Holiday Team Building Activities

Corporate team building activity with Band In 60. Coworkers participating in a music team building activity.

Holiday Team Building Activities for Work

Planning the company holiday event sounds simple—until the questions start.

“Will everyone enjoy it?”

“Will everyone participate?”

“Haven’t we done this before?”

“Will it actually bring the team together?”

“Do we have the budget?”

“And who invited Accounting to the planning committee?”

The Reality

Companies can spend thousands of dollars on catering, venues and entertainment—only for the entire event to become a distant memory by Monday morning.

“How was the holiday party?”

“Good.”

“What did you do?”

“…There was chicken.”

Memorable experiences usually need something more: laughter, surprise, participation, friendly competition and a shared moment people actually want to talk about afterward.

Dinner, drinks and traditional holiday parties can certainly bring employees together. But companies looking for something more interactive can create an experience where employees don't just attend the event.

They help create it.

What If Your Employees Became the Holiday Party?

That's where Band In 60 takes a different approach.

Instead of employees watching the entertainment, they become the entertainment.

Your coworkers form bands, choose instruments, learn their parts, rehearse together and prepare to take the stage.

And suddenly:

Sales has a drummer.

Accounting has a guitarist.

The CEO is holding a bass.

And HR is wondering how this wasn't in the job descriptions.

Welcome to Band In 60.

How Does Band In 60 Work?

1. Create

Divide employees into teams by department, location or project group—or mix departments to create entirely new teams. Each team becomes a band of musicians.

Within each team, assign the roles:

Keyboardists • Drummer • Bassist • Guitarists • Singers

Everyone has a part to play. No musical experience is required. Everyone starts together, learns together and discovers what they can accomplish as a team.

And yes, the person who says, “I’m not musical,” usually gets an instrument too. Nice try.

2. Collaborate

In 60 minutes or less, Band In 60 guides complete beginners through their parts and brings the band together to rehearse.

Employees listen, communicate and collaborate, turning individual parts into one performance.

Which means Sales finally has to listen to Accounting. 😄

3. Celebrate

Here comes the payoff. Take the stage.

Each band performs live at the company holiday event. Coworkers become the entertainment, departments cheer each other on, and then the Battle of the Bands begins.

Compete for:

Best Band • Best Performance • Best Teamwork • Best Stage Presence • Audience Favorite

And, of course, bragging rights until next year.

Warning: Winning departments may become completely unbearable on Monday morning. 😄

Do We Need Expensive Musical Equipment?

No. Creating a Band In 60 setup doesn't require professional studio equipment or thousands of dollars in instruments.

In fact, a basic setup with a keyboard, electronic drums, bass and guitar can cost less than a new iPhone—and the equipment can be used again for future team-building events, employee programs and company competitions.

Companies can also use equipment they already own or rent instruments for a one-time event.

Think of it as reusable team-building equipment—not a one-time event expense.

Holiday Battle of the Bands

Divide employees into multiple bands. Each group learns, rehearses and prepares its own performance.

Sales vs. Marketing. Finance vs. Operations. Leadership vs. everyone brave enough to challenge them.

Then finish the event with a:

Holiday Battle of the Bands

Bands take the stage and perform for coworkers, leadership or invited guests.

Companies can add awards such as:

Best Band

Best Performance

Best Teamwork

Best Stage Presence

Audience Favorite

The final performance gives every team something tangible to work toward together.

And when it's over?

One team gets the trophy. Everyone gets a story. And somebody from Accounting will probably start planning the world tour.

Why Music Works for Corporate Team Building

Playing in a band naturally requires many of the behaviors companies want teams to practice:

Communication — participants have to listen and respond to one another.
Collaboration — every role contributes to the finished song.
Leadership — employees have opportunities to guide, encourage and organize their teams.
Trust — participants depend on teammates to perform their individual roles.
Creativity — employees experience coworkers in a completely different environment.
Shared achievement — the group finishes with something they created together.

Instead of explaining teamwork, employees experience it.

Do Employees Need Musical Experience?

No. Absolutely none.

Band In 60 is designed for complete beginners.

Employees don't need to know how to read music, play an instrument or have any previous band experience.

In fact, “I have absolutely no musical talent” might be the perfect qualification.

That's part of the experience.

Coworkers begin with a challenge that may feel completely unfamiliar and discover what they can accomplish by listening, communicating and working together.

And about 60 minutes later, someone who started with:

“There is NO WAY I'm getting on that stage.”

may be saying:

“Turn my guitar up.”

Holiday Team Building for Small Groups

Small team? Perfect. You only need one band.

Employees choose their roles, learn the music and work together toward one final performance.

This format works especially well for departments, leadership teams, startups and smaller companies because everyone gets to participate.

And with a small group, there's nowhere to hide.

Yes, even the CEO might be playing drums.

By the end, they're no longer just coworkers.

They're a band—with a group photo to prove it.

