Why Is Entertainment Important At A Corporate Function?
Try to remember the last corporate function you attended. Now try to remember what hors d’ouvres were served during cocktail hour. Do you remember the table centres?  Now here's an easy one: Did you have a good time? Was the entertainment great? Did you dance to the party band all night?

If you’re like most people, chances are you'll remember the party entertainment more than anything at a corporate function. Quality entertainment leaves the most indelible memory so it only stands to reason that the guests at your corporate function will have the same impression.

How Early Should You Book Corporate Entertainment?
As early as possible!   This varies based on the time of year and day of the week but many months prior to your corporate function is definitely not too soon. The busiest time for charity events is between September and May. UK wedding parties tend to be in demand between the beginning of May and the end of September and all Bank Holiday weekends. Corporate functions occur throughout the year in the uk. Christmas is also of course, hugely popular for a company & corporate function. So book early. If you find a party band that you like, don’t let them get away. A fabulous UK party band & top party DJ is hard to find and they book up seasons in advance. If the party band isn’t available on your date, at least you'll have time to find another party band.

How To Find Your UK Corporate Entertainment.
Although, some corporate party entertainers do mix public club events with private events, many of the top function bands or party DJ's aren't found playing in clubs. Where do you begin? If you’ve been to a corporate function recently, ask the party organiser how they found their party entertainers. To give you the best options & advice call a professional entertainment agency.

Why Use a Professional Entertainment Agent For Corporate Entertainment?
Use an entertainment agent experienced in booking entertainment for a UK corporate event & company function. You will save time and money by using a good entertainment agent, and still maintain complete control over your corporate event.Your corporate event is much too important to worry about whether the party band are a reliable outfit, will be set up on time, know how to make any introductions, be dressed appropriately, and be cooperative about the volume, etc.

Lancashire Entertainment agency has worked with many top professional party bands & entertainers in the uk.
We know who shows up and who doesn't. We know which party band will make your corporate function memorable and who won't. Lancashire Entertainment Agency knows who’ll help make your corporate function stand out from competing corporate and company events. Lancashire Entertainment Agency has access to a great variety of top UK function bands at all price levels, and our job is to fit the entertainment to your needs. For you to go out in the midst of planning a corporate party and find an appropriate party band, chase down their leader, make a deal, and then hope they show up for your party just doesn't make any sense when Lancashire Entertainment Agency will do the work for you and usually at no additional cost. (Lancashire Entertainment Agency takes our commissions from the act). Many UK party bands hear the word “corporate” and their prices escalate substantially, whereas Lancashire Entertainment agents know the pricing history of the function bands we work with. A party band is also generally more accommodating for our entertainment agency (from whom they get regular repeat business), than they are for someone using them on a one-time basis.

How do you really know if a band has the experience of playing for company and corporate functions?
When enlisting the help of an agent at Lancashire Entertainment agency, your options and choices are greatly expanded. Our UK agency has already done the groundwork. We are able to provide you with a selection of entertainers available on your date, proven party professionals that fit your needs and budget. An agent will ask you many questions & listen and understand exactly what it is you desire. This helps our entertainment agency to suggest the most appropriate party entertainers for you to consider for your corporate function.

When Should We Entertain Our Corporate Guests?
It is now common practice to entertain your party guests throughout the corporate function. There are several alternatives open to you, which will make your corporate party a memorable one for everyone that attends. The occasion splits up into 2 main categories (from an entertainment point of view).

1. Entertainment for the pre-dinner drinks, and meal.
2. Party entertainment for the dancing.

Here are just a few ideas for the smooth running of the corporate function.

Pre-Dinner Drinks & Corporate Meal Entertainment.
To create a happy warm welcome for your guests the alternative entertainment includes a Piper, Harpist, String Quartet, and Pianist. These entertainers lend an air of sophistication and elegance but if you require a more informal ambiance, a mobile Jazz Band is an excellent and very popular option.

