Evolution of Corporate Parties: Insights from Rondo Legend Fara

As the holiday season approaches, corporate celebrations across Lithuania are ramping up, with the legendary band Rondo preparing for a busy schedule of performances. Aleksandras Ivanauskas-Fara has seen everything from grand-scale arenas to intimate corporate gatherings over two decades of touring.

Aleksandras Ivanauskas-Fara Compares Corporate Parties Past and Present

Corporate holiday gatherings have evolved significantly since Rondo first started performing at them. According to Ivanauskas-Fara, company parties twenty years ago focused primarily on eating and drinking, whereas today’s events rely heavily on professional event planners, elaborate scripts, dress codes, and structured activities.

Audiences have also changed their celebration habits over the past twenty years. Dabar linksmybių taip pat netrūksta, tačiau viskas vyksta kiek inteligentiškiau. Yra daugiau pagarbos vieni kitiems, Ivanauskas-Fara told Delfi, describing a shift toward a more respectful celebration culture.

Rondo Adapts to Reggae Themes and Arena Crowds

While many performances follow standard formats, Rondo occasionally encounters unconventional event planners. The band once prepared an entire concert program in a reggae style, complete with dreadlocks, wigs, and themed costumes.

The stylistic experiment shifted when guests had a few drinks and started shouting requests for familiar hits. Staiga visas tas regiškumas kažkur dingo. Dredai liko, bet regio muzikos jau nebereikėjo, Ivanauskas-Fara recalled to Delfi.

Scale varies widely among corporate events, with some reaching the size of major public concerts. Rondo once performed for 3,000 people at Žalgiris Arena in Kaunas during a corporate event that brought together employees, suppliers, partners, and shareholders from Lithuania and abroad.

Timeless Hits Remain Essential for Rondo Concerts

Despite adding new music to their repertoire, Rondo relies on tried-and-true hits to engage audiences. Sets invariably open and close with crowd-pleasing numbers like Netikėk, ką priešai suoks, Tu palauk, sustok, Sudie, Eliza, and Rytas perone.

Referencing a piece of advice once given by Vytautas Kernagis regarding Stasys Povilaitis, the band leader emphasized that established acts must honor the songs that built their careers.