Entertainment promotions provide your company with a powerful platform from which you can harness your audience's unquenchable desire for digital entertainment. New movies continue to draw enormous crowds. Rising music artists continue to grab the entertainment spotlight. Custom promotions can be designed to deliver digital incentives that leverage the popularity of Hollywood blockbusters, music artists, high-profile television programs, and video games. Your target market is already exposed to these entertainment channels. Entertainment promotions give you a unique opportunity to tap into those channels. A growing number of companies are launching entertainment promotions as a cost-effective strategy for reaching their target audience. You can do the same. In this article, we'll describe the most popular entertainment promotions and explain how you can leverage them. We'll also take a closer look at creating custom promotions with specific digital content that delivers a memorable interactive experience to consumers. Lastly, we'll explain how radio promotions and entertainment promotions can dovetail with one another to build promotional momentum and connect with your audience. Types Of Entertainment Promotions At Your Fingertips Consider the entertainment channels to which your audience connects. Then, think about the enormous breadth of content they consume through those channels. Each highly-anticipated movie, prominent music artist, and popular television show gives your company an opportunity to connect with viewers and fans. Entertainment promotions deliver digital content that builds upon the popularity and anticipation surrounding these entertainment outlets. For example, your company can offer music downloads that target fans of an artist who is launching a high-profile tour. Or, you can offer skins, images, videos, and similar digital incentives to ride the wave of anticipation behind an upcoming movie. Each year, blockbuster video games are released that capture that market segment by storm. You can launch entertainment promotions that cater specifically to that market. How Brand Promotions Leverage Your Brand Identity All companies have a brand identity. The problem is, most squander it; they rarely leverage their brands effectively to promote their products and build market awareness. Brand promotions integrate core elements of your brand into digital entertainment incentives. When consumers download images, videos, music, and other digital content that share a link with your products, the experience strengthens your brand in their minds. It engages them through a promotional channel that encourages them to purchase your products. By associating your brand with popular entertainment incentives, you'll also enjoy increased customer loyalty. Entertainment Promotions: Creating Custom Promotions For Your Company One of the unique strengths of an entertainment promotion is flexibility in design. They can be customized to fit a refined approach. This is critical because your target market is entirely different than others. The connection you enjoy with your audience is unique. Custom promotions give you an opportunity to deliver digital incentives that meet a tightly-honed objective. Rather than delivering a vast menu of content choices to consumers, these promotions focus on a specific subset. That allows you to hone your campaign and create a stronger connection with your audience. The more refined your offer, the easier it is to appeal to your market. How Radio Promotions And Entertainment Promotions Work Together Radio has traditionally been reserved for promoting artists and their labels. However, music labels, sponsors, brands, and retail giants have discovered that radio promotions offer mutually beneficial advantages. For example, you can launch an entertainment promotion that builds upon the anticipation behind an upcoming album release. As the first songs are released on the radio, your promotion can offer free downloads as a consumer incentive. Given that radio stations serve limited geographic areas, your entertainment promotions can target specific cities, improving the refinement of your customer database. Connecting With Your Audience Through Entertainment Digital Promotions The world is moving at a faster pace than ever. People are consuming content with their laptops and mobile devices in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago. While many companies seem intimidated by the shift, this new landscape has yielded exciting promotional opportunities. Entertainment promotions leverage this new paradigm and bridge the gap between your brand and your customers. You can form a unique connection with your audience by building upon the popularity of movies, music, video games, and other entertainment content. Digital entertainment promotions allow you to exploit an inexhaustible pool of licensed digital content. They are an ideal platform from which to connect with your target audience, build brand exposure, and dramatically increase customer loyalty.

When it comes to having a variety of comedians to choose from, some agencies fall short. That they offer the best in entertainment, but in the end all they offer is a very short list of available entertainers that you can choose from. You do not have to settle for this kind of service from your corporate event entertainment company, you can have options and you can choose from a long list of very good entertainers that your company will love to have at their event. Choosing the right corporate event entertainment company means choosing a company that has years of experience providing quality entertainment from comedians to mentalists and everything in between for corporate events. What's more, this is a company that understands the need for a budget, especially in these tough economic times, and can provide a long list of entertainers that will work within your budget constraints. This makes it a lot easier for a company to choose quality entertainment without wondering if they could do better. Anyone who has ever planned a corporate event understands just how important it is to find the right kind of quality entertainment that does not offend a professional audience. A good Comedian Booking agency understands that as well and provides appropriate entertainment for your corporate event entertainment and does not try to push a comedian or entertainer on you that could possibly hurt your professional career. What's more, they literally work with thousands of entertainers so that they and you have plenty of choices for the big day. Choosing a good company is great because they aren't just a local company that provides corporate event entertainment to one city. They have entertainers all over the country so that it is possible for them to send someone to cities all across the United States. What's more, they have entertainers who will travel as well, and if that is in your budget, you can get a comedian or an entertainer in your city, even if they live somewhere else. Choosing the right corporate event entertainment company is very important to choosing the right entertainer for your company because they will be able to help you choose the most appropriate entertainer for your company and on a budget that you can afford. For 25 year, Funny Business Agency has been a top resource for companies and event planners looking for expertise in the corporate entertainment market. With over 3,000 entertainers and events nationwide, Funny Business has provided entertainment for such companies as Legos, General Foods, Kelloggs, Pfizer, Honda Transmissions, Frito Lay, Iams, Proctor & Gamble, Perrigo and more.

Choosing entertainment for your Christmas party can be a daunting task. You have a group of 100plus people who never socialise with each other, generally only talk to the people they know and spend most of the evening avoiding their boss! Not a situation that shouts fun! There is however a simple solution, one that is often overlooked or left until last in the event organising process, entertainment. After organising entertainment for the last 13 years I can honestly say that entertainment can either make or break a Christmas party and this depends on how much research is done by the organiser. Here's a checklist to help you choose the best Christmas party entertainment for your company; 1) Find out the average age of your guests (there's no point in booking a DJ if you guests are over 50 and will probably leave straight after the meal) 2) Find out the average gender of your guests (if most of your guests are female you probably won't want Belly Dancers!) 3) Are you guests bringing their partners? (If so you'll need to make the entertainment more general so having a company quiz is probably out.) 4) Ask you guests what they'd like (it sounds obvious but simply asking your guests what type of entertainment they'd like is sometimes the best way to please the majority) 5) Find out your entertainment budget as early as possible (there's no point spending hours talking to Christmas party DJ's, bands, magicians and casinos if you know you've only got £100 to spend) When you get the answers from this checklist you're ready to start finding your entertainment. Now comes the second conundrum, do you use an entertainment agent, go directly to the acts or use the entertainment that your venue recommend? This can completely confuse the average Christmas party organiser. It's probably best to only go directly to the act if you're only having one entertainment act, think of all the stress it's going to be having three or four acts calling you on the day asking the same questions! This is where going with an entertainment agent can help, the agent will look after all the acts so you don't have to and they'll deal with all those small questions that will just add to your stress! If your venue does recommend an entertainment agent then it's probably best to go with this option, they've been recommended for a reason and their acts have probably all worked at the venue before so they'll know how to get in, set up and who to speak to if there are problems. If you're stuck for Christmas party entertainment ideas here's a few Drinks Reception Entertainment This can set the tone for the whole evening, if you're guests relax and talk to each other then you're going to relax too! So how do you break the ice? The best way to do this is with some 'Walkabout entertainment' for example a Close Hand Magician or Caricaturist. Close Hand Magicians are great because they subtly mingle in with your guests, come up to small crowds of people and draw in other guests to watch. This means that by the end of the trick all the guests should be left laughing and commenting 'how did they do that!' with someone they don't really know, in effect breaking the ice. Caricaturists do the same thing with the added bonus that you're left with a gift to put above the computer at work. Entertainment after the main meal It's sometimes a fun idea to have a surprise element to your evening and what better way to do it than by having your waiters who have been quietly serving you all night suddenly break into song! This will delight all your guests, make them laugh and stop people talking shop at the end of the meal. Main Christmas party entertainment This is the most exciting party of the entertainment, the main event! Will it be a Christmas party band or a DJ, or if you can afford it, both. A Christmas party band adds a great live feel and if they're good, can have the immediate effect of getting every dancing. A DJ will do the same but with the added bonus that they generally play for longer, although it can be a bit cheesier and generally it will take people longer to get up and dance. Other Christmas party entertainment ideas Other ideas include Casinos and Belly Dancers which can be great if you have mainly male guests. Henna artists, Butlers in the Buff and Chocolate Fountains are all better for female guests unless everyone is on a diet! Remember, when you're guests are leaving the event, the biggest talking point isn't the food, decorations, venue or the staff, it's the entertainment.