Any entertainment you supply throughout the meal would need to be ’background’ rather than 'full on'. As well as continuing with the appropriate live music, another option would be a close-up magician. He will visit your party guests’ tables one by one performing his magical art. Other speciality performers such as Caricaturists will keep your guests occupied between courses. They also give your party guests a special present to take home. Their paper can be modified to contain your company & corporate logo and this will be seen each time they look at the caricature. For the larger corporate function, engaging the services of a Toastmaster is a very wise move. His job is to make sure that everything runs smoothly. He will advise you on corporate function etiquette and will usually meet with you before the function to discuss your requirements. He will ensure that caterers, band, DJ, entertainment, photographers and videographers etc. all know what to do and when. If you wish, he will announce the arrival of each party guest, and introduce the speeches. Most have a great sense of humour and are often a good source of entertainment. Employing the services of a corporate toastmaster allows the event organisers to relax and enjoy their evening. 

UK Corporate Party Fundraising Events.
There are a number of different ways to raise funds at a corporate party, the most obvious of which are raffles, tombolas, and party games (Irish bingo and ‘heads & tails’ are currently the most popular). Another brilliant way to persuade your guests to part with their cash is to book a Las Vegas Corporate Casino.

Band or Disco for your Corporate Party?
When choosing entertainment for your corporate party, there is always the age-old question, "Party Band or Party DJ?"  If you can squeeze it in the budget, you may want to consider both. If budget is an issue for you, you may want to consider hiring a top quality party DJ who can play a huge variety of songs and at a lower cost.  Whatever you do, don’t book a ‘cheap’ party DJ !!

Advantages Of Hiring A Corporate Party Band
A good live corporate party band will have an amazing effect on the atmosphere and even the ‘stuffiest’ of guests will find it hard not to get up and dance. Hiring a party band is a great way to ensure a "lively" reception that will create lasting memories and make your corporate function stand out from the crowd. For most of your guests the live party music will encourage excited activity and they will spend the majority of their time on the dance floor. For others, who might have less of a desire to dance, music from a live party band provides an equally enjoyable concert or lounge-type atmosphere. The bottom line is that live party entertainment is both a participatory activity and a spectator sport all rolled into one. This is the unequalled ‘entertainment value’ of live party music. It is clearly demonstrated by the millions of people who attend music concerts, symphonies, outdoor festivals, jazz clubs and nightclubs throughout the uk to hear a live party band perform each year. There is an inherent power and energy in live party entertainment that captivates and appeals to the corporate function audience. 
 
What Style Of Corporate Party Band Should I Book?
Generally, there is a wide range of ages and musical tastes at most company and corporate hospitality functions and versatility and adaptability of the party band is the key ingredient to the success of your function!  An experienced, versatile live party band will play a selection of well-loved hits from a huge repertoire of music designed to appeal to all of your corporate guests. They are open to song suggestions and, given enough notice, are happy to rehearse your personal party favourites and special requests. Other bands are also very popular in a range of different styles including a Soul band, Big Band Swing, Jazz band, Rock n Roll band, and a Tribute Band. If you’re holding a corporate theme night, Lancashire Entertainment Agency will offer you a range of excellent uk party alternatives to choose from. Ceilidh bands (pronounced kay-lee) are also popular. However, unless a large proportion of your guests are of a Celtic descent we would generally only recommend this type of band to do one long set and to follow this with a disco. Ceilidhs are fabulous for corporate audience involvement, but as the function wears on (and the alcohol takes effect), the guests sometimes find it difficult to remember the callers’ instructions!   This is part of the fun of course, but it can lose its impact the second time around.

If I Book A Corporate Party Band Do I Also Need A Party Disco?
Probably!  It all depends on the timings of your event (again, here our agents at Lancashire Entertainment Agency will ask you all the right questions and offer you some friendly impartial advice).  The most important thing to remember is that a live party band will usually play 2 sets – lasting between 45 minutes to an hour each. (Any more than this and the party music will lose it’s dynamic impact and special nature).  Once the party band stop for a break, the party DJ will keep the dancing going until the party band are ready to start there second set. If you don’t do this, the drop in atmosphere will make it much harder for the party band to get the audience back in the party mood. Depending on when the party and finish, the party DJ can keep people dancing till the early hours if you wish, and for far less cost. (You are only paying for 1 person). All of our party bands can however supply party music on CD during their breaks and again this may well be the best option – mainly depending on the timings of your corporate function, and the atmosphere you wish to create.

