Corporate Entertainment Ideas - 7 Tips on How to Book the Right Corporate Event Entertainment

A Good Fit - The Audience:
While all people like to be entertained, there are differences of opinions as to what is entertaining. True, as the old saying goes, "The quickest way to fail is to try to please everyone," you can still please the majority. To do that, look at your audience and determine what kind of entertainment they would actually pay to see. Consider the overall demographics of your group. For example: If you have an international group, a comedian may not be effective, unless that comedian knows how to work in front of that type of audience.

Stage, Lights and Sound - The Set-Up:
Make sure that your talent has the proper staging to deliver his or her act. If using a talent like a comedian or magician, keep the audience close to the stage. For these acts, placing the audience at a distance from the performer is an obstacle, as are any walls or building posts that may impede on views. Adequate sound and lighting that will meet the needs of your entertainment is critical. Finally, do not have your talent perform while your group is eating. That is distracting for the talent, as well as the audience.

This Ain't HBO - Keep It Clean:
The corporate entertainer that you hire must be able to work clean. That means no offensive language, etc.

Show and Tell - View the Demo:
By viewing the corporate entertainer's video, you will see whether or not he or she would be a fit for your group. Notice what other companies have hired that entertainer as their corporate event entertainment. Many entertainers will place logos on their sites "suggesting" they have worked for those companies, but they have no testimonials - written or video - to back up that work. The entertainer's site should provide real testimonials - preferably video testimonials - and those testimonials should back up the majority of the companies for which the entertainer states he or she has worked.

Need to Speak - Conference Call:
Schedule a conference call with the act - not the agent. Unless you are hiring a "big name," then you should be able to speak with the talent, prior to booking. Usually, the agent will also be on the call, which is fine. During that call, never talk about fees, just keep it to what you would like the talent to provide and gauge their response to your requests.

Don't Forget Us - Customization:
The corporate entertainer should be able to customize his or her presentation to include some key messaging that you want your group to hear. Obviously, if you're booking a band, that is not the case. I'm speaking about comedians, corporate magicians and mentalists, jugglers, etc. These talents should be able to incorporate some messaging into their presentations. For customer appreciation events the messaging may be lighter than for a sales group or maybe not. If the talent has corporate experience (and why would you hire that person if they didn't?) during your conference call, ask their opinion.

The Check Is in the Mail - Pay on Time:
Most corporate event entertainment providers are self-employed. They require a deposit and then timely payment on the remainder. Don't treat the talent like an employee or even a vendor that may supply product to your company. Your employees get paid on time - with benefits - and the vendors usually work with companies that pay them on time with benefits. You like to be paid on time... and so does the talent.

These are just a few corporate event entertainment ideas that will allow you to provide the right type of entertainment at your next meeting. View my corporate entertainer site to find out what I provide or my corporate event entertainment site.

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10 Tips for Young People Looking for Work

In the current climate, how do young people go about finding employment?

Two of the biggest issues I have come across are that many young people expect to be given whatever they want and they demand instant success. In reality neither of these outcomes are likely but the media continues to push an instant everything, buy now pay later culture which many young people have been brought up to believe is reality.

Employers know that young people can provide them with the raw materials they need to grow their businesses but don't like cockiness, over-confidence and "the world owes me" attitudes which makes them reluctant to spend the time, effort and money in training and development.

In addition, young people need to step away from the "instant success - instant gratification" culture encouraged by the media and advertisers and realise that success comes from providing genuine value to others along with hard, hard work!

With this in mind here are 10 top tips if you are a young person looking to find work:

1. Plan What You Want

If you want to get from where you are right now to your favourite holiday destination you have to plan your journey. If you don't know where you want to go you can't possibly know how to get there and you can't plan your route.

Life is exactly the same.

If you know where you want to be in the next few weeks, months or even years then you can plan the steps necessary to get there, you can then take action and move yourself in the right direction. Life might throw you off track or provide unexpected options from time-to-time but ultimately it is those who know what we want and take massive action to get there that will achieve our desired results.

If you don't know where you want to be it is impossible to plan your journey and you will wander around aimlessly and end up doing anything just for the sake of it - and you will likely do this for the rest of your career!

So spend time thinking about what you want to do with your life, what your ambitions are, and what you truly desire. Remember as well that money should not be the goal. Money is the result of success; success is not the result of money.