There are a lot of things that people can do at home today, thanks to modern technology. The humble TV box which first displayed black and white moving pictures has now evolved into wide, plasma, high definition home cinemas. The little box radio now has complete home music systems that can play all sorts of digital media and play it through woofers and subwoofers that emit rich, clear sound. People who work hard all day long at the office want to relax and enjoy their time at home. So these people look forward to reward themselves by creating custom entertainment centers at home. People take pride in investing in the latest home entertainment gadgets. If you belong in this category, then you understand the compelling need to display your home entertainment unit well, along with keeping them safe and protected from house dust or accidents. The best way to keep your expensive entertainment gadgets safe is through building custom entertainment centers which will suit your property as well as your taste and lifestyle. The Things that Matter What is the benefit of getting custom entertainment centers over store-bought ones? The first important factor is that a custom cabinet or tv stand will be made to fit a large tv or speaker system. Store cabinet manufacturers will only aim to create a standard size for their furniture, so these would be either too small or too large for your own system. A cabinet or shelf which does not perfectly house your speakers or players will ruin the attractiveness of your entertainment system while it is on display. Furthermore, custom entertainment centers are superior to pre-manufactured cabinets and shelves in terms of strength and longevity. Store bought shelves would usually be made of standard grade or mixed wood (meaning the wood is simply several layers of thin plywood rolled out and glued together). These kinds of shelves are not really tailored to support heavy gadgets, so they could risk the safety of your system. Custom entertainment centers will keep your speakers and TV very secure, especially if you get it commissioned at a good wood shop. You can choose to use good, solid hardwood, which will be more resistant to termites, scratches, and wear and tear. And since it is genuine hardwood, it is sturdy enough to hold the weight of your entire entertainment system. Carpenters can also put in tailored mechanisms that can keep the entire shelf or cabinet's built secure, such as quality bolts, rivets, and hinges. Getting an entertainment shelf or cabinet customized also means having the liberty of having it look good according to your preferences. The size and height can match the dimensions of your living room wall or den. The wood can be painted to a color that will match your interior design. Or, it can be given a beautiful, classic finish. Accessories and Other Considerations Custom entertainment centers can have many forms and styles. It can be a simple table for a television set, or it can be a wall shelf for a component system. People who invest in their entertainment tools can have a full wall-sized shelf and cabinet customized where they can place everything they need for entertainment. Custom entertainment centers should be designed not just to showcase your technological investments, but also to give your ease when you want to enjoy good music or a DVD. The benefit of having an entertainment shelf or cabinet customized is that you can have it built with additional details or the like. Here are some options: Pull out cabinets or side shelves for your media - you can opt to have a top or side shelf where you can stack or file your DVDs and compact discs. Or, they can be stored in a pull out drawer, so that deciding to watch a movie or pop in some music will be a matter of "visiting" your entertainment center. Strategic holes or pegs for wires - good sound systems require wires and plug connections, so make sure that your customized shelf has enough spaces in between your gadgets to let wires pass through without tangling or getting mixed up. Knotted wires can short circuit and harm your family, and even cause accidental fires. Ideal fixtures - metal knobs, mirrors, or sliding glass covers are options which can be added to a customized entertainment shelf. These can be added according to your preference. Or you can go with full wood all the way, too. Care for Your Furniture Personalized entertainment centers will be made to keep media appliances safe for as long as they are functional, so the shelves themselves should be taken care of so that they will last through time. Here are some steps to keep your shelves durable and clean: Periodically wipe surfaces with a cloth. Do not use water; use a custom wood polisher or cleaner. Do not situate your customized entertainment centers directly beside or in front of windows. Direct sunlight may harm the wood's quality; also, your appliances will be more prone to dust and possible external damage. Avoid placing objects with liquid on your shelves, such as glasses or vases with water. Enjoying Home Time with Your Entertainment Shelf Having an entertainment room at home can provide great joy and comfort for you and your family. Having a customized shelf in the room makes everything so much easier. Going out to watch a movie or eat dinner is a good way to bond and spend time, but sometimes, it is more fun to simply stay in at home, heat some popcorn in the microwave, and watch a favorite movie on DVD. The comfortable ambiance of a familiar environment makes spending time together so much more relaxing and worthwhile. The beauty of having custom entertainment centers at home can give the luxury of going out paired with the convenience of staying at home. To see beautiful photos of the furniture mentioned in this article, please see Erik Schimek's bedroom furniture website. This website features bed frames, armoires, cedar chests, bedroom dressers, nightstands and organic mattresses. Erik Organic is an independently owned family business whose goal is to assist our customers in creating a safe and healthy home. Our organic furniture is created with safe organic fabrics, natural batting, solid wood construction and low VOC wood finishes.

If you own a home entertainment center or looking at new entertainment centers to buy, you probably have a few questions. There are a number of different types, sizes, and colors to choose from. If you're purchasing your very first entertainment center, read through the following questions and answers, and get more familiar with the options you have. What's the Average Price Range of Entertainment Centers? The price for a home entertainment center can range from under $100 to many thousands of dollars. The price will vary greatly based on the size, material, and design of the piece. Entertainment centers can be as simple as a TV stand with shelves to a complete unit that takes up an entire wall. The price will depend on what type of entertainment center you want. What Materials are Entertainment Centers Made From? Home entertainment centers are made of all sorts of materials. Often they use different materials to provide adequate function and sleek styling. Common materials include: # Wood (oak, mahogany, Cedar, etc.) # Metal # Glass # Plastic # Pressboard Often these materials are combined to create glass doors on a mahogany shelf unit or plastic wheels on a compact TV stand. Will Furniture Stores that Sell Home Entertainment Centers Deliver to My Home? Some do but some don't. It all depends on the retailers. Entertainment centers can be quite large and require a truck for delivery. This means either you or the retailer needs to have a truck available to transport it from their store to your home. Be sure to ask about home delivery before you buy if you're going to need some help getting it home. Do They Sell Preassembled Entertainment Units? It all depends on the size of the unit. The bigger it is, the more likely it is it won't come preassembled. Parts of it might come together but the unit as a whole will need to be put together. Smaller units may come preassembled because they are smaller and more compact. Does a TV Stand Count as a Home Entertainment Center? The category of "entertainment center" is pretty broad and often includes TV stands and even small wall units. A TV stand that has shelves or drawers is definitely an entertainment center. Think about it; it's a multifunctional furniture unit that allows for organization and storage of entertainment related items such as TV, movies, DVDs, VCRs, DVD players, etc. So if you're looking for smaller storage units or shelving, be sure to check the "home entertainment centers" section of your local furniture store or online retailer. Can I Find Matching Furniture to Go with My Entertainment Center? In some cases you can. Often times furniture designers will design a complete living room/family room/den furniture set. This can include matching entertainment centers, recliners, couches, and even coffee tables. If you want all your furniture to match, it's best to find a furniture collect designed to work together. Do They Sell Home Entertainment Centers Online? In fact, they do. Many online furniture retailers sell home entertainment centers. In some cases you might be able to find a better price online. However, the one issue with buying an entertainment center online is shipping. If you want a large unit, expect to pay a significant amount to get it shipped to your home. Can I Make My Own Entertainment Unit? It is possible to make your own home entertainment unit but it's only suggested for professional or experienced wood workers or cabinet makers. Depending on the size you want, building your own entertainment center can be quite difficult. You need to plan everything out first, establish measurements, buy the materials, and then put it together. Although it may save you some money in the long run, it could take you months to build it. Chuck is an interior decorator who has worlds of experience in interior design. Believe it or not, his expertise is in entertainment centers. If you're interested in learning all about the entertainment center world, turn to EntertainmentCenters123.com.

