It's typical to use a celebrity as a featured entertainer. But guests are more surprised to encounter celebrities in unexpected place—such as behind the bar. At the MSNBC's White House Correspondents Dinner after-party in Washington in 2012, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow poured drinks for part of the evening.
Another way to surprise guests is to keep them amused and engaged during otherwise tedious parts of an event, such as standing in line to register or waiting for valet. At the Shedd Aquarium's 2008 gala in Chicago, fire dancers from Pyrotechniq performed for guests waiting for their cars after the event. The surprise aligned with the institution's overall brand messaging. “This is something we do at Shedd Aquarium on a daily basis—engage guests while they are waiting for something, to make the time go faster and the wait not seem so long,” said Jennifer Baryl, then the senior director of the aquarium.
