In the “City That Never Sleeps”, there’s always something to do, even after you’ve finished a long, well-worked event. Depending on if your staff or clients are local, they’ll likely turn to you, as the event planner, for some post-work entertainment.
Luckily, this is the Big Apple, baby! There’s always cool or unusual things to do in New York.
Here’s our list of team outing ideas that will make everyone view you as the best ad hoc travel agent in the business,
6 NYC Team Building Activities
Even if your event goes off without a hitch, it’s likely that any team is going to feel a bit burnt once the adrenaline dies down. Brains are numb, voices are dry, and, more than likely, bellies are empty.
Reinvigorate your team and show them your appreciation of all their hard work with some fun group activities in NYC.
1. Escape Room
With a recent spike in popularity over the last few years, an escape room is a great way to have your team work together in a fun way outside of work hours. These immersive, life-sized puzzles will challenge any party with themed brain teasers, like prison breaks, bomb defusions, and haunted houses. Escape rooms make great team building activities and there’s no shortage of unique ones in New York.
2. Food Truck Tour
Treat your team to a delicious tour around New York City via tracking some of the best food trucks in the city. Many food trucks have built up a cult following, leaving both locals’ and tourists’ mouths watering at the idea of spotting one of these trucks on the road. You can even gamify dinner by turning dinner into a scavenger hunt! Whoever finds the best trucks wins a free meal!
3. Laser Tag
An oldie, but a goodie. If you’ve got an active group on your hands, let them burn whatever energy they may have left after the show with a bit of friendly competition. Laser tag is a classic way to bring teams together. As an indoor sport, it’s great for year-round entertainment too.
4. Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers is the ultimate free for all if you’re looking to just give people a good time. A huge entertainment venue, there’s everything from sports courts to rock climbing to keep your group entertained. You can even play bubble soccer, where everyone is in giant inflatable balls, running into each other.
5. Karaoke
Have you ever sang karaoke in Koreatown? KTV bars are a popular way to unwind and let loose. Whether you prefer a private booth to belt show tunes with your friends or don’t mind a full, public performance singing Prince in front of a crowd, you’ll be able to let your inner star out somehow. Just make sure to book your slot in advance; karaoke’s pretty popular.
6. Spin NYC
As classic as billiards sounds, not everyone knows how to pull wicked trick shots or is willing to put money down on a corner pocket. A great alternative, and a much more level playing field, is Spin NYC, the ping pong equivalent to a pool bar. They host regular events, competitions, and an incredible menu.
6 Client Entertainment Ideas
If your clients were present for the event, you can’t leave them out of the afterparty. However, you may not want to bounce a client around as an enormous, human soccer ball! So, we found some more client-friendly entertainment ideas in New York to pursue.
1. Exclusive Tour
You have hundreds of options to choose from when it comes to offering a private tour of a museum or gallery. Clients who are visiting New York City can enjoy an exclusive, guided walk through some pretty impressive works of art or history. They might also enjoy a tour of the zoo or aquarium. To make them feel even more like VIPs, ask to be taken behind the scenes for the tour.
2. Beer & Wine Tasting
It’s hard to go wrong with this one. Naturally, you don’t want anyone under the influence during the course of the event. But there’s nothing wrong with showing how “tapped” into the city you are after you’ve wrapped for the night. Host a tasting at a local brewery or winery to make clients feel like they’re exclusive guests. It’s the perfect setting to relax, mingle, and discuss your event.
3. Seasonal Outdoor Activity
New York City is famous for experiencing the full range of seasons throughout the course of the year. Whether your event is taking place during the heat strokes of summer or in the beautiful wonderland of winter, there’s always some cool things to do in New York. Look up some in-season outdoor activities near your venue to treat clients to. Maybe you’ll be able to ice skate at Rockefeller Center!
4. Pro Sports Event
Home to the likes of the Knicks, Yankees, Giants, and more, New York City has a lot going on in the way of professional sports. Invite clients to a game if one is taking place around when your event is happening. The closer to the action, the better, so be sure to get some great seats.
5. Play or Musical
Whether you can swing some tickets to a Broadway show or have heard of a play on the rise off-Broadway, this is one of the best things to do in New York. Live performances offer the opportunity for clients to experience some of the greatest live performances ever in the theater hub of America. Let them enjoy the show while you pick up a stage lighting trick or two as you watch.
6. Immersive Art Pop Ups
Art pop ups have become pretty big in major cities like New York, and they’re becoming incredibly more advanced and interactive. For example, ZeroSpace offers a full immersion visual experience with light, sound, and projection mapping to stimulate visitors’ senses. You might actually be able to pick out some new technology that you can implement into your next event.
It’s always nice to have the opportunity to unwind after the fast-paced hustle of building, running, and hosting an event. Keep a few of these team outing ideas in your back pocket so that you’ll always have something to pitch after future events. And if you’re looking for the right event production company to help you impress while on the clock, give us a ring. We here at One Way Event Productions can support you with every aspect of your team and corporate outings in NYC.