One surefire way to hold an unforgettable birthday party for your child is to hire professional birthday entertainment. It's not easy keeping a group of children happy and entertained on your own. By leaving the party entertainment to professional birthday entertainers, you can focus on the logistics of the party all the while ensuring that the event is successful and enjoyable for the children. Picking a Birthday Entertainer That is Suitable for the Age Group A party entertainer that is perfect for 1-3 year olds is not going to be appropriate for a party of 9-12 year olds. Base the decision of what kind of birthday entertainment you hire on the age group of the children attending the party. Children between the ages of 1-3 years old need simple entertainment that is easy to digest. Children in this age group have very short attention spans so they can't focus on long performances of any sort. The perfect party entertainment for this age group would be someone dressed in a Barney suit or other popular character to give out balloons and dance with the children. Some people mistakenly choose clowns as birthday entertainment at parties for the 1-3 year old age group, realizing it is a big mistake once the clown scares all of the children in attendance. Many children and even some adults are scared of clowns because of their dramatic make-up and bizarre costumes. It is not a good idea to hire clowns as birthday entertainers for parties catering to very young children unless your goal is to make them cry. Children from ages 4-8 enjoy very interactive birthday entertainment that involves plenty of movement, jokes, and activities. It is easier to hire birthday entertainers for this age group because the children are open to a variety of different entertainment styles. Magicians, jugglers and puppeteers are all appropriate birthday entertainment for this age group. Children in this age group look in awe and amazement when they see a magician performing interesting tricks. On the other hand, younger children are too little to understand what is happening while older children just want to know the secret behind the trick. A talented juggler can make for an excellent birthday entertainer for the 4-8 year old age group because he can juggle different, colorful items in varying quantities to put on a visually appealing show. A puppeteer is also a great party entertainer for birthdays catering to this age group because he uses colorful puppets that captivate the children's attention and tells funny jokes that give them a good laugh. Even the adult party guests can stay entertained with a puppeteer by interacting with the puppets and becoming a part of the skit. When choosing birthday entertainment for children in the 9-12 year old age group, different rules apply. Children of this age try very hard to be "cool" and think that entertainers like puppeteers, jugglers, and magicians are plain corny. In order to appeal to children of this age group, it's essential to hire birthday entertainers that are in with the latest trends. DJs that are in tune with pop music that children of this age enjoy are a great choice as birthday entertainment. Choose a DJ who has experience interacting with children and knows how to serve simultaneously as an emcee for the party. In conclusion, choose a birthday entertainer based on the age of your child and his/her friends to find someone who is appropriate. If you take these points into consideration, you're bound to find a party entertainer who will make your child's next birthday party memorable and enjoyable for everyone in attendance. For more tips on hiring birthday entertainers and choosing the best birthday entertainment for your child's party, go to Partyhound. In addition to being the owner of Partyhound, Ted Bilodeau has been a party DJ for over 30 years. Let Ted and the Partyhound team help you plan an unforgettable children's birthday party this year!

People from throughout the world favors entertainment, as the life gets busy and hectic, entertainment is required more for the change in mood and for the refreshing of mind. Entertainment is a part of life no matter what shapes it has to every individual. People have different taste of entertainment; it varies from games to music for all age groups. A lot of places are meant for the entertainment purpose of the people, kids have different and adults have different. Entertainment mode is also changed; it is now served in the form of packages for different age groups. Many cities are famous for their outstanding entertainment. When it comes to Internet, there is a world of entertainment and the entertainment related topics. The online games, shopping, bars, club info, music and videos are great source of entertainment. Internet if not gives entertainment but serves a lot of information regarding any type of entertainment like that of vacation planning, clubs, theatres, movies, videos, amusement parks, sports, fashion, etc that all makes the mind clean of worries and stress. The entertainment like food, dining outside, sports, tours and trips is also a fantastic way of entertainment for this the internet gets you the utmost knowledge you need or want to know of any place, thing or activity. The entertainment article reviews of many activities that inform a lot of any entertainment source. Many people give time to themselves in their holidays or leisure time and many want to spend it with their beloved ones and sometimes entertainment counts a lot with family and friends. The entertainment article not only gives knowledge of anything but it also guides how one can spend leisure time in best entertainment. The entertainment articles are information giving and matters a lot to the interested one. The entertainment includes reading as well; a lot of reading stuff of famous authors for novels, dramas, facts and past historical stories are all found on Internet. The entertainment articles present new stories and experience counters of people of different regions. Many people tend to learn music and other specific creative jobs like arts, sports and other things in their leisure time, for this entertainment articles are best source for guidance. Entertainment articles are all about new offers and upcoming sources of different disciplines people love to know. Entertainment means a lot to all people and it is best available on Internet by giving full familiarity of sources to its readers. I have a huge team of content writers, providing content writing services to various companies in the world. Our services including SEO, Content Writing,Website Designing and development.

For many years I have supplied music for and played in bands that provide music for corporate entertainment. Clients have included Audi, The Evening Standard, Sainsburys, P.C. World, Safeways, Large corporate clients at Henley and Ascot, I.T.V. and H.M. Treasury. Because of this experience I felt it would be relevant in putting down some pointers in helping clients choose the right kind of music for their particular corporate entertainment. Interestingly enough, most corporate hospitality entertainment work tends to require music as an ingredient to a larger recipe. What I mean by this is a great deal of corporate events are offering a multi service package. Typically an organization may be putting on an evenings entertainment to thank its workforce for a particularly successful year. They may be offering music, food, comedy, a close up magician, a casino and a caricaturist. The corporate client organizing needs to decide what part the music has to play in the days/evenings entertainment. Questions he or she needs to ask are: Is the music specifically for entertainment or is the music for background listening? Do we need one style of music early on in the proceedings and then a change of style later in the days/ evenings entertainment? Do you expect the corporate clients to be networking and discussing business or are they just there for a good time? What overall atmosphere do you want to project with the event? Is there going to be a change of location for the music as the entertainment event unfolds? Different styles of music bands lend themselves to different corporate hospitality situations. Below are a number of typical corporate hospitality events with music suggestions for suitable music entertainment. Corporate entertainment model 1. Evening reception with dinner and speeches. In a situation such as this you will typically need music from the outset as part of the meet and greet of the corporate evening. A four-piece swing or Latin group is ideal with a larger ensemble for particularly large gatherings. A professional outfit can pitch the music at just the right decibel level so your guests can talk and enjoy the entertainment without it encroaching on conversations. The musicians would typically be dressed in Lounge Suits or Tuxedos (or the female equivalent) to mirror what the guests are wearing themselves. The music portrays an atmosphere of sophistication, which again hopefully reflects the evenings overall ambience. It is rare for corporate clients to want to dance especially as clients there relationship is business not pleasure! In most cases it is more important that the band is flexible in when it is needed over the course of the evening i.e. At the top of the night for the reception, a smaller version of the band (The pianist maybe for the dinner), stopping for speeches and then after the speeches to play until other entertainment is put on for the corporate clients. In this situation give the band a clear idea of how you expect the evening to go. What to wear, when they will be needed, when they need to get their instruments in the building and be set up, when breaks will be required, let them know if it is convenient or not to feed them and then finally how they can leave when finished so as not to disrupt the rest of the entertainment. Corporate entertainment model 2. Company Party. Still corporate entertainment, still corporate hospitality but a totally different set of requirements for the music. Ask yourself these questions: Are your work force the type of workforce who will want to dance at some point in the proceedings? If they are, then a professional band with flexibility is essential. My experience is that people of all ages will join together to dance to music from the sixties and seventies. Whatever background music you require earlier in the day/evening be it Latin, Swing, Rat Pack or Lounge, if you are hoping to provide entertainment that will get people dancing remember this fact. Sixties and Seventies. For some inexplicable reason this is the music that gets people up on their feet. When choosing your music ask the band if they can cover this part of the corporate entertainment requirement. Get samples of their music if need be. There is nothing worse than an ill equipped band struggling through alien repertoire. However good the band is, if they do not play the right repertoire, the right style of music then the corporate entertainment will fall on deaf ears. Let me at this point provide a caveat. Your workforce work together They are not always going to be the best of friends however professional their relationships are at work. Answer truthfully, will they really want to dance together or is it asking too much? I would say that in all the years of providing music for this kind of corporate entertainment / hospitality , as long as the music is right, the workforce tended to dance 30 or 40% of the time. It could be said that a workforce who will enjoy each others company in this way is a reflection on the talent of senior management to create a happy team! Corporate entertainment model 3. Company Fun Day. These come in two types. The type to entertain your own workforce or the type to entertain prospective clients. Both types of corporate entertainment require music that is fun. This means that the music must be perceived as fun and the band must be perceived as fun. In both cases Jolly Dixieland Jazz or the summer sounds of Latin music are most suitable. Ask yourself these questions: does the band need to be mobile? Meaning do you want the music to move around the site at various points in the proceedings? If so then the jolly jazz route is most suitable. A good professional outfit of four or five players can play acoustically and move around a site as directed. If the band can be static and close to electrical power then either Jolly Jazz or Latin Music is suitable. Is the event outdoors or indoors and do you have provision for bad weather? This is England, never trust to luck, assume the worst! Any band that needs power cannot play in the rain for health and safety reasons. At the first hint of inclement weather a band will have to breakdown their equipment. Build this situation into your corporate entertainment music decisions. How do you want the band to dress? It is a fun day after all! In the past I and my musicians have dressed as Elvis, Cavemen, Circus Clowns, in fact all manner of characters in the name of corporate entertainment and corporate hospitality. Good bands will have suitable outfits for most situations but don`t hesitate in providing something off the wall for a special event. Most professional players have a strange urge to jump into such costumes at the earliest possibility! As someone who has played at a nudist camp and for a toga party, both dressed accordingly, take my word for it! To draw this article together let me say this. Choose the right kind of music for the event. Brief the band accordingly but make sure you have a professional and flexible outfit, things can change over the course of the event and you want to make sure the band are both co-operative and able to fulfill your needs. Don`t hesitate to ask the band for any special requirements you have. Do it in plenty of time so they have time to prepare. The corporate entertainment and hospitality you offer to your guests reflects directly onto your company. The music and musicians must be the type who are aware of this. Dont go for second best just to save a small amount of money. You need a well prepared, well dressed band who are both polite and charming to your guests. They need to play the right kind of music for the event in order to help make the day or evenings corporate entertainment a resounding success! Jeff Williams is a London based trombonist and vocalist who has worked all over the world in most areas of the business. He also runs a successful, specialist, live music agency using the best of London musicians, servicing both private and corporate clients playing all over the country. He would be happy to advise you with your own event or party and offers bespoke solutions for the perfect occasion.