2. Job Seeking AS a Job

One of the best ways to approach finding work is to look at getting a job AS a job. Work hard and consistently at finding work, learn what you need to learn, do what you need to do to get yourself ready for work - preparation is essential to success.

Focus your efforts every single day - get up early and get ready as if you already have a job. Spend time each day thinking about your "job", research potential employers, search for vacancies, find out what skills and qualifications are being sought for the types of role you are looking for, hone your CV, apply for jobs, seek feedback on your applications, learn from the feedback and repeat the process applying what you have learned.

Don't allow yourself to become disheartened - persistence is key, remember that success is permanent but failure is only temporary.

3. Get Your CV in Order

Your CV is your sales brochure. It needs to project the right image but you only have 30 seconds to impress. It is therefore essential that you put as much care and attention into it as possible. It should be neatly typed, easy to read and navigate, have clear sections including "Work Experience", "Education", "Qualifications" and a description of you as a person.

It is absolutely VITAL that your CV does not contain spelling mistakes (there's no excuse in this day and age with spell checking software) and that your grammar, punctuation and language are all correct.

If you struggle with your writing get some help because you only have 1 chance for your CV to impress and even small errors will put off the majority of employers looking at potentially hundreds of CVs for each role.

4. Learn to Communicate

Communication isn't just about chatting on the phone, texting or Facebook. Communication is essential if you want to come across in a positive way should you get to interview.

Sullen or poorly phrased answers to questions - yeah, no, dunno, maybe, ugh etc. - might work with your mates or your parents but don't work in an interview.

If you're not good communicating with people in tense situations find someone you trust and respect and have them take you through a number of mock interviews, ask you difficult questions and put pressure on you until you can communicate effectively.

5. Dress to Impress

If you are fortunate enough to get an interview then you need to dress to impress. Seriously!

Turning up to any interview dressed as smart as possible - shirt and tie or blouse; suit if possible but trousers or skirt if not; proper shoes - will impress any employer and may be a minimum requirement for the role. It also shows you respect the person interviewing you and the company you are interviewing for.

Wearing the clothes you wear all day, every day will not impress anyone and will very likely harm your chances of landing a job.

6. Do Your Homework

I know the term homework probably brings you out in a cold sweat and may have been the kind of thing done on the way into school but it can make the difference between success and failure at an interview and these days it couldn't be easier.

As a minimum research the company you are hoping to work for. Visit their web page, Google their name, find out what they do, who their customers and clients are, what kind of working environment you can expect, what type of work you'll be doing. You might be asked questions about the organisation at interview and if not it gives you a basis for asking your own questions which could impress the interviewer.

7. Get Some Experience

Sometimes it is simply not possible for you to go from where you are now to where you want to be without gaining some experience. This could be in the form of working jobs you hadn't thought about, performing tasks you don't like or even completely changing direction.

If this is the case, you need to look at how you can gain relevant skills and experience. It might mean making short-term sacrifices for long-term gains, relocating, retraining, doing something you don't like doing or you find boring for a while until you have the skills you need.

It also reduces the gaps on your CV and makes you more employable.

Employers will nearly always prefer candidates who have consistently been working, even in different, unrelated roles to candidates who have a patchy or even non-existent work experience history.

8. Think Outside of the Box

If you implement all of the steps above but still can't find work then you need to start thinking differently.

It is really easy to get despondent when looking for work, especially when you rarely interact directly with potential employers, spend vast amounts of time sending off your applications never to hear anything again, and face constant rejection.

In this case you need to look at alternative approaches.

If you have no experience or need to work in a specific area in order to get into your dream job why not look at options for voluntary work in the sector or a related area? Many organisations such as charities and social enterprises are on the lookout for volunteers and may provide you with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in your chosen field.

Alternatively, why not try an unusual but memorable approach to an organisation you would like to work for - turn up at reception in your best interview clothes with your CV in-hand and ask for work. If nobody will talk to you go back every day - having determination and consistency is a hugely attractive trait to many employers (although it's important to not be seen as a pest!).

9. Always Turn Up On-Time

All too often, young people seem to think that work is something that isn't important and that they don't need to put the effort in if they don't want to.

This is often compounded by the approach of parents and schools where taking a sick day isn't so bad as long as you don't tot up too many in a term.

In a professional work environment this is totally different. It is expected that you will turn up on-time, every time. In fact your employer banks on it in order to perform effectively and efficiently.

