10 Tips for Booking Entertainment for a Corporate Event
Finding entertainment for a corporate convention, holiday party or convention can seem like an overwhelming task. There are literally thousands of excellent, good and downright awful corporate entertainment available. This list will give you some tips on narrowing your search and finding entertainment that will help make your event a success!
#10 - Plan early. Most popular corporate entertainment books up very quickly for popular dates. Entertainers can start booking more than a year in advance during the corporate holiday party season (November-January). Avoid despair and start looking for entertainment as soon as you know the date of your corporate event.
#9 - Comprehend what you really want (and even more basically, what your group needs). If you have an idea of what type of entertainment will work best for your group, you can make your search for an entertainer easier. Popular corporate entertainment includes:
Parody - Satire acts can be an incredible method for getting your gathering snickering together. Satire acts don't need to be simply professional comics. Many corporate comedy acts mix magic, juggling or other variety performances into their comedy shows. This diversity helps to ensure that there is something for everyone on display.
No matter what type of comedy act you choose, make sure the humor will suit your group. Various performers have different considerations of what "clean parody" is, so make sure to demand a demo video to see the show (see #1 underneath!).
Music - Many prominent singers and bands are available for corporate events.
Magic - There are different styles of corporate magicians and corporate magic shows. Some magicians perform roving magic (moving from table to table at your event), some perform grand illusions with special effects and a cast of dancers, while others specialize in comic magic that gets your audience laughing. Whatever style of corporate entertainment you are looking for, make sure you find a magician who specializes in that style. There are magicians who do everything you would say - illusion, comedy, twirls, but that's because they don't specialize in any particular genre, so all their shows are usually mediocre. For the best possible performance, hire a professional corporate magician who specializes in magic. These artists will be the best at illusion, joke or sleight of hand because that's what they do.
Entrancing - Hypnotherapists can be perfect for the right gathering. Hypnotist shows are very interactive and require a very outgoing and uninhibited group to be truly successful.
#8 - Book straightforwardly with the performer to set aside cash and migraines. Assuming you book your corporate amusement straightforwardly through the performer, you'll get a good deal on diversion. Most corporate entertainment agencies add an additional 15-35% to the entertainer's fee. By booking a corporate entertainer directly, you also have the advantage of being able to speak with the entertainer (or their office staff) about any questions or concerns you may have. Most corporate diversion organizations won't allow you to address the performer until the day of the show. By booking direct, you can be sure that there is no misinformation about performances. You can find direct contact information for entertainers by searching the Internet for "corporate entertainers," "California comedians," etc.
#7 - Plan a realistic budget. The familiar axiom, "The end product will usually reflect its price", applies to amusement also. Entertainment is not the place to save a few dollars. You should never cut back on the food you feed your guests and you should never cut back on the entertainment. Awful diversion can demolish an occasion similarly as fast as terrible food. You will not be able to get good quality corporate entertainment for $400 per show. For a high quality, professional corporate entertainment fee ranges from $1500 - $100,000+ depending on the size of the show and the experience and reputation of the performer.
#6 - Experience the artist. You want a corporate entertainer who primarily entertains a corporate audience. Don't be afraid to ask questions... Is the artist a full time entertainer? Have they performed at shows like yours in the past? Do they have letters of recommendation and reviews from previous clients for you to read?
#5 - If you have a special request....Ask! Many entertainers are happy to adapt parts of their performances for your event. If you have a special request in mind, be sure to discuss it with the artist at the time of booking.
#4 - Discuss set-up requirements before booking. Set-up requirements vary widely for entertainers. One may perform in the corner of a room with only a microphone, some require a minimal stage area and special sound and lighting arrangements. Be sure your venue will be able to accommodate your entertainer's set-up needs prior to booking.
#3 – Leave your guests wanting more. 90 minutes of entertainment may sound like a good idea when you're planning your corporate event, but most audiences don't want to sit through a 90-minute show. A long show does not equal a good show. Even the world's top comedians and entertainers (Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, etc.) only do 60-75 minute shows. Capable entertainers and corporate event coordinators agree that a nice length for most corporate live redirection is 35-50 minutes. It's always better to leave your audience excited and wanting more than to tire them out and watch them watch.
#2- Know what the fee includes. Many entertainers include travel costs in their performance fees and for some travel will be an additional expense. Make sure your quoted fee includes what's included to avoid any unexpected (and potentially expensive!) surprises.
#1 – Most Important – Always ask to see a demo video. A demo video is the only way you can really judge whether a corporate entertainer will be a good fit for your company party. Demo videos should be brief previews of segments from an entertainer's show Videos should be shot in front of a live audience so you can see how real viewers react to the show If an entertainer's video is nothing more than another clip set to music and flashy graphics, they're probably trying to cover up for an inadequate performance - or worse, it could mean they've never performed in front of a real audience.
