How To Plan A Corporate Event Party

It is that time of the year! Before you know it, companies will start planning their corporate event parties for the coming holidays. These parties are usually done on behalf of the employees to spark moral and teamwork. So you are probably wondering how to plan a corporate event party? Well, a good rule of thumb is to start the planning stages 4-6 months prior to the date. If you are anticipating over 125 guests, then you will require more resources and this timeframe should be stretched from 6-9 months instead. Depending on your corporate culture will determine the way you go about planning a unique corporate bash. Location Location Location Going back to the guest list, you will first need to figure out how many guests will be in attendance. This will limit you with choices for a venue. If you are a larger regional or global corporation then you may need audio, visual, and hotel meeting space. If this is a less complex company, then a celebration at your local banquet facility might do the trick. If you have any out of town guests (CEOs, board members, honorary or distinguished guests) then you might want to locate your corporate event party near an airport for ease of logistics. The location should be allocated towards the largest portion of your budget; however there are other factors that are equally important. Hire the Right Team A team of professional vendors will be able to execute your vision without hesitation. A good question to ask your self is, 'how am I trying to leave an impact on at this party'? Regardless of the answer, your vendors including caterer, guest speakers, and entertainment are an extension of your reputation. A poor selection of vendors may leave a bad impression on your guests including those in management. This is the second most important area to invest your time and energy because it is the small details that can make or break a corporate event. Pick a Spontaneous Theme Do you remember your last past at your company from any of the previous years? If you have to think for more than ten seconds, then the planning committee did not do their job. When you sell or market a product, you have to establish an identity for your brand, and likewise when you plan and execute a successful party, you need to create a theme centered on your company. This theme should be different from past years. Try to implement your companies history and short term vision into the theme. There are many places to start and a good way to do this is to brainstorm with some of your co-workers to get some great ideas. Get Guests Involved We all know that one of the main purposes behind the company party is to ignite team building skills and employee moral. So how do you plan a corporate event party? Ask your guests, the employees. A great way to get instant feedback is with a newsletter addressed to all the employees. You can also mass e-mail a link to a survey for specific requests to all the employees. You might want to get an idea of the type of entrees guests might want. They will be able to tell you fun ways to promote team spirit and what type of vibe they are expecting from the party. The more you center the company party around your employees the more successful the event will be. Finally be Creative After you have read the above tips on how to plan the perfect corporate party, the final advice is to be creative. There are many stresses associated with being responsible for the company party, do not let this limit ideas. Many times people will not try creative ideas because they are afraid it will flop and management will put the blame on them. Just because it is a company party does not mean that waltz music will be played the entire evening. Just because it is a company party does not mean your guests should expect the traditional format with speeches and dinner selections. You will be surprised with the compliments you will receive if you think outside of the box. For example get a sushi bar, use Accent Lighting, or have an all white party. As you can tell the possibilities are endless. So if you want to leave a lasting impression on your guests keep them in mind and choose a theme that will surprise everyone including yourself!