Great entertainment can turn any corporate event into an unforgettable shared experience. Yet, a few common corporate entertainment mistakes can drain your energy, budget, and overall impact. Let’s explore the top pitfalls to avoid—whether you’re planning a conference, gala, or EOFY party—to ensure your event lands exactly as intended.
Corporate Entertainment Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid
1) Leaving It Too Late
Top acts, MCs and stage shows book out months in advance—especially Thursdays and Fridays in peak season. Late enquiries reduce choice and increase costs for rush logistics.
What to do
- Lock entertainment at the same time you secure the venue
- Shortlist two backups per slot (headline act, opener, MC)
- Confirm inclusions, arrival times and deposit early
2) Ignoring AV and Room Dynamics
One of the most common corporate entertainment mistakes is overlooking sightlines, stage height, lighting, PA coverage, and lectern placement. A brilliant act in the wrong technical setting won’t shine
What to do
- Share floor plan, ceiling height, power access and venue AV rules with the act
- Specify stage size, screen positions and audience layout (cabaret, theatre, banquet)
- Budget for a dedicated sound/lighting tech for stage shows
3) Underestimating the Audience Mix
A crowd of 500 across age ranges and departments won’t respond to one-note programming. If networking is the goal, a stadium-level DJ set at 7pm is counterproductive.
What to do
- Define event purpose first: recognition, networking, learning, celebration
- Blend formats: light roving during canapés ? short stage feature ? DJ/request hour
- Brief acts on demographics, cultural notes and accessibility needs
4) No Run Sheet or Weak Show Flow
Nothing kills energy like poorly timed segments. One of the biggest corporate entertainment mistakes is letting long speeches precede a headline act or failing to time awards properly, leaving the night off-course.
What to do
- Map a tight run sheet with cue points (walk-up stings, transitions, resets)
- Use a professional MC to pace awards, intros and sponsor moments
- Timebox segments (5–7 minute speech max) and place the headline when attention peaks
5) Forgetting Contingencies and ROI
Outdoor stages without a weather plan, or interstate acts without travel buffers, are classic corporate entertainment mistakes that make proving ROI an uphill battle.
What to do
- Prepare Plan B: covered stage, indoor backup space, silent-disco option for bans/noise caps
- Capture impact: short post-event survey, social clip reel, sponsor shout-outs
- Align success metrics: attendance staying past 9pm, NPS uplift, internal feedback
Sample Booking Checklist
- Purpose defined (recognition/networking/celebration)
- Date, venue, sound limits and finish time confirmed
- Entertainment locked (headline act, opener, MC) with backups
- AV brief shared (floor plan, stage size, screens, PA/lighting)
- Run sheet drafted with cue tracks and timings
- Accessibility and audience mix briefed to performers
- Contingency plan for weather/tech
- Success metrics set; plan to capture photos/video and feedback
Avoiding these corporate entertainment mistakes ensures your next event leaves a lasting impression, runs smoothly, and maximises your budget and team satisfaction.
If you’re still refining your event plans or exploring new ideas, these guides will help you avoid common pitfalls and create entertainment that truly engages your audience:
- Stage Shows
- MCs
- Roving Entertainment
- DJ Hire
- Corporate Entertainment Pillar
