Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Company Christmas party and holiday event entertainment planning Useful Tips
The art of booking a party is timeless. Here is an updated checklist.
“Holiday entertainment planning is a serious business – a lot happens behind the scenes, long before the CEO says thanks for a job well-done”, says Incredible BORIS (Boris Cherniak).
Around this time of the year, human resources managers, entertainment committees and company CEOs are asking the age-old question - How do we make our holiday event an affair to remember? After all, we are simply trying to thank the employees, suppliers and their families for a job well done throughout the year. We also want this event to motivate the group to be happy and productive in the future. This is a more difficult task that may appear.
“The people planning functions have an enormous task of fitting into the ever-shrinking budgets while keeping party-goers excited about attending the event,” says Boris Cherniak, corporate event planning professional, comedy hypnotist entertainer and motivational speaker.
Here is a helpful checklist of planning an affair for the holidays (as provided by Boris Cherniak):
1. Budget. Break down all the amounts allocated to each task then you can have a clear view of how much room you have to play. Spend it wisely and know what your limitations are. The old rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. If it appears too inexpensive you may not be getting what you expected. Get the best value possible with the resources you have available. It is easy to spend ANY budget. You may have to make a few sacrifices. What gets eliminated first and what should be kept at any cost? Always keep in mind of what the overall impression by the attendees will be. Leave a lasting impression.
2. Number of people in attendance – estimate the number of people expected at the party. Keep in mind that a small percentage may not attend due to lack of babysitters, illness or vacation.
3. Book the venue - banquet hall, restaurant, company auditorium. Pick a location that is convenient for your group with amenities like transportation, parking, etc.
4. Food and catering – dinner / lunch, drinks or buffet – most halls will offer you different choices of meal options, hors d’oerves, desserts and per person amounts. Make sure there are enough choices for all tastes and food preferences - vegan, chicken, beef or fish...
5. Schedule and timing. It is easy to under-estimate the amount of time a function will take due to many unforeseen circumstances. Factors such as how long the speeches will take, time to bring out the food or attendees arriving late due to a freak snowstorm or traffic. This can change the dynamic of your event - plan accordingly and have a contingency plan.
6. Entertainment – hypnotist, comedian, juggler, psychic, magician, DJ and dancing, party games, or a combination of several of the above. Entertainment is a wonderful way to make your event memorable. Entertainment comes in many budgets and styles. Pick a solution that will not only make the company and event planner look good, but will leave a lasting impression on the attendees. Explore different options best suited to your group. Local or national performers can be considered. Many are available on the web and could be your first place of inquiry. Many agencies have a roster of people they can suggest. Never forget to look within your company for entertainment suggestions and talent (in every company there is a band or a disk jockey that would be more than happy to accommodate your budget and show off their talents). Keep in mind that entertainers are extremely busy during the holiday season – leaving booking your entertainment until the last minute is not a good idea as your date may no longer be available. Expect that at times entertainers will be on a specific time frame - during the holiday season many will have several shows during the day to maximize their earning potential. Note the exact times you require the performers and stick to those times. Some performers even charge for extra hours on site such as DJs so expect to incur extra costs and discuss the amounts beforehand.
7. Sound, lighting, projection equipment and audio visual materials – Have a run-through and make sure everything is in place before your audience arrives so that you don’t have to deal with “technical difficulties”.
8. Accommodations for any out of town guests and transportation to and from the airport and hotels, valet parking or self-park.
9. Taxi cabs for anyone that over-indulges in the open bar concept and to avoid liability.
10. Registration – name cards for your guests, open seating or pre-arranged seating plan.
11. Awards, door prizes and giveaways. Many of these can be donated by your suppliers or provided to you at their cost for your holiday event. It shows good faith, and don’t be surprised if the suppliers return the favor. There are also a large number of companies that specialize in corporate givaways - a little momento of the evening with an imprinted company logo may add a touch of class to your celebration.
