Years ago shortly after I started my entertainment company, I heard about a "Battle of the Bands" corporate event featuring two of the top 10 show bands in the U.S. A few years later, I heard about another corporate event "battle" featuring--surprise--the same two bands with the same result. A lot of lucky, happy corporate employees and management at these two events!
You don't hear much about this kind of event today because they rarely happen with companies cutting back and (I think) foolish concerns about "partying while Rome burns"! But a "Battle of the Bands" event is no less exciting and impressive today than it was ten or fifteen years ago.
Some would ask, "Why double your entertainment cost when you can get by with one band only?" and of course, that is a solid argument against having a "Battle of the Bands". The answer of course is, "For those wanting to do something 'out of the box', something unique and something special!"
There is, in my opinion, one way to do such a unique and rare event and that is to do exactly as those companies back in 1999 and 2002 did--hire two of the very best show bands in the U.S., have a massive two-stage set with a large dance floor surrounding both complete with two sets of truss lighting (with moving lights and lasers) and finish the set-up with flown line array speakers (hung from the ceiling for maximum sound dispersal). This way, all the guest clanking of plates and conversation ("din") won't interfere with the band audio (You most often see/hear this sound system used at trade shows where the producers want the music heard throughout the convention center). An first-rate emcee is "a must" for an event like this, introducing each band and directing guests to voting for their favorite band at the end of the evening.
One band plays a 45-minute or hour-long set bringing some guests to the dance floor, then as they finish, the lights go out on their stage as the neighboring stage lights up with the competitor band starting its 45-minute set without missing a beat (A 90-minute dance set is usually long enough for the most avid dance couples). A brief interlude follows the two band sets so the guests can chat and the wait staff can clear the tables, etc. The two bands share another 90-minute set each giving guests a chance to dance some more and gauge each band's talent.
Upon returning to their tables, the guests find voting cards asking them which band was "the best". After marking their selection, the cards are picked up by wait staff and tabulated by the CEO's assistants. He/she announces the winning band which plays one final cover. The "Battle of the Bands" winner is awarded either a cash prize, round trip airfares to Hawaii or something similar and the event comes to a close.
Today, there are a limited number of quality Las Vegas show bands in America to select for themed events. I call them "Las Vegas show bands" because they perform mostly at Las Vegas corporate events and because these performances often feature a change of costumes and some feature choreographed front lines. One of these groups features a string trio in their 12-piece and larger versions giving a nice "undercurrent" to rock and pop ballads and to Motown covers such as "My Girl". They are "a must" for ELO's hits such as "It's A Livin' Thing".
A "Battle of the Bands" extravaganza... a corporate event to remember!