If you decide to take a "sicky" that is fine as long as you are genuinely ill. But if it is because you can't be bothered, you had "one too many" the night before, or it's a Monday then you are letting yourself and your employer down and it will reflect on you personally.

However, if you put in the effort, turn up on-time every day even when you are ill, it will impress your boss and will ensure you are seen in a positive light, and probably help you gain a pay rise or land a promotion ahead of the "slackers".

10. Work Hard

Whatever your chosen field, once you land a job you need to ensure you do everything you can to first keep it, and then progress along your chosen career.

The best way to accomplish this is to work hard, be eager to learn and always do the best you can.

It is all too easy to stop once you have landed your job and then expect that you will get annual pay increases and promotions when you are "next in line".

The fact is that in the modern working environment, it is usually the people who look to improve themselves, who give more than is expected and who deliver real value to their employer that will gain in terms of pay and promotion.

Gone are the days when length of service alone guaranteed anything other than a gold watch on retirement.

P Lynch is a founder of Secure Success - an online resource for all things related to personal improvement, professional development, financial security and business success.

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NASCAR Race Track Experience

For the diehard NASCAR fans, we know that the sounds and roar of the engines and the air as these cars race by is something you cannot get at home, even with a large screen plasma HDTV. The vibrational energy at a NASCAR event is unbelievable and we should use this energy to light up the Race Track utilizing this energy. How so you ask?

By lining the race track walls with special sheets and placing these large 4' X 8' sandwich sheets with a taunt film on the vibrational side and small copper lined tubes; hundreds of these tubes running perpendicular to the sheets, with magnets inside bouncing back and forth. These magnets will charge a capacitor and be hooked up to an LED lighting system using fiber optics or reflectors, each one hooked up to a .2 to .5 watt light. With hundreds of thousands of lights hooked up in a composite format it will light up the racetrack without the light pollution associated with streetlights, stadium lights or in large cities.

Currently this technology is being used in those little flashlights you see advertised on television that you shake and they light, but you never need batteries. This idea of lighting up the racetrack is using that technology on a larger scale with miniaturized parts making up the guts between the sandwich sheets. Let there be light, through vibrational energy and there was. Think on it.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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A1 Grand Prix

What is A1 Grand Prix?

A1 Grand Prix is the first opportunity in motorsport for nations to compete on a level playing field. The technology is deliberately equalised so performance is determined by human bravery and skill. Team and driver combine to represent their country and compete against other countries.

A1 Grand Prix is a new sport -- The World Cup of Motorsport. Putting driver up against driver and country up against country for the first time ever, A1 Grand Prix (a.k.a. The World Cup of Motorsport), will bring together 25 nations representing 80 per cent of the world's population to compete on a level playing field.

Started as a business venture by Sheikh Maktoum together with some partners, it's turned out to be a mild success so far. Obviously he's hoping for a much better season this year, 2007.

A1 Grand Prix has created a new way for national and international brands to promote themselves to a global market. Through The World Cup of Motorsport they can join forces with their national teams to be part of this unique and brand new sporting event.

What does 'A1' mean?
The name 'A1' encapsulates the two key aspects of the World Cup of Motorsport, unity and excellence.

In most languages, 'A1' is a term used to describe the very best and this is what A1 Grand Prix is all about: the pinnacle of driver skill and national pride combined.

The first ever race was held on the 25th September at Brands Hatch in England, for pictures and the race review click here

Written by the webmaster of All About All Sport [http://www.allaboutallsp

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Formula One Shanghai

Date - Sunday October 16 - Shanghai, China - Fernando Alonso won the Chinese F1 Grand Prix and in doing so has won the constructor's title for Renault after de-throning Michael Schumacher of the driver's championship in September.

Renault finished the season on 191 points with Mclaren-Mercedes coming in second on 182. The past season, 2005, was the longest ever in Formula One history with 19 races and added to this is the fact that Fernando Alonso is the youngest ever FOrmula One World Champion; and guess who his team boss, Flavio Briatore, used to manage? The recently disappointing Michael Schumacher when he used to race for Benetton at the very start of his F1 career, of course. Indeed I have to add that the only sensible explanation for his bad form is the car his driving at the moment which cannot be doing any good for his motivation or confidence. Makes one think about how good a team boss and talent-spotter Flavio Briatore is.

