All businesses concerned with providing entertainment in some form or another are being hit by the downturn being experienced across the globe. What I hope to do here, is give an impartial view on the industry and pass on a few free tips to those who are looking to have entertainment at their next event, but feel that they don't have the budget like they used to!

1. If you've used a supplier in the past on a regular basis, then consider contacting them to see if they will offer you a discounted rate based as a loyalty bonus. Don't be offended if they say no, or are unable to help as they are probably struggling themselves and need all the business they can get. Be prepared to pay the original rates when times get better again of course.

2. Look at alternative forms of entertainment that you previously haven't considered before. Maybe now is the time to create a different style of entertainment based upon smaller budgets. It is OK to provide hospitality in some form, and with a little imagination and humour, what originally could cost you thousands may be achieved with a few hundreds. 

Example
Times are hard, but were they as hard as in the depression of the 20s when Prohibition reigned in the US? People still enjoyed themselves and regarded entertainment as a valuable release against the hardships of the day. Indeed, it probably allowed them time to create a brighter perspective and a base for building a sounder economy for the future. Have a themed prohibition party and use cups for glasses, with punch instead of cocktails. Use a background tape instead of a DJ or band. Ask guests to dress up and provide a prize for the best homemade or recycled costume and ask guests to take pictures using the cameras on their phones which can be uploaded later onto Picasa or Flickr for free. Have the party in the canteen or a colleague's house to save money on hiring a venue - although there are now fantastic deals out there - negotiate. Hire in a casino for authenticity and for something to do - a casino night is still the most cost effective form of entertainment for groups of any size.

3. Creating a happy workforce is essential in times when jobs may be at risk. Companies should be doing more during a downturn to ensure that their personnel can remain confident that they are appreciated and treated in some way to say thank you for their staff loyalty and efforts undertaken to succeed in difficult trading conditions.

4. Likewise, your clients need to feel secure that their business dealings with you can remain on a consistent level and that they can reluy on you to provide the products or services that you do as now. Isn't it time that you said thank you to these clients and showed how important that you feel that these other businesses are to you? They are a network of companies with you as a supplier providing the nucleus. How happy would these clients be if you introduced them to one another as part of your unique network? 

Example
Hold a joint personnel and client event and have your own staff act as individual allotted hosts to allow cross-referencing and introductions. Essentially create a Buddy system and help to create more wealth between your clients. Act as a hub and follow up afterwards to see what may have been generated. Report the results in your newsletter. Creat a later Awards ceremony to reward those who's efforts truly excelled in delivering additional business - with your company acting as the instigator. 

5. Create more of an argument for holding an event.

Here are a few reasons:

1. Anniversary - Sainsbury's are 150 and Marks & Spencer 125 years old this year (2009)
2. Competition - now is the time to steal a march and draw clients away from your rivals
3. Environmental issues - be seen to be doing something that is environmentally sound
4. Charity fundraising - use your event to do some good and put something back
5. Thank you - for business and for support
6. PR - use PR to cover your event to show that you are doing well and can afford to hold events, when others don't seem able
7. Sponsorship - create a sponsored event that raises money and add a percentage to the total raised
8. Annual Event - keeping up appearances needn't mean that you have to cancel an event because it looks bad in the current climate - adjust the event to suit the general mood
9. Get your friends and colleagues to show off their entertainment skills - hold a 'My Company's Got Talent' competition
10. Do something last minute - Surprise your guests but give them plenty of warning (at least six weeks) that 'something rather special' may be happening 
11. Family Fun Day - for personnel and clients and their own families - be friendly and get everyone together
12. Have a brainstorm. Be completely wild about things. Note them all down on a list. Vote for the most outrageous (cos' that'll be the best, and aim to make it into a totally unusual happening that no-one else has ever dreamed about!
13. Don't have a reason - just do it! Good luck.


Low cost acts can produce high rewards with a little imagination. Let me know how you get on. 

If you want to create something different with little budget but are willing to provide energy and resources, then contact me on 01323 892554 and maybe we can come up with a plan that will astound your contempories and competitors as to its daring and ingenuity. 

Jayne Wood
Funcasinos.biz - not your average casino company!