A group of musicians and a portable dance floor just doesn’t cut it any more. Gen Y and Gen Zers — all ages of attendees, for that matter — want something more.
Festival entertainers are interactive, playful, and are sure to result in a flurry of social media posts. Here are 10 examples.
1. On-screen caricature artists
It’s always fun to bring caricature artists into a cocktail party, but why have them sit on the edge of the room and interact with just one person at a time? Digital caricature artists project the drawing on a large screen as it’s being created, for everyone to see. The artist can incorporate corporate logos or highlights of the meeting or destination into the drawings.
2. Aerial dancers
These acrobatic performers stand 20 feet in the air atop towering poles that look like flowers. They’re ideal for outdoor events, and can be positioned around a pool or in a garden. As they sway in the breeze, guest are mesmerized — if not a little worried about the height.
3. Strolling magicians and mentalists
These pros weave their way through an audience performing tricks to small groups who gather, David Blaine–style. They include the attendees in the production, and leave everyone in awe as to “how they just did that.” Some corporate-focused magicians, like Alan Paoletti, are also well-versed in trade shows, positioning themselves in the aisle and attracting visitors to your booth.
4. Robots
Robots were all the rage at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, and will turn heads at any event. There are a growing number of robots that interact with attendees, from a robot bartender to Boston Dynamics’ Spot, who can be rented to serve hors d’oeuvres at events.
5. Next-level ventriloquists
With enough notice, ventriloquist Tom Crowl can produce a puppet that looks just like the CEO (or whoever else you choose). Not only do attendees enjoy interacting with the new mini-boss, but the look-alike puppet is then presented to the guest of honor at the end of the evening.
6. Graffiti artists
Though street graffiti is done under the cover of night, there is a new breed of graffiti artists who work the events beat. They can create a large-format work of art on large panels that the company can ship back after the event to hang at headquarters.
7. Live painters
Artist John Bukaty has painted the scene in many a room at industry events, including the Incentive Research Foundation’s Invitational. He positions himself on a dropcloth beneath a bright spotlight in the center of the action, and will paint a piece inspired by the destination, the event, or whatever moves him. He often donates the original artwork to a local charity and reprints giclees to be sent to the attendees as a memento when they arrive home.
8. LED artists
Everyone has seen LED art, but not necessarily LED art that moves. These artists, decked out in a variety of costumes such as flowers or butterflies, stroll through an event welcoming photo opps with the attendees. There are many other options for incorporating LED entertainment into an evening, from circus performers to jugglers to stilt walkers.
9. Soap bubble artists
For outdoor events, soap bubble artists transport attendees back to their childhoods, creating giant, iridescent bubbles as they meander through the crowd. With a little breeze, the bubbles can create quite a spectacle for attendees to capture on camera.
10. Street performers
This brand of outdoor entertainer is what you’d expect to see on a visit to the city on a sunny summer afternoon. Take Pogo Fred, who often performs at Boston’s Faneuil Hall. He holds multiple Guinness World Records for his extreme pogo stunts, like flips from up in the air on his 10-foot tall pogo stick.
