Planning music for corporate events
Which music suits reception, networking, dinner, programme items and the party? Good music for a company event follows the running order, not just a playlist – planned one phase at a time. That is how The Jetset Society plans the music for corporate events – in any lineup from 4 to 11 musicians, with 5 to 8 the recommendation.
More on the band for company events: corporate events.
A corporate event rarely asks only one thing of the music. At the start, guests need room to arrive and talk to one another; as the evening goes on, awards, presentations, dinner, networking and the dance floor often call for quite different levels of energy. The sections below are there to help you plan the musical arc that suits yours.
Corporate event music at a glance
Reception & networking
Understated, stylish and easy to talk over. A smaller live lineup lends the room atmosphere without competing with the business character of the evening.
Dinner & programme items
Timing, volume and transitions decide how this stretch feels. Music can frame dinner, presentations, awards and openings with real elegance.
Party & closing phase
If the evening is meant to turn into a celebration later on, the music needs more energy, clearer dynamics and a lineup with enough weight to carry the room.
The phases of a corporate event
1. Arrival
Guests form their first impression as they walk in. Understated live music lends the room a sense of quality without disturbing conversation or making it harder for guests to find their bearings.
2. Networking
At client events, staff parties or business evenings, conversation is often what the evening is really for. The music should stay present, but under control.
3. Dinner
Dinner music calls for a light touch. It can warm the room, but volume, tempo and song choice should give way to conversation and the service.
4. Awards & presentations
Transitions, entrances, handovers and award moments can each be given a musical cue. What makes that work is coordination with the MC and the technical team.
5. Party
Once the dance floor opens, the energy can climb. A live band can build the mood in plain sight and respond to the room.
6. Late hours
Recorded music can be planned in for the very late hours. What matters is that the arc before it holds together.
Which music fits which corporate format?
Client event
Elegant and not too dominant. The music should build trust, atmosphere and a sense of quality without crowding out conversation.
Staff party
Here the evening is allowed to grow considerably: reception, dinner, short programme items and a lively party stretch later on. The band is also a good choice for the evening programme after a company outing.
Summer party
Relaxed, open and flexible. Depending on the venue, lounge, pop, soul and dance music later on can all work well.
Business dinner
Controlled volume, elegant arrangements and a sensitive sense of timing count for more here than maximum show impact.
Award ceremony
What counts here: transitions, the opening, walk-ons, the moment a winner is announced, and a festive musical setting around it all.
Product launch
Music should work in service of brand impact, pacing and timing. Coordination with the technical setup, the MC and the running order is what holds it together.
Special case: Christmas party
Where the company event doubles as a year-end celebration or a Christmas party, seasonal touches, dinner, speeches and the party later on often come together to particularly good effect.
Which lineup fits a corporate event?
Smaller setups from 3 musicians
Ideal for jazz, lounge, dinner, receptions, business dinners, hotel events and understated background music. These setups take up little space, look elegant and leave plenty of room for conversation.
Live band from 4 musicians
For corporate events we recommend 5 to 8, and for galas 5 to 10 musicians. A smaller lineup is a good fit for smaller and mid-sized company parties, client evenings, or events where reception, dinner and a later lift in energy should feel like one continuous evening. The live band is a strong all-rounder for corporate events with several musical phases, a larger room, a big stage or a dance floor later in the evening; a larger lineup is worth considering for galas, award evenings, large summer parties, anniversaries, major client events and occasions with visible show or stage impact. All of these are equally possible in smaller lineups from 4 musicians. What each lineup is made up of and how much space it requires is set out on the Lineups page, and the lineup we recommend for each occasion is in the table “Guidance by event type” on the same page.
Unsure about the size?
A separate decision guide sets out which lineup suits your guest numbers, the room, the stage and the effect you want the event to have.
Live band, recorded music or a combination?
When music should be visible
At high-profile company parties, client evenings, award nights, galas and summer parties, a live band has real presence: it performs in front of the guests, creates dynamics and lifts the character of the event.
When music should continue for a long time
If the evening runs on well into the night, a suitable follow-up option can extend the wind-down – while the defining part of the evening is shaped by the live band.
The basic choice between live music, recorded music and a combination of the two is set out in detail on the Live band or DJ? page. For company events, what usually decides it is this: should the music simply sit in the background, or should it visibly shape brand impact, stage presence and atmosphere?
Anyone searching for a cover band for a company party usually has in mind a live band that interprets well-known songs professionally and, at the same time, suits reception, dinner, programme items and the party alike. What decides it is not the repertoire alone, but the right musical arc across the whole evening.
Technical setup, volume and room
Volume
Reception, dinner and networking call for different levels from the party or the dance floor. Professional planning puts musical quality ahead of volume.
Stage & visibility
At high-profile events the band should be easy to see. In a dinner setting, a more discreet position can serve the evening better.
