Anyone who has helped plan a corporate event or company picnic knows that there is more to it than reserving the caterer and booking the venue.
No matter how good the clambake or how relaxing the setting, entertainment can make or break a company outing. After all, employees need something to pass through those uncomfortable lulls in conversation.
“Companies normally want at least two or three types of entertainment for both kids and adults, depending on the size of the outing,” said Nancy Schiano, event coordinator for Birthday Bee, a professional entertainment firm in Greenville that specializes in corporate and school events.
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But “entertainment” has taken on a vastly greater number of forms since Schiano started her business 24 years ago. The standard balloon-contorting clown – though still popular for family oriented company events – has been joined by a mimes, impersonators, hypnotists and much more.
The following is a woefully incomplete list of entertainment sources in Rhode Island that are available for corporate events:
Music:
Ron Bianco of Ron Bianco Fun Family Entertainment in Providence has been strumming his acoustic guitar for corporate events and kids parties for about 20 years, playing a blend of country music, 50s oldies and sing-alongs.
“It doesn’t matter what type of company…when they have a picnic or outing most people are looking for the same thing: to be entertained,” Bianco said. “I help break a lot of ice and get people to participate.”
Bianco tailors his play list to the audience, but no matter what the mix, participation is the key, he said. He hands out bongos, tambourines, washboards, and even a marching bass drum to entice his audience to participate.
Although rates for musical entertainment can vary wildly, Bianco estimates that the going hourly rate for musical entertainers ranges from $150 to $275.
Deejays are a popular source of musical entertainment for corporate outings, according to Jill Trone, owner of Dynamic Events in Cumberland. Again, however, rates range widely, from $500 to $2,000 for a four-hour block, which is the typical time frame for deejays, she said.
Clowns, magicians and more:
Judy Rubenstein, also known as Gabby the Clown, from Cumberland, has worked company outings for about seven years. She usually is joined by her husband, a clown named Mr. Bumbles who specializes in balloon animals, and her 17-year-old son, Butterbean, who dabbles in pocket magic.
Gabby, who performed earlier this month at a Rizzo Ford Inc. outing in Newport and is booked for an Amica Mutual Insurance Co. event later this month, said her routine includes play-on-word gags, exaggerated props and “basically anything that will get people in a good mood.”
Although Gabby in an interview was loathe to gab about her hourly rate, she said planners should expect to pay at least $100 an hour for to hire a clown. That rate likely would go much higher, depending on added services such as face painting and balloon animals, she said.
Schiano of Birthday Bee said her business used to be limited to simple children’s entertainment such as storytelling. Now, the company offers more than two dozen types of entertainers, from stilt walkers and impersonators to caricature artists and puppeteers.
“Fortune telling is very big this year,” Schiano added. Birthday Bee also provides various sized inflatable “bounce houses” for kids, which generally rent for $300 and up.
Trone of Dynamic Events said magicians always have been popular for corporate outings. She said she recently booked a magician for $200 an hour, which she said was relatively expensive.
_Animals
John Rebello Farms in Seekonk has been in business for about 45 years, offering pony rides and hayrides. Rebello, 64, said pony rides are a big hit at company outings because many children live in urban or suburban areas and rarely see animals up close. “It’s always a big deal for children when you bring a pony over,” he said.
The farm’s hourly rates are $90 for one pony and $120 for two ponies, Rebello said. He said most customers want that summertime afternoon slot, so it’s a good idea to call several months in advance._ Animal Affair Traveling Petting Zoo in Seekonk is a portable petting zoo with miniature and exotic animals from all around the world. Animal Experiences in East Providence also conducts animal shows for company events.
Off the wall
Some companies might turn to unorthodox forms of entertainment to make its outing or event more memorable.
Ocean State Adventures in Bristol over the last three years has used its mobile, 24-foot rock-climbing wall to help promoting events, launch new products or add a twist to corporate outings, according to its Web site, www.kayakri.com.
New England Reptile & Raptor Exhibit Inc. in Taunton, Mass. offers educational programs for schools and corporate outings, exhibiting live falcons and other birds of prey.
The whole ball of wax
Of course, many companies opt to let someone else decide on the entertainment and other arrangements. Most professional event planners take a soup-to-nuts approach, arranging everything from hiring clowns and magicians to reserving the venue and booking hotel rooms for out-of-towners.
Trone of Dynamic Events said companies often hand over the reins for planning an outing after an initial meeting to discuss the budget and expected attendance.
“A lot of times a company will say ‘our budget is $10,000 and we’re having X number of people, now go plan it.’ They don’t care what kind of entertainment you provide as long as you stay within the budget,” Trone said. She said event planners typically charge a flat, percentage fee based on the company’s budget.
