Are you looking to make your Gala or Corporate Event extraordinary? With the right Gala ideas and inspiration, your event will be a night to remember!

Whether it’s a variety band, DJ, karaoke or any other form of entertainment, your extraordinary gala starts with careful planning.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to make your Gala or Event even more special by incorporating Gala Entertainment into its design. Keep in mind that these tips of the season are meant to bring your own ideas to life. They can work for your corporate event or gala.

Form a committee

Form a corporate event committee of designers, venue managers, caterers, and even performers who are also personally or emotionally affected by the focus of your event. Because they’ve experienced these issues on a personal level, they’ll be more willing to commit their all to the event.

Choose people who have prior experience in creating stunning events, and entertain all good ideas. Don't forget that the more help you have, the better. If your committee gets too la

Remember that team work makes the dream work. You can also take a peek at past event attendee lists and see if any of those guests are also events professionals.

Livestream the event online.

If your gala has special meaning to a large group of potential remote attendees or involves any big reveals/announcements then you should at least consider live streaming it to an online audience.

It's a great way to spread your message around the country or the world! Besides, why should only gala attendees have all the fun?

Add Inspiration

Invite people who have benefited from your organization to mingle with donors. This tactic is especially effective if you plan to raise funds at your gala.

If their story is particularly memorable, invite them to give a short speech.

Pair a financially focused activity with one that’s just for fun.

For example, if you do a silent auction make sure you mix in something entertaining like a stand-up comedian performance so donors don’t have to feel like every part of this event costs them more and more money. Unique entertainment or a funny moment can lighten the mood of everyone in the room.

Add classy event decor that adds to your brand.

Gold, silver, and copper accents elevate any gala color scheme or decor item and can be used for logo displays, event-specific marketing materials, and branded take-home gifts.

Make sure to also include plenty of candles, fresh flowers, and upscale dishware in colors that match your company. Bright colors and any new trend are a plus.

Use past event data

Were certain events better attended than others? What did your most popular events all have in common? Exploit these similarities in your gala design.

Additionally, pull feedback from past attendee surveys and apply their notes directly to your new event. Did the gala entertainment deliver and stunning performance to your audience? Did your taste in music, decor, event host, or live band help or hurt your previous effort?

Partner with a Corporate Sponsor

Strategically choose who to align your own brand with. And if you’ve never reached out to potential corporate sponsors before, be sure to tap into your network .

Corporate event sponsors could play a big role in the success of your event.

Whether they cover the event entertainment, answer the call to buy tables, or sponsor your awards, they can make the difference between your gala raising hundreds, thousands, or millions.

Streamline your check-in process.

Paper and pencil lists can fluster event staff as crowds tend to arrive in waves. Use event software that makes it easy for employees to update attendee info with details like additional party members, new donations, and captured photos of VIP guests for future event promotion.

Gifts, prizes, and goodie bags...

Whatever your gift ideas, these should all support the main theme and meaning behind your gala. Examples of well-done swag bags include branded merchandise paired with luxury blankets, candles, or books (coffee table photography books related to your primary charity or event theme are always a hit).

If you have the budget, try finding these items at high-end department stores. Giving gifts brings on lifetime fans and supporters.

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Choose an unconventional event venue.

Art galleries, theatres, and even arcades can be the next location of your gala. As long as it fits the theme, charity, or brand, the sky’s the limit.

Provide group ticket packages.

Select the right Gala Entertainment

Event Entertainment can be more than one act

Allow guests to donate through their phones. Cutting-edge donation apps offer custom branding and digital security.

Integrate physical representations of your association’s main cause into your event design. For example, if your non-profit or business works with children, incorporate a photo backdrop entirely made up of drawings and thank you cards made by charity recipients.

Use event software

to gather, assess, and analyze the success of your event. Just don’t base it on just one dollar amount. Galas are also helpful for building your brand, spreading awareness, and building long-term relationships.

All of these benefits can be measured through guest polling, attendee registration input, and ticket sales analytics.

Take time to acknowledge how far your organization has come.

This gala could be the first time some of your attendees have ever interacted with your organization so reminding them of where you came from (and, consequently, where you’re potentially going) will help provide proof that their investment of time and/or donation was well placed.

Consider corporate event lighting.

