Every New Year corporate party has the moment everyone came for: midnight, the countdown, the toast. It can be shared by the whole room. Guests raise their phones and the flashlights flash in time with the countdown. Wherever you hold the New Year party, in a restaurant, the office or a shared multi-company party, the show runs from the venue’s sound desk.
Where to hold a New Year corporate party
- A restaurant. Kitchen and service on site, often sound and a screen. In December popular restaurants ask for a deposit and booking 2–3 months ahead
- A loft or event space. Open layout, room for a stage and decor. Catering and equipment are usually ordered separately
- A country club. An overnight party, activities by day and a banquet at night. Transfers are needed
- The office. The most budget-friendly option for a small team. Catering, a speaker and a host are enough
- A shared party. Several companies in one hall with a common programme. Convenient for teams of up to 15–20: the programme is ready, you pay per seat
How much a New Year corporate party costs
The main budget lines: venue rent or deposit, banquet, host and DJ, show programme, decor, photo and video, gifts and transfers. The banquet is usually the biggest line and is priced per person, so it is convenient to compare the whole party per guest too.
A turnkey party through an agency is more convenient but costs more by the agency fee. How to choose an agency and read an estimate is covered in party organisation services.
A New Year show programme: what to choose
- Ded Moroz and Snegurochka. A classic, especially when employees bring children
- A cover band. Live music for the dance block
- Performers. An LED act, illusionist, acrobats. A 10–15 minute number in the first half
- Interaction. Games without props, polls, prize draws
- A light show from guests’ phones. The climax at the countdown, details below
At large public New Year events such as ice shows, spectators can also become part of the programme: that is what happened at Tatiana Navka’s ice show The Nutcracker. Prices and pros of other numbers in the show programme overview.
A New Year corporate party script
- 19:00. Guests arrive, photo zone, reception
- 19:40. Opening: host, a word from the CEO, the year in review
- 20:00. Dinner and table games
- 21:00. Performers or cover band
- 21:30. Awards for the best employees
- 22:00. The New Year climax: countdown, guests’ phones flash, a shared toast, a gift draw
- 22:15. Dancing
A corporate party rarely runs to midnight, so the “chimes” are usually placed at the peak of the evening. More on dramaturgy in the event script.
A light show at midnight
No app needed. Guests scan a QR code on the screen, open the page in the browser and tap “Start”. Commands come as ultrasound from the speakers, and the sound engineer or DJ launches the show from their desk.
What to put in the programme
- Countdown: the whole room flashes to the chimes
- Light toast: the room lights up on the host’s cue
- A soft glow across the room for a slow dance
- Tables or departments light up in their own colour, then the whole room together
- Voting for the next track in the browser
- A gift draw in the browser right after the show
What the host and venue need to provide
From the host: the countdown and draw in the script and a short announcement a minute and a half before the show. That is how long guests need to scan the QR code and open the page.
From the venue: a screen or printout with the QR code, sound to the speakers and dimmed light at the right moment. The show is visible without full darkness, but a dark room makes it stronger.
Pricing and when to book
From 10,000 ₽ per event for up to 100 guests, and you can run it as many times per evening as you like. For larger rooms see the calculator.
December dates are booked from the autumn, and the script and tracks are prepared in advance. The earlier the brief, the calmer the preparation.
More ideas for the evening: 15 corporate party formats and games without props. All show formats for celebrations are on the corporate events and weddings page.
