Company Picnic Planners Guide!
If you are planning a company picnic, here are a few pointers to help you:
The number one pointer we have is to call us. Our professional Company Picnic planners can just take over the whole project- which for larger groups can be a huge relief. This leaves your organization running smoothly and concentrating on your core competencies- meaning increased profits, and a much better party budget!
Here is a basic company picnic planning guide one of our professional picnic planners wrote years ago:
Why is a Company Picnic Good Business?
In today’s economy, employee retention is a must for those firms who want to keep costs down- a company picnic is a great gesture to show your staff longevity of your firm and it’s commitment to family. Besides, that a picnic has other added benefits.
# Build Company Morale
# Show Appreciation for Employees
# Emphasize the Company’s Commitment to the Employee and Their Family
# Encourage Employee Interaction
# Strengthen Teamwork
# Stress Reduction
The company picnic is an important part of any successful business.
These events can be a great morale booster for employees. It gives them a chance to mingle, relax and “let down their hair.” At many organizations, the company picnic is a time honored tradition.
A well organized picnic can help integrate employees with each other.
Company picnics may be arranged for companies with only a few employees or several thousands of employees. The picnic can be company-wide event and individual departments can choose to have their own departmental picnic.
BEING PART OF A TEAM: The best part of having a company picnic is the opportunity to show your employees how much you value their contribution. It lets them know they’re an important part of a team effort. And that means increased camaraderie and renewed trust, which can lead to increased productivity.
YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE WORKED HARD ALL YEAR- DON’T YOU OWE THEM THE BEST IN PICNIC ENTERTAINMENT???
Things to think about!
1) You need to decide what you want your picnic to be and how much you want to spend. Yup that means set a budget!
And as with any event, you also want to keep the needs and tastes of your attendees paramount. You will also want to allow yourself sufficient time to book, scout, and arrange the perfect location for your event.
You’ll need to plan your food and beverages, and activities and entertainment.
You want to have time so you can notify your employees well enough ahead of time so they can plan to be there! Don’t forget that your employees, typically those with families- have their own busy lives, and giving them enough notice to show up, may determine the ultimate success of your event!
When do you want to hold your company picnic?
There are pros and cons to weekday picnics versus weekend picnics. Company picnics held during a workday will ensure a greater attendance for employees. After all, your staff would be in the office anyway. The parks, picnic locations, and entertainment selections are less likely to be booked. And, you don’t cut into your employee’s precious personal time.
But if family members are invited, a spouse may have to take a vacation day from their own job to attend. And if you are planning during a time when school is in session- you may run into some major problems.
Where do you want to have your company picnic?
Company Picnics can take place under a tent in the company’s parking lot, but offsite venues can make people feel more relaxed. The great thing about Encore NW is that we can arrange your event to be anywhere! We are 100% mobile.
An excellent option to consider is a venue that is set up especially for the company picnic. Generally these picnic parks come set up with in-house catering, and lots of games and activities for the big and smaller kids. At Encore NW we have existing relationships with many great locations, and may be able to help you find the location to meet your needs!
Because picnics tend to be outdoors, you’ll want to have a Plan B in the case of rain. A tent with walls or access to on-site building facilities is one option, a raindate is another. Keep in mind that if you opt for a raindate it means we will need to reserve two dates for you (and turn down engagements for the second date)
FOOD! FOOD! FOOD!
If you choose to have the event catered, you don’t have to worry about preparation or cleanup. The wonderful thing about picnic fare is that it can be very simple if you choose. Hot dogs and hamburgers are still the most popular dishes at picnics. But our caterers can design many food selections for your event!
Keep the menu flexible enough to accommodate those with special needs. In today’s world many people are vegetarians. Muslims and Jews may not wish to eat pork. So having at least one non-pork and non-meat option is an excellent idea. If your picnic has a theme, your menu can reflect that.
Decide whether you want to permit alcoholic beverages. If so, make sure there is a way to ensure that anyone who drinks a bit too much makes it home safely. How many activities or attractions?
Companies often choose to go all out on thier picnics, they like to provide all kinds of games, activities, and entertainment- to be sure that thier employees have a good time. Depending on the size of your group we are able to design the perfect rides package to meet your needs.
It is our goal to insure that your guests will not be bored at your event!
We have the materials and the knowledge bank to make your picnic the best it has ever been.
When planning interactive games- it is sometimes best to make sure there will be enough people to watch and to participate. One of the things that adds to games like Sumo Wrestling, Rockem Sockem, Bouncy Boxing, or Entanglement is the spectators. There is nothing like being there to witness Edith from Human resources sumo slam Barry from accounting!
Call the office today and we will work out the best selection of entertainment and activities for your event!
Do have age appropriate activities and games
Some ideas are caricature artists, fortune tellers, magicians, face painters for the kids, DJ’s, Karaoke, clowns, balloonists, etc… We can arrange any of these sorts of things for your event. In addition, we offer a full selection of rides and attractions designed for these types of events.
Our clowns can run Field Games, Egg Tosses, Water Balloon tosses, tug-o-wars and many other activities. We will work to make sure that your employees are involved in your event.
Door Prizes
Door prizes are a cherished company picnic idea at many firms. Door prizes work both as employee appreciation and an incentive for the employees to linger until the event is over! Prizes range from a certificate good for a dinner for two at a local restaurant, gift certificate at a local department store, a day off with pay, tv’s, VCR’s, and even a free vacation. Use your imagination- what is something that you know your guests will appreciate?
Also when thinking of door prizes- you need to decide who will get the opportunity to win a door prize. Some people choose to have the door prizes available to employees only, others to employees and thier spouses, other people choose to have a separate drawing for kids!
Do you want to have a theme?
A theme can make it easier to organize food and activities.
OR – you can just call us- we do this all the time!