If you’re thinking about your next corporate tech party (and you need to start planning it well in advance) or a special commemorative corporate event, you might want to take a few cues from the tech world. Tech companies have been trying to out-do each other’s parties, dazzle new employees and create reputations of prosperity for themselves through some of the most extravagant events you might imagine.
Here are a few examples to get you inspired for your next event:
1) Google
Pretty much nobody parties more lavishly than Google. From Googlympus (where a five-day set-up produced a Greek-themed multi-tent event where Gods and mortals mingled) to an Indiana Jones-themed party in a Los Angeles theatre, Google parties have included things like thrones sculpted from ice, Cirque performers, hookah lounges and ferris wheels. One Google party for the Android team was held on a U.S. naval vessel and the People’s Operations team had a walk-in snow globe at their Exploratorium.
2) LinkedIn
Many companies have rented San Francisco’s Exploratorium for events including Google and also Yahoo, but LinkedIn’s party in this natural history museum sounds like it takes the cake. The party was themed “Clued In,” a murder-mystery-themed event with a number of jazz bands and dancers, a liquid nitrogen ice cream maker, unlimited sushi and porcelain toilets re-purposed as water fountains–seriously!.
3) Tumblr
The carnival-themed party Tumblr threw at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar included a dive-in ball pit (a shout-out to one of their memes), a neon mini-golf course, cardboard cut-outs of Tumblr-famous bloggers, pool tables and food stands handing out free carnival snacks and tacos. Lookalikes of Drake, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were to be found on the floor posing for selfies in the black-lit party space and the indie band 1975 and Reggie Watts both performed.
4) Twitter
Twitter has hosted a number of fabulous parties including the night they rented out the entire San Francisco City Hall and lit the entire thing in Twitter-blue (apparently it took a team 3.5 hours to put blue filters on the structure’s 212 lights). Apparently it caused something of a political stir—Twitter received millions in tax breaks and many critics found their renting out the tech capitol’s City Hall for a night of champagne a little too symbolic. We guess Twitter was hoping people would just focus on the blue cotton candy served on sparkling blue glow sticks.
5) GoDaddy
This web domain company is known for their provocative Superbowl ads, so it’s not a big surprise that they rented out the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field for their 2011 amusement park themed holiday party complete with carnival rides. This party had a legendary budget of over $4 million with A-list musical acts like Jewel, ZZ Top and George Thorogood and the Destroyers. $1 million was put towards employee cash giveaways determined by the CEO drawing names from a hat. 5,000 people were in attendance, including the infamous GoDaddy Girls. They even flew in out-of-state employees for the festivities!
If you want to host your own fabulous event, take some cues from these tech giants! Create a night to remember for your company and hire David Levin Entertainment (DLE) for high quality entertainment!