Top Trends in Corporate Events for 2023 and Beyond

We feel that there are many reasons (most especially, the number of inquiries we receive) to be hopeful about the state of the event industry in 2023 and beyond! Events are back, big time! So, if your company is planning events in the coming year, and years ahead, it is best to stay in the loop and on top of the trends! 

As we look ahead, here are some of the top trends we’re seeing in Corporate Events:

Secure your Choice Venue Early!

In-person events are not just back, they’re absolutely thriving! In some high-demand areas, the return to in-person events is happening more rapidly and at a greater volume than anticipated or can be facilitated! That means that the demand for venues is greater than capacity, meaning greater competition for available event space!  This combined with rising venue costs and the ongoing staffing shortages complicate the search for suitable, quality venues. So, in 2023, early planning will be crucial!

Embrace Digital Elements For In-Person Events

The Post-pandemic event industry has embraced digital. The sudden 2020 pivot to virtual events during the pandemic greatly hastened the digitization of events. So, that means that going forward, in-person corporate events will also be a little different.

In 2023, in-person events will continue to incorporate more digital interactive touch points, supported by technology. This allows event marketers and planners to capture more insights on attendee behavior and are able to create an engaging interface for guests to interact with. 

More digital touchpoints also offer the opportunity to create an always-on, year-round attendee engagement and relationship. 

Events Designed With Sustainability in Mind

From these days forward, sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. In our experience our clients now take sustainability into account when planning meetings and events, and many have implemented a sustainable meeting strategy. So, event organizers will be looking to focus on measuring, minimizing and reporting on the impact of their sustainability efforts. This may include things like setting measurable goals and tracking their events’ carbon footprint through elements like catering, event energy consumption, and the distance traveled by attendees. 

Champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Fostering a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion will mean more clients will make a concerted effort to plan and host events that are more inclusive and accessible to all. This is multi-faceted and comes in many forms such as: selecting venues that are 100% accessible (when taking into account mobility differences) or it could mean gathering relevant information, such as accessibility requirements, from attendees during the registration  process, so that any needs can be accommodated. But, the best practice in this regard is to plan for every eventuality and host more events that are 100% accessible to all.

This could also mean making sure that your event’s speakers are selected from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and walks of life, as well as offering attendees the ability to attend your event (or watch your event presentations) virtually, and ensuring that inclusive language is used throughout all event communications and in all presentations. Outline inclusion expectations with your event presenters ahead of time to alleviate any misunderstandings or miscommunications. 

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DJs that work together play together! Our admin assistant Nick and DJ Gustavo met up for an amazing time at Ultra Music Festival in Miami! . . . #ultramusicfestival #festivaldj #weddingdj #nycdj #bostondj

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Beat Train’s quarterly All Team Meeting happened yesterday!! It was great to see some familiar and new faces and share tips and tricks! Looking forward to the season ahead 😎 . . . #weddingdj #weddingdjnyc #nycdj #bostondjs

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Absolutely Unique Wedding Venues in NYC – Part 1

If the vision and vibe you and your fiance have in mind for your wedding day is far from cookie-cutter, you might want to set the tone early, starting with an unexpected or unconventional wedding venue! You know, the kind of place that makes your wedding a unique and memorable experience rather than simply an event. 

Well, if you’re getting married in NYC, we’ve done some of the research for you! Here is a short (but great) list of some of the most unique, storied and jaw dropping venues in NYC!

The Beekman

If you’re any kind of a history buff, you’ll likely be amazed to know that at one time the site where The Beekman sits was home to NYC’s original theater district, and more specifically, The Chapel Street Theatre, where William Shakespeare’s Hamlet debuted in NYC in 1761!  5 Beekman Street went through several other reinventions over the years, before the Temple Court Building was erected between 1881 and 1883. The Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival style of the original section of The Beekman, along with the stunning 9 story atrium will add a dramatic atmosphere for your once in a lifetime celebration! 

