The New Black Studio Gala Dinner

Where did you hold your event?

The event was held at The London Hilton on Park Lane. The dinner is an annual event for 650 people, so finding a central location that can take those numbers is tricky. The team has worked on this event for years and is an extremely well-oiled machine.

What was the theme of your event?

The dinner acts as a celebration before the end of the year. It's an annual event that has been running for decades, so trying to make it feel different each year is always a challenge.

The band were absolutely brilliant. They had the crowd dancing for the first time in years!

This year, the branding was very tropical so we carried this theme throughout. Probably quite an ambitious choice given the contrast between tropical and Christmas! We always need to add a hint of luxury, as part of the dinner is an award ceremony, so there are plenty of elements that need consideration when planning.

Why did you choose to book a live band?

We always choose live music for the end of the event as frankly there's not really anything else which creates the same party atmosphere. We chose the act after a recent trip to a piano bar and found that a good player and singer is all you need.

How did you find Function Central?

I found Function Central via Google, and was impressed with the variety of different acts available. Once you've been in the industry for as long as our team, you start to see the same bands and acts repeatedly. It was great to come across some exciting party bands which we hadn't seen before.

What did you think of the band?

The band were absolutely brilliant. They had the crowd dancing for the first time in years!

What were your favourite moments of the event?

We personally always enjoy seeing guests reactions as they enter each room. An 80ft set and 65 tables always gives a certain wow factor. This year, we had clear acrylic menus with Monstera leaves on each place setting, which tied the tropical theme together perfectly.

More people than ever stayed for the post-dinner drinks, and in turn more people than ever were dancing. Party vs networking is always a balance with corporate events, walking into the post-dinner drinks this year, it was obvious we'd got it right, with a great deal of help from the band of course.

What advice would you give other event organisers?

Book Upbeat! They play a great mix of songs and will have people dancing for hours.

All suppliers sourced via The New Black Studio.