Theoretically, hiring an entertainer for a corporate event should be a walk in the park. Identify the entertainer, present them with an offer and sign the contract. However, in real life, there is a lot more to booking entertainment than meets the eye and some of the things you may disregard could mean the difference between scrambling to find just anyone to fill the slot and successfully hiring an entertainer. While each, the corporate event is different, there are a few common things that every corporation should look for in an entertainer.
Experience
The first step towards booking an entertainer for a corporate event is to identify them. The kind of entertainer you choose should match the kind of event you will be holding. There is no faster way to waste money on entertainment than by hiring someone who is not a good fit for the guests at your event. Once you know which entertainer you want for your event, you then have to reach out to their manager or agent. It is important to go for an entertainer who has experience working at corporate events and their agent can provide you with this information. Conversely, you could ask around your corporate circles to get a recommendation.
Strategy
When it comes to hiring entertainment for a corporate event, you need to know what you want your event to look like. It is just like opening a restaurant without a menu in place. An entertainer is less likely to take on a job if they do not know what they should expect. Therefore, if you contact them without a clear picture of what you want them to do; they may ignore your request. Booking entertainment for an event can take various forms so it is important to understand the differences before embarking on the process. For instance, your booking may entail just an appearance by the entertainer where you hire the entertainer to attend the event. This will cost you less but if you want the entertainer to interact with your guests, you will have to pay more. The entertainer you choose should have a strategy in place for whatever you want them to do at your event. If they fail to have one, your event could just as well flop.
Cost
Once you reach out to an entertainer and they accept your offer, you may think that is all there is to entertainment. That is a very wrong assumption because most of the time, the performance fee for the entertainer is not all you will have to pay. The entertainer’s fee is just a part of the overall cost of entertainment so if you fail to plan well, you may find yourself going over-budget fast. Entertainment fees cover the entertainer showing up at your event and doing what you asked of them. There are things that the entertainer will require during their performance and the entertainer’s fee does not cover them. For instance, you will have to cover their transportation to your event and the setup amenities like sound and lights.
Compromise
After getting in touch with an entertainer, do not be afraid to negotiate the booking fee. If both of you are willing to negotiate to arrive at a common price, you can save many up-front costs. It will be a plus for you if the entertainer of your choice is willing to compromise. An entertainer who is inflexible is likely to be uptight at your event and chances are that your guests will not even enjoy. However, just like with any negotiation, you have to know when to ease off and when to push. Failure to do that and you risk the entertainer not doing your event. It is important not to marry yourself to the idea of a particular entertainer. This way, it is easier to walk away before prices go out of hand.
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