Team Building

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From what I understand Team Building is a large part of corporate gigs. I have been told that in order to market them it would be necessary to purchase game equipment. Put together different games and from what I am gathering place department against department.

Does anyone have experience with this?
 
It Could Very Well Be Different In My Case

Carolyn said:
From what I understand Team Building is a large part of corporate gigs.
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Just for the RECORD, I have done a few corporate gigs--banks, department stores, manual labour industries, etc....

My understanding is that Team Building is about the equivalent as interactive games at weddings. Certain DJs do that sort of thing while the others do not.

In other words, if interactive games are a part of your programme as a DJ, then Team Building is a part of your programme, also.

I do not think that Team Building is a default requirement. Nobody has ever asked me to play such games at these events.
 
Asking for it

Carolyn, my experience seconds the comments of VS. Asking anybody to do anything after five, once the second drink has been imbibed is asking for trouble. Yup, the proverbial turd in the punch bowl.

If you are speaking about the company picnic, it might be a completely different matter. The typical after work party for a retirement, service anniversary or holiday is a more reserved horse of another color. The age of the company as well as the age of the typical worker has to be taken into account. Blue chip firms back east are more staid than Silicon Valley startups.

One other thing that I learned about my corporate audience, don't force things. There is a magic hour at which people will dance. Regardless of whether or not everyone is there, no one will dance until the magic interval has elapsed. Just play the background music so people can drink and talk. In my experience, an after work party started (officially) around 5:30. It took a minimum of 60 minutes to get them to the dance floor. More often, it took 90 minutes. Starting the dancing earlier annoyed those that had not enjoyed the dulling properties of the magic elixirs served from the bars. But hey, this was a long time ago and your mileage may vary

After the magic interval, the dance floor was always jammed. No one wanted to go home and usually was a windfall for the local clubs. Companies have to be very careful with deep pockets, open bars and liability. By necessity, the work night parties are limited affairs.

OH! - Almost always there is at least one ballroom dancer in the crowd. Know your samba from your cha cha from your foxtrot or you will be embarrassed. They want to show off those moves to co-workers. You cannot always get away with just playing the most recent popular music. You will not be expected to have every song but if you cannot fill a request for a particular genre your name is Mudd.

Remember, not only are the CEO, VP etc the gods you must satisfy, their secretaries too are divas (goddesses) you must keep happy. In some ways disappointing the CEO's secretary is worse than disappointing the CEO, BELIEVE ME.
 
Thank you BL and V,

I don't think that we are talking about the same thing. As I mentioned before I have done the Holiday parties and I have a couple companies that throw company cookouts during the year. I am speaking of another animal altogether.


What I am referring to is afternoon events in which you go to the corporate office or they rent banquet rooms in the afternoon way before five. Not a party atmosphere. It is supposed to be a work environment that encourages employees to work together by using team building. From what I understand DJ's that specialize in this are earning a really good living.

Have either of you heard of what I'm talking about?
 
Carolyn said:
What I am referring to is afternoon events in which you go to the corporate office or they rent banquet rooms in the afternoon way before five. Not a party atmosphere. It is supposed to be a work environment that encourages employees to work together by using team building. From what I understand DJ's that specialize in this are earning a really good living.

Have either of you heard of what I'm talking about?
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No.

This sounds like a job for a "motivator", a "skills coach" or a counsellor--not exactly a disc jockey.

I have never heard of a "DJ" that does this sort of thing; to me, this sounds like a DJ that also acts as an officiant.

Or, it's just I--I am a DJ for parties...not to encourage people to work harder.
 
Lol, well Vinyl, I think that maybe it is supposed to be a fun way to work. Encouraging everyone to rely on each other.
 
Carolyn said:
Lol, well Vinyl, I think that maybe it is supposed to be a fun way to work. Encouraging everyone to rely on each other.
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:)

Right, but my point is still that I don't consider that in the ordinary realm of "DJ".

This, I believe, is for the "DJ" services that include skits and stuff in their programmes...or entirely DIFFERENT services altogether.

Honestly (and this is slightly off topic, but somewhat related), the more that I see DJs promoting their vaudeville antics and playhouse themes (and, possibly, counselling and motivation seminars), the more upset I become. These people should, indeed, call themselves "entertainers"--and definitely NOT "DJ"s. The very least they can do is say, "I'm a 'DJ', but I am also a 'clown', 'doctor', 'therapist' or whatever.
 
