Why vendors should think in concepts
Corporates don't book "a DJ". They book a Casino Night, a braai day or a Gatsby gala, then work out who they need. If you know which concepts fit which briefs, you can pitch the whole night instead of one line item. This tool shows you that. Put in a brief (headcount, budget, month, culture, alcohol policy) and it returns the three concepts that fit best, plus the vendor categories each one books.
| Concept type | Vendors it usually books |
|---|---|
| Casino Night | Activations & games, DJ, mobile bar, caterer, décor, photo booth, AV |
| Festival / Street Food | Food trucks, live band, DJ, mobile bar, games, décor, AV, kids' entertainment |
| Afro House Sundowner | DJ, mobile bar, caterer, décor, AV, photographer |
| Family Fun Day | Kids' entertainment, games, caterer, DJ, décor, photographer |
What the budgets look like
Costs come from B&W Productions' 2026 cost guide: a year-end function runs from R650 per delegate (budget) through R1,200 (mid-range) to R2,200 (premium), all-in, excluding VAT. Per the same guide, October–December costs 15–30% more than the quiet season, and December Fridays and Saturdays sell out months ahead. That's lekker for vendors with open diaries, and a reason to have your profile live early. Prep with our Gauteng year-end checklist, the Casino Night vs neon party showdown and 10 ways to do a year-end. DJs and bands: read how to get booked for corporate gigs.
Turn the output into a pitch
Pick your category in the vendor dropdown and the tool highlights every concept that needs you. Run a few briefs: a 300-person sales team in November, a 60-person creative studio in January, a no-alcohol family day. You'll quickly see where your service shows up most, and which partners you'll keep getting booked alongside. Then build packages around those concepts. A mobile bar can bundle a mocktail menu for limited-alcohol briefs, a DJ can pitch the decades set list, and a caterer can lead with separate halaal and vegetarian stations. Put those bundles on your HowzitLive profile so corporates find you when the marketplace opens to them in January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this tool for?
Mainly vendors and artists (DJs, bands, mobile bars, caterers, photo booths, décor and AV crews) who want to see which year-end concepts corporates go for and who each one books. Planners can use it too: flip the toggle to “I'm planning a year-end”.
Where do the cost figures come from?
From B&W Productions' 2026 cost guide, which puts a year-end function at R650–R2,200 per delegate, all-in, excluding VAT. Where each concept sits in that range is a planning assumption.
Does listing on HowzitLive cost anything?
No. Listing is free, there are no lead fees, you set your own prices, and payouts land the Friday after each event. The marketplace opens to corporate clients in January 2027.
Are these real bookings?
No. They're concept matches based on the brief you type in, not booking data. Use them to see which concepts and vendor mixes fit a given budget and culture.
How do I get a quote if I'm planning one?
Switch to “I'm planning a year-end”, build your concepts, then use the HowzitLive quote page to price it.
Which themes are proven and which are ideas?
Each concept is labelled. The popular themes come from B&W Productions' published year-end list; others, like the Afro House Sundowner and Amazing Race, are concept ideas.
Got the goods? Get the year-end briefs.
Free to list. No lead fees. You set your prices, and payouts land the Friday after each event. Marketplace opens to corporate clients in January 2027.
Apply as a vendor →Related guides
Sources
Concept matches and cost estimates are planning illustrations, not booking data or quotes. Fit scores and positions inside the published range are planning assumptions.