Original party entertainment: 5 ideas to surprise your guests

In short: 5 original entertainment ideas to surprise your guests

• Musical blind test revisited Spice up the evening with an interactive music quiz, dynamic hosts, and even live artists. Laughter and friendly competition guaranteed, regardless of age!
• Immersive treasure hunt Treat your guests to a collaborative game where personalized puzzles and challenges follow one another, indoors or outdoors. A must for team cohesion and creativity.
• Creative cocktail workshop Time for discovery with an expert bartender! Guests learn to make (and taste) original cocktails. Perfect for breaking the ice and sharing a good time.
• Themed photobooth Set up a photo booth with fun props and personalized decorations. Guests leave with souvenirs and boost your event's visibility on social media.
• Life-size mobile escape game : Transform the evening into a collective adventure! Tailor-made scenario, puzzles to solve as a team and immersive atmosphere for a memorable experience.

Are you also getting a little tired of standing around in a corner for a cocktail party, where everyone is glued to their phone waiting for the evening to end? Don't worry, these days, making an event truly lively is an art form. The focus is on original entertainment, the real spark to transform a simple evening into an unforgettable memory. And there's plenty to choose from: musical quizzes, escape games, wacky photo booths, cocktail workshops, or murder mystery parties… The key is to surprise, to bring people together, and to see all the guests let loose, even the shyest members of the office! You could even consider a light drone show.

“Last year, we swapped the traditional magician for a live blind test and… no one noticed the time passing. As a result, everyone is still talking about that evening, and the shared playlist is still playing in the open-plan office.”

Why is entertainment THE secret to a successful company event?

As soon as you add a truly interactive concept, everything changes, and of course, the French regulations on drones is respected:

The atmosphere heats up, the group mixes, and the friendly competition takes its toll (in a good way).

Everyone finds their place, from the youngest to the oldest, from discreet colleagues to natural leaders.

The goal? To create connections, memories, and strengthen team cohesion – that's how success is measured. No more excuses for being a spectator; everyone becomes an active participant in the celebration, and the employer brand gets a real boost. Original ideas are all the rage, and that's what makes a lasting impression, far more so than a meal tray or an introductory speech.

Five original animation ideas to adopt without hesitation

1. Next-generation musical blind test

Say goodbye to old-school music quizzes! Make way for interactive music quizzes, either tablet-style or live with a musician. Choose a theme (movies, the 90s, cult TV series, current hits…), and everyone can participate, even those who struggle with lyrics.

“We saw the accounting and technical departments compete in an Abba cover. Great moment, atmosphere guaranteed!”

2. Mobile and immersive escape game

Here, everyone plays, everyone thinks. The escape game comes directly to your office or event venue. Teams challenge each other, roles are reassigned, and collective intelligence makes all the difference. A tailor-made scenario, an immersive setting, and the result: a true team-building experience.

3. Cocktail or cooking workshop, to delight and bring people together

Inviting a professional bartender or chef to lead a cocktail workshop (with a non-alcoholic option) or creative cooking session gets everyone involved, while stimulating both their appetite for food and their creativity. Everyone leaves with their own creation (and sometimes, a great recipe to recreate at home!).

Discovery, conviviality and sharing of little gourmet secrets.

Endless customization: tapas, sushi, mojitos, or arty pastries…

“We mixed a homemade mojito with the HR director. We never recovered!”

4. Themed photo booth and personalized souvenirs

It was impossible to resist the temptation to leave with a selfie from the evening!
The interactive photo booth and its array of wacky accessories is the perfect combo to liven up the whole evening and boost virality on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Custom decorations, themed accessories, instant printing or animated GIFs

A recurring animation that breaks the ice and creates memories

“The group photo dressed as superheroes? Still displayed in the break room…”

5. Murder mystery party or casino night, for a suspenseful evening

Fans of investigations, competitions, or the Las Vegas atmosphere will find what they're looking for. Roles are assigned, the scenario is explored, and collaboration and strategy are key to victory. It's the perfect activity for a team that loves to fully immerse itself in the experience!

How to choose your entertainment for a company party?

Adapt the format to the size of the group: for a large number, favour the quiz or the treasure hunt; in a small group, dare to do the workshop or the murder party.

• Mix the styles: a main activity (escape, quiz, casino…) + a common thread throughout the evening (photobooth, digital kiosk, live painting…).
• Consider the location: some concepts can be set up anywhere, others require a dedicated space (cocktail area, kitchen, giant graffiti…).

Keeping up with the times: the trend is towards immersive, hybrid, sometimes digital activities (interactive quizzes, virtual dance, digital graffiti).

A few secrets for an unforgettable evening

Take the time to personalize (a nod to the company's history, anecdotes, a logo on the photos)

Plan a surprise performance in the middle of the evening (digital magician, live singer, etc.)

Hiring a professional or event agency saves time, ensures quality, and allows you to benefit from a catalog of tested concepts (close-up magician, virtual graffiti, 360° photobooth, etc.).