Venue & setup
The Jetset Society brings its own sound and lighting up to a certain room size and recommends working with it; if you specifically ask for the venue’s system, the band will use that instead. Power, access, setup time, soundcheck, room acoustics and coordination with the venue or the technical supplier are all best settled early.
How pricing works for corporate event music
Every quote for a company event is put together individually. What bears on it: lineup, performance time, technical setup, venue, travel, setup time, soundcheck, running order, room size, the effect you want and whether the band should cover several musical phases of the evening.
A reception with a smaller lineup is costed differently from a gala dinner with awards and a full party stretch. The Jetset Society therefore offers pricing guidance and, for a firm quote, suggests sending an enquiry with the key details.
More on this: pricing and how our quotes are put together.
Checklist for a good enquiry
Event details
Date, venue, number of guests, type of occasion, start time, planned finish and a rough running order.
Music through the evening
Reception, networking, dinner, awards, a presentation, dance floor, party or the late wind-down.
Practical details
Stage, power, technical setup, setup time, any volume limits, indoor or outdoor, and the effect you want.
Further reading for your corporate event planning
Live band for corporate events
The main event page for company parties, corporate events, client evenings, summer parties and business occasions.
Videos and impressions of The Jetset Society in a range of lineups and event moments.
The musical range, from pop, soul and disco through to jazz, lounge, dinner music and modern classics.
For gala dinners, awards, charity events and formal evening occasions.
A closer look at corporate galas, award shows and special evening occasions in Vienna.
For corporate events, client events, product presentations, galas and further evening occasions.
For company Christmas parties, year-end celebrations and seasonal events with dinner, a reception or a party.
How the planning runs, from enquiry, quote and booking through to technical setup, running order and the performance itself.
Send us the key facts of your event for a fitting recommendation and a tailored quote.
Planning music for your corporate event?
Tell us the occasion, date, venue, number of guests, running order, the musical phases you have in mind and the effect you are after. We will recommend a live lineup to suit reception, dinner, programme items and the party.
By Thomas Gindl – bandleader of The Jetset Society
Frequently asked questions about music for corporate events
Which music fits a corporate event?
At corporate events, musical versatility is important. Depending on the schedule, the music can begin subtly during reception and dinner and later move towards soul, pop, dance and party. Much of it comes down to the format. Receptions and networking are carried by understated music, while dinner and programme items need timing and a level that keeps conversation easy. For summer parties, staff parties, client evenings or a later dance floor, the music can build considerably more energy.
Can the music be subtle during the reception and danceable later?
Yes – this is where a flexible live concept pays off. Reception, networking and dinner begin with elegant, conversation-friendly music; later, the band raises the energy for the party, the dance floor or final shared moments.
Which lineup fits a corporate event with around 100 to 200 guests?
For corporate events we recommend 5 to 8 musicians – the most popular choice – ideally with horns. A corporate event often pairs polished music for the reception, networking and dinner with the party and pop hits for the dance floor later on. With more musicians, both sound fuller and rounder, and the parts of a song stand out more clearly from one another. With more guests and a larger room, the upper end of the range of 5 to 8 musicians is usually the better choice. Depending on the room, stage, programme items and the impact you want, a lineup outside that range can also make sense; in principle, any lineup from 4 to 11 musicians is possible.
Does every corporate event need a larger band?
No. For corporate events The Jetset Society recommends 5 to 8 musicians. For business dinners, networking, receptions or smaller client events, a smaller lineup can be ideal. Smaller setups for jazz, lounge and dinner start at 3 musicians, and the live band starts at 4. Larger lineups earn their keep when stage presence, show moments, gala character or a strong dance floor matter.
Is live music too loud for a business dinner?
Not with professional planning. Dinner music is played differently from a party set. Volume, lineup and song selection are coordinated so that conversations flow while the atmosphere still feels special.
What music works for networking and reception?
Elegant live arrangements work well: jazz, soul, pop and lounge elements with an easy, understated groove. The music should create atmosphere without drowning out conversation.
Can the band provide live music for awards, presentations and openings?
Yes. The Jetset Society prepares the music for programme items such as awards, product presentations, entrances, handovers or openings, and coordinates them in the running order with the MC, technical setup and event planning.
What matters for technical setup and stage at a corporate event?
The Jetset Society brings its own sound and lighting up to a certain room size and recommends working with it; if you specifically ask for the venue’s system, the band will use that instead. Beyond that, the key points are sufficient space, power, setup times, access, volume requirements, room acoustics, stage position and coordination with the venue or technical supplier. Clarify them early. Where a room is larger than our own system covers, we agree the approach in advance. Either the venue’s own system is used, or a sound company is brought in – we or the organisers take care of choosing and booking them.
Can music continue after the live band?
Yes. Recorded music can be planned for very late hours. The live band shapes the defining part of the evening; afterwards, a suitable follow-up option can keep the evening going.
What information does The Jetset Society need for a quote?
Helpful details: date, venue, number of guests, occasion, planned parts of the evening, time frame, programme items, technical setup, stage area, setup time and the musical atmosphere you want.