On the clock during the solar eclipse? Nashville companies plan cool parties for employees

Yes, the solar eclipse takes place on a Monday.

A work day.

Groan.

But many Nashville companies don't plan to keep their employees chained to their cubicles or mired in meetings. At least not midday.

Given the once-in-a-lifetime buzz around the historic event, local businesses have parties planned. They are hosting everything from parking lot festivities featuring snow cones to balcony bashes with branded glasses and Moon Pies.

Even the Davidson County courthouse is closing for a couple of hours to allow its employees to view the eclipse.

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So, for those who still choose to slog through rush-hour traffic to those early-morning work-related to-dos, there's still hope for an out-of-this-world viewing experience.

Total eclipses are a visual spectacle, so it's no surprise that it would inspire some works of art — at work.

On Monday, Nissan will create a larger-than-life (as in 37,500 square feet) eclipse-themed piece of lawn art at their corporate headquarters in Franklin.

Under the direction of local artist Chris Zidek — a contributor to the Nashville Walls Project — portions of the piece are designed to glow-in-the-dark during the eclipse.

When the city starts to dim, some of Nissan's 2,000 employees will stand in different areas of the design — with glow sticks and their cool eclipse glasses, of course — and become part of the art.

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“Art communicates to everyone regardless of language, location or background," said Brian Courtney, senior manager in employee communications at Nissan North America. "For most people, the eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we felt it should be celebrated and remembered together."

Warby Parker, a sunglass and eyeglass retailer, also sought art of the astronomical kind.

It commissioned local violist and composer Chris Farrell to write a string quartet just for an event to be held at Warby Parker's Edgehill Village store.

Farrell loved the idea of composing a piece to play during the event, but he wasn't sure where to begin. In talking to a few friends, Farrell learned about the wavy lines and shadows that show up on the ground right before totality called "shadow snakes." They inspired him to write a piece that was snake-like with different melodies crossing over each other.

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The composition will be performed during the darkness by ALIAS Chamber Ensemble at Warby Parker's public party on Monday.

"I know that this is really a once-in-a-lifetime event," Farrell said, "and to compose something to accompany it — to provide a soundtrack to the totality — is very exciting."

Parking garages, parks and landing pads, oh my!

Meanwhile, most all companies are considering safety first for their parties, providing employees with eclipse glasses.

Asurion bought 4,000 eclipse glasses to give to employees at its five Nashville locations, and each team will watch the eclipse together in the parking lot with special perks like a shaved ice truck or live music.

At Cat Financial, the company's 900 employees are invited to a solar eclipse cookout on the top deck of the company's parking garage off West End Avenue. There will be food, drinks, games and a special eclipse playlist providing the tunes.

In addition to company-branded eclipse glasses and themed party food like Moon Pies, Eclipse gum and soda, Dollar General is also raffling off prime viewing spots on its helicopter landing pad for a select group of employees.

For just $1, employees can enter a drawing for one of the 25 spots positioned up atop the Goodlettsville-based company's corporate headquarters. All the money raised will go to Dollar General's employee assistance program to help those with personal emergencies.

FBMM Entertainment Business Management is moving beyond the asphalt jungle and taking its event on the road.

On Monday, when the 120 or so employees arrive, they’ll find eclipse-themed goodie bags waiting on their desks. Then they will travel to a pavilion in Centennial Park for a catered lunch by Bread & Company, games like cornhole and frisbee, some "Total Eclipse of the Heart" playlist and the real total eclipse.

"Some of our employees asked if we had anything planned or mentioned that they might take the day off as not to miss it," FBMM business manager Julie Boos said. " And we thought, why not get in on the fun and allow everyone to experience this event together?"

Just take the day off

Work party or not, there's a good chance some people will still take a vacation day.

Maybe they will play hooky or even call in sick.

But some businesses decided there was no need to work at all and declared eclipse day a holiday, of sorts.

A Plus Storage of Tennessee is giving its employees the day off to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime event with their families.

So, too, is The General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church. Employees there also got eclipse viewing goodie bags that included an eclipse-themed plastic cup, viewing glasses, a guide to eclipses, an eclipse safety guide, goldfish and a pack of Orbitz gum.

How about a Molar Eclipse?

And, if you must work, some businesses are still trying to make the most of it.

Father and son dentist duo, Tom and Will Jones, will be celebrating with a Molar Eclipse party at their Brentwood practice.

Each patient on Aug. 21 will receive a gift bag with solar eclipse glasses, Moon Pie, Sun Chips and Eclipse gum.

But, it seems, even the dentists can walk away from their molars for a few minutes.

"We will stop our work a handful of times to go outside and watch the eclipse on Monday," the dentist office's social media post promises.

"Here's to hoping it's not cloudy."

Reach Jessica Bliss at 615-259-8253 and jbliss@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter @jlbliss.