Why Should You Book A Party Band & Party DJ From The Same Source?
Most corporate party DJ’s supplied from alternative sources are not used to working alongside the party bands. They will often play some of the party band’s material (even though they may say that they will not!) causing antagonism on the event.  Our experienced professional corporate party DJ’s will liase with the party bands and they can share equipment when space is at a premium. They expertly announce the party band on and off stage and ensure a smooth and continuous flow of party entertainment, removing your worries and helping you to celebrate your corporate function in style.

Advantages Of Booking A Corporate Party Disco.
If you go for the option of a solo corporate party DJ, remember that you trust the whole function entertainment to just one person – make sure you get the right one!! A corporate mobile party disco is the most practical and cost effective form of entertainment available to you. The DJ will perform for longer periods of time and play a wider range of music to suit the ages of your guests. If you have some favourite tracks or particular styles of music you would like played he will be able to accommodate you. Corporate party DJ’s are especially good for a small to medium sized function. Lancashire Entertainment’s professional corporate DJ’s all carry high quality sound and lighting (which has all the relevant safety certificates). They will play the party music you and your guests want to hear and at a volume that is not offensive. 

How Much Will The Corporate Party Entertainment Cost?
The costs vary quite considerably, partly due to the location and date of your function and of course to the popularity of the party entertainers. Live party music provides exceptional entertainment value and can be more affordable then you might think. If you complete our on-line Lancashire Entertainment agency questionnaire or call an agent at our head office we can offer you a fully inclusive quote by return with absolutely no obligation on your part.

Where Do Our Corporate Party Acts Perform?
Our corporate party entertainers have performed at many prestigious venues outside of Lancashire and across the UK, including The Royal Albert Hall, The Savoy, Claridges, Waldorf & Governor House Hotels in London, dozens of Town Halls including Leeds, Guildford and Cheltenham, The International Conference Centre in Birmingham, The Roman Pump Rooms in Bath, Scotland’s St Andrews Golf Club, The Salle Royal in Marrakech and Le Meridian Hotel in Paris. They have entertained at every conceivable corporate function including Private Houses, Stately Homes, and Marquees.

Can I See An Act Before Signing A Contract?
Yes. There is usually a corporate function where they are performing at where you can get to see them. However this sometimes proves difficult to arrange as an increasing number of people are based in a different part of the uk from their party venue. The vast majority of our corporate entertainers are aware of this and we have a selection of party band CD’s to send to you. We would recommend caution when listening to most party bands’ CD’s. As an entertainment agent we receive hundreds of recordings each year from acts wanting to get on our agency books. We cannot begin to count the number of party bands we thought sounded amazing on the CD, only to go and see them ‘live’ and be hugely disappointed. Many corporate party bands add ‘talent boosting’ effects and digitally enhanced techniques in the studio to their recordings and they are just not the same in a live situation. Lancashire Entertainment agency party bands have genuinely not done this. What you hear IS what you gett

Is It Customary To Feed The Party Band At A Corporate Event?
In almost all cases, the party band is away from home for a substantial period of time (including travelling, set-up, performing, & de-rigging) and it is therefore customary to feed the entertainers.  If you are having a very elaborate corporate function, you do not need to serve the entertainers the same meal you are providing for your corporate guests but a hot meal is usually required. /font>

Should I Pay For The Entertainers Parking?
At a corporate venue that requires paid parking, it is entirely at the discretion of the function organiser whether to validate or reimburse for the party band parking.  However, if you know that the venue has particular difficulty with parking arrangements this should be discussed beforehand to ensure the party band/entertainers will have the access needed to unload equipment, to ensure they will be ready to perform on time. Similarly, if you are aware your function room is not on the ground floor, please inform us at the time of booking. (We do, of course ‘double-check’ all venues).

Can I Request A Special Code Of Dress For The Party Band/Entertainers?
Generally speaking, the party entertainers have appropriate attire for the various types of functions they normally perform at. It should be made clear upfront and stated in the contract what type of attire you would like at your corporate function. If your request is not out of the ordinary there will not be any added charge for attire. For example, it is reasonable to request a party band to wear standard black tuxedos for a company function or corporate hospitality function.

