How to Nail the Opening Experience at Your Corporate Event
Whether it’s F-16s flying over the Superbowl or the red carpet at the Oscars, the world’s biggest events all start with a bang—and your corporate event should be no different. The opening experience is the opportunity to kick things off with energy and focus, establishing expectations and priming the audience for what’s to come.
How can you make your event’s opening experience unforgettable? In this blog, we’ll discuss why it matters—and how to do it.
What Is the Opening Experience?
The old cliché is true—you only get one chance to make a first impression. A successful multi-day event will include several big moments, but only one sets the tone for the entire occasion: the opening. Whether it’s a video, a live performance, or interactive content, everything attendees encounter from the moment they arrive to the first official presentation represents the opening experience.
A successful multi-day event is destined to include several big moments, but only one sets the tone for the entire occasion: the opening.
“How you open the event is so important for the audience,” says Allison Vecchione, Stagedge account executive. “You’re sharing all the things your company is excited about with them—because they matter.” This experience should foster anticipation and align participants with the event's goals when done right.
Creating a Memorable Opening Experience
How do you craft a moment that sets the tone for your entire event? Here are a few of the best practices for making the opening experience a memorable one::
1. Define Your Theme Early
“The most successful openings are ones where the event’s themes and goals have been established in advance,” says Vecchione. “That way, you’ll know exactly the message you’re trying to convey.” Is it innovation? Legacy? Community? Defining this overarching message will not only inform the opening experience but will also tie the entire event together.
The opening experience is such a key moment in the life of an event. You’re telling the audience that this moment matters, and you matter.
2. Be Creative
This is your chance to begin the event with energy and impact. Think big. It can be a live performance, a museum-inspired installation with a compelling narrative, or something technologically impressive—like a fully immersive LED wall.
The most important element is that it’s surprising or delightful. Hugh Howarth, Stagedge executive video producer, recalls the time an event started with an aerialist from Cirque du Soleil flying down from the ceiling on ribbons. “It came out of the blue and totally stunned everyone,” he says. “If you don't show them something unexpected, I think you lose the audience.” That’s why Howarth recommends that if you choose to incorporate a video presentation as part of the opening, make sure it’s very compelling and is not something the attendees have seen before.
3. Make Sure it’s Cohesive
It may sound like a good idea to open with a flashy, lighthearted performance, but if the rest of the event is going to project a serious or subdued tone, it won’t match.
“Don’t shock people just because you want to ‘wow’ them,” says Howarth. “The opening experience is where you start building momentum toward the main message, so make sure it aligns with how you want audiences to stay connected to the event.”
4. Keep it Brief
The last thing you want is for the enthusiasm you’ve created with a well-planned opening to wane. If you open with a video presentation, make sure to keep it short.
“The goal is to generate energy,” says Howarth. He suggests that anything longer than two minutes risks killing momentum. A live performance has leeway to go longer, but you still need to be aware of overstaying your welcome. Remember—the event is just getting started, and, as Vecchione says, “You want to ride the wave of excitement straight into the first presentation.
5. Be Mindful of the Space
Even the most engaging opening experience will fall flat if it feels out of place with the venue. “If it's too big, it looks cavernous. If it's too small, it's uncomfortable and the sight lines are not good,” says Howarth. “You want to make sure the person in the front row and the person in the back row are all getting the same great experience.
The most successful openings are ones where the event’s themes and goals have been established in advance.
Make Your Event's Opening Fulfill Its Potential 
An opening experience is more than just a beginning; it’s a moment that shapes the entire event. It captures attention, establishes purpose, builds stronger connections with your audience, and sets the emotional tone.
With only one chance to get it right, working with the right production partner is imperative. “Once the company shares their goals with us, we can develop a theme with them, and create an opening experience that really stands out,” says Vecchione.
Stagedge has the know-how and creativity to help you produce an opening that hits all the right notes. If you’re interested in other ways to maximize the experience for your attendees, check out our blog on how to uplevel your event. For more information on how we can help you nail the opening experience, contact us here.
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Stagedge: Creating Immersive Experiences for nearly 50 years is proud to be one of Boston's premier full-service event production companies dedicated to conceiving, creating, and executing immersive brand experiences through live, virtual & hybrid events, domestically, and worldwide.