While every client’s event specifics, needs and wants are very different and unique, there are many commonly asked questions by conference, event & meeting planners alike. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we often field in phone calls and email inquiries:
WHO ARE TEAMBONDERS?
We’re very proud of our almost 20 year history and have had the great fortune of working with some fantastic organizations (both of the Fortune 500 and smaller variety) in all industries. When it comes to interactive, corporate fun – nobody does it like we do, period. We are a team of highly-skilled facilitators, committed to raising the spirit of camaraderie, cooperation and communication by transferring these assets back to the workplace through interactive and social play. Many of our facilitation team members (in previous lives) have been Camp Directors, Academic Educators & Mentors, Program Coordinators and Entertainment Staff at various family resorts, recreation facilities and cruise lines. Our staff members are hand-picked for their outgoing and gregarious personalities, impeccable client-relation skills, youthful exuberance and extensive experience in social programming design & execution. Because our motto is Fun is the Name of Our Game, it takes a very unique person to be a Teambonder!
DO YOU HAVE ANY GROUP SIZE LIMITATIONS?
We have executed events for groups as small as 5 and as large as 10,000 people. There is no corporate group size that fazes us…or that we can’t accommodate for. Given the appropriate resources, we can make anything happen. You’re only limited to your very own imagination.
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR TO BOOK A PROGRAM?
That is best answered by you. All of our activities are capable of being executed in every season…so no matter if your corporate event is in the ‘dead’ of winter…or the ‘dog days’ of summer – we can provide appropriate program options and solutions that best fit your schedule.
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR PROGRAM YOU OFFER?
We don’t like to play favorites. All of our activities promote communication, collaboration and group cohesion in different ways and we’ve purposely created a very diverse program menu to cater to different tastes, interests and appeals. Once we speak with a client (and ascertain desired goals, themes and past team building experiences), we typically make 2-3 program suggestions that we feel would best suit their ultimate team building needs. Having said that, if there’s a specific program that really catches your eye, please do not hesitate to let us know and we’ll happily walk you through all of the event specifics and details.
WHAT DO I NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THE EVENT?
Outside of an electronic corporate logo (Illustrator AI or EPS file) and a team list breakdown (should you choose – or we’re happy to do it for you), absolutely nothing! We are a complete turn-key service provider. All necessary program equipment, facilitation and ancillary devices (ie: sound, visuals, etc.) are provided by our team. You’ve done a great job planning the very special day – now we’d love for you to relax & have some fun with the rest of the group!
WHAT IS THE IDEAL LENGTH FOR A TEAM BUILDING PROGRAM?
There really is no right or wrong answer – let your ultimate needs and agenda be the guiding force. Some companies use our programs to augment (or break up) a day full of meetings – often to further reinforce specific corporate information, themes, attributes or messages…others use our expertise to provide a ‘fun’ day for their employees. We’ve done programs that have lasted one hour, we’ve executed multiple day events and everything in-between. Every session is unique, just like every business. While many of our programs can be completely customized to fit the majority schedules, we like to suggest a 2-4 hour ‘playing’ window (depending on the program of choice) and expand or shrink as necessary from there. When gauging the right fit for your organization, our best advice is: it’s always better to leave the group wanting more!
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST PER PERSON?
This answer varies from event to event. Many factors are considered when we supply formal quotes to our prospective clients. Many costs are fixed (regardless of the activity involved), while others are completely dependent on the size and scope of the overall endeavor. Some of the key factors we take into account when creating program proposals and total costs include: the type, length & location of the program, the number of total participants involved, the size of the facilitation team required and the overall equipment (and desired incidentals) required to execute the program to your exact needs. If you have a specific budget figure in mind you’d ideally like us to meet, do not hesitate to let us know and we’ll do our absolute best to make it happen.
HOW DOES EVENT PAYMENT WORK?
Once a formal program contract is signed, we ask for a 35% deposit – payable by company cheque. On the day of the event, we ask our clients to supply a final cheque covering the remaining balance. If you need to pay by alternative means or on a different schedule, please let us know, and we will work with you to accommodate accordingly.
HOW MUCH LEAD TIME IS REQUIRED FOR AN EVENT?
Some conference planners engage with us up to 12 months in advance of the ‘big day’…while others may call us the week before, in a bit of a rush. While our preference is to have as much preparation time as possible (especially for more elaborate or intricate events – such as an Iron Chef Challenge, for instance), we certainly understand that even the best laid logistical plans can sometimes go awry at the last second. Our mandate is to be as flexible and accommodating as possible – in order to not only put our clients’ minds at ease, but deliver the highest caliber of interactive programming that your team deserves.
DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO PARTICIPATE?
Our programs are designed to be all-inclusive. We love to encourage people to try new and exciting things, and we love it when groups are willing to step outside of traditional comfort zones to experience the thrill of a new achievement. And while our skilled and energetic facilitation team will always gently encourage participants to try all of our programs – if anyone ever wishes to simply observe an activity, that’s perfectly ok with us too.
MY GROUP HAS SOME SPECIAL NEEDS – IS THIS GOING TO POSE A CHALLENGE?
Not in the very least. We work closely with our clients to ensure that programs are tailor-made for your group’s exact dynamics and capabilities. The ultimate goal is for everyone to ideally participate and have fun together! When we first connect with customers, we like to ask a myriad of questions to help us better understand the group’s overall make up, goals and past team building experiences. Are there any disabilities that we should be aware of…what is the general age range and gender ratio of the group…are there any known restrictions (ie: food allergies, etc.) that we need to be cognizant of…and many others. They’re designed to provide us with relevant and critical information to ensure that your team building program is not only the perfect fit for your team, but executed flawlessly the day of.
I’M PLANNING THE WHOLE EVENT – CAN I STILL PLAY?
Absolutely! It’s actually our preference. While many of our programs deploy fully-customized, “covert” game-related information and content (ie: Scavenger Hunt Riddles, Amazing Race Challenges & Destinations, Game Show Questions, etc.) we can certainly keep you as much (or little) in the dark as you desire. We love to see everyone “play” – senior and junior staff alike. Just because you’re the event-planning star of the hour doesn’t mean you have to be relegated to the sidelines.
HOW CUSTOMIZED CAN THE EVENTS BE?
As much as you’d like. Do you have an event theme or focus you’d like to be the center of attention? Maybe you have a corporate identity or specific content you’d like to see featured? Perhaps you have a logo or corporate branding that needs to be prominently displayed…it could even be as simple as a special theme song you’d like the group to enter or exit to. Everything is fully customizable! We have built a reputation on paying attention to every last detail. Just tell us what you need…
WE HAVE YET TO BOOK A VENUE – ANY SUGGESTIONS?
We have had the privilege of working all over North America and are familiar with many different venue options. From the largest, most extravagant hotels & resorts to the coziest, quaintest inns, lodges & parks – we have executed programming at venues of all sizes and price budgets. We’re happy to suggest possible location-specific options for your group, upon request, and if we happen to be unfamiliar with a specific venue of choice, we’ll often join our clients on formal site visits – to ensure that the space in question is adequate for the program selected.
We hope that this information helps with your ultimate decision-making process. Please do not hesitate to call us about your exact event specifics, or ask us any further questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!
– Teambonders
