The work Christmas party is one of those jobs that lands on someone's desk every year. Usually the same someone. You've got a mixed group, a limited budget, a list of opinions as long as your arm, and the faint memory of what went wrong last year.
Here are some Christmas party entertainment ideas that tend to work, along with a few planning tips to make the whole thing easier.
First, why work Christmas parties are tricky
A work party isn't like a party with friends. People haven't chosen each other. There are different ages, different tastes and different levels of enthusiasm, from the people who've been counting down since October to the ones who'll leave at half nine. Some don't drink. Some don't dance. A few would honestly rather be at home.
So the best entertainment gives people different ways to enjoy the evening. Something for the dancers, something for the talkers, and something everyone can watch together for a few minutes.
Ideas for the start of the night
The first hour sets the tone. People arrive in dribs and drabs, stand in the same little groups they sit with at work, and wait for someone else to loosen up first. Entertainment here should mix people up.
Roaming magic is a cracking icebreaker. A magician moving between groups gets people laughing together, and it doesn't need anyone to do anything except watch. For a more modern twist, close-up tech magic uses phones and iPads, and a guest's own phone doing something impossible gets talked about for weeks.
A festive welcome drink with live music is simple and effective. A brass quartet playing carols, or an acoustic duo doing Christmas songs, makes the room feel like a party straight away.
Caricaturists and photo booths give people a keepsake and something to queue for together.
Ideas for during or after dinner
If you're having a sit-down meal, there's usually a lull between courses or once the plates are cleared. That's the perfect spot for something the whole room watches.
A short show. Magic, comedy or a singer. Keep it to a sensible length, because people want to get up and party. A stage show on screens means the whole room sees it, not just the tables at the front.
A Christmas quiz. Cheap, easy and surprisingly competitive. Have a host who keeps it moving, and keep the rounds short. Picture rounds and music rounds tend to beat general knowledge.
Fun awards. Light-hearted awards for things like best desk decoration or most likely to lose their lanyard. Keep it kind. The aim is laughing with people, not at them.
Ideas for the party end of the night
- A live band that can cover everything from Christmas classics to floor-fillers
- A DJ who'll take requests and knows when to drop the Christmas songs
- Karaoke, for teams who are that way inclined (and nobody's forced up)
- A ceilidh caller, which gets people dancing who'd normally never move
- Casino tables with fun money for the non-dancers
- A silent disco if the venue has a noise limit or you want two music choices
Ideas for a daytime Christmas do
Not every team wants a late one. Plenty of companies now do a long Christmas lunch or a daytime activity instead, which suits people with families, long commutes or a preference for being in bed by ten.
A cookery class, a wreath-making workshop, a festive escape room or a cocktail masterclass followed by lunch all work well. Close-up magic at a Christmas lunch is a nice touch too, as it fills the gaps between courses without taking over.
Making sure everyone's included
This is the bit that's easy to forget. A party that suits half the team isn't really a team party. A few things to think about:
- Have good non-alcoholic drinks on offer, not just orange juice
- Check dietary needs early and pass them to the venue
- Choose a venue that's accessible, and check the route to the toilets
- Have a quieter area away from the music for people who want to chat
- Make sure transport home is sorted, especially in rural areas
- Avoid entertainment that relies on embarrassing people
When to book
December fills up fast. Popular venues and acts get booked months ahead, and Fridays and Saturdays go first. If you can, lock in the date and venue early, then book entertainment as soon as you know roughly how the night will run.
If December is impossible, plenty of teams now hold their party in early January. Venues are quieter, everyone's skint but glad of a night out, and it gives people something to look forward to after the holidays.
Spending the budget where it shows
Entertainment doesn't have to be the biggest line on the budget to make the biggest difference. One well-chosen act in the right slot often beats three squeezed into a short evening. Spend where guests will notice and save where they won't, because nobody remembers the napkins.
If money's tight, think about a shorter booking at the liveliest moment rather than a long one that runs while everyone's eating. And ask suppliers what they'd suggest. Good ones would rather give you honest advice than oversell.
Putting it together
A simple shape that works for lots of teams: roaming entertainment as people arrive, dinner with something short in the middle, then music to finish. You don't need loads of acts. You need the right one in each slot.
If you'd like The Digital Magician at your Christmas party, our awards and Christmas parties page has more detail. Pop us your date and we'll check availability.