This section looks at when after dinner entertainment is suitable and its benefits.
When Appropriate
“The client had to choose between booking me and the fish course. They chose the fish course!”
At virtually any corporate function, after dinner entertainment can be on the agenda. The event might be for employees, clients, customers, spouses and partners, directors, advisers, conference attendees or industry associations. It might be following a customer function, sales conference, staff meeting, road show, dealer event, celebratory meal, training day, Christmas party, trade show, supplier meeting, award dinner, new product launch or a convention. It might be in recognition of hard work, as a celebration, as a means of relaxation or as an incentive.
The number of people attending the event has no bearing on whether after dinner entertainment is appropriate. There are some acts that work very well for twenty people – and others who are comfortable in front of 1,000.
Advantages
- It proves that those invited are considered important enough to have something extra spent on them over and above the cost of the food and drink;
- It transforms the meal into more of an event and makes it particularly memorable for those attending;
- It sells or promotes the dinner to people you want to be there.
- It acts as a pleasant surprise. Everybody knows they will be eating at a meal – they do not necessarily expect to be entertained as well.
- It rounds off the evening rather than people drifting away after the coffee;
- It assists in bringing everybody together as a group with a shared experience and a common talking point.
- It may be the only option as an added attraction when the vast majority of the audience are of the same sex: a disco or band would not be suitable.
Although it is hard to directly measure the benefits of an after dinner entertainer, the goodwill that is generated and the perceived generosity of the host in providing it, invariably compensates for any financial outlay.
