In today’s economy, businesses are doing whatever they can to cut costs. And one area that seems a no-brainer in the cost-cutting category is to drastically downgrade the company holiday party.

Parties that were once held in hotel ballrooms have been moved to restaurants; those held in restaurants have been moved to the boss’s house or the company conference room.

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Yesterday, I attended a business luncheon where the featured entertainment was a stand-up comedian. Unfortunately, although he had his moments when the crowd was laughing and enjoying, the comedian pretty much bombed. 

The organization that put on this luncheon is very organized and they really know what they’re doing when it comes to their events. There’s no doubt in my mind that a highly capable committee was involved in choosing the entertainment. I’d be willing to bet that they all watched his videos, that he came highly recommended, and that someone from the committee saw a live performance before hiring him.

I myself searched for him on YouTube and found some very funny clips. He’s a seasoned professional with credits most comedians can only dream of attaining.

So why did he get such a poor response?

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Strolling magicians who perform brief close-up magic routines for small groups of guests at a time are generally very well received. 

A talented close-up performer adds an element of amazement to magic that cannot be achieved from the stage; since the action is going on right in front of the spectator’s face, the feat becomes even more baffling, especially for those who enjoy trying to figure out the secrets behind the tricks. 

Another advantage of strolling close-up magic is that it does not require the entire audience to “tune in.” Those who wish to enjoy the performance may do so; those who prefer to socialize or just enjoy a quiet meal may also do so without having their good time interrupted by a loud performance or by others “shushing” them.

But, as is the case in most areas of event planning, for every advantage of a particular element of the party, there are a dozen things that can go wrong if not handled properly. 

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Here’s a pretty common scenario: You’ve planned a company holiday party for 250 guests at a local hotel. Following a cocktail hour, the guests are ushered into the ballroom, where they are seated for dinner. Once dinner is served, a comedian is scheduled to perform, followed by a brief year-end awards ceremony and lively dancing until the wee hours.

You’ve hired the best DJ in town, someone you’ve worked with for years, and the comedian came with the highest kudos and some of the funniest video clips you’ve ever seen. The food is fantastic, the ambience is perfect, everything is going exactly as planned. Until…

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