Conference - Evening Event Ideas
Conference - Evening Event Ideas
Author
Discussion

chrisdk

Original Poster:

113 posts

193 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
Morning,

I've been asked to organise our annual staff conference in December. The daytime events are taken care of (updates from various departments and a team building event, pretty standard stuff) but I'm struggling a bit with ideas for an (post-dinner) evening event.

We're encouraged to schedule something as the evening is not meant to be centred around alcohol i.e. sticking all the budget into a free bar is not an option (although it's not a dry event). Previous years have included the usual suspects of race night, "mini" casino, murder mystery. I'm temped by a "pub quiz" but worried it will appear a bit forced (cue images of Colin from The Fast Show).

Anyone have suggestions for evening entertainment for 50 people ? We're also quite a broad demographic, mid-20's to late-50's, admin temps to directors. The whole event (including the overnight) is held in a city centre hotel.

Cheers,

Chris


russ_a

4,721 posts

240 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
Car keys in a pot and see what happens?

Fer

7,773 posts

309 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
Go to the dogs... a good night out and good for all ages.

Funk

27,639 posts

238 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
As someone who's been on many of these sorts of things, I'm often disappointed that after a day of corporate stuff, companies won't just let staff mingle, chat, share war stories and have a few drinks. Evenings would usually be 'off-duty' for staff and I've often found the best time for real, actual team building and camaraderie.

Can you recommend to your management to just let the staff relax and have time out together? I think it'll do more for them than anything else to be frank!

Oh, edit to add - there was always the rule of "have fun, have a few drinks....but maintain decorum.". Especially if senior management were there. Although sometimes they got most battered which was always amusing!

Edited by Funk on Sunday 2nd September 09:32

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
I'd go for drinks and a few street magicians

iphonedyou

10,406 posts

186 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
As said above, I'd want to relax after a full day of corporate bullst! But regardless, my girlfriend organises events like this for her company, and this year went with a (fairly expensive) magician, Derren Brown style.

He was absolutely brilliant, and it went off really well - much preferred to the usual corporate type stuff. This is in Northern Ireland, however, so possibly not of great use to you.

Ozmira

1,175 posts

218 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
Singing waiters, airsoft shooting gallery (better before dinner)

DanoS4

869 posts

223 months

Sunday 2nd September 2012
quotequote all
These guys are quite good - www.funkatroniclovecommandos.co.uk

Might be something different.....


chrisdk

Original Poster:

113 posts

193 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for all of the comments.

Having had a discussion today (especially in light of the pretty busy daytime events we have planned) we're going to gear the evening more toward "unwinding / informal team building" (or other such guff).

Pre-dinner I think we'll have a drinks reception with a close-up magician (and maybe a musician) then just leave people (and their car keys...) to their own devices (with some cash behind the bar) after dinner.

HeatonNorris

1,649 posts

177 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
I've just booked one of those corporate dinner / disco affairs for my team.

We do it every year after our early December meeting / team-build - and it always goes down well.

Last year we were on a table next to a table full of student nurses... biggrin