12. Party theme and décor – color scheme, chair covers, centerpieces, flowers, ice sculptures. One of the more unique ideas I saw recently was a sports theme, where instead of elegant centerpieces, sports memorabilia was placed in the center of the tables, which was available for the guests to take home – these included running shoes and football helmets.
13. Dress and attire. Let the attendees know what to expect to wear – formal, casual or business attire. We all heard a story of a prank where a person is invited to a pajama party when it’s a formal affair.
14. Invitations or a simple announcement in the company newsletter and bulletin board.
15. Contracts. Commit to the people you will be doing business with, since it usually is done on a first come basis. Halls, performers and caterers have limited availability. Be decisive and direct. Most people will give you a price range that would depend on your choice of options. Many event suppliers will require deposits to commit, which are regularly 50 per cent and are non-refundable.
16. Presentations – keep the speeches brief and to the point. Number of speakers should be kept down to a minimum. After all, people are there to be social and not to be lectured.
17. Everyone wants to have a party on a Saturday. You may find that having an alternate day of the week may greatly reduce your expenses and make it easier to hire entertainment and book your venue. Also, consider having your function early afternoon. A lunch is less expensive than a seven-course dinner.
18. Include a table for the crew, entertainment and other behind-the-scenes people. They, at times forget to eat to make sure your event runs smoothly. Show them the spirit of the holiday season and include them in your celebrations.
19. If your business is busy during the holiday season, consider having your event earlier or later. It should not make a difference if your function is held in November or January instead of December.
20. Have a cell phone handy for any last-minute emergencies the day of your event. If a cell phone is not an option (no signal or simply unavailable), make sure your suppliers have the venue address and phone number.
21. Your function will be attended by people from many walks of life and backgrounds - politically correct term is Holiday Party. Make it chic, memorable and fun. Have people walk away saying - I had a great time, that was incredible.
Happy Holidays.
Comedian Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS for Holiday Party Entertainment
Boris is a comedy stage hypnotist that appears in upwards 300 live performances yearly. He is a frequent talk show guest and delivers a comical point of view to an otherwise serious subject of human behavior and expression. He is a wordsmith comedian, observer and commentator on society quirks, obsessions and stereotypes. Incredible Boris is not just a stage name, but also a way to describe a positive attitude and a constant state of mind.
Boris has been featured on numerous television programs, including Maury, Montel, Howie Mandel Show and many more. Boris’ self-hypnosis Relaxation and Motivation CD is available through his web site or as a giveaway to complement his performance at your company’s function during this holiday season.
The Incredible Boris is an expert in psychology, hypnosis, body language, power of suggestion and human behavior. You can visit him on the net at Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS official site - www.IncredibleBORIS.com
“Holiday entertainment planning is a serious business – a lot happens behind the scenes, long before the CEO says thanks for a job well-done”, says Incredible BORIS (Boris Cherniak).
Around this time of the year, human resources managers, entertainment committees and company CEOs are asking the age-old question - How do we make our holiday event an affair to remember? After all, we are simply trying to thank the employees, suppliers and their families for a job well done throughout the year. We also want this event to motivate the group to be happy and productive in the future. This is a more difficult task that may appear.
“The people planning functions have an enormous task of fitting into the ever-shrinking budgets while keeping party-goers excited about attending the event,” says Boris Cherniak, corporate event planning professional, comedy hypnotist entertainer and motivational speaker.
Here is a helpful checklist of planning an affair for the holidays (as provided by Boris Cherniak):
1. Budget. Break down all the amounts allocated to each task then you can have a clear view of how much room you have to play. Spend it wisely and know what your limitations are. The old rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. If it appears too inexpensive you may not be getting what you expected. Get the best value possible with the resources you have available. It is easy to spend ANY budget. You may have to make a few sacrifices. What gets eliminated first and what should be kept at any cost? Always keep in mind of what the overall impression by the attendees will be. Leave a lasting impression.
2. Number of people in attendance – estimate the number of people expected at the party. Keep in mind that a small percentage may not attend due to lack of babysitters, illness or vacation.
