Booking entertainment isn’t something the average person does on a regular basis so here’s a little advice on what questions you should ask to make sure you get the right entertainment for your event, whether it be a wedding, party or corporate event.
How Much?
Cost is usually pretty high on the list of people’s priorities when it comes to booking entertainment however the entertainment is going to be what maintains the atmosphere and keeps your event fun so it’s important not to scrimp. If you’re looking to book a magician (and if you’re reading this I’m hoping you are) the average cost is between £300-600 depending on factors such as the type of event, how many people, location etc. Different entertainers have different prices but I’d advise that you avoid anyone under £300 as they are likely to be inexperienced or amateurish which is not what you need if you are trying to create an amazing event. It’s also worth asking about their payment terms such as whether you need to pay a deposit and what happens if you need to cancel the booking.
Do You Have A Website With Photos/Videos/Reviews?
There are loads of entertainers out there all claiming to be great so how can you separate the wheat from the chaff? If they don’t have a website then they’re unlikely to be a full-time professional and you should probably avoid them. If their website has no photos or videos of them actually performing live that should also set alarm bells ringing. But the best way to tell if they are any good is the reviews. It’s great if they have them on their website but they might be cherry-picked or just made up so it’s best to look at places like Google or Facebook where the entertainer can’t delete bad reviews and can’t just make stuff up.
Do You Interact With The Audience?
Depending on the event you might want entertainment with loads of audience interaction or you might just want something to be happening in the background. I’ve seen this a few times when I’ve worked at weddings where musicians have been booked who are obviously used to working the crowd but they’ve been asked to perform at a time when background music would be more appropriate. The same can happen for most types of performer – jugglers, dancers and to a lesser extent even magicians! I once heard about a magician who was booked to mix and mingle with close-up magic who instead took over the whole event by doing a 45 minute street show which isn’t what the organisers wanted.
Who Do You Perform For?
Is the performer for adults only? Have they got material suitable for kids? Will granny enjoy herself? There’s no use booking someone who’s more experienced entertaining children to perform at a rowdy stag do (although drunks and children are more similar than you’d think) and you wouldn’t want someone who has no experience entertaining children performing at a family wedding. Always check that there’s material suitable for everyone that’s going to be in attendance at your event.
What’s Your Experience?
Did they start last week or have they been performing for decades? Are they a part time semi-pro or a full-time professional? Do they have loads of professional experience but at events that are nothing like yours? Ideally you want someone who’s been performing as a full-time professional for at least a few years including plenty of experience at similar events to yours.
So there’s my five questions to ask any entertainer you’re thinking of booking for your event. Do you think they’re good questions? Can you think of any more? Let me know in the comments and if you have any questions for me feel free to get in touch. Please like and share this blog and remember: knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting one in a fruit salad!
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash