We are experts at enhancing your event to make it memorable, immersive, and FUN for all guests. Whether it be a birthday party, wedding, fundraiser, corporate party, or anniversary celebration, adding interactive elements is a simple way to make your event feel more luxurious. As event planners in Chicago, we have helped produce many amazing and unique celebrations. Here are a few ideas we have seen that will make your event super exciting.

Dancers

Have guests be amazed by dancers at your event! You can have them as go-go dancers to keep the dance floor alive, have them perform as a flashmob to surprise guests, or have them as backup dancers for a surprise moment for your partner. We’ve had events with tap dancers, Brazilian samba dancers, dancers on stilts, burlesque performers, dancers in drag, and even some sparkly jazz dancers. You can have it personalized to your event’s theme or have it represent a personal interest—E.G. you have tango dancers because you used to be a professional tango dancer.

Musicians

Having live music makes everything feel more interactive and “alive!” You feel the music in your body, and you can show your support to the performing artists directly. Similarly to dancers, you can have an array of styles. You can have a jazz band, folk band, mariachi, string quartet, brass band and more. We’ve had a couple hire a Mongolian performer to play the Morin khuur to celebrate their cultural upbringing, and we even had a gala event hire a gospel choir to surprise guests before dinner. The type of musician can really enhance the atmosphere of your event!

Interactive Escort Cards

If your event requires lots of seating, than you can make the escort cards something more than a piece of paper with a person’s name on it. You can easily transform the card into something much more impressive and memorable! Guest always love something personal like individual letters, or something quirky and practical like scratch off lottery tickets. We even had guests turn escort cards into a picture matching game, personalized macaroons, and even a whole glow-planet installation. The more personalized the cards the more memorable they will be.

Roaming Puppets

If you have a lot of children at your event, want to keep things eerie, or just really love the Muppets, then get some puppeteers to interact with guests. It can be a fun way to greet guests, maybe they give out escort cards/guide guests to the table, or maybe they hand out sweet treats similarly to The Sugar Hole at the Color Club in Chicago. If you love animals but can’t get the real thing at your event, then animal puppets can be an adorable solution! And if you’re producing a more eerie styled Halloween party for example, some creepy looking puppets roaming the party will definitely give guests a spook!

Cigar Bar/Live Cigar Roller

For the Cubans, smokers, or for celebrations themed around a certain time era, a live cigar roller or cigar bar can enhance your event. Not only is it eye-catching for guests, but it can be educational too as the live Roller can share insights on the process. As a bonus, the cigar can work as a guest favor for those that desire one.

(Glow) Dance Floor Props

Everyone loves a dance floor, but having props (especially props that glow) can really elevate the dance floor. You’ll have folks swinging glow sticks to the beat, playfully have sword fights on the dance floor, or capturing some really fun photos with glow crowns or glasses. Props on the dance floor keeps the energy pumping through the night. They also work as fun guest favors for everyone to keep the party going at home.

A Live Tattoo Artist

If you are the adventurous type, you can hire a tattoo artist to come to your event and give guests tattoos. Having a live tattoo artists makes your event quirky, and memorable. Talk about a guest favor that will last a lifetime! Just make sure whomever you hire is a professional artist and brings clean equipment.

Phone Messages (guestbook)

If you want something special for your guest book you can have guests record audio messages on an old phone. Not only does it make the message more personal as they vocally say it live during the event, but it’s a fun memory for yourself to hear later! Guests might have a bit more fun with their messages too knowing its personal and vocal.

Food Trucks

A fun way to keep your celebration interactive is by having a food truck at your event! For a more casual event you can have the truck serve the main course for the meal. If you are more playful, have it become a quirky late-night-bite, or dessert option. There are TONS of food trucks to satisfy any style of meal or treat. You can typically have a food truck parked outside the venue, or most larger spaces will allow the truck to be driven into the venue. It’s super fun and creates a bit more of a casual-community feel to your event as guests mingle in line.

