Show business: finding the right entertainment for your corporate event.

• Author: Morgan, Alexa V.
• Position: MEETING & EVENT: PLANNING GUIDE

From singers and dancers to magicians and comedians, quality entertainment serves as the cherry on top of the sundae that is a great event. "Entertainment helps build the ambiance, sets the tone and rounds [the event] out perfectly," says Janice Boes, CEO of Pierpont Place and Premier Event Services. "It you don't have a form of entertainment, I think there's something missing."

Choose wisely

Anything--DJs, live bands, comedians, interactive games--is an option for a corporate event. The key for planners to select and book the best possible entertainment is to know the event's tone, focus and budget.

Booking the appropriate entertainment makes all the difference. As an event planner and venue manager, Boes says the most important question she can ask a client is, "What are you trying to accomplish with this event?"

If a company is chatting up potential customers, anything too loud or distracting undermines the purpose of the event. She suggests a jazz band or similar form of low key background entertainment.

Companies hosting an employee function might be looking for something that will motivate guests to socialize and work together. Boes recommends interactive entertainment, such as a game. Murder mystery or trivia game show formats are usually well-received, she says, especially if the content can be customized to the client.

Sally Johnson, owner of Green Light Booking, says comedians and impersonators whose material is "corporate clean" are another fun option. She also suggests creating a theme for your event--a casino theme with raffle prizes, photo booths and dueling pianos are all guaranteed crowd-pleasers, she says.

For events where music can take the center stage, think about whether live music or a DJ is better. Cover...