We pride ourselves in being able to offer team building events, energisers and ice breakers in any location and type of venue. While most of the time we find ourselves in an ivy-covered stately home, shiny conference centre or a city hotel, occasionally we have to deal with more challenging and unique settings!
Last week, we had a Crashing Waiters event with a difference. As usual, we arrived at the venue long before the dinner guests to go over the format with our client and hide the gift bags of instruments that the guests would ultimately play. When we arrived at the address on an industrial estate, we were rather confused to find ourselves outside a gleaming new warehouse. Confusion turned into disbelief as we walked through the towering metal building, which was full of boxes and forklift trucks. Then, right in the middle of the warehouse, we discovered that a stunning indoor marquee had been erected. Walking inside, we found casino tables, a cocktail bar and a ten-piece band setting up! The room was stunning.
It was marvellous to see the look on the faces of guests as they arrived in elegant evening dresses and dinner jackets to discover a factory that had been converted, for one night only, into an inviting and elaborate setting. We had lots of fun, with all the usual hilarity that comes with our dinner entertainment events.
The event made me think back to some interesting past venues for our team activities. For example, I recalled flying to Edinburgh carrying 12 drums for a team building drumming event in a nearby airport hotel. Once there, the manager of the venue was concerned about possible noise issues with other adjacent meeting rooms. His solution was to offer an unused hotel bedroom! So, the bed was removed, chairs brought in and we delivered an intimate and highly successful activity.
On the subject of drumming, I also recalled a very adventurous client who wanted to hold a team event on two inflatable dinghies, just off the coast of Jersey! Apart from the constant motion and the occasional disappearing horizon, it was a lot of fun.
Unusual venues can provide perfect hiding places for unique experiences. As part of a treasure hunt, we took participants around a number of rural locations to search for map coordinates and clues. One location was a derelict farmyard with a very big barn. What participants didn’t know, but soon found out, was that the barn housed a colossal, and fully operational, flight simulator! In just under 40 minutes, participants were wrestling the controls of a Boeing 747 to land safely at the notorious Hong Kong airport. Moments later, exhausted and shocked by the realism of their experience, participants walked back from the barn into the glaring sun and surrounding countryside, making the experience seem even more surreal.
Whether a client wants a weird and wonderful venue, or a conventional venue with no nonsense, we find that adaptability and keeping the surprises coming are important ingredients of a successful event. For more information about any of our events, or for ideas of interesting and unique venues, please Contact Us now.
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