1. Hire a comedian who can poke fun at your CEO a bit, impersonate him or even poke fun at your industry as a whole.
2. Hire a magician who can incorporate your sales message into his magic, or cut your CEO or receptionist in half. He could even make the CEO disappear, much to the delight of the employees.
3. Book a vocal improv group to take requests and turn them into a fun performance.
4. Ask a musician to write a song about your company and play it at the event.
5. Hire a celebrity impersonator to come to the event and sign autographs and take photos with the guests.
6. Hire a cartoonist to draw custom sketches of each company employee. These are fun memories too.
7. Book a digital cartoonist who will digitally composite your photos on a computer right in front of your eyes. They can even customize the background to reflect the company.
or event. This is a great keepsake for guests to take home.
8. Book a balloon artist to make life-size figures like Disney characters, landscapes like palm trees, huge company logos, and more. The balloon artist can make these figures with everyone watching, so it’s an experience to watch the balloons being put together.
9. How about a traveling juggler who can mingle during cocktail hour?
10. Reserve a stilt to make a big announcement for your company at a conference or annual meeting. It’s a fun and guaranteed way to get everyone’s attention.
11. A clown is a great option for events with children or families. There are also evil clowns for kid-free events or around Halloween.
12. Reserve a hand reader to make psychic predictions about the future of the company or to read people’s fortunes.
13. Hire a reality star to interact with guests. They are much less money than the big Hollywood celebrities.
14. Book a tribute band to play the songs of an artist that is popular with the guests.
15. An a cappella group can perform on stage or walk through the event during cocktail hour or dinner.
16. Hire a symphony orchestra to play at the event. You will need to consider the space requirements for this type of event.
17. You could have a mime represent a corporate message to event employees or patrons.
18. Book a DJ to play only requested songs or songs from a certain era, like the ’80s.
19. Breakdancers can be so much fun. They are usually young, trendy and add a sense of youth to an event.
20. How about a mariachi band for some festive music?
21. A steel drum band can be a nice addition to a high-end black-tie event.
22. Reserving a fire eater can be a great way to kick off a new product or service launch.
23. Christmas carols can be a nice addition to any festive event.
24. A living statue can be a great idea for almost any event. Be sure to order a living statue that closely matches the theme of your event or gathering.
25. Booking a circus act is a great idea when the event needs something notable or to build excitement. Make sure you can accommodate the space that some of the circus acts require.
26. A snake charmer is a unique way to break up a gathering or draw a crowd at an event.
27. Hire a mentalist to read guests’ minds. This is a creative way that the artist can interact with the audience.
28. How about an ice sculptor who can sculpt your company logo or corporate message live while people watch it being carved?
29. Acrobats provide a lively addition to an event.
30. The Singing Waiters are an a cappella group dressed as formal waiters. This catches guests off guard and is an unconventional way to infuse entertainment into the dining experience.
31. Ballroom dancers can be popular on all dance-themed TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and others.
32. A barbershop quartet is an a cappella group where all the members wear red and white suits, similar to that of a barbershop pole. This has a nostalgic touch.
33. Dueling pianos are a fantastic way to engage the audience with non-stop entertainment.
34. You can get your employees to organize the entertainment by putting on a talent show and involving everyone in the company, including the CEO. You’ll want to record this for everyone to see later, or you can even send everyone home with a copy, or mail it to them afterward. You can also post them on YouTube for everyone to comment on.
35. A marching band can be an official way to introduce someone special at the event. It can also be a way of showing that the company doesn’t take itself too seriously if it hires a marching band with a fun theme.
36. Book the novelist of 60 seconds. He comes with his own table and a manual typewriter and asks the guests a few questions to get an idea of who they are, writing a short life story in a minute. He even binds it so guests can take it home. The story is funny, imaginative and true. This is a fun way to get people to open up and share their stories and get to know each other.
37. Face painting is a great way to entertain younger children.
38. A chorus can be a great way to make a big statement.
39. How about an opera singer for a classy event or gala?
40. A graffiti artist who can create a painting of someone or something with a large crowd watching. Some artists do this kind of thing super fast, which makes it interesting to watch.
41. Reserve hula dancers to mingle on the dance floor with guests.
42. How about Polynesian dancers to inject a unique culture into the event?
43. A ventriloquist can be a great entertainment option that can work well for kids or adults, depending on the performer.
44. Hire a dynamic storyteller who can weave a message about the purpose of the event or meeting.
45. An escape artist is a dramatic way of conveying messages such as escaping or freeing yourself from limiting beliefs and restrictions. This can be a good way to motivate employees to achieve a goal.
46. Hiring a hypnotist can provide a serious or comedic element.
47. A rapper could perform a comedic rap written specifically about the company. Some rappers can even improvise this on the spot.
48. A puppeteer is another option for younger children to keep them entertained.
49. Hire a sword swallower to draw the crowd or if it fits the theme.
50. You can always hire a real Hollywood celeb to get the attention and buzz you need or try hiring a couple of smaller celebs to make better use of your funds and get more celebrity pulling power.
51. You may want to hire a popular political impersonator, like Sarah Palin or Barack Obama.
52. A harpist can add a light musical touch without loud music. This would be good for a relaxed, upscale environment.
53. How about having several celebrity tribute artists on stage performing a bunch of hit songs by the various artists they impersonate?
54. Have a stage where different company executives do karaoke to a variety of songs.
55. Finally, the best way to ensure a creative entertainment experience is to have the performer(s) tailor their acts to your event or gathering. This creates a memorable experience that guests will remember for a long time.
