Company Party Ideas

Fun Awards Show

The end of Summer is drawing near, and it's high time to begin thinking about your holiday party entertainment. This year, do something completely unique and hold your own Fun Awards Show hosted by Comedian Larry Weaver.

We're pulling out all of the stops this year to make this the best company party idea ever. This live entertainment concept is a unique and humorous way to show appreciation to your employees, volunteers or staff.

Just like the Oscars or the Emmys, the performance begins with  an opening comedy monologue full of customized jokes just for your company or organization.

Larry will work with you prior to the show to help you choose from the hundreds of exclusive funny company awards. His intention is never to embarrass, and Larry knows how to choose employee award winners.

Larry has headlined over 1,000 comedy shows in 37 states. He has the experienced needed to make your work party a huge success.

This show is not just for Christmas office parties. It's also perfect for employee awards programs, staff appreciation banquets, volunteer recognition events, family reunions, church functions, or any event that could use some good, clean fun!

If you're looking for office party games or  company party ideas, you'll find them on this site. Contact Larry Weaver at Fun Awards today to have the best company party ever!

Funny Awards Show on YouTube

I just posted a new video for my Funny Awards Show on YouTube. Here's the transcript:

Hi, I'm comedian Larry Weaver. If you're looking for something truly unique for your next meeting or event, have me host your own Awards Show gala. But this won’t be your typical Awards Show, we’ll be handing out my exclusive line of Fun Awards!

Just like the Oscars or the Emmys, we'll kick off your event with a hilarious opening comedy routine.

After the opening comedy monologue, I’ll start handing out the awards. And we've got tons of great awards to choose from. Recognize that member who is always running late, can never be found, or just can't stop going on about their pet.

Most of the awards poke light fun but we've got plenty of "job well done" awards to choose from, as well. The important thing to remember is to pre-select the biggest “characters” from your group for a really unforgettable event.

This show is perfect for office parties, teacher banquets, volunteers, church staff -- any event that could use a highly-interactive and hilarious presentation.

So don’t settle for another boring meeting. Give your group something to talk about all year long with my Fun Awards!

Learn more about my Funny Awards Show

Holiday Party Entertainment

Corporate Holiday Party Entertainment Ideas

When shopping for holiday party entertainment, live comedy can be a real crowd pleaser! Just make sure to hire an act that's both clean and experienced in front of diverse crowds. That means no curse words and no squirm-inducing jokes about what Tiger Woods does in his free time. A comedian that is funny without vulgar language, racy commentary or sexual innuendo will be a hit in any environment and for any audience.

As the person responsible for planning entertainment for your corporate event, there is no reason good enough to risk having a performer that might offend your group.

The creator of Fun Awards, Larry Weaver, can help you hire comedians that are 100% clean and appropriate for corporate events. But don't take our word for it...

"Larry Weaver is a great comedian. The material used was a perfect fit for our office environment. The Funny Awards part of the performance went over with bang. The employees talked about it all afternoon. Many, many comments and thanks were given to the HR Department for providing such a great program. Great job." - Teresa J Bell, ACS Annual Appreciation and Awards Luncheon

"Larry Weaver provided an excellent program for our Teacher Appreciation Banquet. He brought the house down. He was so funny, and the way he worked the audience was just out of this world. I asked for clean and funny and he gave me both. He was AWESOME!" – Annette Sessoms, Johnson Primary School Appreciation Banquet

"Thanks again for you help making our manager's party a success. I really enjoyed working with you, and I've heard a lot of positive comments about the show. We look forward to working with you in the future." – Jerry Lee Pendleton, Wal-Mart Distribution Center 6070 Holiday Party

"Terrific performance! Would recommend Larry Weaver to any organization. Clean, appropriate, and funny. He had everyone laughing. We hope to have Larry entertain us again!‎" – Breen Smith, President, New Hope Natural Gas Holiday Party

"Larry Weaver was spot on with his show. He asked about our company beforehand and incorporated funny stories about our employees into his show. It was great to have those jokes written just for us. We especially enjoyed the funny employee awards. Larry is a true professional!" – Gabi Jacob, Corporate Network Services Holiday Party

Want an estimate on the cost of holiday party entertainment? Just click here to contact us

Office Party Entertainment Guidelines

Choosing the right office party entertainment is no easy task. Will your coworkers most enjoy a comedian, juggler, ventriloquist, or magician? To help make your job easier, here are 7 Guidelines for Choosing the Perfect Office Party Entertainment...