Booking children's entertainers for your child's birthday party can be like playing a game of Russian roulette, you often don't know what you are getting before it is too late. There is nothing sadder than a disappointed child on their birthday and sadly, if you have booked an incompetent entertainer, there is little you can do about it on the day. The internet is full of people selling services as birthday entertainers and children's entertainers but how can you tell if they are any good at what they do? Sadly there is no regulation or governing body to complain to if you have a bad experience with a children's entertainer this means the onus is on you to do your homework before making a commitment to book. Nightmare 1 So you surf the web and find an entertainer you feel will suit your needs, you speak to them on the phone and all seems to be in order so you make a booking. On the day you are horrified to find the entertainer who arrives at your party is not the entertainer you thought you booked. Sadly this is not an uncommon situation; there are certain entertainers who double book or take on more work than they can handle, they then sub contract the birthday show to a colleague or friend leaving you with a stranger at your party who you know nothing about. The solution to this nightmare is to ask the entertainer directly if it is they who will be entertaining at the party, also get the booking confirmed in writing with a written contract and check the entertainers name on the contract matches the entertainer you are booking. Nightmare 2 The entertainer simply does not show up or cancels the booking close to the event date. Sadly there are some people that are in the children's entertainment business to make a quick buck and if an offer comes in that is better than the agreement with you, they will drop your booking and take the better paying gig. This leaves you without an entertainer or in a position where you need to arrange a children's entertainer at short notice. The solution to this is to get a written contract in place at the time of booking, professional children's entertainers issue a written contract confirming what is on offer, this acts as protection for both you and the entertainer. With a written contract in hand you have recourse through the courts should the entertainer not supply what was promised. Make sure your entertainer is reputable by asking for references and following up on those references. A professional children's entertainer should have testimonials on their website, take the time to read them before deciding to book with them. Nightmare 3 The entertainer does not deliver the standard of entertainment you expected. Being a professional children's entertainer is not easy, if the children don't like what they see they will not sit like polite adults and see it through, they will voice their displeasure by getting up and running around. Make sure your entertainer is experienced, ask how long they have been in business and again check for testimonials and ask the entertainer for past customers you can phone. Make sure there is a formal contract in place between you and the entertainer that fully outlines what the show entails and check the level of professionalism of the correspondence with the entertainer. Try calling the entertainers office and see if the telephone is answered professionally, if you leave a message check how long it takes for you to be contacted back. A true professional children's entertainer should run the business side of their business well and this is notable through all correspondence, telephone calls, emails, letters and the very important contract.

When you host an event, particularly a business event, you want to make sure that you not only have the tasks associated with the business or core purpose of the event arranged to ensure success, but you also want to make sure that you have the best and most appropriate entertainment that your guests will enjoy. If you are having a difficult time trying to decide the best type of entertainment and where to secure the entertainment, you will greatly benefit from booking your entertainment using the services of an entertainment talent agency. Booking the best entertainment agency means you will have the ability to select the entertainment for your event from a variety of different types of entertainment. When you book the best entertainment talent agency, you will be able to choose from such entertainers as: comedians, bands, musical tribute entertainers, celebrity impersonators, DJs, and more. The best entertainment agency will offer a variety of entertainers of different types and will assist you with choosing the best entertainment that blends well with your specific event. Booking an entertainment agency is easy when you search the internet. When you look for an agency on the internet, you will be able to browse various entertainment agencies and review the services and types of entertainers they offer. You will get an idea of the costs and you will have their contact information so you can call or email them about the details of your event. They will then respond and provide you with more details about their agency and services and how they can help you. The best entertainment agency will be easy to work with and understand your specific needs. They will listen to your wishes regarding your event and provide you with suggestions about the type of entertainment your specific guests will enjoy. The agency will also be more than willing to answer all of your questions and provide you with a price estimate. You can ask for references as well as find out how long they have been in the entertainment talent agency business. Also, when discussing your event, it is important to tell them your location so they can find the right entertainment for that particular event such as a big convention room, auditorium, or a smaller office type space. The best talent agency will provide the right entertainment to fit the theme of the event such as providing a comedian that delivers a clean non profanity comedic presentation. Understanding your guests is essential to getting the right entertainment for your event. An entertainment talent agency can really help you get the right entertainment for your event. They can advise on the best entertainment that integrates well with the event, will help to rejuvenate attendees, and make the entire event much more enjoyable and memorable for the guests. When you hire an entertainment talent agency for your event, it will help ensure that the entertainment that you book makes the event a success. If you require entertainment services for your next event, consider booking an entertainment talent agency.