“The digital magician amazed the entire IT department. Since then, it’s impossible to talk about cybersecurity without mentioning this act!”

The trend: mixing live, digital, and participatory elements

Virtual reality, immersive karaoke, live quizzes, digital kiosk games, collaborative graffiti workshops… All the latest innovations create a wow factor, whether it's to celebrate a company anniversary, a product launch, or simply to thank the teams. And nothing beats a mix of competition, creativity, and shared memories.

Dare to be original, bet on emotion

Ultimately, the best entertainment is the kind that reflects your company and makes every guest feel comfortable letting go, connecting with others, and leaving with a smile. For every objective, every taste, every team, there's an activity that will make all the difference. Trust in creativity… and the boldness to try something new!

“Your entertainment is the little spark that transforms a simple evening into a memorable moment. Ready to write the next chapter in your company's story?”

Need advice for your next event? A catalog, ideas, artists, or a custom-designed entertainment package? Event agencies and service providers are here to support you, surprise your guests, and keep them entertained. All you have to do is choose… and enjoy the party, from the first toast to the last selfie!

Allumee: The art of illuminating every evening with a drone show

When entertainment seeks to reinvent itself and surprise, Allumee offers a corporate drone show that transforms events into unforgettable experiences. Imagine an evening where, instead of a traditional fireworks display, the sky lights up with personalized shapes: initials, hearts, wedding rings, luminous tableaux, all choreographed to the music of your playlist. 

The Allumee team supports each stepFrom artistic design and permitting to show customization, culminating in a final performance with 80, 100, or even 200 drones or more, an aerial ballet that is eco-friendly, safe, and designed to adapt to any location and any desire. 

Through this entertainment, every evening or professional event takes on a spectacular and poetic dimension, creating a memorable collective experience. Allumee thus establishes itself as the ideal solution to energize an evening and offer guests an original, creative experience full of shared emotions.

Our questions about entertainment for an original evening

What activities can I do in the evening?

To liven up an evening, nothing beats activities that foster connection: interactive quizzes, musical blind tests, cocktail workshops, or even a photo booth for personalized souvenirs. Giant board games add a fun and convivial touch, while an immersive murder mystery party or live karaoke offers a unique experience. The key is to offer activities tailored to the audience, vary the pace, and encourage everyone to participate. Originality and creativity transform each event into an unforgettable moment, where every guest leaves with genuine shared memories.

What are the 4 animation modes?

Four main modes make for a successful evening:
• Fun activities: quizzes, escape games or group games, promoting interaction and laughter.
• Artistic entertainment: magician, caricaturist, graffiti workshop, to surprise and stimulate creativity.
• Musical entertainment: DJ, karaoke, live concert or blind test, to bring people together around music and a festive atmosphere.
• Immersive entertainment: event casino, virtual reality, murder party, offering an original and participatory experience.
Mixing these formats helps to add rhythm, involve guests and guarantee a memorable atmosphere at each event.

How to liven up a party?

To create an unforgettable atmosphere, diversity and spontaneity are essential. A festive playlist or a live musician instantly sets the mood. Interactive games, like a quiz or a music quiz, encourage conviviality and team spirit. Creative activities, such as a cocktail workshop, a photo booth, or a live artistic performance, add a personalized touch. Providing spaces for conversation or dancing ensures a variety of activities. The goal is simple: to encourage laughter and participation, and to ensure everyone leaves with genuine memories, all thanks to a well-planned evening.

What are the best ideas for original entertainment for a company party?

To break away from the usual corporate events, the casino night offers a chic and appealing experience, a personalized murder mystery party fosters team cohesion, and a digital magician creates a truly memorable and impressive experience. Virtual graffiti invites each team to leave their mark, while escape games and creative workshops strengthen team spirit. Interactive formats, such as a connected photo booth or a live music quiz, energize the event while building connections between colleagues. These original activities offer a memorable experience, suitable for all audiences, and make every corporate event a unique and unifying occasion.

What game should I play in the evening?

A music quiz, a music quiz with a cult-themed twist, or a giant board game tournament guarantees laughter and friendly competition. For an immersive touch, a murder mystery party or a team escape game is always a hit. Cooking workshops, artistic challenges like virtual graffiti, or immersive karaoke add a unique element. Ideally, the game should be chosen according to the group, the occasion, and the desired atmosphere to ensure participation and foster a convivial spirit. With a good selection of games, the event naturally comes to life!

How to have a successful party?

A successful evening hinges on a warm welcome, a great musical atmosphere, a variety of entertainment, and engaging interactions. A photo booth, an interactive quiz, or a creative workshop punctuates the evening, while moments of sharing over cocktails or a buffet allow everyone to fully enjoy themselves. Attention to detail, from the theme to the decorations, fosters immersion and engagement. The secret lies in alternating activities and the ability to surprise, ensuring that each guest leaves wanting to relive the experience. The result: an unforgettable evening.