Every corporate event has a silent enemy: dead time. The cocktail hour drags on, the usual cliques cluster together and half the room is looking at their phone. The solution that works best for us isn't one big central show, but something smarter: entertainment corners spread across the space — gaming, virtual reality, a photo booth — that people discover, try and talk about. At Zenor we set these up every day at corporate events across Spain, and in this article we explain how to make the most of them.
Why corners work better than a single show
A central show forces everyone to do the same thing at the same time. Corners, on the other hand, let each person choose: the competitive ones head to the console tournament, the curious ones queue for virtual reality, and the sociable ones end up in costume at the photo booth. The result is that people move around, mix and talk to colleagues they never normally cross paths with, which is exactly what an internal event is aiming for. They also scale well: they work just as well at a 40-person Christmas dinner as at a 400-person convention.
Gaming corner: consoles, simulators and express tournaments
A gaming corner with the latest consoles, sports or fighting games for pairs, and a big screen for onlookers turns any corner into a mini stadium. The trick is in the format: short matches, quick knockout rounds and a mini tournament with a final announced over the PA. Suddenly the finance director and the intern are competing at the top of their lungs, and that photo is worth more than any forced team-building exercise.
Virtual reality: the queue that forms itself
Virtual reality remains the experience with the strongest pull at a corporate event: many people still haven't tried it, and whoever does becomes a show for everyone else. An external screen showing what the player sees is essential, because it doubles the fun: some play while the rest watch, laugh and wait their turn. With two or three stations rotating short experiences, the VR corner stays lively throughout the whole event.
Photo booth and 360 video: the keepsake that travels to social media
The photo booth is the most rewarding corner in terms of keepsakes: every printed photo is a physical object that travels home with the event's logo on it, and every 360 video ends up shared on internal and external social media. For branded events, it's also a content machine: corporate props, a custom frame and a digital gallery so internal communications has real material of the team having a good time.
Other corners that round out the picture
- Karaoke with a booth or stage: ideal for the final stretch of the night; check out our karaoke for events.
- Foosball, darts or a retro arcade: analogue games that hook every generation.
- Themed photo opportunity: a spectacular backdrop that works as a meeting point.
- Fun casino for teams: no real money, just chips and a final leaderboard.
- Chill-out zone with ambient music: there also needs to be a corner for quiet conversation.
How to lay them out in the space (without them getting in each other's way)
The golden rule: keep the noisy corners (gaming, karaoke) away from the conversational ones, place the photo booth near the natural flow of foot traffic — entrance or bar — and leave VR in a zone with a safety buffer around it. Plan for one corner per 30-50 attendees so queues don't drag on forever, and schedule anchor moments, such as the tournament final or the awards ceremony, to bring everyone together a couple of times. And if you're after a surprise closer, an audiovisual touch like videomapping on the corporate cake or a neon after-party wraps up the night in style.
“The success of a corporate event isn't measured in applause, it's measured in conversations. Entertainment corners manufacture conversations by the dozen.”