Entertainment, seemingly as tame as a lamb, is a villainous rogue that robs people of the justice and equality that they truly deserve. Though as innocent and beautiful as a child, it lulls the oppressed masses into a false, guileful sense of security; comfort; and well-being. Entertainment, quite often, is the emollient that soothes the ever-burning, acheful wounds in the human soul; gaffing society's masses into believing that all is well. And more often than not; it blocks critical, constructive thought so vital for the engenderment of long needed change. Society's masses, lulled into the deep sleep of false entertainment, are condemned to the musty barracks of poverty and a mendacious sense of security. Dancing in the lanes that the world's heartless billionaires have painted for them; society's brainwashed, beguiled masses pitch their tents beneath the shadow of pauperdom and woe. Their world; riddled with sham, make belief, and falsehood; is a strange, yawning prison that houses poverty's and injustice's impressionable lambs whose minds are carbon copies of the wishes of the rich. Entertainment is the "Haves" brainwashing tool of choice; it predisposes people to accepting less than they are worth and leaves unjust societies unchanged. Entertainment is the fruit of a society whose masses believe is doing well; when, in fact, it is a society where radical overhaul has been long overdue. The interminable stream of false entertainment flows like urban commuter trains: Their arrival time is so predictable; all one has to do is just stand there and wait a few minutes-one goes by, and another soon follows behind it. And so are the interminable stream of lies that flow through the umbrous cave of human society: They come one after another-The Lakers' Championship Game, the Angels and he Red Socks Match-up, the Meriwether-Chavez Championship Fight, the new Harry Potter movie, the London 2012 Olympics, the New Orleans Mardi Gras Celebration, the Beyoncé Concert at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, the Dunedin Winter Carnival, and on and on and on; drowning society's misinformed masses in a cruel, implacable flood of distractions. When it is not the Super Bowl Foot Ball Extravaganza, it is the Hornets and the Rockets; and when it is not that, it is a must-see Brad Pitt movie or the Michael Jackson Murder Trial. These empty, vain distractions blind society's masses from being able to notice what is really happening around them; and one day, they wake up living on the streets and unable to feed or cloth themselves and their families. What a messy, sorrowful plight to which society's masses have been condemned. While entertainment; in and of itself, is not intrinsically harmful to healthy, well-balanced human beings; the kind of entertainment produced in this world is inherently false because it contains the virulent seeds of human destruction. For the most part, the bulk of the entertainment events produced by society's power brokers and societal engineers are slick, insidiously assembled fairy tales. These feel-good stories are exquisitely and ingeniously thought out and assembled to keep society's masses satisfied with a lot that is otherwise unsatisfactory. These fairytales are beautiful worlds to which society's framers take otherwise busted and disgusted human beings. For example, one might reason, "Hey, things are not that good with me right not; but, at least, I can go and see a Tom Cruise movie, work the Wall Street Stock Market, or go to Las Vegas over the week end. Things are going to come around for me. I can always go back to school, even though the cost of education has skyrocketed over the past twenty or so years." The fairytale of secular entertainment blocks people from being able to grasp the broader picture of the rich enslaving and ruling over the poor in American society and being willing and able to do something about it. The ultimate fact is: The fairytale of false entertainment in American society is a lie, but it is one that is hidden in a haystack. Society's masses must first be shown that they are all blind, internalize that seemingly heretical fact, and begin looking for an opthamologist to fix things for them. Once they recognize that they are blind and take appropriate actions, they must then begin to dig into the gold mine of themselves to determine what their natural intelligence is. This-and only this-will set them on the path of true success. It is only then that the poisonous influence of false entertainment would begin to become apparent and be destroyed forever. In the light of these solemn, sober comments; secular entertainment in America-and just about everywhere else in the world-is evil and destructive. It blinds society's masses to the truth about what is really wrong with the world itself. As it turns out, it is not that the American business machine is inherently evil or anymore corrupt than anywhere else in the world; it is just that the world is wired to create inequality, injustice, and imbalance-and false entertainment blinds society to the truth about what is really wrong with the world itself. The stark, sour upshot of this whole analysis is that something is wrong with the world, and the "Haves" are paid exorbitant sums of money to slide a hand and cover it up. The handful of billionaires who run this world use various forms of entertainment distractions to veil the gaping wounds and epispastic bruises that society's masses carry day after day. Isn't it interesting that politician after politician steps on the stage of society and almost never mutters a word about the ever-widening gap between the "Haves" and the "Have-Nots." They may brush over it in passing, but they will never make it a major platform issue of their campaign. Why? It is because they belong to the inner circle of the secret that this whole world is a lie-a carefully told lie which movie-going fans would think that you are crazy if you ever mentioned it to them. The slick politicians already know that the world is a lie and that they cannot change it: They may tinker with it, but they know that they cannot change it; but society's sassy movie-going enthusiasts are not privy to that information. They live in the shadow of deceit-and they die there, too. There is nothing as soothing and placating as a good movie or Super Bowl game; but you see: The billionaires who put on those elaborate, serpentine distractions know exactly what to cook up for their stooges and slaves. It is kind of interesting when sports stars are paid millions of dollars per year; and teachers, a paltry salary that can hardly feed them and their families. And, paradoxically, no one seems to see anything wrong with that: Their eyes were not made to see those things; or may be, they are not even in control of their own vision! Their eyes were only meant to see the new Harry Potter movie or the Meriwether-Chaves Championship Fight! But why are sports stars paid so much money? It is because the lie in the world must create a parody that ensures maximum human suffering: And those who create that travesty of justice are paid plump, handsome salaries passed to them from someone behind the quaint door of mystery. The world is filled with mystery-and some things just boggle the mind. A regional basket team wins the National Basket Ball Championship and their impassioned fans tear up the city, uprooting mail boxes and tossing them into streets. Does this, at least, tell us that there is more to sports than what we see with our naked eyes and what we have been told it really is? Does any of this tell us that there is more to what we see and wish to believe? But again; people, lost in the smoke of false societal entertainment put on by billionaires; refuse to open their own eyes and see for themselves what is really going on in these massive entertainment extravaganzas. Football players are paid millions of dollars to break up their own bones, crack their skulls, and damage their brains before millions of screaming fans whose eyes gaze at the wrong thing. They gape at the iron wheel of brawn crashing into the delicate, frail frame of a bad human experience. What they do not see are human beings ground up in the grillwork of evil. Years later, many football players wind up becoming vegetables; and. quite often, all this begins to take its toll well before they are fifty years old. Oh how sad; strapping, hulking athletic hunks are turned into zombies and vegetables, sacrificed to the idols of false gods. And by the time they open their own eyes; it is too late, and the damage is irreversible. In this regard, it is quite evident that something or someone else out there is thinking for Super Bowl fans, for Americans, for English people, for French people-and for people all over the world for that matter. All these mysterious episodes and occurrences are repeatedly saying the same thing: Deaf and blind people can neither hear nor see! Oh what a piteous plight in which society's masses find themselves; lost in the spinning smoke of rich people's cruel pranks and funny games! Something is wrong with the world, but the rich cover it up day after day after day. The distraction of false, societal entertainment interferes with people's ability to connect the dots in their world; and, for as much as such entertainment is the handiwork of the rich, they only cook up stuff that protects their own interest and well-being. The slick, insidious lie of vain, empty entertainment from the guileful school of earth-conscious living ensnares man into thinking that the bogus system, with which he is confronted here in this world, is the only system that exists-and the only one that there will ever be. The fodder for that kind of thinking is derived from whatever interferes with the normal human process of thought and appropriate action. Such fodder is obtained from false societal entertainment: And such entertainment and the kind of reasoning behind it are all lies. They are lies because the world itself is woven from the fabric of lies; but the masses' ability to perceive this truth is blocked. The world is a carefully told lie that ties human beings to a place where they can neither see nor hear, and one to which they do not belong; but again, that truth is blocked, too. And the fact that earthly is a strange funeral is blocked as well: Even the power brokers and societal architects themselves fail to assimilate the idea of the clearly defined shelf life of their own existence on the earth; accordingly, they wind up deceiving their own selves even while they brainwash and trick all the rest of society. By the time most of society's masses wake up to the truth that they were all born rich with incredible natural intelligence ( skills, gifts, and talents), and that there was a shelf life to the wealth they were born to enjoy on this earth; they have long been removed from the false, brawling arena of earthly life. False societal entertainment not only programs people to accepting a fake destiny; it orients society around an insular, phony, earth-bound eternity-one that never ever materializes! The notion of life as an entirely earthly phenomenon is well received and understood by society's masses-and that is just about all that they are told. Earthly life is all there is to human existence-and oh, how believable that lie seems; but just a casual glance at the architecture of the earth itself whispers to any well-meaning, honest observer that there is an intelligent mind of order behind the sprawling, cosmic landscape of the earth and the universe; and that, at some point in the future, a settling-up day is coming-a day to settle all scores, so to speak! Most people in the world do sense that there is more to life than what rich people tell them through society's various socialization agencies and, in particular, through modern science's evolution and big bang theories. If the provincial view, that earthly life is just about all there is to everything, is true; it's kind of funny when evening after evening news telecast reads like long-shot Bible prophesies, far removed from the contents of what modern science and the media have been affirming to be true. In sum, secular entertainment is false, not because entertainment itself is inherently false; but because the world is false and whatever it produces is stained with that fundamental blotch of falsehood. Secular entertainment's falsehood distracts people from seeing what is really wrong with them and the world around them. Society's masses, by virtue of intoxication with false entertainment, are told a lie that never allows them to realize and utilize the gold mine of the natural intelligence (gifts, talents, and skills) with which they were born. Society's guileful, vulpine brainwashing machine of mendacious socialization; false, deceitful science; and empty, bogus entertainment robs the earth's masses of their inalienable rights. Yes, it strips ordinary people of their unforfeitable right to wealth, justice, liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness in this world and life forever in the next one on the other end of the fast-approaching night. Societal entertainment is a two-edged sword of human doom: It coaxes society's masses into accepting their lot of mediocrity from their rich slave masters. It also blocks their view of a broader understanding of human equality and justice in a transcendental world that operates on a higher plane of existence, free from greed and guile. Thus, false secular entertainment is the smoke of human folly that obfuscates the minds of society's masses and distracts them from realizing their full potentials and true purpose in this world; and ultimately, a richer and fuller life in the world that operates on, and presides over, a grander and broader scheme of things. In this gripping, unsettling article; this writer presents some uncomfortable truths about how the world works; using the seemingly tame, innocent concept of entertainment. While he understands that, on the surface, entertainment is not intrinsically deleterious to anyone; he looks beyond the brawling façade of how it is perceived in Western societies (as an innately good, wholesome thing as oppose to the purpose for which it is used). As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction; nowhere is this adage truer than when It comes to human beings. And, as it turns out, the world is not what it appears to be. A mere glance at things today dis-curtains a world that is rapidly falling apart. The world is undergoing massive change overload and laboring under the distressful birth pains of unprecedented sorrow. The dramatic surge of global change has left scores of societies behind and billions of people on edge. The perceived onrush of fast-approaching global catastrophe hovers everywhere in the air. Many, filled with fright and chagrin, view the world smack in the tracks of apocalyptic tempests. The gathering clouds of doom are everywhere; they reflect the scene of a catastrophic, Category five storm; bursting forth in the distance and hissing at the world of man. Protest after protest, like airplanes lined up on a sprawling runway; erupts one after another all over the world. They are the war games between the "Haves" and the "Have Nots" and serve to remind the world that the French Revolution's philosophies are back; only that this time, the sanguinary anarchy will engulf the whole world! And who will be able to escape that frightening, inescapable nightmare that consumed French aristocracy towards the end of the eighteenth century!