Themed Food Bars

Maybe you’re a fan of type of food or cocktail, and you really want your guests to enjoy it too. Host up a bar for this specific option. We have had Martini bars, bruschetta bars, bubble-tea bars, ice-cream sundae bars, taco bars, etc. It’s a simple way to make meals more interactive for guests since they get to create their own version of what you’re offering. It makes a fun late night option, a quirky cocktail hour option, or can even help with crowd control if you have multiple stations.

Arcade Games

If you’re having an 80’s themed event, a nostalgic celebration, or you’re a person who loves games then don’t hesitate to rent out some arcade games! They make for great cocktail hour entertainment. In the same realm you can rent pinball machines, or game systems like game cube. Maybe you even have some fun competitions with your guests like “highest score” or “Super Smash Bro Brawl.” This is a perfect way to please that inner-child.

Photo Booth

A classic way to add an immersive element is with a photo booth. You can capture silly photos with friends and family, and have either a digital or printed copy to share. Fun props can also be used to support the theme of your event, and potentially enhance any silliness. Gives guests an option of something to do if they need a slight break from the dance floor.

Karaoke

If you aren’t into having a classic dance floor, you can host karaoke instead.! Have guests enjoy belting out some of their favorite pop, rock, or musical theatre tracks. Karaoke might even get the whole room to sing along, or might even get some of those more introverted ones to join. Some DJs might have this included in some of their packages!

Roaming MagicianS

A fun magical way to excite and surprise guests during your event is by having a close up magician perform tricks during cocktail hour. Guests will gasp, question reality, and laugh at some of the close up illusions they can’t explain. It’s perfect for any events that have a bit of “razzle-dazzle” in their theme.

Live Artists

Having a live artist capture moments during your event is such a memorable enhancement. You can have an artist paint a live moment during your event, or maybe you have someone create guest portraits as keepsakes. The best part is you can have different styles of art! You can find someone who creates cutesy doodles in pencil, someone who creates comical caricatures in marker, or someone that creates more luxurious portraits in water color. The world is filled with artists so you can find one that fits your aesthetic.

Moving Statues

Add an element of luxury to your event with moving statues. Guests will do a double-take as the statues appear to shift and move. You can have the performers represent statues, or in a similar vain have moving greenery, or “bushes” that serve cocktails, or lampshades that appear to dance. Having moving “inanimate objects” is fun treat that adds a level of elegance to any event!

Fortune cookies with tasks

A Creative thing to keep guests entertained during cocktail hour is with lil games and tasks in a fortune cookie, and escort card, or other keepsake for your guests. The task can include “take a photo of ____” or “find someone with the same name.” It’s a way to get guests mingling, capturing candid moments for you, or maybe even doing some silly activities. This will get guests chatting and engaged and they will remember your event for a long time.

Aerialists

If the venue has strong support beams in the ceiling you can have aerial performers daazzle the venue. Not only will guests be amazed by the talent and sights, but it brings new heights in your decor. There are some services that have aerialists serve drinks to guests from the hanging ribbons.

Yard/Carnival Games

For the more casual events, yard games are a perfect way to keep guests entertained. If you are having an outdoor wedding than set up some large tic-tac-toe, some corn hole boards, or even some large Jenga. Guests can mingle with friends or new acquaintances, and mini competitions will spark out.

LED Performers

Light up the dance floor with LED performers. We have had events with LED robots, LED instruments, and even LED Samba dancers. It surprises guests and brings a whole new energy to the dance floor!

You really can get as creative as you want to make your event interactive and memorable. If you have other ideas don’t hesitate to reach out. We can handle a request as niche or as grand you desire!

DO YOU HAVE A BOLD VISION FOR YOUR WEDDING?

Fierce Productions is a Chicago based event planning company specializing in curating unique, bold, non-traditional weddings and events. Our talented team of professionals can handle all of your event needs including planning and coordination, design and styling, vendor and talent management, fundraising, marketing support and beyond - get in touch to learn more!

Interactive Elements to Enhance Your Next Event