How I Pick Music to Match the Mood of Any Corporate Event
So. I get it. You’ve been tasked with finding entertainment for a corporate event. You’re not a musician… you sing in the shower from time to time, but otherwise.. that’s it. And all of a sudden, the boss man turns to you for finding the perfect musician for the mood. The.. MOOD. What even is THE MOOD? The vibe?
I totally get this dynamic. Different corporate events require different vibes. I’ve played some corporate events where they have wanted cool, calm, collected, relaxed, chilled. Other corporate events - they’ve made it EXTREMELY clear they want people to dance and have a good time.. really let their hair down. So - for my fellow musicians out there, or for those of you who are looking to book music for a corporate event and want to know that I’m going to be the right fit - here are the major factors that I consider when picking music for corporate events - be that when I am DJing or if I’m playing with a dance band, jazz trio, or performing solo.
Who is the client? In order to pick the perfect music, you need to know who the client is, what they do, and what their business is.
What is the event? In order to pick the perfect music, you need to know what kind of event they’re hosting. You can’t just assume that because the client is high-end or extremely corporate, they want stiff, uptight, or relaxed vibes. Often times, the event’s theming, venue, and promotional material will be SCREAMING what kind of vibe the event is.
What, if any business stakes are involved in this event? Often I find that musicians and entertainers can be completely unaware of the dynamics at play with business stakes at corporate events. Think about it this way: is this event aiming to achieve certain business goals for the client? If so- what are they? If you can’t ascertain it from just looking at the event, find a way to get this information from the client! It will shape your song selection, band choice and mood. Some corporate events just AREN’T conducive to a dance band playing ABBA covers - sometimes this can get in the way of the real aims of the event.
I use all of this information when pulling together music for a corporate event. AND - it’s super important as well to read the room as well. As a musician and DJ with over 15 years of industry experience, I can quickly gauge what the room needs to achieve the right vibe.
Whether you’re booking entertainment, or providing it, I hope these thoughts have been helpful! And if you need music that fits perfectly with YOUR event, hit me up!