As we approach the holiday season, many of us are going to be planning Christmas parties and holiday celebrations. Finding the right entertainment for these events is a huge undertaking. Get it right and you're a hero! Get it wrong and your guests have to suffer through a boring program. No pressure, huh? Don't worry! As a professional speaker and entertainer, I have worked with some of the finest event planners in the industry and have learned from them all. Follow this guide to help you through the decision making process and guarantee that you have a massively successful event. 1. Planning One of the very first steps when planning an event is to decide on as many of the specific details as possible. These details should include date, time, location, number of guests invited, etc. Most entertainers and speakers will ask you these questions to get an idea of what you are planning so they can adjust their performance to best fit your event. 2. Type of Program The type of event you are planning will also dictate what type of program to consider. If you are planning a Christmas party, you will obviously be looking for a different type of program than if you are planning your child's birthday party. You must consider who your guests are and what they will find entertaining. Keep this in mind: your entertainer is representing you at the party. Therefore, you have an excellent opportunity to show off without lifting a finger! The person you choose should be professional and have experience that gives you confidence in them. You will know about an entertainer's or speaker's level of experience by their resume, testimonials, references, and letters of recommendation. 3. Choosing the Right Program All savvy, business-minded, professional entertainers and speakers have websites. A well designed website allows your future entertainer to list their specialties, describe exactly what they do and how they do it, as well as post video clips, photos, letters of recommendation, etc. A good website is the ultimate brochure for entertainers to inform potential clients on who they are. You should be able to see enough from an entertainer's website to get a really good idea of whether he or she will be able to do the job for you or not. Be sure to evaluate whether or not the entertainer you are considering specializes in entertaining groups like yours. 4. The Initial Contact There are several ways to make contact with your prospective entertainer or speaker. The easiest is to just pick up the phone and call the entertainer's office. Making contact with your prospective entertainer with a phone call is an excellent way to get to know them. By actually speaking with your entertainer you can learn things that you may not be able to tell through other contact methods. A conversation allows you to hear the person's voice and it allows you to get an impression about how appropriate this person is for your event. A phone conversation also allows your entertainer to ask you specific questions that they need answered in order to quote a fee, check availability, and be sure that they are the right fit for your event. Another option is to send the entertainer an email. Email is a great way to make first contact with your prospective entertainer. If you choose to make contact through email, try to give as many details about the event as possible. Include your phone number and a window of time when you will be available to talk so that the entertainer can call you back and ask additional questions he or she may have. An additional way to make contact with your entertainer is to fill out a web form that is on his or her website. A web form will have specific fields such as name, phone number, your address, type of function, venue address, approximate number of guests expected, etc. The web form is often a preferred method of contact over email because it is designed to provide the entertainer with specific information needed in order to quote a fee, check availability, etc. Price Shopping? Everyone is on some kind of budget. The general rule of thumb is this: Do not go with the lowest price. Going with the lowest price is likely a precursor to disappointment. In the entertainment and speaking fields remember the old adage "you get what you pay for." 5. Contracts, Confirmation Calls and Letters Once all the details have been decided on, you should expect to receive a contract from your entertainer or speaker. This is not something to stress over. It is normal operating procedure for any professional entertainer or speaker. In fact, if you don't get a contract, you should start to wonder. The contract basically spells out all the details that have been agreed upon when discussing your event. You should take the time to review all of the details, including type of program, start and end time, venue address, price, etc. The performance agreement should set you at ease because you now know that your entertainer has all the details correct and can prepare to deliver a dynamic, appropriate program. 6. The Day of the Event As far as the program goes, you should have had several discussions with your entertainer by now which would answer any and all questions that either of you may have had. It should be clear, because of the previously agreed upon details in the contract, what time your entertainer will arrive, when and where they will set up, and what time the program will begin. Be sure that you or the main contact person of the event is carrying a cell phone in case your entertainer runs into any last minute issues and needs to contact you. 7. Last Minute Details and Showtime! You've done your research and selected the best program for your event. At this point, there should be nothing for you to worry about. Kick back, relax and enjoy!

Have you ever attended an event that has been prepared to give recognition, distribute awards, or show gratitude to the efforts and accomplishments of several people? If you have, then you would agree when I say that in events like these, meals are usually incredible and venues are commonly carefully chosen... How about the entertainment? I think you would agree with the fact that including a good form of awards banquet entertainment is important as well. And if you are going to organize similar events, you must be aware of what to look for and how to choose your banquet entertainment. Awards banquet entertainment? How exactly will that help you and your event? First of all, events like these are geared towards showing gratitude to the efforts and accomplishments of people. Apart from serving them with good food, it is a must that you let them enjoy the event. Enjoy not just by eating, but literally enjoy the whole event. Here is when awards banquet entertainment comes in. Yes, good food is important but good entertainment is as important as well. Providing a good and appropriate entertainment to your awards banquet will make your event extra special. Aside from letting your audience have fun, entertainment will keep your audiences attention from drifting away. Apart from that, good awards banquet entertainment will serve as a motivation for people attending the event to look forward to future occasions. What are the things that you should remember in order to pull off an effective awards banquet entertainment? Hire entertainers whose humor is compatible with your audience. There are a lot of performers and entertainers out there. You have to select those who will deliver jokes and acts that will be comfortable for your audience to laugh about. Next is try to go for an act that involves audience participation. Let us admit it... awards banquet can be a bit long and dragging. Having an act that will encourage your audience to participate, talk, move, and interact will keep the event alive, and prevent people from feeling bored. In corporate banquets, it will be better if you get an entertainer who could incorporate your company, products, principles, and even strategies with their performances as this would add up to your workers' morale and motivation. If you are going to hire performers, see to it that you have the equipments that she or he will need, like microphone, microphone stands, speakers, music players, and even a large space if she or he is going to perform an extraordinary act. It is best if you hire an entertainer who fits with your resources, or if not, you can hire someone and adjust a bit in order to give him or her the needed equipments. So there you have it. Things to remember when preparing an awards banquet entertainment have been given. Do not forget them as these would help you with your future event planning.Have you ever attended an event that has been prepared to give recognition, distribute awards, or show gratitude to the efforts and accomplishments of several people? If you have, then you would agree when I say that in events like these, meals are usually incredible and venues are commonly carefully chosen... How about the entertainment? I think you would agree with the fact that including a good form of awards banquet entertainment is important as well. And if you are going to organize similar events, you must be aware of what to look for and how to choose your banquet entertainment. Awards banquet entertainment? How exactly will that help you and your event? First of all, events like these are geared towards showing gratitude to the efforts and accomplishments of people. Apart from serving them with good food, it is a must that you let them enjoy the event. Enjoy not just by eating, but literally enjoy the whole event. Here is when awards banquet entertainment comes in. Yes, good food is important but good entertainment is as important as well. Providing a good and appropriate entertainment to your awards banquet will make your event extra special. Aside from letting your audience have fun, entertainment will keep your audiences attention from drifting away. Apart from that, good awards banquet entertainment will serve as a motivation for people attending the event to look forward to future occasions. What are the things that you should remember in order to pull off an effective awards banquet entertainment? Hire entertainers whose humor is compatible with your audience. There are a lot of performers and entertainers out there. You have to select those who will deliver jokes and acts that will be comfortable for your audience to laugh about. Next is try to go for an act that involves audience participation. Let us admit it... awards banquet can be a bit long and dragging. Having an act that will encourage your audience to participate, talk, move, and interact will keep the event alive, and prevent people from feeling bored. In corporate banquets, it will be better if you get an entertainer who could incorporate your company, products, principles, and even strategies with their performances as this would add up to your workers' morale and motivation. If you are going to hire performers, see to it that you have the equipments that she or he will need, like microphone, microphone stands, speakers, music players, and even a large space if she or he is going to perform an extraordinary act. It is best if you hire an entertainer who fits with your resources, or if not, you can hire someone and adjust a bit in order to give him or her the needed equipments. So there you have it. Things to remember when preparing an awards banquet entertainment have been given. Do not forget them as these would help you with your future event planning. For 25 year, Funny Business Agency has been a top resource for companies and event planners looking for expertise in the corporate entertainment market. With over 3,000 entertainers and events nationwide, Funny Business has provided entertainment for such companies as Legos, General Foods, Kelloggs, Pfizer, Honda Transmissions, Frito Lay, Iams, Proctor & Gamble, Perrigo and more.

