May has turned out to be quite a busy month here, with telegrams, birthday parties, graduations and weddings blooming everywhere! With so many events in a row I began to notice a pattern among the clients; many of them had either had previous bad experiences hiring entertainment or had no experience at all and weren't sure how to proceed. With that in mind, I would like to offer some tips for hiring entertainment for your next event that are aimed at helping you and your entertainer have the best possible experience.
1. Know what your budget is and what you are willing/able to spend. There is a small amount of truth to the old adage "you get what you pay for,." but that doesn't mean you can't get quality on a small budget. The key is being honest with yourself and your performer when you are booking. Telling a professional entertainer or photographer that you can't afford to pay "but it will be great exposure/experience/opportunity" is the same as saying our time, expertise and skill has no value. If you have a small budget, that's ok, but there is a difference between having a small budget and being unwilling to pay a fair price for a skilled professional. you wouldn't go to a fancy steakhouse and walk out without paying, saying "well the chef had good experience learning how to make the meal..." It's the same with a professional entertainer. We aren't learning how to do what we do; we have spent hours upon hours perfecting skills that we make a living with.
2. Please have all of the important information for the event available at the time of booking. Entertainers very often have multiple events in one day, so knowing the actual time and location of your event is very important. If your event is outside, we need to know. If your event is formal attire or requires a security pass, we need to know. If you don't have an address available at at the time of booking, please make sure you have one when you fill out the contract for the event.
3. Please READ, fill out and return contracts ASAP
Once you have agreed on a time, place and price, your entertainer should send you a contract confirming the details you discussed. It is very important you read and return this, because there may be important details about requirements such as power outlets or payment options that need to be addressed before the event. If you do not return the contract in a timely fashion, your performer may not be able to hold the date for your event. Please remember that without a signed contract and/or deposit, a performer is in limbo.
4. Please uphold your end of the contract.
if your entertainer is scheduled to start at 1pm and perform until 2:30 but your event doesn't start until 2pm, please understand your entertainer may not be able to stay the same amount of time. If your contract states a performer requires a power outlet and there is not one available, you may not be able to get the best performance possible. If you agreed to something in the contract, please honor it.
While i could say much more on the subject, i will leave it here for now. i hope these tips help you have the best entertainment experiences you can. Happy Bookings!
Angel
1. Know what your budget is and what you are willing/able to spend. There is a small amount of truth to the old adage "you get what you pay for,." but that doesn't mean you can't get quality on a small budget. The key is being honest with yourself and your performer when you are booking. Telling a professional entertainer or photographer that you can't afford to pay "but it will be great exposure/experience/opportunity" is the same as saying our time, expertise and skill has no value. If you have a small budget, that's ok, but there is a difference between having a small budget and being unwilling to pay a fair price for a skilled professional. you wouldn't go to a fancy steakhouse and walk out without paying, saying "well the chef had good experience learning how to make the meal..." It's the same with a professional entertainer. We aren't learning how to do what we do; we have spent hours upon hours perfecting skills that we make a living with.
2. Please have all of the important information for the event available at the time of booking. Entertainers very often have multiple events in one day, so knowing the actual time and location of your event is very important. If your event is outside, we need to know. If your event is formal attire or requires a security pass, we need to know. If you don't have an address available at at the time of booking, please make sure you have one when you fill out the contract for the event.
3. Please READ, fill out and return contracts ASAP
Once you have agreed on a time, place and price, your entertainer should send you a contract confirming the details you discussed. It is very important you read and return this, because there may be important details about requirements such as power outlets or payment options that need to be addressed before the event. If you do not return the contract in a timely fashion, your performer may not be able to hold the date for your event. Please remember that without a signed contract and/or deposit, a performer is in limbo.
4. Please uphold your end of the contract.
if your entertainer is scheduled to start at 1pm and perform until 2:30 but your event doesn't start until 2pm, please understand your entertainer may not be able to stay the same amount of time. If your contract states a performer requires a power outlet and there is not one available, you may not be able to get the best performance possible. If you agreed to something in the contract, please honor it.
While i could say much more on the subject, i will leave it here for now. i hope these tips help you have the best entertainment experiences you can. Happy Bookings!
Angel