3. Book the venue - banquet hall, restaurant, company auditorium. Pick a location that is convenient for your group with amenities like transportation, parking, etc.
4. Food and catering – dinner / lunch, drinks or buffet – most halls will offer you different choices of meal options, hors d’oerves, desserts and per person amounts. Make sure there are enough choices for all tastes and food preferences - vegan, chicken, beef or fish...
5. Schedule and timing. It is easy to under-estimate the amount of time a function will take due to many unforeseen circumstances. Factors such as how long the speeches will take, time to bring out the food or attendees arriving late due to a freak snowstorm or traffic. This can change the dynamic of your event - plan accordingly and have a contingency plan.
6. Entertainment – hypnotist, comedian, juggler, psychic, magician, DJ and dancing, party games, or a combination of several of the above. Entertainment is a wonderful way to make your event memorable. Entertainment comes in many budgets and styles. Pick a solution that will not only make the company and event planner look good, but will leave a lasting impression on the attendees. Explore different options best suited to your group. Local or national performers can be considered. Many are available on the web and could be your first place of inquiry. Many agencies have a roster of people they can suggest. Never forget to look within your company for entertainment suggestions and talent (in every company there is a band or a disk jockey that would be more than happy to accommodate your budget and show off their talents). Keep in mind that entertainers are extremely busy during the holiday season – leaving booking your entertainment until the last minute is not a good idea as your date may no longer be available. Expect that at times entertainers will be on a specific time frame - during the holiday season many will have several shows during the day to maximize their earning potential. Note the exact times you require the performers and stick to those times. Some performers even charge for extra hours on site such as DJs so expect to incur extra costs and discuss the amounts beforehand.
7. Sound, lighting, projection equipment and audio visual materials – Have a run-through and make sure everything is in place before your audience arrives so that you don’t have to deal with “technical difficulties”.
8. Accommodations for any out of town guests and transportation to and from the airport and hotels, valet parking or self-park.
9. Taxi cabs for anyone that over-indulges in the open bar concept and to avoid liability.
10. Registration – name cards for your guests, open seating or pre-arranged seating plan.
11. Awards, door prizes and giveaways. Many of these can be donated by your suppliers or provided to you at their cost for your holiday event. It shows good faith, and don’t be surprised if the suppliers return the favor. There are also a large number of companies that specialize in corporate givaways - a little momento of the evening with an imprinted company logo may add a touch of class to your celebration.
12. Party theme and décor – color scheme, chair covers, centerpieces, flowers, ice sculptures. One of the more unique ideas I saw recently was a sports theme, where instead of elegant centerpieces, sports memorabilia was placed in the center of the tables, which was available for the guests to take home – these included running shoes and football helmets.
13. Dress and attire. Let the attendees know what to expect to wear – formal, casual or business attire. We all heard a story of a prank where a person is invited to a pajama party when it’s a formal affair.
14. Invitations or a simple announcement in the company newsletter and bulletin board.
15. Contracts. Commit to the people you will be doing business with, since it usually is done on a first come basis. Halls, performers and caterers have limited availability. Be decisive and direct. Most people will give you a price range that would depend on your choice of options. Many event suppliers will require deposits to commit, which are regularly 50 per cent and are non-refundable.
16. Presentations – keep the speeches brief and to the point. Number of speakers should be kept down to a minimum. After all, people are there to be social and not to be lectured.
17. Everyone wants to have a party on a Saturday. You may find that having an alternate day of the week may greatly reduce your expenses and make it easier to hire entertainment and book your venue. Also, consider having your function early afternoon. A lunch is less expensive than a seven-course dinner.
18. Include a table for the crew, entertainment and other behind-the-scenes people. They, at times forget to eat to make sure your event runs smoothly. Show them the spirit of the holiday season and include them in your celebrations.
19. If your business is busy during the holiday season, consider having your event earlier or later. It should not make a difference if your function is held in November or January instead of December.
20. Have a cell phone handy for any last-minute emergencies the day of your event. If a cell phone is not an option (no signal or simply unavailable), make sure your suppliers have the venue address and phone number.