Are There Any Special Considerations For Corporate Marquee Events?
If you book a party band or party DJ, if possible, we recommend that the marquee company arrange an access flap or doorway, close to, or directly behind the tage area.  This allows the party band / DJ to quickly set up & pack down with the minimum disturbance to the guests.

Is It Essential To Provide A Stage For A Party Band?
Whilst it is not essential to supply a stage - it does allow the party band to be seen when the function is in full swing.   If you are able to supply a stage, it must be safe and soundly constructed.  A minimum ceiling height above the stage of 6ft 6ins should be allowed. (Please take note of sloping marquee linings where necessary).

What Sort Of Power Supply Is Required Does A Party Band Need?
It is essential that a safe, properly earthed and constant power supply be provided.  Venues that regularly stage corporate entertainment should already have the correct supply, but please check with them. The exact requirements depend on the party band you have booked but as a (very) general guide, for an average sized party band & party DJ - 2 separate 13 amps or 1x30 amp 240-volt mains supply is required.  This should terminate on stage in 13 amp sockets.  These supplies must be totally independent of each other (i.e. not drawn from 1x13 amp source via a mains extension).  This supply should be for the sole use of the party band & party DJ and should never be shared with anything else.  Where the party band & party DJ have to share the available power with the caterer, it is most advisable that a 3-phase supply is available, with each party having a separate dedicated phase.  The alternative is for a high-powered generator to be provided, to accommodate for the heavy demand of heating ovens and other high usage requirements of a catering contractor, together with the lighting and PA system of the party band & party DJ. An incorrect or unsafe supply will jeopardise your event. (Please ask us or seek the advice of a professional electrician if you are unsure).

Changing Room For A Party Band
Please provide a warm, clean, well lit and lockable changing room with clothes rail for the party band / entertainers. At established corporate entertainment venues, you may need to arrange for the use of a hotel bedroom if there isn't a specialist changing room available.  Note: Professional artistes should not be asked to change within toilet or kitchen areas - suitable rooms must be made available. 

How Big Is The Party Band Performance Area
This again depends on the size & type of party band booked. For an average sized party band (5/6-piece) band an area approximately 12ft deep (front to back) by 20ft wide (left to right) is needed.  Additional floor space (approx 4ft square) on the front left and right hand corners should be allocated for band speaker systems (These usually are not placed on the stage). Please try to ensure guest’s tables are not placed directly in front of the speakers.

Party DJ Requirements.
Additional floor space should be allocated for party DJ’s speakers and equipment (approximately 5ft either side of the stage for speakers and lighting effects and a minimum area of approximately 6ft square for the party DJ and the rest of his equipment).  When a DJ is working alongside a party band, it is preferable to place the DJ next to the stage, not on it.  (This prevents CD’s from `jumping’). For a corporate marquee function please provide a solid base and a sturdy table approx 6ft x 3ft with a cloth.

Waiting Area At Corporate Events.
For various reasons you may prefer that the party band do not circulate in the marquee or function room.  It is therefore helpful if a quieter area (possibly the changing area) is utilised for refreshments, meals and resting between spots.

Directions 
We will contact the hotel/conference venues to arrange for directions to be sent to us, if we don’t already have them on file, but for a corporate party that is not taking place in an established venue, it is very helpful if you can provide written directions or a location map.

Emergency Contact.
At Lancashire Entertainment agency we check all our acts right up to the day of your special function, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. However for your peace of mind, if you feel it necessary to contact the artistes on the day of your event, we’ll give you their mobile contact numbers.

I hope you have found this article helpful. Whilst it is very detailed, it is not a totally exhaustive list and consequently if your questions are not answered here I welcome your e-mails if you have a particular issue that you would like me to cover.

We're here for the long run, and cooperation and mutual respect are crucial to longevity in the music business. We're very proud of the good reputation we have established in corporate entertainment circles, and the many friends we have made over the years. I hope we have the opportunity to provide the entertainment to help make your fundraising event a huge success.  If not, we wish you every success for a truly memorably party.

Lancashire Entertainment Agency

LO-Call 0845 345 1945
(All calls charged at your local rate)
e.mail info@Lancashireentertainment.co.uk
www.Lancashireentertainment.co.uk