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Drama Based Solutions Skills Training and DevelopmentHave a look at our approach to Drama Based Solutions For more information on how our programmes deal with Team Building have a look at our Team Building page For an example of the sort of Team Building Events we create for our clients, see the DEFRA Team Building Event Find the next available Open Leadership Development Course And the next available Open Creativity and Innovation Coaching Two Day Course You might also be interested in the next available Open Project Management Course For a in depth look at the Team Building question read Team Building - Building a Good Team If you want to know more about our Training Programmes have a look at our Communication Skills Key Issues page Drama Based Solutions Skills Training and Development |
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If you are interested in talking to us further about Corporate Events Skills Training and Development |
Corporate Event Planning
Impact Factory provides
Drama Based Solutions for company wide issues not open to a training solution
We Provide
Roleplayers - Event Facilitators - Forum Theatre
We also provide tailored
Corporate Events Programmes
Tailored
Team Building Programmes
and Open Communication Skills Courses
for anyone involved in Corporate Events and Event Management
The following article was contributed by John G.Tarr
Things To Consider When Planning A Corporate Event
From company BBQ's and picnics to formal galas and holiday parties, corporate events range in size and theme and the guest list usually includes people with widely different tastes and interests. Planning and creating the perfect blend of food, service and entertainment can be a huge challenge.
Corporate Events
Selecting the perfect menu and ordering the right amount of food is crucial.
Your objective for the corporate event should determine what type of food you provide and how it is served.
When you goal is fun cocktail receptions are the most popular choice.
Food stations or mini meals circulated by servers work best.
However, there is nothing worse than being at a party and finding yourself with a plate of food in one hand, a glass of wine in the other and no way of actually getting the food to your mouth.
Add a handbag to the situation and a woman could starve.
High cocktail tables scattered throughout the venue can help alleviate this situation.
Finger foods are another option eliminating the need for a plate and fork.
For more formal corporate events, or when there is to be a presentation, it is advisable to have your guests seated at a table. Plated meals, where meals are delivered to the table, avoids the distraction of traffic going to and from the buffet, and ensures that your guests are all served at the same time. Buffets, however, are usually less expensive and offer your guests a wider variety of menu items.
Most corporate events will require renting at least some equipment, table wares, glasses, linen, tenting and more. It may be tempting to lower your costs by coordinating the rentals yourself and thereby saving the make-up charged by caterers and corporate event planners.
However, although it seems a simple task, getting it right is vital to the success of your corporate event and if you don't know what you are doing you could end up in the kitchen washing glasses or driving to the gas station for more ice in the middle of your event. Coordinating rentals is not a simple task and is best left to the experts.
Similarly, cutting staff can seem like a way to reduce costs especially if the venue is smaller. Keep in mind the number of staff required is dependant on the number of guests and the menu not on the size of the space. A good rule of thumb for cocktail receptions is one server for every 20 - 30 guests and one (beer & wine only) or two (full bar) bartenders for every 80 - 100 guests. For buffet dinners one staff for every 20-25 guests, and for plated formal dinners one staff for every 10-20 guests.
Recruiting volunteers can be a great way to keep your budget in line as long as their responsibilities are made very clear well in advance. Too often well-meaning volunteers pitch in enthusiastically at the beginning of the corporate event and then wander off to chat with other guests leaving the skeleton staff with more work than they can handle.
If you want to use volunteers have a formal meeting in advance of the corporate event and hand out a detail list of the tasks they will be expected to perform and clear start and finish times.
Clearly hosting an office party is a massive undertaking and, if not planned properly, they can be just as painful to attend. Choose an experienced corporate caterer to help you plan an appropriate menu and work through the details of service, rental and entertainment.
Prior to launching Louis Gervais Fine Foods, Louis worked at many of the top restaurants and hotels in Vancouver including the Wedgewood Hotel, and opened the AAA Five Diamond Sutton Place Hotel where he was Executive Chef from 1990 to 1996. He is a Maitre Saucier - or master of sauces - and either sauces or garnishes every dish he creates.
