How to Choose Entertainment for a Corporate Event: A Decision Guide

Start with the event goal, not the catalogue

The most common mistake is picking a programme because it caught your eye in a catalogue. A better question is: what should guests take away from the event, and what role will the programme play in that? A programme that does not serve the goal feels like an add-on, even if it is good in itself.

A simple test helps: try finishing the sentence "We will be happy after the event if…". An answer like "people from different departments meet each other" leads somewhere else than "we have plenty of photos and videos of the new product".

For most corporate events, the goal fits one of four intentions. Once you name it, your choice narrows considerably.

• Opening and attention on stage – conferences, gala evenings, award ceremonies.
• Meeting and interacting with guests – parties, networking, company days.
• Booth traffic – trade fairs, exhibitions, shopping centre events.
• Content for photos and video – product launches, branch openings, social media events.

Matching the programme type to the goal

Once you know the intention, you can match a format to it. Robot programmes show well how the same "lead performer" can be used in completely different ways depending on what the event needs to achieve.

1. You want a strong start

   Robot opening: a single scripted act tied to the host, music and lighting that focuses the whole room on the stage.

2. You want to engage guests

   Robot among guests: in agreed time slots it welcomes guests and poses for photos, with breaks between appearances.

3. You want to fill the dance floor

   Robot dance show: short dance appearances among guests, on stage or together with a DJ and dancers.

4. You want people at your booth

   Robot at the booth: short, repeated demonstrations draw visitors in and hand them over to your sales team.

5. You want to unveil a product

   Product premiere with a robot: an entrance following your brand script, with every action involving the product tested at rehearsal.

6. You want a headline act

   Robot stage show: the robot as the main act of the programme, optionally with other performers.

7. You have several stops

   Robot roadshow: a repeated programme for a retail network or festival partners, with planned logistics and buffers.

Audience: who is the programme for?

The same programme works differently at a professional conference and at a family day. Think about who will attend, how long they will stay and what mood they will be in.

A professional audience appreciates a short, precisely timed act that does not disrupt the content – for example an opening, or an appearance after a break that brings attention back to the room. A party or ball leaves room for fun and dancing. At a company family day, photos and appearances spread throughout the day work well. At a trade fair, visitors are passing by, so the programme has to catch their attention within seconds and quickly hand over to a sales representative.

Venue and technical set-up: what the space can handle

The programme has to fit the venue, not the other way round. Before choosing, find out what stage, sound and lighting the venue offers and how performers can get into the room.

For a robot programme, the team always checks for a flat, firm surface at the performance spot and along the access route, open space around the robot so guests can keep a safe distance, and a backstage area with power for preparation. Stairs, ramps, narrow passages and outdoor areas are assessed by the production team in advance. At a trade fair, the rules of the specific hall may restrict movement outside the booth. Knowing these conditions before you choose saves you disappointment.

Schedule: when to place the programme

A programme placed at the wrong moment gets lost. When choosing, think straight away about where it belongs in the course of the event and what will come before it.

Proven moments are guest arrival, the opening, the return after a break or dinner, the main surprise of the evening and the announcement of results. Keep in mind that a robot does not perform continuously – the programme consists of short appearances with breaks, while the crew stays on site for the whole agreed time window. If you need an all-day presence, for example at a trade fair, the operating and break plan is designed around the booked window.

Budget: aligning the idea with the possibilities

Budget is the last filter, not the first. If you start with the price, you can easily end up with a programme that does not serve the goal. If you start with the goal, you can adapt the scope to the budget.

For a robot programme, the price depends mainly on how long the crew is present, the number of appearances and robots, script preparation and rehearsal, the location and transport. Pricing is therefore always quoted individually. If you have a limit, mention it in your inquiry – the scope can be adjusted, for example with fewer appearances or a shorter crew time window, rather than sacrificing the goal of the event.

Send a no-obligation inquiry

You do not need to have everything decided. Describe the goal of your event in an inquiry via the English site and we will recommend a suitable format. RobotShow prepares programmes for events across the Czech Republic, and events abroad are handled individually.

When you have a clearer picture, include the type of event, the date or period, the city and the key moment. The production team checks the on-site conditions and sends a proposed running order with a quote that lists the programme, crew attendance, transport and extras separately.