Corporate event lighting will set the tone for the evening. Expert event lighting suppliers recommend dimming or eliminating overhead lighting. Then add some color splashes or highlight interesting decor pieces with LEDs.

Add some string lights, GOBOs, or 3D mapping if you want to get fancy.

A gobo is a light that can project your logo. Often displayed at corporate events and weddings, these lights are great tools to use for branding your logo through the halls and on the walls.

Surprise guests.

Surprise your audience with unique gala entertainment like a variety band, celebrity speakers, jaw-dropping decor, or a touching experience. Ubuntu Pathways famously used giant portraits of the children they’ve helped (dressed up as what they want to be when they grow up) at one of their galas. Thoughtful, out-of-the-box touches like these make your event even more memorable.

Host a VIP Cocktail or Happy Hour

Signature cocktails and a few performers from your variety band make the perfect balancing act for happy hour.

Theme your catering menu

Carefully, think about the food your guests will eat. Can food be tied into your theme? You can ask the chef to take each course to the next level or prepare dishes in real-time. After all, aren't chefs performers too?

Entertain the idea of special event cocktails and specific audience considerations. For example, if your gala celebrates fair animal treatment, you should probably focus on offering a vegan menu.

You can also have a bartender make some craft drinks with unique straws or glass decor. If you go that route, make sure they have some proudly displayed punny names for the audience.

Choose an event date just before a national holiday or cultural event.

Many events have to be connected to the season. For example, if your event is drive for Christmas toys for kids, it would not be a great idea to have it in the spring.

Some of the best galas take place over Halloween or the Super Bowl. If you take this approach, you can base the majority of your design choices on that time of year.

Use video marketing to engage potential attendees on social media.

Every gala should include the following types of videos in their marketing content: A short and sweet introduction to your company as a whole. A story that symbolize the meaning behind your gala and why it’s so important. An awareness video that highlights your main cause.

You can also highlight event entertainment in your videos so donors and friends know what to look forward to.

Let prospects know that if they can’t make it you will donate their ticket to another worthy attendee.

Interested parties can still feel great about having donated to the cause or your business while giving someone else (who normally wouldn’t be able to afford it) the chance to enjoy the event themselves.

Raffle the extra tickets off on social media or publicly present them to worthy attendees and tag or shout out the person who made it all possible.

Send handwritten invitations through snail mail.

It’s a thoughtful gesture that will catch the recipient’s attention better than an email. If your gala will have a very large guest list, you can always outsource some of the letter writing using sites like Fiverr or Upwork.

Create a surprise scavenger hunt to keep the crowd engaged.

Follow in the footsteps of Disney’s Hidden Mickey and stash some Easter eggs throughout your event venue.

Attendees can hunt for them in teams, share hash tagged pictures on social media, and collect enough images to be entered into a grand prize drawing at the end of the night. Use brand mascot plushies or logo symbols for the items.

Make dessert a networking opportunity.

Everything can be entertainment.... even the dessert. Interactive dessert experiences are a great way to help guests mingle and meet once they’re all comfortable and settled into the gala.

Set up DIY cupcakes, hot chocolate, or even mini pie stations. Or have pastry chefs prepare share-worthy desserts on narrow, buffet-style tables.

Feed guests as soon as the event begins.

No one, in the history of events, has ever enjoyed waiting for their food to be served. Happy, well fed attendees are more likely to donate than hangry ones.

So keep the appetizers flowing or start the buffet right away to make sure everyone has a chance to nibble whenever they want.

Brand Your Photo Booth

Branding your photo booth can be a great way to boost the success of the event and increase donations.

Incorporating your brand will also make a lasting impression on guests in the room and boost the likeliness of their attendance at future events.

Most of these tips work well for corporate events as well

Give them ALL THE FUN before they go!

Set up a dance floor so your guests can let loose and enjoy themselves. Incorporate light shows or fantasy elements such as bubbles or confetti.

Include event entertainment to provide the perfect soundtrack for your gala and keep the energy levels high throughout the party.

Consider a variety band or other kinds of entertainers to keep your crowd engaged in the party.

Now Let's Recap

Galas can be a great way to engage with customers, build relationships and boost your brand. With the right event entertainment, you can make sure guests have an unforgettable experience they’ll talk about for years to come.

Whether it's providing mixologists or including flame throwers to keep it fire, these ideas should help create lasting memories for all who attend your Gala!