Are you planning a small business networking event? So much work goes into small business events; it can be stressful to plan one.
We’ve compiled some tips for throwing an awesome business networking event. The Comedian Company provides business event entertainment for many small businesses across the United States.
Hiring a comedian is an excellent way to ensure your event’s success. Let’s explore how to make your business networking event successful and look at the best entertainment options available.
Tips for Throwing an Awesome Small Business Networking Event
For professional networking events to be successful, there are a few key items you want on your event planning checklist! From event catering to business travel, planning an event is stressful and encompasses many aspects.
To ensure your business networking event is engaging and memorable, choose the right venue and include entertainment, such as comedians, to boost participant interest.
Choose a Strategic Venue
You want to choose the most strategic venue. You need a good location with lots of parking that is easy to find. You also want to make sure that the layout and capacity fit with your event needs.
Universities, hotels, and conference centers are typically the most popular, but you may find something else that suits your needs. You want your event venue to reflect the purpose of your event and, possibly, your business niche.
For example, if you have an herbal or plant-based company, you could choose to hold your event in an outdoor space to reflect your love of nature. The most important thing is to make it easy to find. A remote location may make it difficult for people to find, leading to higher corporate travel expenses and lower attendance.
Use Event Apps and Software
To run a successful business event in the modern age, you need to use event apps and software.
It’s important to have:
- An email service for the event/registration: AWeber, Attendify, Boomset
- Event landing page: Mailchimp, Instapage, Landingi
- Online payment options: (Pre-pay and at the door) Venmo, PayPal, card readers
- Ticketing platforms: Eventbrite
- Engagement apps: Slido, Swapcard, Everwall
- All-in-one event management: Whova, Momice, Cvent
- Event registration software (great for having multiple events): Fonteva, Events Air
You don’t need all of these to have successful business networking events, but they are great ways to keep attendees engaged, keep contact information long-term, and make the logistics run a bit smoother.
Make Sure to Network
Engaging actively with guests can boost your confidence in your networking skills. You’d think this was obvious, but some event planners get so caught up in all the details that they forget to actually meet and greet.
You must get out there, meet people, and learn more about them and what they do. Pass out good old-fashioned business cards to business owners. Probably one of the most important aspects of a business event is mingling with guests.
Promote Your Event
If no one knows about your event, you won’t get many guests. You have to make sure to get the word out about your event.
Post it online on social media platforms, announce it in emails, send it out to your chamber of commerce, and even hand out flyers or mail them. If you have other companies in your niche, ask if they will send a flyer with products to help promote your event.
Choose Fun Entertainment
Choosing fun entertainment may be the most important decision you make when planning an event. If you get a ton of people to your event and then all your guests are bored, people will leave, be less likely to network, and you probably won’t get the outcome you wanted.
Instead, choose killer entertainment and keep your guests having a good time. The right kind of entertainment can actually bring more people to your event.
High-ROI Business Event Entertainment Ideas
Entertainment is essential for a good event. For one, when people are having fun, they are more social, more likely to agree to relationships, try new products, and form new business partnerships. Depending on your event strategy, you are probably looking for at least one of these goals. Let’s look at the best entertainment options for corporate events.
Hire a Comedian
Hiring a comedian is one of the best choices for fun event entertainment. We may be biased, but let’s look at why. For one, laughter equates connections.
When a room full of strangers laughs during a comedy show, they often socialize afterwards, exchanging information, products, and engaging in various networking activities. Laughter facilitates social bonding in group settings,
Secondly, hiring a comedian is a form of universal entertainment. Not everyone will enjoy the same type of music, dancers, or face painting, but pretty much everyone likes to laugh.
Set up a Photo Booth
Photo booths are good for events for a couple of reasons. One, people love fun photo booths and taking pictures for sharing on social media. Two, people are sharing your event on social media. So, set up a photo booth with a little hashtag or two nearby so people can take their fun phones, post it to their socials, and watch your event gain even more attention!
Live Music
Having a live band play at your event can be a really great entertainment choice. Live music helps to keep the atmosphere exciting and also encourages socializing. It certainly beats playing Spotify or XM Radio on some Bluetooth PA speakers.
You can even combine live music with a comedian. This way, you are providing two different types of entertainment, offering something for everyone. The band is like an opening act for the comedian, or the other way around.
Maximize Your ROI from Business Networking Events with The Comedian Company
When hosting a small business event, there are a few key tips that will ensure you have a successful event, no matter your event goals. Choose a good venue, use technology, mingle, promote your event, and ensure you have awesome entertainment for guests.
Hiring a comedian is one of the best forms of event entertainment for sole proprietorships or small businesses that you can have. Make your next event, whether it’s a networking group event or team building, the most successful event of 2026 by hiring a comedian with The Comedian Company.
You let us know when you need a comedian, and we can match you with the perfect corporate comedian for your business networking event. Fill out our form to get started today.