What type of act do you want?

Options: Stand-up comedian, magician, ventriloquist, juggler
Considerations: Most corporate entertainers incorporate liberal amounts of humor into their performance. The type of act you choose may come down to a matter of personal preference.

Do you have any production limitations?

Options: Sound, staging, lighting, ceiling height…
Considerations: There are logistical considerations to take into account when choosing the type of act you want. For example, stand-up comedians tend to require the least amount of staging and PA equipment. A microphone may be all that is required for a successful performance. A juggler, on the other hand, may require wireless microphones and even may even have considerations having to do with ceiling height. If you’re unsure about your production capabilities, be sure to ask your agent when choosing your act.

What type of humor works best for your audience?

Options: Blue-collar, white-collar, physical comedy, impressions
Considerations: Comedy is subjective, and – like nearly everything in life – it’s nearly impossible please everyone. When deciding what type of humor will work best, consider the makeup of your group: their age, educational background, race, and economic status. You wouldn’t necessarily want to have blue collar comedian Larry The Cable Guy at a stuffy financial summit up North (although the results could be hilarious – however unintentional). Conversely, a comedian who focuses on office life wouldn’t be best for a group of farmers. Describe your group to your agent and they can help you pick the best act.

What rating do you desire?

Options: G, PG, PG-13…
Considerations: When in doubt, it’s best to go with a G-rated act. You really don’t want to offend anyone in your audience. If your group really wants to “let loose” and isn’t easily offended, you can request a PG-13 rated show. Just make sure that everyone is aware of this going in. You may even want to make an announcement ahead of time to that effect. Be sure to clearly discuss with the performer any language or topics you wish to avoid. You may even want to write specifics into the contract if you are concerned about possible offensive content. Again, when in doubt go with a G-rated act!

How long do you want the show to last?

Options: Typically 30 – 60 minutes…
Considerations: You don’t need a two hour show to have a memorable evening of entertainment. A show lasting between 30 and 60 minutes is often best, as guests start to become restless after that time. Take into consideration how long your guests will have been seated before the performance begins. Will they have just endured a day of meetings, dinner, and speeches? If so, less entertainment may be more!

If you’re hosting an awards show and/or giving away door prizes, it’s typically best to do this after the comedian has performed. Often times the comedian will gladly emcee the awards portion – just ask.

Do you want the audience involved in the show?

Options: No interaction, light interaction, audience members on stage…
Considerations: Some stand-up comedians may have little or no audience interaction as part of their act. Others have more interaction where they will actively talk with members of the audience from the stage to improvise material for the show. Taking it a step further, some comedians will actually get your audience members up on the stage to be part of the show. This is especially true of magicians, ventriloquists, and jugglers – most of which will solicit audience members to be part of the act.

The level of interaction you desire depends on your group. If you have a close-knit, lively group, you may request a high level of interaction. If your audience is more reserved or has experienced a day-long meeting, they may prefer just to sit back, relax, and be entertained.

Should you feel that on-stage interaction will suit your group, it’s best to speak with the entertainer before the show to identify employees that are confident and will enjoy being on stage.

Do you want to customize the show?

Options: No customization, a little, a lot…
Considerations: Some comedians can incorporate a lot of customized material about your group or company into their show. They will usually send you a pre-show questionnaire that asks for information about your company and employees.

When gathering information, please stay clear of any sensitive material (personality traits, company policies, etc.). The goal of any customized act is to present material that everyone can enjoy.

Keep in mind that customization requires work on your part. You’ll need to complete the performer’s questionnaire in a timely manner and be available for follow-up discussions. If you’re already overworked planning the meeting or conference, this may be more than you’re willing to take on. But if you have the time, the results can be very memorable!

Visit our list of comedians approved to host The Funny Employee Awards Show.