Seriously, the atrium boasts tile-mosaic floors and gorgeous ornate iron railings, held up by cast-iron brackets shaped like dragons. The ambience is sumptuous and welcoming, and no detail is spared in the rest of the hotel either. The luxurious vibe continues with The Bar room, then into the award winning Temple Court Restaurant, and straight into pure French elegance at Le Gratin by Chef Daniel Boulud. 

The Beekman is able to host micro-weddings of up to 50, or able to host up to 90 guests for a more formal reception, with a large collection of event spaces, both  intimate and more grand, and indoor and out, creating a truly bespoke affair. 

The Angel Orensanz Foundation

The Angel Orensanz Foundation prides itself in maintaining the former Ansche Chesed Synagogue as a historical landmark. The former synagogue was built in 1849 and is the oldest Reform Synagogue in the US. Its distinctive neo-gothic architecture comes from the inclusive vision of the German Reform Movement, and more specifically from the synagogue’s architect,  Alexander Saeltzer. The building’s design borrows extensively from the Cathedral of Cologne, the Friederichwerdeschekirche in the Mitte in Berlin, as well as most heavily from the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

What I’m saying is that this venue is gorgeous, expansive, dramatic and historic! It might be just the place to host your out-of-this-world wedding! Just look at their gallery to see what’s possible with decor lighting in this space! Incredible! And, the vibe extends beyond the exterior, when you learn more about the Foundation that curates this space. 

The Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts was established in 1992 as an artistic and cultural resource that is open to artists, writers, thinkers and leaders from all over the world, and to the community all around us. Over the years the foundation has welcomed and been inspired by Philip Glass, Spike Lee, Arthur Miller, Alexander McQueen, Salman Rushdie, Maya Angelou, Alexander Borovsky, Elie Wiesel and Chuck Close.

And, if you have your heart set on a big wedding, The Foundations Event space can host formal receptions for up to 260 guests, so your guestlist can be just as epic as your reception space! 

Stay turned in the coming weeks for parts 2 and 3 of our Absolutely Unique Wedding Venues in NYC list!

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Crafting Your Personalized Wedding Playlist

However you are envisioning the music for your wedding reception — which is typically four to five hours of music, and amounts to around 80 to 100 songs if you happen to have booked a DJ. Or, alternatively, might only amount to 50-to-60+ songs (possibly broken into two sets),  if you have hired a live band — there will be plenty of behind the scenes coordination with your wedding entertainment to make your reception seem seamless.

But, one of the beautiful things about your wedding reception music is that it is free to be a little bit of everything: You’re welcome, and almost expected, to skip around between quite a few different genres, decades and styles that you both love. 

At Beat Train Productions, we believe that the wedding playlist should be thought of as the soundtrack to the couple’s love story. Couples should consider adding more songs that resonate with who they are, as well as any songs that remind them of why they love each other,  and songs that are tied to memories they have with loved ones are also super important. The music on their wedding day should be a culmination of songs that are linked to the best moments of their lives. So, after a couple of discussions everyone will have a crystal clear understanding of the overall roadmap and vibe for the day—including any must-have songs for key moments during your wedding reception (and ceremony), such as first dance songs or must-play dance floor anthems. But at some point, you also have to kick back and trust the talent you’ve booked to read the room and make that dance floor magic happen! 

Playlist Inspiration

Before you hand your musical entertainment the keys, so to speak, take a moment to read through this list, of some of the most requested wedding reception songs ever! This wedding reception playlist inspiration ranges all the way from gold-standard classics to more modern dance classics, with plenty of fresh takes thrown in for good measure.. Just remember: This is your celebration. And, a good rule of thumb is, If the newlyweds are happy, it’s pretty much guaranteed that everyone will have a good time!