The victory in Shanghai was the 7th for Alonso but this only equalled the number of wins for second place finisher in the race as well as the driver's championship, Kimi Raikkonen. Alonso won this championship because the Renault was that much more reliable and consistent than the Mclaren-Mercedes but Alonso added, "I am a little bit frustrated that I only won seven races...I think the car had the potential to win 10 or 11." Who would have thought a French car would be more reliable than a Merc? And I have no doubt in my mind that this form in Formula One has translated into a worldwide sales increase for Renault.

The race in Shanghai was definitely incident filled with no shortage of entertainment. The Safety Car had to be called out twice; on lap 30 for Narain Karthikeyan's accident in turn 13 in his Jordan, which had a few flames flicking about and also earlier, believe it or not, for 6 laps while marshalls fixed a drain cover that had come loose and ultimately ended Juan Pablo Montoya's race.

Michael Schumacher's race also ended early after he first collided with Felipe Massa in his Sauber on the way to the starting grid and then spinning off while following the Safety Car.

Jordan is no more, at least not in F1. The team has been bought by the Russian-born Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider and will be called Midland from next year onwards. This was their 250th grand prix race in Formula One.

BAR is also out and the outfit will now be wholly owned by Honda and Sauber has been bought by BMW who were previously the engine partners of Williams.

Written by the webmaster of AllAboutAllSport.com, the website for all your sports [http://www.allaboutallsport.com] information.

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Kimi Raikkonen

Date of birth - 17th October 1979

Country - Finland

Team - Mclaren-Mercedes

Kimi Raikkonen did not enter the Formula One scene following the "normal" routes. He began his motorsport endeavours at the age of 11 in national events in Finland.

First in the 1997 and 1998 Finnish and Nordic series in Formula ICA and A championships respectively, Raikkonen had won his maiden international FA race two years before.

Joining Ford team Haywood Racing Kimi took a podium finish on his maiden outing but was later forced to quit the series after technical problems prevented a championship challenge.

Kimi Raikkonen winning the 2000 season British Formula Renault Sport title was what first attracted the attention of the Formula One teams. He took seven wins, ten podiums, seven pole positions and six fastest laps from only ten races. He then went on to impress even more in the category's EuroCup taking two wins, two poles and two fastest laps from only three events (and retired from the lead of the other). Finally Peter Sauber offered Raikkonen a maiden F1 test. With just 23 races under his belt there were naturally serious concerns about Kimi Raikkonen's ability to jump straight from Formula Renault to Formula One but the confident Kimi quickly dispelled any doubts.

2nd in the 2005 championship and the only thing that stopped him was an unreliable car. With a decent car under him he should have been challenging for the championship in 2006, let's see what he can do with a Ferrari in 2007. He's currently in the top 4 and has to fight it out with his driving partner Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso and the hot new rookie Lewis Hamilton.

Written by the Webmaster of AllAboutAllSport.com, the site for all your driver updates and formula one [http://www.allaboutallsport.com/] news.

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Fernando Alonso

Date of Birth - 29th July 1981

Country - Spain

Team - Renault

Fernando Alonso's father built him a kart when he was two years old and he started racing seriously when he was 13 years old. He won the Spanish cadet national kart title in 1994.

In 1996 he won the World Junior Karting title and he continued in karts for another 3 years until he moved into car racing in the Nissan Open series in Spain. He won the title at his first attempt and then moved into Formula 3000 backed by Telefonica.

He raced for Team Astromega, won the race at Spa and finished fourth in the series. He was signed to a management contract by Flavio Briatore and was soon named as a Minardi test driver. In 2001 he became the number one driver for the team.

After an impressive first season Fernando Alonso became the Renault test driver in 2002 with the knowledge that he would move into the race team in 2003. This did happen and he won his first G.P. in August at the Hungary race.

The 2005 and 2006 Formula One Champion and the youngest ever. What's in store for him this year? Well he's currently 2nd in the championship behind his rookie team mate, Lewis Hamilton, and complaining and trying to fight for his position as number one driver at Mclaren Mercedes. He's surely going to have the pressure on him from the not too far behind Ferrari's of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Mass so he's going to try everything possible to keep his title and go for his third championship in a row. We'll just have to wait and let this intriguing championship unfold.

Written by the Webmaster of the website for all your motorsport [http://www.allaboutallsport.com/] updates.

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