Well this is where we differ in opinion. I think that if a DJ company would like to offer this as an add on they should absolutely be able to include it in their services. I don't see this as being any different than offering services at a wedding reception such as bouquet, garter, ect. Games at a teen or childrens party or karaoke for that matter. I really don't see what the difference is.

I have been doing some research on team building and I have created some team building packages in which I am going to provide as an add on. I went to a seminar about this as another way to generate income to your business.
 
Decisions, decisions

Carolyn, it is obvious that you aren’t really a DJ. We don’t want you to post here anymore.

Is a KJ the same thing as a DJ? No, but it has become a normal part of what most consider the same kind of business.

Until being a good DJ alone guarantees each of us fabulous wealth there will be individuals that seek other income streams. How many wedding DJs add wedding planning to the mix? The additional activity may be tangential to the main focus of being a DJ none the less few would insist on labeling that DJ with a name other than DJ. It is essentially the same business. There are just a few distractions added. Adding them or not adding them is the selling point. More to do or purist, that is a decision for the customer.
 
Thanks BL,

I appreciate the input.

I am going to try out some of the team building this Christmas at company parties. I am hoping that there is a market for it. We shall see.
 
Carolyn said:
Thanks BL,

I appreciate the input.

I am going to try out some of the team building this Christmas at company parties. I am hoping that there is a market for it. We shall see.
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Carolyn:

Please let us know how this turns out for you.

I just got out of the "corporate environment" and from the average employee where I worked, they all hated the "team building" efforts by management.

Maybe their (management) approach was all wrong, or just maybe we being negative about the whole effort. Of course, owners and management thought this was the greatest thing since "sliced bread".... :)

Not trying to be negative about what you are trying to accomplish, and hope that you succeed in your efforts in this venture.

Remember, this is just my biased opinion.

:thumbsup:
 
ballphotodj said:
Carolyn:

Please let us know how this turns out for you.

I just got out of the "corporate environment" and from the average employee where I worked, they all hated the "team building" efforts by management.

Maybe their (management) approach was all wrong, or just maybe we being negative about the whole effort. Of course, owners and management thought this was the greatest thing since "sliced bread".... :)

Not trying to be negative about what you are trying to accomplish, and hope that you succeed in your efforts in this venture.

Remember, this is just my biased opinion.

:thumbsup:
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Thank you Kirby I appreciate the input. I will let you know how it goes.

This is what I am thinking. During the week during the day maybe my equipment can do a little more than collect dust. I think it is worth a shot nothing ventured nothing gained.
 
I have done quite a few team building. yes they are done during work hours and yes I am a dj. Team building can range from all types of stuff. From scavenger hunts to a roll of duct tape, a hanger and 3 ping pong balls and asking the team to come up with a new product. You can research and find all kinds of ideas. Just like a party or wedding reception you must know your client and decide what will work best for their situation. I applaud you for using your talents to expand your service!

Paul
 
I'm on Maui time, takes me awhile to catch up...

Okay, I've done and still do team building,, it is a different animal than the holiday dance party...

Ive used all the games that I would normally use "ie: balloon stuff, relay races, marshmellow building and so on,,,, you just have to present it in a different way.

I sold them before I moved but I had tri-cycles that I used for races. That was fun stuff.

I had each "team" make a team flag 1st, gave them a triangle of cloth, some paint pens, glitter, sequines and had them come up with a name.... Good way to start off...

Mid-week stuff for those DJ's who can do that...
 
The Vinyl Spinner said:
Just for the RECORD, I have done a few corporate gigs--banks, department stores, manual labour industries, etc....

My understanding is that Team Building is about the equivalent as interactive games at weddings. Certain DJs do that sort of thing while the others do not.

In other words, if interactive games are a part of your programme as a DJ, then Team Building is a part of your programme, also.

I do not think that Team Building is a default requirement. Nobody has ever asked me to play such games at these events.
Click to expand...


I have done several also, mainly Companies with 100 Employees or less. Some of the larger Employers will set up for Department Competitions. The Ones I have done have been celebrations of some form or another. What they want is a good time, and if you have some fun interactive games and the situation dictates, then sure I would do it. I think you have to be ready, but play it by ear.
 
Thanks Paul and Chuck for the input much appreciated. So in your opinions what do you think is the most effective/best response team building activity that you use or have used?

Thanks in advance
 
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