Do you play along when your child is pretending to be a super hero or a rock star? I want people to feel that comfortable to let go and have fun. Imagine yourself at a Celine Dion concert where Celine walks into the audience and sings directly to you. Would you feel special? What if Marilyn Monroe sang her breathy version of Happy Birthday to your company president? Would you take a picture? Do you smile and laugh? If the people you work with played guitars like rock stars at your company party, would you cheer them on? My stage shows get those reactions.

Marilyn Monroe Impersonator Tracey Bell sings Happy Birthday Mr. President at the Victoria Hospital Foundation Gala Fundraiser

People like to shine, even shy people.

On New Year’s Eve, when New York New York is playing and everyone in the room is doing a kick line, do you join in, or smile while you watch them? Would you clap along with people if Dolly Parton encouraged you to? If your friends were strutting their stuff onstage with Madonna, would you want to video them? These are the experiences that I create with people. Whether you want to kick up your shoes, cheer from the sidelines, or smile as you watch others, there is a place for everyone at my shows.

Audience Participants learn to Vogue like boy toys with Madonna Impersonator Tracey Bell

After decades of experience, I know how to choose the first participants

It only takes a few outgoing people to get audience participation started, to set the example. If they can do it, others can too. Nobody has to be perfect. It’s especially rewarding when I get shy people involved in the show. I get the same reaction as a hypnotist, where participants are entranced and want to let their inner rock star shine.  After decades of experience as an interactive impressionist, I know how to choose the first participants, then encourage and inspire them. I’m encouraging them. Joy, fun and laughter are contagious.

Celine Dion Impersonator Tracey Bell Holds hands with the Canadian Consul General at the Chamber of Commerce Special Event in Shanghai, China

My stage shows are rewarding to me because I’m engaging people and giving them an experience they’ll talk about for years, whether they’re a spectator or participant. When we’re engaged, we’re fully present in the moment. Playing is good for us. Connecting is good for us. My purpose is to create a show where we do those things.  I put my whole heart into it. There’s a lot of me in the show: Tracey Bell disguised as Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Julie Andrews, Shania Twain, Alanis Morrissette, and the rest.

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Corporate events, in and of themselves, are activities to look forward to. They signify a milestone crossed for a company, a celebration of a meeting a goal, or a step in a new direction. Employees look forward to these times when they have the chance to let their hair down and socialize with their colleagues without deadlines and projects looming in the near future. Corporate events, especially those that are held offsite, are some of the only times that employees reveal their true selves to the people they work with.

Selecting entertainment for a corporate event requires careful planning. Unlike venue or entertainment specific events, there is a lot of latitude allowed when the type of entertainment to perform. Comedians, magicians, musical acts, solo singers, variety acts, ventriloquists, traveling petting zoos, impersonators– there is a wide array of talent to choose from in the corporate event environment. However, with that flexibility brings additional concerns to the table. Here are three tips to consider when looking for talent to perform at your next corporate event:

Type of Entertainment

The chief concern when planning a corporate event is the type of material that will be presented.  There is virtually no way to please every single person in the company with a specific performer.  Being faced with that reality can present a challenge. Do you hire a male performer every year? Maybe you should consider a female comedian this time.  Sticking with the basics will make the decision easier.  Music that combines a mix of the popular genres, magicians, and clean comedians are choices that will satisfy a wide range of people. Interactive shows are especially memorable.

Material Covered

Once you have decided to go with a specific entertainment type, confirming that the material is appropriate for the audience is important. With people from coming from all walks of life and with no other common factory than employment at the company to share between them, it can be tricky to gauge levels of appropriateness.

Relevance of Material

Will the jokes make sense to the vast majority of your employees? If you’ve employed a cover band, will the music be recognizable? This is where knowing your employees will come into play. Understand the age ranges of the people employed in your business before you audition talent. If you have a young employee base, hire an act that will speak to their sensibilities and interests and vice versa. If the crowd is mixed, so should your talent be. Hire a DJ that can spin records spanning four decades or hire a comedian that talks about past and present situations.

Planning a corporate event can be an exciting activity. Having the opportunity to employee local talent, introduce your team members to a performer they may never have heard of before, and treating your employees to a company party is a perfect opportunity celebrate your teams accomplishments and show your company’s appreciation.

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