Holiday Team Building for Large Groups

Large company? Now things get interesting.

Create multiple bands and let departments battle departments, locations challenge locations, or mix teams so employees work with coworkers they may normally only know from email.

Sales vs. Marketing. Finance vs. Operations. New York vs. Los Angeles. Leadership vs. everybody.

Each band learns, rehearses and prepares for the big event.

Then turn the company holiday celebration into a full-scale Battle of the Bands—complete with performances, audience voting, awards and bragging rights.

And don't be surprised when the quietest person in the company suddenly becomes the lead singer nobody saw coming.

Indoor Holiday Team Building Activity

Because Band In 60 can be organized indoors, December weather doesn't get a vote.

No checking the forecast. No backup plan because it snowed. And no asking employees to do trust exercises outside in 32-degree weather.

Band In 60 can be incorporated into:

Corporate Offices • Conference Spaces • Retreat Venues • Hotels • Event Facilities • Community Spaces • Holiday Celebrations

The only storm you need to worry about is what happens when Sales discovers the drum kit.

Corporate Holiday Party Activity

Band In 60 can become part of a larger company holiday party.

Instead of employees spending the entire event eating, drinking and wondering when it's appropriate to leave, give them something to create together.

Coworkers form bands, learn their parts, rehearse and prepare to take the stage.

Then the final performances become part of the entertainment for the rest of the event.

No hired band required. Your employees are the band.

And suddenly the question isn't:

“What time does the party end?”

It's:

“When do we go on?”

Christmas Team Building Activities

Planning a company Christmas celebration? This year, give the office playlist some competition.

Teams form bands, choose their instruments, rehearse, perform and compete as part of a Christmas party, year-end celebration or employee appreciation event.

Turn departments into bands and finish the celebration with a Christmas Battle of the Bands.

Because apparently Accounting has been hiding a guitarist all year.

Organizations that prefer a broader seasonal approach can position the experience as holiday or year-end team building.

Either way, employees don't just attend the celebration.

They become the entertainment.

And who knows?

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” may never sound the same again.

How Long Does Band In 60 Take?

Band In 60 is designed to get complete beginners making music together in 60 minutes or less.

Most non-musicians can begin playing their individual part in just 5–10 minutes. Yes—even the coworker who insists, “Trust me, I have absolutely no musical talent.”

The remaining 40–50 minutes is spent rehearsing as a band—listening, communicating and bringing all the individual parts together.

Then comes showtime.

In about an hour, coworkers can go from:

“I don't play an instrument.”

to:

“Wait… are we actually good?”

And possibly:

“Okay… who booked Madison Square Garden?” 😄

What Instruments Can Employees Play?

Band In 60 is built around the core roles of a real band:

Keyboard • Drums • Bass • Guitar • Vocals

Employees choose their roles, learn their individual parts and then bring everything together for one shared performance.

Not sure who should play what? Don't worry—the instruments have a way of finding their people.

The quiet person from Accounting? Lead guitar.

The serious manager from Operations? Drums.

The coworker who talks through every meeting? Congratulations. You're the lead singer.

And the CEO?

We'll see what instruments are left.

What Skills Can a Music Team Building Activity Develop?

A band gives employees the opportunity to practice:

Communication • Active Listening • Collaboration • Leadership • Problem Solving • Adaptability • Confidence • Creative Thinking

The difference?

Employees aren't sitting through a presentation talking about teamwork.

They're actually doing it.

If the drummer doesn't listen, everyone knows it.

If the guitarist gets lost, the team adjusts.

If the singer comes in early… well, now we have a meeting.

Everyone has an individual responsibility, but success depends on the entire group working together.

Because in a band, “That’s not my department” is not an option.

How Do We Get Started?

Your employees don't have to be musicians.

They don't need rhythm. They don't need experience. They don't even need to know which end of the guitar is which.

They just need to be willing to try something new together.

Band In 60 guides complete beginners from:

“Absolutely not.”

to:

“Okay… I'll try it.”

to:

“WAIT—START OVER. I WASN'T READY!”

to:

“Did somebody record that?!”

And eventually:

“When's our next gig?”

Band In 60 provides the guided experience. Your employees bring the personalities.

Rock-star attitude optional. Apparently, it develops naturally.

FAQ

What is a holiday team building activity?

A holiday team building activity is a shared experience designed to help coworkers interact, collaborate and celebrate during the holiday season. Activities can include games, competitions, creative experiences, volunteer projects and group challenges.

Can Band In 60 work for employees who have never played music?

Yes. Band In 60 is designed for beginners. Participants do not need previous musical experience to take part.

Can large companies use Band In 60?

Yes. Larger groups can be divided into multiple bands, allowing teams or departments to rehearse separately and come together for final performances or a Battle of the Bands.

Can Band In 60 be used for a company Christmas party?

Yes. The experience can be incorporated into Christmas parties, holiday celebrations, employee appreciation events, corporate retreats and year-end events.