Aerial Photo Systems view from above

The Brief

With a youthful workforce, one of the key events in this travel company’s internal calendar is the summer staff party. This year, with a growing global focus on space exploration, and the proximity of generally-accessible space travel, the company asked Oasis to help organise a staff party for 700 guests and 200 children, around the format of a new (fictional!) product launch: namely a luxury travel package ‘to the stars and beyond’.
The event was to be held at the company’s headquarters near Witney, Oxfordshire.

Amazing DJs and bands fill the dancefloor

The Solution

Working closely with the client team we designed and planned the summer staff party to develop some outline client ideas:

  • A “product launch” around a Cosmos theme with discrete areas to emulate the fictional product journey
  • Appeal to a youthful twenty-something audience with acknowledgement of the younger generation
  • Allow the client social committee to retain some involvement
  • Be Eco-friendly where possible
  • Ensure Budget-friendly and quality suppliers and maximum fun for minimum budget
  • Manage Multiple bars for speedy service
  • Adhere to Health and Safety requirements
  • Bus in staff from London office so all UK staff can attend

A futuristic inflatable structure and space-themed props created a “Mission Control” bar leading to the “Cosmos” marquee with starlight ceiling, lighting, and a stage for the main events.

A third fantasy ‘Avatar’-esque planet-themed marquee housed the food service and some chill-out seating: Enchanted trees, camouflage netting, giant alien flowers, colourful lighting and use of gobos and associated props.

With live entertainment and two bands selected by the client, we were asked to recommend a DJ to fill in around the live acts and to work with our sound and light team to build up to the launch at midnight. The DJs flexibility “totally made the event” from an entertainment point of view, and with pyro-technic effects, ‘smoke’, lasers and a light show we built to the climax of the night – the “launch” at midnight.

Food included a choice of 2 main course options and one vegetarian option to keep guests fed during the evening all served in bio-degradable food cartons with cutlery to meet budget and environmental objectives. Bar staff dressed as lab technicians administered the ‘vaccine’ to be taken on entering mission control as well as managing two bars and keeping all the drinks refrigerated on what was one of the warmest evenings of the summer.

We also provide other key party elements for this summer staff party such as loos, advice on waste management and a detailed analysis of supplier power requirements all whilst keeping an eye on budget meant we brought the party elements in on time and budget.