate team building page of Murder on Cue’s website is a quote from the famous philosopher, Plato. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.’”
Non-Stop Excitement
According to Sonny Morris, event enter- tainment consultant for EastCoast Entertainment, “When a corporation holds its annual convention for employees, the attendees are going to meetings, seminars,
86 July August 2011
training - straight ahead business that often lasts all day. When the convention is over, people attending feel exhausted and want to relax.”
“By bringing in entertainment as part of the convention,” he continued, “it can pro- vide a ‘wow’ factor that energizes them and makes them feel good about their company. After all, they worked hard dur- ing the convention, so adding entertain- ment allows them to end their day on a ‘play hard’ note.”
Morris cautioned that charity fund raising organizations must also consider that the type of event they hold can have an impact the amount of money they are ulti- mately able to raise.
“A great way to thank big dollar contribu- tors is to dazzle them with an exciting dance band,” he noted. What’s really on the line, Morris said, is making a lasting impression on these high-end contribu- tors. After all, he warned, “Putting together an event that’s just mediocre will likely get a mediocre response for future events.”
Morris said that, in addition to corporate events being tied to annual meetings or conventions, many companies are tying team building to their events or want entertainment to be included as part of the overall experience.
Fun, out-of-the-box options for entertain- ment are a key part of EastCoast Entertainment’s offerings.
“Our company recently signed an enter- tainer out of Las Vegas - Apollo Robbins: The Gentleman Thief. He is a world- renown pick-pocket who has worked with David Copperfield and has been written about in Forbes magazine. He can pres- ent an unusual and interactive option for planners that will definitely wow and excite their guests,” said Morris.
The Water Coolers is another entertain- ment option offered by EastCoast Entertainment.
“It consists of four actors who stand around a water cooler on stage and per- form song parodies that tie into the com- pany hosting the event as well as several
of the individuals in attendance. This kind of customization adds to the fun and real- ly makes an event stand out,” said Morris.
Still another “out-of-the-box” act he men- tioned is Avalare Strings. The group con- sists of a cellist and three violinists who perform together in an animated and visu- ally entertaining way. But what makes them really unique is that they use their classical instruments to play Classic Rock music for the audience. “They get rave reviews along with a lot of inquiries about working future dates after every appear- ance.”
Among those seeking more traditional musical entertainment for their events, Morris said companies today want live bands that are high-energy and entertain- ing, both musically and visually.
“For events featuring high-end bands,” he continued, “we will create custom CDs to give away to attendees following the per- formance. These CDs can be imprinted with a photo of the band, the corporate logo of the event host, as well as the name and date of the event.”
Morris said these high-end dance bands put on a great show for attendees that can be customized specifically for the group. Providing high energy, non-stop exciting performances that last up to three hours, these bands present a fantastic option that is sure to keep attendees energized and entertained.
Made for Music
Gretchen McHale, director of private event sales for World Café Live, said that her venue presents planners with an opportunity not only to plan a great meet- ing, but also to incorporate entertainment within a space that’s specifically designed for musical performances.
“Here at World Café Live, planners have a lot of freedom to design and create their program in just about any way that they want,” said McHale. “There aren’t a lot of restrictions in our building when it comes to events.”
And because it is a music venue, World Café Live was constructed to include
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