Brandon Crumpton is the owner and founder of Key Signature Entertainment. The Charlotte based company is a live music and entertainment booking resource that connects clients to talent. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority named them the 2018 Service Provider of the year and they typically book 600 events a year. Crumpton says after a very difficult 2020, the event industry is coming back- they booked 500 events in 2021 and they’re “working our way back to normal.” We asked the entertainment pro what he expects for the year ahead and advice on picking the perfect venue for your event.

What do you expect to see as far as events go in 2022?

In person events are already back. Surprisingly last year felt normal in the amount of events. Its hard to predict peoples comfortability level. We have clients who are concerned with the number of people in a room even with high safety measures and then turn on the tv and there are 70,000 people sitting in a stadium with no safety measures. The logic is all over the place. We just try to meet people where they are and assist accordingly.

What kind of events do you have on the books now?

Outdoor concerts and festivals are back. People feel comfortable outside. Corporate is slowly coming back, but people still seem to be hesitant to gather a group of people from all over the world. Private events and weddings are above average. People lost a whole year and are playing catch up. We are hoping to see a spike in corporate business in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Only so much synergy and motivation can be achieved in a virtual meeting.

How excited are you about the year ahead?

We’re seeing more private parties this year and more weddings. Omicron set us back to start 2022. Some corporate business that was planning to come to Charlotte decided to hold off a bit so it’s hard to say if we’re back to pre-covid levels just yet. The business we’re getting is different no large concerts but more weddings and more private parties. There is a large group of people ready to dive in and get back to normal. Then there are probably just as many people not ready to leave the house and have gotten really comfortable working from home.

What do corporate event planners look for when choosing a venue?

Big! Big enough to spread people out. Locations with outdoor options and updated cleaning protocols with air filtering systems.

What do you think are some of the key amenities that make a venue and an event successful?

When it comes down to it, people remember how much fun they had and if they were inspired. The logistics and execution are important, but you have to trigger a positive emotion or feeling. Live music plays a huge role in that.

 What are some of the key things people need to know when planning a corporate event?

Commit to moving forward if you’re going to have an in person corporate event. Vendors are less likely to cancel and reschedule because the calendar is already full. Covid is becoming a normal part of planning events and is beginning to be a less acceptable reason to cancel.

The Venues at Langtree in Mooresville, North Carolina is home to more than 26,000 square feet and five different venue spaces that can accommodate events such as large weddings, private parties, corporate retreats and intimate gatherings with both indoor and outdoor options. Also coming later this year, an additional half acre of outdoor space.