For many people, hiring entertainment for a corporate event can be an overwhelming task. The entertainment you select has to be professional and suited for all audiences. On the other hand, it is easy to get stuck in the corporate rut of doing "the same old thing" year after year. How important is keeping your existing clients and employees for your organization? Showing appreciation to clients and your staff can boost morale, strengthen business relationships and help your company grow. Having the right entertainment at your event will accomplish that! So how do you break from the ordinary and book entertainment that is new and engaging for your group? Below are some suggestions to make the hiring process easier for you. 1. Plan Your Event Plan how would like the evening to go. If you know the exact type of entertainment you are having, then plan the event around that entertainment. Otherwise, plan out time for the different events and make a time-table. If you haven't decided on the entertainment then be sure to leave some room in your time-table for adjustments. The setup of the room can vary depending on the performer you desire, and the itinerary can change as well. 2. Know Your Budget Know how much you can spend on entertainment before approaching entertainers to find out about their acts. What you can spend on an entertainer will often dictate the level of entertainment you get. Every event has a budget and you need to stay within it and meet your needs. However, hiring an entertainer based solely on them being the lowest priced can lead to disaster. Put things in a better perspective, you may wish to determine your "per-person" cost budgeted for entertainment or activities. The finest food and beverages will soon be a fading memory to your guests, but high quality entertainment creates an emotional impact and lasting impression. How much fun they had at your event is what creates lasting memories. 3. Be Prepared to Discuss Your Event and Your Budget Any professional entertainer is going to be asking you questions about your event, such as what type of event you are having, how many guests you expect, if there is a theme to the event, a general timeline of the event, etc. By doing this, they are determining if their act is a good match for your group and function. They may even be able to present ideas to enhance your event that you hadn't thought of yet! Ask the entertainer if they offer any special packages. Your entertainer may have a package that will make your event extra special. By discussing your budget with them, you are also finding out if they are within your price range. If so you can move on with the process; if not, you are saving everyone time and should call the next entertainer on your list. 4. Request References and Promotional Material If after your initial contact with the entertainer you feel comfortable with them and you both agree that there is a possibility that they will be a good match for your group, ask them for references and promotional materials. You will find that most entertainers have websites that will contain most of the promotional materials, if not all of it. If an entertainer cannot provide you with references then DO NOT engage this performer. 5. Call References and Review the Promotional Material After calling references and reviewing the promotional material, you may have more questions for the entertainer. Give them a call and get your concerns addressed and all questions answered. Make sure that your entertainer is a corporate entertainment specialist that knows the needs and expectations of the corporate environment. A comedian that regularly performs "R" rated shows in comedy clubs or a magician that typically works at child birthday parties would probably not make a suitable choices for a typical corporate conference! 6. Ask About a Guarantee Want some real peace of mind when trying to plan your corporate event? If an entertainer presents a quality presentation and has enough experience, they should be willing to guarantee their services. As them what they guarantee! 7. Request a Contract The entertainer should provide you with a contract outlining your agreement along with the date, location of your event as well as any other arrangements agreed upon. Unless you are booking a celebrity performer, the agreement will probably be no more than a couple of pages in length. The contract should clearly state what you will be required to provide for the event, such as a sound system or lighting requirements, and what the entertainer will be providing. In some cases some of this information will come in the form of a Technical Rider which is sent with the contract. The agreement should also cover deposits (typically 50% of the total fee) travel fees, per diem charges, meals and transportation. All of this should have been discussed in the initial phone call, and there should not be any surprises for you on the agreement. Most entertainers will require the contract signed and returned with the deposit within a certain timeframe of sending it. 8. Communicate Your entertainer is there to enhance your event. Keeping him or her informed of any changes in your event helps them to bring you the show you would like, especially if they are doing any customized material for you. If they are doing a customized performance for you event it is essential to get the needed information to them as early as possible. A professional entertainer will also want to make sure they are there early to setup and do sound checks before the scheduled show time. 9. Promote the Event Get people excited about the event by promoting the great entertainment you have booked for them! Your entertainer should be able to make this easy for you by providing you with articles, press releases, or photos that you can use in your event literature to build anticipation. Some entertainers are willing to provide "teaser" performances in order to get people excited to come to your event! 10. Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy the Show! By using these simple steps, you should feel confident that the entertainer you have chosen is a professional. You've worked hard up until this point, so sit back and enjoy what you've put together!

So you've just got engaged! It's now time for the excitement to begin. You've got a wedding to plan! At this point you've probably got a lot of questions running through your mind. Where do you begin? What questions should I ask vendors? Where am I going to get the money? Wait, how much money are we talking about? On the contrary to what most couples believe, wedding planning can actually be fun. With proper planning and allocated time to complete it you can create your truly unique and exciting Chicago Wedding reception. When it comes to the entertainment portion of your reception this should be treated with care as with all your other very important wedding details. The entertainment seems to be one of, if not the most important components to a reception. Sure, the food, decorations, and socialization are very important but without entertainment, these events would take on an entirely different personality. For affairs that are focuses around the entertainment, or at least ones where it is responsible for a major role in the success or failure of the event, some serious considerations must be taken when hiring the right entertainment. Will you find the right entertainment by hiring the one that answers the phone first or the one that has the lowest price or would you select one just because they live in your hometown? These are actually several things you should consider before selecting your entertainer: Is the entertainer experienced in providing services for your event type? This question can't just be answered in a yes or no question either. You'll want someone who knows the ropes. How much experience do you want your entertainer to have? Consider getting a list of references from previous clients. Who will actually be the entertainer at your event? Often times with larger multi-operational companies you won't actually know who your entertainer is until that night. Is this something you're willing to accept? Always ask this question when shopping for entertainment and make sure it's laid out clear and concise in your contract. What type of equipment do you deserve to have at your event? Imagine not being able to understand announcements or even worse hearing a hiss or buzz during your event. Imagine having part of your beautifully decorated event contain an eyesore of wires and beat up equipment. Another important face is just because an entertainer charges top dollar doesn't always mean they'll bring top dollar equipment to your event. Getting a picture of their setup is a must! What additional services are included other than just playing music? Will you need a master of ceremonies (emcee) at your event, a coordinator, or even someone to interact and participate with your crowd? Is your entertainer willing to step up to the plate and deliver those services? These can be important things to ask before your event. You'd hate to hire an entertainer who can't entertain. Is your entertainer and elegant public speaker? Do they speak in complete sentences without stuttering and using um and uh? Public speaking is said to be one of the number one fears in the United States. If someone isn't good at speaking in person odds are they won't be able to speak in front of your crowd. This is a very important aspect of the entertainer can be over looked. Is backup equipment provided and immediately available? As you know all electronics are man-made and with all man-made products they can fail. So it's important that your entertainer have not only backup equipment but also a backup plan. Ask your entertainer for their backup plan. What happens if the entertainer is ill or otherwise cannot attend your event? These details should be laid out in a written contract form with EVERY service provider. Always lay these things out prior to your event to prevent any situations later on. Is your entertainer insured? Every legitimate business has insurance. This may not seem important upfront, but heaven forbid something were to happen at your event. Are you willing to hire an entertainer without it? Ask your entertainer for his proof of property AND liability insurance. Are there any hidden additional charges or expected necessities from your entertainer? For example, are you required to pay a service charge for stairs at the reception hall? Or are you required to pay for their dinner? Will they need to take smoke breaks? If you're entertainer doesn't cover these issues in their sales pitch perhaps you should ask them. How much input will you be able to give on your music selection? This can also be a very important question when you're shopping for entertainment. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences when it comes to music. Will your entertainer be able to cater to those tastes or will they stick to their own routine. Also does your entertainer offer online music planning? With so much riding on the success of your event your entertainment should never be over looked. There should be several factors that come into play rather than just price when shopping for your wedding entertainment. Don't ever be afraid to ask questions as the entertainment will have a direct impact on the entire success of your reception.

