The clink of glasses, soft music in the background, guests in evening wear. You're organising a gala – the most important event of the year. Everything is in place. And yet, somewhere between the speeches and dinner, a question comes up: how do you keep people engaged so the evening doesn't turn stiff?
It's hard to find an attraction that fits a banquet. Most of them bring to mind loud party games, which don't sit well with the prestige of the evening. You're looking for something engaging but not childish. Something that makes conversation easier rather than drowning it out.
At a gala, the attraction isn't the main item on the programme. Its job is to give guests a pretext for conversation and a keepsake that matches the character of the event. Below are six ideas for elegant event attractions that work well at galas and banquets.
At a gala, nobody should be forced to have fun
At a black-tie event, what matters most is that participation is voluntary. Nobody wants a host with a microphone pulling them into the middle of the room. A good gala attraction stands to one side and draws attention on its own. Guests come over when they feel like it and stay as long as they want.
1. Magic Mirror instead of a classic photo booth
A regular photo booth spoils the aesthetics of a gala. It takes up space, and wigs and fake moustaches don't go with evening gowns. Magic Mirror is a better fit.
Magic Mirror doesn't look like a photo booth. It's a full-length mirror in a gold or silver frame that blends into the décor. A guest walks up, the mirror greets them with an animation, and they take a full-length photo and sign it directly on the glass. The keepsake is the same, but the form suits the evening.
2. Photo Wall: a screen showing guests' photos
Want every guest to feel noticed without a queue forming at a single attraction? Think about a Photo Wall.
It's a screen that displays photos taken by guests or by the photographer in real time. Instead of a static logo backdrop, you get a setting that changes throughout the evening. People like seeing themselves on the big screen. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight. And "have you seen our photo?" is an easy way to start a conversation.
3. Scent workshops for quieter guests
Networking at a gala often ends with the people we already know. A perfume-making workshop zone – our Scent Workshop – helps here.
Guests come over to a station where, with guidance from a host, they blend their own perfume from natural oils or make soy candles. The pace is calm. It's easier to talk at a table than at the bar. At the end, everyone leaves with a bottle they created themselves.
4. Art & Wine: painting together over a glass
It's hard to start a conversation with someone higher up the hierarchy. It's easier when you're both standing at an easel. Hence the idea of Art & Wine – painting over wine.
Guests take a glass of wine and, under an instructor's guidance, add a few brushstrokes to a shared painting or paint their own small picture. Their hands are busy, so the conversation flows on its own. Usually about who's good at painting and who isn't. Job titles stop mattering.
5. FotoMozaika that grows all evening
If you want guests to feel part of something bigger, FotoMozaika is a great choice.
This attraction grows throughout the event and has a clear finale. Guests have their photos taken by a photographer or in an app. We print each photo as a small sticker and place it on a large board. Up close you see hundreds of faces. From a distance they form the company logo, the gala's slogan or a portrait of the founder. Every guest has their own place in the picture.
Combine the mirror, the screen and the mosaic
Photos from the Magic Mirror can go straight to the Photo Wall and the FotoMozaika. A guest takes one photo, sees themselves on screen a moment later, and at the end of the evening finds their face on the board. The three attractions then work as one.
6. A tablet quiz hosted from the stage
How do you engage all the guests at once without interrupting dinner or playing noisy games? A tablet quiz led by a host works well.
Each table gets a tablet and becomes a team. Nobody has to go up on stage. As part of our personalised games or the Themed Olympics format, the host asks questions from the stage. They can be about the company's history, industry successes or the world of art and film. Teams confer at their table and answer in real time. The competition is quiet, and the conversation happens around the table, between courses.
An interactive attraction can suit black tie
At a gala there's no room for compromise. But "interactive" doesn't have to mean "childish". A well-chosen attraction matches the prestige of the event rather than lowering it.
Look for attractions that are discreet, only involve those who want to take part and leave a keepsake guests will take home rather than leave on the table.
Planning a gala or banquet?
A gala's prestige is built on details. Get in touch with the date, number of guests and the character of the evening. We'll choose attractions that suit your banquet.