21. Your function will be attended by people from many walks of life and backgrounds - politically correct term is Holiday Party. Make it chic, memorable and fun. Have people walk away saying - I had a great time, that was incredible.
Happy Holidays.
Comedian Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS for Holiday Party Entertainment
Boris is a comedy stage hypnotist that appears in upwards 300 live performances yearly. He is a frequent talk show guest and delivers a comical point of view to an otherwise serious subject of human behavior and expression. He is a wordsmith comedian, observer and commentator on society quirks, obsessions and stereotypes. Incredible Boris is not just a stage name, but also a way to describe a positive attitude and a constant state of mind.
Boris has been featured on numerous television programs, including Maury, Montel, Howie Mandel Show and many more. Boris’ self-hypnosis Relaxation and Motivation CD is available through his web site or as a giveaway to complement his performance at your company’s function during this holiday season.
The Incredible Boris is an expert in psychology, hypnosis, body language, power of suggestion and human behavior. You can visit him on the net at Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS official site - www.IncredibleBORIS.com
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Hypnotist for 2009 Event Entertainer
I was nominated!!!!
WINNER - CEIA Star Awards - 2009 ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
FINALIST - Event Solutions Spotlight Awards - 2009 ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Award winning Comedian Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
WINNER - CEIA Star Awards - 2009 ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
FINALIST - Event Solutions Spotlight Awards - 2009 ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Award winning Comedian Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Motivational Hypnotist as seen on Maury
A while back I got a chance to be a part of something special.
The Maury show contacted me to be a part of a series that deals with odd, extreme and unusual fears and phobias - I would be able to help people, but most importantly show others that help is available.
The show format is simple – guests first talk about their fears. Then, whatever they are terrified of is then brought out so that they can face their extreme fears for the last time - at this point they usually run away (all around the set) from whatever terrifies them. Maury introduces me after the confrontations take place, and I spend time with these people in a private studio or a green room to help eliminate their fears. We then return to the set to show their irrational fears gone or drastically diminished in front of a studio audience.
Is this real or a set up? They are not actors, just folks with a fear who turned to a TV show to get help. Thanks to them, others in the same situation get to find out that they are not alone. These people are not only terrified, but the fear is ruining their lives. I hope anyone watching and identifies with a similar situation gets help. Hypnosis is extremely effective for fears and phobias.
I am often asked, “How do these people get on the show?” They or their loved ones call the show in response to something like “If you have a phobia called the Maury show now”. The producers respond to hundreds and thousands of these calls and select the most unusual and exciting for the broadcast. Then the show producers have an impossible task of scheduling everyone to be in the same place at the same time. The location is Manhattan, New York City. This involves planes, hotels and cars that make sure that every second is accounted for. The day of the taping someone makes sure that the wardrobe is proper for television, the mikes and cameras are in working order and the people in their places. The show taping takes a few hours. Then the editors the finishing touches and put it all together for your viewing pleasure. It is then scrutinized by the broadcasters and only then syndicator schedules the air date with the television networks.
Clips of the shows are posted on video sharing sites and viewed in record numbers, while comments range from “they are acting” and “I have that fear too” to “Maury is psychic – he predicted that this will show up on YouTube”. Maury Povich is the nicest man who is always smiling behind the scenes and a true pro in front of the camera.
I have been a part of the fears and phobias series for the last 2 seasons. The experience is a blast and I look forward to bringing many more installments, while helping people at the same time. Incidentally, clips made the best moments of the "Maury 10 Year anniversary" show.
Motivational Hypnotist BORIS Cherniak as seen on Maury
The Maury show contacted me to be a part of a series that deals with odd, extreme and unusual fears and phobias - I would be able to help people, but most importantly show others that help is available.
The show format is simple – guests first talk about their fears. Then, whatever they are terrified of is then brought out so that they can face their extreme fears for the last time - at this point they usually run away (all around the set) from whatever terrifies them. Maury introduces me after the confrontations take place, and I spend time with these people in a private studio or a green room to help eliminate their fears. We then return to the set to show their irrational fears gone or drastically diminished in front of a studio audience.