Most Requested Songs At Weddings:

“I Want to Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” Whitney Houston

“Dancing Queen,” Abba

“Let’s Dance!, ”David Bowie

“Dreams, ”Fleetwood Mac

“(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher,” Jackie Wilson

“Kiss,” Prince

“Once in a Lifetime,” Talking Heads

“Time After Time,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” Cyndi Lauper

“Rock Lobster,” The B-52’s

“Golden Years,” David Bowie

“Cha Cha Slide (Original Live Platinum Band Mix),” DJ Casper

“Crazy in Love (feat. Jay-Z),” Beyoncé

“We Found Love,” Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift

“You’ve Got the Love,” Florence + The Machine

“Can’t Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton),” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

“Mr. Brightside,” The Killers

“Ho Hey,” The Lumineers

“Cosmic Girl,” Jamiroquai

“Hey Ya!,” Outcast

“I Gotta Feeling,” Black Eyed Peas

“SexyBack,” Justin Timberlake feat. Timbaland

“About Damn Time,” “Juice,” Lizzo

“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” Kate Hill

“Rasputin,” Boney M., Majestic Remix

“Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Elvis Presley

“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” Natalie Cole

“Perfect,” Ed Sheeran

“Just the Way You Are,” Bruno Mars

“First Day of My Life,” Bright Eyes

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Exciting Beat Train Team News!!! Our Fresh Prince of Rhode Island, DJ Jeff D, is delighted to announce he is the official Ballpark DJ for the Worcester Red Sox’s 2023 Season!! You can catch him and his sweet tunes in Polar Park all summer long. And as a bonus- if you want your favorite baseball teams DJ at your wedding, Jeff still has dates available for the 2023 season! Check out the link in our bio for more info ⚾️🎧 . . . #worcesterredsox #woosox #bostondj #newenglanddj #weddingdj #beattrain

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We Just Got Engaged!! Now, What?!

Don’t Rush! Enjoy This Moment!

Before you and your fiance jump right into wedding planning, stop and take some time to bask in your newly engaged status! In other words, this is a huge milestone in both of your lives, so it’s important to take the time to celebrate your engagement! And we’re not necessarily talking about hosting a formal engagement party; although, those are great too! 

We simply mean taking a little time as a couple to revel in – and share – your new relationship status before getting all wrapped up in the busy process of wedding planning. But, why, you might ask!? Well, because it’s a huge life event and should be properly acknowledged. Whether that means a quiet date night in with your fiancé, a casual backyard BBQ with both of your families, or maybe even a full-on catered cocktail style engagement party! Marriage is for life, there’s no need to rush!

Pick a Date (or Date Range, or Season)

Unfortunately, even if you have your heart set on a certain date, you may not know your actual wedding date for a while! Because the truth is that the day you say “I do!” depends on many factors, one of the biggest being the actual availability of your top 3 potential wedding venues. So, go in with a plan, but also be flexible!

That being said, settling on a general date range or season will allow you to get some of your planning process started. For example: “Spring 2024” or “Next fall” will give your plans a little structure, and make it seem much more real! It will also feel good to have an answer when all your friends and family members start asking, “Sooooo, when’s the big day?!” Because, trust us, they’re going to ask!!

Set Your Priorities and Budget

Setting your budget and deciding on the ‘wedding day must-haves’ should be the first items you discuss when planning your wedding! It’s crucially important that you and your fiancé start this planning journey on the same page when it comes to priorities and budget! Now is a good time to consider your overall financial situation, as well as savings, possible family contributions to the big day, as well as your current debt load (including student loans). 

Then, prioritize having “the money talk” to come up with a ballpark budget range. Once you come to a ballpark figure, you can start brainstorming and getting in touch with vendors for pricing information. This will also help to hone your priorities, as in, “We definitely need to have a photo booth at our reception!” or “We’re not interested in having a traditional wedding cake at our reception.”

Get Organized!

As you start the planning process, you’re going to end up with a ton of ideas, checklists, vendor and venue recommendations, wedding photo inspiration, wedding magazines, bridal show tickets, contracts, etc. So, it would be prudent to figure out an organizational system ahead of time, so that you can keep track of all that information right at your fingertips! That way you’ll have it on hand when you meet with potential wedding vendors or your wedding planner. The organizational system can be a Google Document full of links, Evernote, a dedicated Pinterest board, a calendar app, a good old fashioned wedding binder or maybe you’d like to use a combination of several systems. The most important thing is that it works for you and your fiance! We promise that getting yourself organized early on in the planning process will help to minimize pre-wedding stress, so you can hit the ground running with all of those important wedding decisions!

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