Employees trained to perform at company year-end galas

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Employees are taking on the role of event planners for the year-end company galas that have become a much-anticipated feature of Spring Festival celebrations.

More and more companies are preparing the shows themselves as well as training their own staff as performers, rather than hiring professional entertainers.

“The cost is almost the same, so companies are more willing to pay for training, giving staff a sense of belonging, participation and achievement," said industry insider Sun Zhi. "Audiences are generally picky towards professional shows, but they appreciate their peers' performances.”

Many Chinese employees look forward to their company's year-end galas. /VCG Photo

Ma Xuanhao, who studied theater acting at university and owns a dance training institution in southwest China’s Chengdu City, has been busy training dancers for 26 companies during the past two months.

“We usually charge 3,000 to 4,000 yuan (about 470 to 625 US dollars) to rehearse a dance for four to six people," the 31-year-old told Chengdu Evening News. "For performances with props, theater plays or stand-up comedies, the price would be 8,000 yuan. ”

Alibaba gala in Hangzhou, 2017. /VCG Photo

General manager Zhan Deyan said his pharmaceutical company spent more than 70,000 yuan in training gala performances last year, a cost he considers worthwhile.

“It is not a small sum for a private company, but we were surprised to find how much employees have changed after performing," Zhan said. "People cheered for every small progress their colleagues made. A vigorous team is what an enterprise would like to have most.”

At the same time, creative ideas and program scripts are also available online and can be customized for individual company galas.

So staffers can soak up the performances amid fine dining and the year-end bonuses, of course.