Where Should Entertainment Really Go in Your Event?

Most clients I speak with want entertainment after the business portion.

They want full attention during presentations, sales training, or company meetings — so they "reward" everyone with entertainment afterward.

That approach is completely understandable… but it leaves massive leverage on the table.

One of the biggest frustrations I hear from event planners and executives is:

“How do we get people truly engaged during the sessions?”

or

“How do we help attendees actually network and build real relationships?”

Here’s the secret most people miss:

The fastest way to boost engagement and networking is to help people build trust and connection early — before the serious content begins.

Picture this: Your top performers walk into Day 1 morning.

Employees think: "Better stay quiet—who's safe to talk to?"

Customers think: "Don't rock the boat."

Silence spreads. Q&A's painful. Meeting fights uphill.

Then the fix:

Opening night welcome reception with right entertainment.

Day 2? Completely different energy.  Attendees jumping in, answering each other's questions, breakouts become real brainstorms.

Lately, I’m seeing a strong resurgence in smart welcome receptions. More clients are bringing me in specifically for that critical first night.

Nels Kasey (Great Heart Seed), “Made a good event unforgettable.” His clients and distributors were so engaged that on day two they were actively answering questions for the presenters during the conference in French Lick, Indiana.

A Fortune500 telecom company saw the same effect with their President’s Club winners in Hawaii. The magic helped their top performers relax, connect, and participate fully — so they’re bringing me back for a second time this year. If you’re flying your most important people halfway around the world to a five-star resort, the last thing you want is them sitting quietly at their tables. You want energy, conversation, and real connection.

A Top 100 golf club says nothing’s had more impact than adding magic to opening night. Their players are laughing, slapping each other on the back, having fun together like they’re buddies at summer camp.  The exact feeling wealthy golfers crave—because they can’t get it anywhere else.

If you’re serious about maximizing engagement, networking, and the “real-life experience” sharing that helps your entire team grow, addressing those early psychological barriers can dramatically improve your event’s results.

Curious how this works at your events? Click the button below and schedule a quick conversation if you want to talk it through.