It can be overwhelming to find entertainment for corporate holiday parties, conferences or corporate conventions. There are thousands of corporate entertainers that can be great, bad, or just plain awful. This list will provide some guidance on how to narrow your search and find entertainment that will make your event a success.
Plan A Realistic Budget. Entertainment is no different. Entertainment is not a place where you can save a few bucks. The entertainment is just as important as the food. You should not cut corners when it comes to the food your guests eat. Bad entertainment can make an event as disastrous as poor food. A 400 show is not enough to pay a professional corporate entertainer. The fees for a professional, top-quality corporate entertainer can range from 1500 to 100,000 depending on the size of your show and their reputation.
Know Your Performer’s Experience. Corporate entertainers should be able to entertain corporate audiences. Ask questions. Is the performer full-time? Are they past performers at similar events? Are there letters of recommendation or reviews from clients that you can look at?
Many entertainers will customize their performances for your event. You can discuss any special requests with the entertainer when you book.
Before You Book, Discuss Your Set-Up Requirements. There are many requirements for entertainers. While some entertainers can perform in a corner of a room using a microphone, others require a minimum area for sound and lighting equipment. Before you book, make sure your venue can accommodate your entertainer’s needs.
Leave Your Gist Wanting More. While 90 minutes of entertainment might sound great when planning a corporate event, most people do not want to watch 90 minutes of entertainment. Longer shows are not necessarily better. Even top comedians and entertainers Jerry Seinfeld or Jay Leno can only do 60-75 minutes shows. Corporate event planners and professional entertainers agree that 35-50 minutes is a good length to provide corporate entertainment. It is better to keep your audience engaged and wanting more, rather than making them tired and look at their watches.
Do you know what is included in the fees? You will need to pay travel expenses for hiring national entertainers for your corporate event. Most entertainers will include travel expenses in their performance fees. For some, it may be an additional cost. To avoid unexpected and potentially costly surprises, make sure you understand what is included in your quoted fee.
Most Importantly, Always Question To See A Demo Video. Only by seeing a demo video can you determine if a corporate entertainer is right for you. A demo video should show only a few highlights from an entertainer’s show. To see how the audience reacts, you should film the video in front of them. A video of an entertainer is not more than a few seconds with flashy graphics and music. This could indicate that they are trying to cover a poor performance.