It is beneficial to be purposeful when you are ready to hire live entertainment for your event. Here are a few tips to help you when you are ready to start hiring for your event.
Consider Your Audience
Before deciding on the type of live entertainment, think about your guest list and consider what they want, as well. After all, you don’t want grandma blushing, or your boss feeling awkward and uncomfortable over the live entertainment. Make sure the entertainers you hire are appropriate for the guests you have coming.
Check Their References
Once you have narrowed down your list of entertainers, you will want to do a little more research on them to determine the best fit for your event. Ask for references, more than one. Find out what experiences their previous clients had with them. If you are using an online booking agency or talent booking app, be sure to read all the reviews for the entertainers you are considering. Doing so will help you find the best live entertainment for your event.
“You can’t rely on your hunch,” says Priscilla Claman, the president of Career Strategies, “Even though you’re right 90% of the time, the 10% that you’re wrong can be very damaging.”
Be Clear About Expectations
When you hire live entertainment, you can’t always control what happens when the performance goes live. Therefore, you need to be very clear about your expectations when you hire the entertainers. Don’t wait until the day of the event to make your limits and expectations known.
Make sure they understand anything you consider to be off-limits in their act. For example, if you are hiring a comedian, you can let them know which topics are off-limits. Or, if you are hiring a band, you can compile a list of music you would like played during the event.
Clear it With Your Venue
Not all entertainment venues allow live entertainment. Or they might have a clause in their contract that requires pre-approval before hiring certain live entertainment. For example, Circus performers and Flame performers might not be accepted at all venues.
23% of organizations primarily run live events at community buildings. Some venues may even require the entertainers to provide proof of insurance prior to showing up for the gig. Make sure that the venue owners approve of your entertainment before you hire them.
Volume Control
If you are hiring a live band, are you hiring them for dance party music, or will their music be in the background? Volume control is vital if you want your guests to be able to talk to each other without screaming over the music. Be clear and upfront about your volume control expectations with the live entertainment.
Conclusion
The average event planner allocates 24% of their total budget to live entertainment. With a fourth of their budget going towards entertainment, event planners need to make sure they have all their bases covered. They need to make sure that the live entertainment fully understands their role in the event and your expectations of them. If this is done correctly, your event will be the success you want it to be.