Is this real or a set up? They are not actors, just folks with a fear who turned to a TV show to get help. Thanks to them, others in the same situation get to find out that they are not alone. These people are not only terrified, but the fear is ruining their lives. I hope anyone watching and identifies with a similar situation gets help. Hypnosis is extremely effective for fears and phobias.
I am often asked, “How do these people get on the show?” They or their loved ones call the show in response to something like “If you have a phobia called the Maury show now”. The producers respond to hundreds and thousands of these calls and select the most unusual and exciting for the broadcast. Then the show producers have an impossible task of scheduling everyone to be in the same place at the same time. The location is Manhattan, New York City. This involves planes, hotels and cars that make sure that every second is accounted for. The day of the taping someone makes sure that the wardrobe is proper for television, the mikes and cameras are in working order and the people in their places. The show taping takes a few hours. Then the editors the finishing touches and put it all together for your viewing pleasure. It is then scrutinized by the broadcasters and only then syndicator schedules the air date with the television networks.
Clips of the shows are posted on video sharing sites and viewed in record numbers, while comments range from “they are acting” and “I have that fear too” to “Maury is psychic – he predicted that this will show up on YouTube”. Maury Povich is the nicest man who is always smiling behind the scenes and a true pro in front of the camera.
I have been a part of the fears and phobias series for the last 2 seasons. The experience is a blast and I look forward to bringing many more installments, while helping people at the same time. Incidentally, clips made the best moments of the "Maury 10 Year anniversary" show.
Motivational Hypnotist BORIS Cherniak as seen on Maury
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Women as Global Leaders conference - Dubai, U.A.E. March 10 - 12, 2008
I am on my way back from Dubai where I entertained at the Women as Global Leaders conference. The event was a fantastic extravaganza that can only be described as magical. His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan is the mastermind behind this remarkable event and I commend him being a visionary and a forward thinker. Royalty and many world dignitaries were in attendance, including Helen Thomas, first lady of the press at the White House, Don Johnson, star of Miami Vice, Carol Bellamy, Unicef, Mary Sue Coleman, Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann, world security foundation among many others. I followed an address by Sarah Ferguson and Jane Fonda. My presentation was so successful, I was asked to do a 'by popular demand' performance the same night following the most extravagant dinner. I did all different material and was given more time on stage. My show followed a spectacular video and laser light presentation that delivered a message of leadership and peace. In fact everyone in the audience received a rosary of peace made from real pearls. I delivered my message of positive thinking, lift any limitations, because there are none - you can do anything, just dare to succeed.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York stayed next door to me. One afternoon she was working on the balcony. I couldn't take pictures. It didn't feel right. She's got photographers in her face all the time. I thought it would be extremely rude of me. She seemed to be writing postcards and text messaging on 3 different phones. I got the taste of the paparazzi for the last few days. Pictures of me were being taken every few seconds and I am not even that big of a celebrity. I got a chance to say hello to Sara Ferguson and looked into her eyes. Eyes always tell the story of a person's life. Hers related a story of a trooper who endured a lot and persevered. I admire her strength and ability to deliver a positive message despite all a life throws her way, while being a strong role model.
The second evening of the conference we were treated to an event in the Sahara desert that told a story of an arabian king and his sons battling evil forces with holograms, dancers, light and laser show. It was preceded by a traditional dinner in the tents that I can only describe as a once-in-a lifetime experience. It was like visiting an oasis mirage in ancient middle east down to hand crafted carpets on the sand and sitting on pillows with the sheikh's hospitality. I was part of this entourage invited to sit close to the man highly admired.
I hope this is not my last adventure of this kind and look forward to returning to the land of such unprecedented warm hospitality in the very near future. I made many fabulous friends and hope my message of positive thinking guides them to unprecedented success on the global arena.