How to Hire an Office Party Comedian

If you're considering hiring an office party comedian (which may include stand-up comedians, humorous speakers, jugglers and magicians), it is important to find an act that’s both clean and experienced in front of corporate crowds. You’re paying not just for the show, but for peace of mind. After all, if the performer offends your coworkers, it makes you look bad!

Corporate comedians typically cost more than “club” performers. The reason is that clean, corporate comedy is much harder than a nightclub performance. You have to have an act with wide appeal that won’t offend anyone in the audience. There are thousands of club performers across the country, but only a handful that can do a clean, corporate show. You’re not just paying for the jokes they tell — you’re paying for the jokes they don’t tell.

General Considerations:
__Will overnight lodging and travel be required?
__If so, are these included or on top of the quoted fee?
__Can the performer provide the sound system, if needed?
__Has the act played events similar to yours?

Evaluation Checklist:
__Promotional Materials
__Testimonials/Reviews
__Professional Affiliations
__Experience
__Clean Material
__Technical Requirements

If the event is dinner and a show, then it’s just a matter of working with your entertainment advisor to choose a comedian, juggler or magician. You’ll need a stage or similar performing area and amplified sound (which the performer or venue can often provide). A show lasting between 30 and 60 minutes is often best, as guests may become restless after that time.

You often pay many times more for the meal than for the entertainer (on a per person basis), when in fact the evening’s program is probably far more important than the meal. Consider the true value-per-person-attending when deciding on your entertainment investment.

Visit our list of comedians approved to host The Funny Employee Awards Show.

8 Tips to Avoid Corporate Entertainment Headaches

When you hire an entertainer for a corporate meeting or office party, be sure to touch base directly with the entertainer at least a week prior to the performance. This is called “advancing” the show. This is especially crucial if you booked through an entertainment agency, and have not yet spoken directly with the performer. 
With your signed contract in hand, call (not email) the entertainer to confirm the following:

1. Dress
2. Show content and special requests
3. Directions, unloading, and parking details
4. Technical rider, staging, and sound details
5. Arrival time and performance time
6. Hotel reservations
7. Food/drink arrangements
8. Final payment

Dress

Always let the performer know whether the event is casual, semi-formal, or black-tie so they can dress appropriately. Give them plenty of notice if you absolutely need them to wear a jacket, tie, or tuxedo. And if you've hired an act like Larry the Cable Guy, be understanding if they want to dress in "character" for the event.

Show Content and Special Requests

Make sure you and the entertainer are on the same page about the kind of performance you're expecting. Be very specific if you need them to avoid certain subject matter or language. If you want unusual requests or custom material that is outside the scope of the signed contract, be understanding if they politely push back. Many acts have set material, and may not be able to accommodate your requests to customize the performance.

Directions, Unloading, and Parking

In case you don’t know it already, Google Maps isn’t always correct. Review some anecdotal landmarks with the entertainer like “turn left right past the Wal-Mart”. Also be sure that you have reserved a designated area nearby for the performer to unload their equipment and park their vehicle. Mail or fax a parking pass ahead of time if necessary.

Technical Rider, Staging, and Sound

Be sure you thoroughly read the contract and rider, and make a copy for anyone on your team who will be dealing directly with the performer. Go through technical requirements line by line, and ask the performer if there is anything they need to ensure a successful performance.

Arrival and Performance Time

Confirm the arrival time with the performer. Make sure you specify where, when, and who the performer will meet. Also, double-check the performance time in case plans have changed since the contract was issued.

Hotel Reservations

Get a hotel confirmation number for the performer, and make sure the reservation is in the performer's name, not yours.

Food and Drink Arrangements

If the artist's rider calls for a meal, confirm ahead of time when and where it will be served. Make sure you have plenty of bottled water - whether or not they asked for it.

Final Payment

If your contract calls for the performer to be paid following the performance, make sure you have the check cut and ready. If you can't have the check ready that night for any reason, let the performer know ahead of time. They will understand, and you will avoid any awkward moments.

If there are any additional or unusual provisions in the artist's contract, be sure to go over each and every one. Remember that it is your responsibility to call ahead and ensure a successful performance.

Larry Weaver is a professional comedian, entertainment booking agent, and author of "Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony."


If you have additional tips, advice, or funny stories, please post them in the comments section...