Entertainment has become far more than an agenda add-on for meetings and events. Instead, planners see it as a strategic tool for creating memorable experiences, fostering meaningful connections, and reinforcing brand and conference messaging. As expectations shift toward engaging programming, Colorado’s signature blend of creativity and homegrown talent offers fresh opportunities to elevate events.
Colorado Meetings + Events connected with three Denver-based companies that help groups dial in entertainment options to find out more.
“Clients do not want ‘off the shelf’ [entertainment] anymore,” emphasizes Kylie Inglee, national director of accounts for Denver-based Imprint Events Group. “They want custom-tailored ideas that get their attendees talking and generate a buzz after the program.” For example, she says, some groups incorporate brand and conference messaging using gamification features like e-trivia, cus-tom scavenger hunts, and game boards that guide participants to visit activations and unlock a prize or gifting opportunity.
Meeting planners also seek hybrid experiences that combine artistry, technology, and personalization. “Whether it’s a laser-engraved gift, cirque performance, or Colorado-themed activation, planners want entertainment that creates connection and leaves guests with something to talk about long after the event ends,” shares Terri Fisher, president and owner of Denver-based 5 Star Talent and Entertainment. “They are requesting authentic, locally based, and culturally meaningful experiences that highlight Colorado’s identity.”
Planners might wonder whether to book a national act or one based closer to home. National acts frequently are hired for high-end charity events and major public celebrations, while Colorado’s “strong and diverse talent pool is in demand for receptions, activations, and ongoing programming,” Fisher says. “Many planners blend the two: a national act for the main moment and Colorado talent for the rest of the event. I also have seen charity events cut back to local acts to save their dollars for the purposes of their fundraisers.”
Denver-based Ignight Entertainment’s clients typically seek “headliner energy at the local level,” says Ignight’s co-owner Amber Handby. “They want seamless experiences that all work together to provide a fun time. When the lighting, art-istry, bespoke performances, and dance floor all are connected, it creates the energy planners and clients seek.”
Budget is a key factor in determining who to book. Fisher compares event budgets to the stock market: They rise and fall due to various circumstances. Currently, budgets are trending upward, she says, adding, “Groups prioritize experiential elements and want entertainment that creates connection, energy, and memorable moments. As expectations continue to rise for immersive experiences, plannersallocate more toward entertainment, production, and attendee engagement.”
Yet, booking windows are shrinking. “I have seen a noticeable increase in very late entertainment requests, sometimes with only 48-hours’ notice,” Fisher says. “This happened several times since the beginning of this year, [which is] more than in previous years.”
Some of the most in-demand entertainment types include Western-themed shows, bluegrass music, dueling pianos, and DJ sets, along with living statues, mobile hat bars, engraving, mixology activations, and all types of cirque performers, Fisher notes. “For sales team meetings and team building, motivational speed painters, drumline openers, mentalists, vocal groups, and interactive games work well,” she says.
Among the services on Ignight Entertainment’s hot list are synchronized light shows with DJ Ignight, Electric Heart DJ Band performances, and high-end costuming that jives with the event theme. For Colorado-centric entertainment requests, Ignight combines elements such as its bolo tie bars, electronic DJ sets with country remixes, cowboy and cowgirl greeters decked out in shimmery gold outfits, and LED dance floors.
What’s new and trending in the event entertainment world? Groups are amalgamating entertainment into many elements of the attendee experience while traveling, Inglee says. “Entertainment is no longer reserved for just the event itself. We had several clients integrate entertainment into their invite, ‘know before you go’ documents, airport transfers, and registration areas to hint at the overall experience awaiting them.”
There also are innovative twists on timeless entertainment options, Inglee notes. For example, clients still want DJs, but they also incorporate live-sync technology and a few instrumental musicians alongside the DJ. Instead of traditional caricature, groups embrace fashion industry-style and watercolor artists to depict attendees on-site. “We expanded our immersive offerings with additional synchronized lighting experiences and added many programs to our DJ sets, including tempo-synced light shows with our LED dance floors, lasers, and concert lighting,” Handby adds.
Expanded offerings from 5 Star Talent and Entertainment include “experiential and hands-on activations that go beyond traditional entertainment,” Fisher says. Personalized engraving on water bottles and other branded items, wood-burned coasters created on-site, glam stations, ax throwing, large-scale yard and arcade games, and 360 and traditional photo booths are among the latest additions.
Photography has evolved from being an event staple to an entertainment opportunity. “Artificial intelligence enhancements make it more of an interactive experience than a one-and-done, and sizzle reels after the program are huge hits with clients for internal use, return on investment on client engagement, and marketing,” Inglee says. “Anything the [attendee] can walk away with—permanent jewelry, actual tattoos, and live-action engravable [items]—tend to show up documented on social media, and many clients are after just that.”