Boris
Motivational Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York stayed next door to me. One afternoon she was working on the balcony. I couldn't take pictures. It didn't feel right. She's got photographers in her face all the time. I thought it would be extremely rude of me. She seemed to be writing postcards and text messaging on 3 different phones. I got the taste of the paparazzi for the last few days. Pictures of me were being taken every few seconds and I am not even that big of a celebrity. I got a chance to say hello to Sara Ferguson and looked into her eyes. Eyes always tell the story of a person's life. Hers related a story of a trooper who endured a lot and persevered. I admire her strength and ability to deliver a positive message despite all a life throws her way, while being a strong role model.
The second evening of the conference we were treated to an event in the Sahara desert that told a story of an arabian king and his sons battling evil forces with holograms, dancers, light and laser show. It was preceded by a traditional dinner in the tents that I can only describe as a once-in-a lifetime experience. It was like visiting an oasis mirage in ancient middle east down to hand crafted carpets on the sand and sitting on pillows with the sheikh's hospitality. I was part of this entourage invited to sit close to the man highly admired.
I hope this is not my last adventure of this kind and look forward to returning to the land of such unprecedented warm hospitality in the very near future. I made many fabulous friends and hope my message of positive thinking guides them to unprecedented success on the global arena.
Boris
Motivational Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
I am on MAURY June 14, 2007
The Maury Povich phobias show I taped earlier this year airs JUNE 14.
It is syndicated - look for it in your TV listings.
The title is:
Can You Save Me? I Am Terrified of Cotton Balls and Frogs!
I help people overcome their fears with the use of hypnosis.
BORIS
Motivational Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
It is syndicated - look for it in your TV listings.
The title is:
Can You Save Me? I Am Terrified of Cotton Balls and Frogs!
I help people overcome their fears with the use of hypnosis.
BORIS
Motivational Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
JR Digs Latenight Talk Show or something like that
Last week I taped an episode of JR Digs' talk show.
I am told it airs May 19 on CH TV and Global TV networks throughout Canada.
It is an unusual talk show with a host, JR Digs, whose boundless energy carries the storyline, which is created live on the spot.
Jr Digs has surrounded himself with characters that if met separately could terrify and amaze - biker playing guitar, always-smiling happy man, motormouth brit, choose-their-words-carefully storyteller, lady with huge hair and many others. I found them all delightful and intriguing. I found some overbearing, while others subdued, but all the nicest people you may ever encounter. The best way I can describe them is that each was a character, that if written on a page of a book would be difficult to believe, yet all were alive, vibrant people whose personalities shined.
JR Digs is a character himself, who cares deeply about the final product, has quick wit and will do anything to have his audience thoroughly entertained. The name of the show describes the sentiment of canadian television, which is regularly underfunded, having to produce quality content under extreme financial constraints.
I loved the show and being a part of it. The best way I can describe it is it is a mixture of Letterman, Howard Stern and Tom Green. Now you just have to watch.
Hope the boys are kind in editing.
Funny Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
;o)
I am told it airs May 19 on CH TV and Global TV networks throughout Canada.
It is an unusual talk show with a host, JR Digs, whose boundless energy carries the storyline, which is created live on the spot.
Jr Digs has surrounded himself with characters that if met separately could terrify and amaze - biker playing guitar, always-smiling happy man, motormouth brit, choose-their-words-carefully storyteller, lady with huge hair and many others. I found them all delightful and intriguing. I found some overbearing, while others subdued, but all the nicest people you may ever encounter. The best way I can describe them is that each was a character, that if written on a page of a book would be difficult to believe, yet all were alive, vibrant people whose personalities shined.
JR Digs is a character himself, who cares deeply about the final product, has quick wit and will do anything to have his audience thoroughly entertained. The name of the show describes the sentiment of canadian television, which is regularly underfunded, having to produce quality content under extreme financial constraints.
I loved the show and being a part of it. The best way I can describe it is it is a mixture of Letterman, Howard Stern and Tom Green. Now you just have to watch.
Hope the boys are kind in editing.
Funny Hypnotist The Incredible BORIS
;o)
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