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Essentials in Contracting Entertainment
By Lance Campbell
When purchasing entertainment you want to be able to
make the process go as smoothly as possible. I’m not
just talking about the nuts and bolts of signing
agreements. But also knowing what you don’t want as much
as realizing what you do desire when talking with the
entertainer. Communicating is so important. The
entertainer wants all to go as smoothly as you do.
So what follows are steps to make your booking …and
entertainment experience a pleasant one.
1. Decide the goal that you wish the entertainment to
achieve.
• Purely entertainment
• To break the ice and get people interacting.
• To market or sell a product or service.
2. What is the desired format?
• Stage / platform ( Band, various show formats,
speaker )
• Roving (magicians, characters, clowns)
• Station (face painters, psychic readers, caricature
artists, etc.)
• Ambiance ( band as background during dinner,
characters)
3. Ask about the entertainments requirements
• Stage/ platform?
• Technical needs (power requirements, backdrop, light
and sound) Some entertainers provide their own equipment
as part of a package. This often is less expensive than
hiring from an outside source.
• Set- up time and load in specifics.
• Entertainment needs a captive audience! No food
service during a stage show if it is a directly
interactive style of performance. You want to get your
bang for the buck without people being distracted.
4. Booking the Entertainment
• Contact entertainment in a timely manner.
(especially if wanting customization)
• Have your event facts ready so that the entertainer
can be specific for you.
• Expect to pay a deposit
5. Have day of show specifics organized
• Easy access for load in
• Parking for entertainer
• Green room or area so that entertainment can relax
when not on.
• Name and phone of contact person on site the day of
event
I hope this has been helpful and I look forward to
working with you in the near future. |