Background music isn’t cutting it anymore. Your guests didn’t put on dress shoes and skip dinner with their kids just to vibe to the same ten songs from the corporate Spotify playlist.
These days, if you want the energy up at your event, you need to let the crowd drive the soundtrack. Enter: lip sync battles, live karaoke, and crowd-powered playlists, the trifecta of interactive entertainment that transforms a passive audience into the main attraction.
Because when the music experience is something your guests do, not just hear, the whole vibe changes. The best event planners know just how to tap into this vibe to elevate every engagement, too.
Why interactive music entertainment works
You know what happens when someone in a sequined jumpsuit fake-sings “Proud Mary” like their life depends on it? People lose their minds… in a good way.
Interactive music entertainment works because it breaks the ice fast. It invites people to stop hovering near the cheese table and actually participate in the fun. And here’s the secret. People love to be part of the show. Even if they don’t want to sing (or vote or dance,) they still want to watch their coworkers or friends take the stage. It’s part spectacle, part therapy.
Plus, it’s easy to scale. Whether you’re hosting 50 people or 5,000, this kind of programming adapts to the room.
Lip Sync Battles: All the drama, none of the vocal risk
The beauty of a lip sync battle is that it’s pure performance. You don’t need pipes. You just need enthusiasm, a solid song pick, and maybe a few questionable dance moves.
They work at all kinds of events, including team retreats, fundraisers, brand launches, you name it. You can theme them (’80s night, TikTok hits, Broadway,) make them team-based, or set it up tournament-style with brackets and prizes.
Pro tip: Add props, a judging panel, or custom LED backdrops to make it feel like a real showdown. Bonus points if the CEO commits to a Beyoncé number.
Live Karaoke—but make it a show
Karaoke is nothing new. But live karaoke, backed by a full band or a hype-worthy emcee? That’s a different beast. It’s about people feeling like rockstars for 3.5 minutes.
Want to take it up a notch? Add costume racks. Let guests sign up in advance or get pulled from the crowd. Create a “green room” area with snacks and mocktails to keep the energy up.
And for guests who would rather watch, turn the space into a lounge-style viewing zone. Everyone loves a front-row seat to a colleague’s emotional rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Crowd-powered playlists: Let them DJ
If full-on performances aren’t the right vibe for your event, there’s still a way to let guests drive the music: let them choose it. Crowd-sourced playlists, app-based song requests, and live voting turn passive listening into a shared experience.
Whether you use a QR code on cocktail tables or a big screen showing the song queue, letting guests vote on what plays next keeps people engaged and gives them something to talk about.
Tip: Use it for more than just music. Run a “walk-up song” competition, let departments vote for their anthem, or create a branded moment around one winner’s pick.
Want your entertainment to be the main event?
If you’re in the business of creating unforgettable event experiences, you already know music matters. And when it’s interactive? It becomes the moment people remember.
If you’re planning, producing, or performing this kind of entertainment, you should be showcasing it.
Exhibit at The Event Planner Expo 2025 and put your talents in front of the planners, brands, and pros who actually get it.
The post Lip Sync Battles, Live Karaoke, and Crowd-Powered Playlists appeared first on The Event Planner Expo.