The warm climate and endless selection of tourist attractions makes Orlando, Florida an ideal location for conventions, conferences, and trade shows. In fact, Orlando hosts literally hundreds of national and international meetings every day of the year. As your attendees attention will often be drawn away from your convention to the theme parks and nightlife in Orlando, it is important to provide extra live entertainment and activity incentives at your event. Whether your event is at the Orange County Convention Center or Walt Disney World, this article will give you helpful tips for hiring live entertainment for your Orlando meeting. The first step is to decide what convention activities you would like to have live entertainment at. Be creative in your scheduling, because adding a little unexpected fun throughout the convention will help keep your attendees energized and positive. Everyone expects a show after the gala dinner, but what about before a morning session to wake everyone up or during a break of one of a long afternoon meeting. Thinking outside the box with your entertainment will help make your convention a stand-out event. Once you know where you want the entertainment, then you can begin focusing on what type of entertainment you want. Nowadays, corporate entertainment options are virtually limitless. You could choose to entertain your guests with costumed stilt walkers, magicians, comedians, hypnotists, fire eaters, bands, headline singers, fortune tellers, or acrobats. If your event has a theme then you might want to try to fit that theme. The theme of The Magic of Customer Service fits hand in hand with a magic show. A Mardi Gras event may benefit from fortune tellers, jugglers, and other street entertainers. If you are opening up a session with some entertainment, perhaps you want to consider a comedian or a comedy actor who could present a fake motivational speech to get everyone laughing. Don't be afraid to break away from tradition. If you always have a stand-up comedian at your dinner, try a comedy hypnotist or corporate game show to give your guests something fresh and new. When you have narrowed down your selection to one or two types of acts, then you need to begin your search for specific entertainers. You can make your search easier by first deciding on the criteria for what you want in your entertainment. Do you want a national act or a local act? Does the act have to be squeaky clean or is a little PG-13 or R rated material appropriate for your group? Do you want a show that is interactive and involves members of the audience? How long of a show do you want? (Planning hint: Most after dinner shows run between 45-60 minutes, any longer and you risk your audience getting restless). Does the performer have to work with any special performance restrictions (is the show outside, is space limited, etc)? All of these items on your list should be used to screen potential entertainment choices. You can start your search for entertainers online. There is no shortage of entertainers with websites. If you find a site of an entertainer that interests you, contact the entertainer to find out their fees, availability, and to see if they are able to meet your list of criteria. If they are not on the web site, be sure to ask for references or letters of recommendation from past clients. If the performer is a true corporate entertainer, they will have already performed for a client in the same industry as your company. Also, be sure to convey any special requests or potentially unique situations about your event with the booking manager before signing any contracts. Conversely, it is also important to ask what the entertainer is going to need you to supply for the performance. This will allow you to budget for any audio visual or staging rental needs, and avoid any unpleasant last minute surprises. When you are searching online for an entertainer, beware of directory sites such as Gigmasters, who list thousands of entertainers who have paid to advertise on the site. Many of these websites will take your contact information and send them to dozens of their entertainers, and you will be barraged with emails and calls from entertainers you are not even interested in. The Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resorts both have live entertainment departments that organize entertainment for the theme parks as well as for conventions held on resort property. If you are holding your event at a hotel or venue on one of these theme park properties, you can ask your site contact about entertainment options available.The positive side of booking theme park entertainers is that it allows you to bring a little bit of the theme park magic to your convention guests. The drawback is that you will be paying a premium for entertainment that your guests could often see for free while visiting the parks. The stress-free way to hire an entertainer is to go through an entertainment company who specializes in corporate entertainers. Corporate Funny Entertainment helps companies and associations hire entertainment for Orlando meetings by negotiating the best possible performing fees with their comedians. When you book through Corporate Funny, you can afford to bring national entertainment to your meeting. Their goal is to give you "the most funny for your money". Corporate Funny makes the selection of a comedy entertainer easy, because they have reviewed hundreds of national acts to bring you the top six for corporate audiences. These acts have been selected based on having a clean comedy show appropriate for corporate audiences, flawless references, professionalism, and the total entertainment value of their performance. For Orlando meetings, Brandy Swardson, the booking manager for Corporate Funny, recommends comedy magician, Chris Linn, who has an act that is fresh, exciting, and unlike any magic or comedy show audiences have ever seen. Chris was named best comedy variety entertainer by the 2008 Best of Corporate Entertainers and Speakers awards. If you want straight-up laughs at your event, then a stand up comedian like Dante or Rob Little, who have made appearances on Last Comic Standing, HBO, and Comedy Central is sure to get your crowd rolling in the aisles. Show sample videos and show information about all of Corporate Funny's entertainers are available at their web site.

If you're planning a holiday party this year some kind of entertainment may be a great addition as a part of the festivities. Even more than the location, the décor, and other elements, the right entertainment can set the tone for your event and give your guests a unique, memorable, and truly enjoyable experience that they can carry with them for many a day to come. The right entertainment can add atmosphere and class, humor and fun, or inspiration and encouragement to the tone of your event. What Kind Of Entertainment? The most important question is, what needs do you want the entertainment to fill? Will it be the main event of the evening, one of several highlights, or will it simply be background to everything else? If the entertainment will be the main event of the evening, you may want to have some sort of feature performer such as a variety act of some kind; a magician, a comedian, a juggler, a singer, a show band, etc., and you will probably want the entertainment to last somewhere between thirty minutes to an hour or so. If the entertainment is simply one part of a longer program or of several featured activities, the same type of performer might still be appropriate, but you may want the length of the performance to be shorter, somewhere between twelve and twenty-five minutes. And if the entertainment is to be simply background to the party, you may want some sort of ongoing, low key entertainment, such as dance music, strolling close up magic, strolling musicians, or a small orchestra, depending on your budget. And of course depending on the schedule and time frame, you may decide to use a combination of more than one of the above choices. Whatever the case, make sure you're clear about the specific needs you hope to fill with the entertainment, and simply choose accordingly. Finding the Right Entertainers... Once you've determined the specific needs of your event, it will help you in choosing the right type of entertainment. You want to look for entertainers who can tell you specifically what benefits they can offer for your event, and how those benefits fill your unique needs. If an entertainer is unable to communicate clearly and directly how he or she can fill those needs, they may not have your needs in mind at all. Make sure you're completely clear about the specifics of what the entertainer will be providing, and that it's spelled out in a written agreement. You can find a variety of entertainers in the yellow pages or on the Internet. Don't assume that the one with the biggest ad will be the best. As with any other service professional, make sure they have experience and good references. Any quality entertainer should be able to provide you with background credits, testimonials, and reference letters from past clients. And don't make the mistake of letting price be the only deciding factor. It's important that the entertainment not only provides a fun filled, lively experience, but also that none of your guests are put off or offended in any way. If your audience is conservative, or a family group, make sure that the entertainer's material is appropriate. Comedians and other performers who are used to working in adult nightclubs can sometimes have a very different idea of what's "clean" than what you may have. So make sure you're clear and specific about your needs. Some Important Tips Whoever you end up hiring, you want to be certain you're getting the best value for the money you spend on entertainment. Here are a few useful tips to help you determine whether an entertainer can come through for you in bringing the best experience to your guests. Be sure to ask these important questions... "Are you a FULL TIME professional entertainer?" While there are exceptions, in many cases if an entertainer isn't full time, it may mean he's either not experienced enough, doesn't have a good enough show, or is simply not professional and dependable enough to support a full time career. "Can you provide references from past clients?" As I mentioned, any performer worth his salt should be glad to furnish you with letters and testimonials from his happy, satisfied customers. If he can't, you may want to proceed with caution! "Do you offer a money back guarantee?" If an entertainer doesn't guarantee his work, there may be a reason he's not prepared to do so! Even paying a much lower price is still a waste of money if your guests aren't thrilled, or worse, are somehow offended or put off by the performance. You need to be certain the entertainment can deliver for your event. "Can you tell me CLEARLY AND SPECIFICALLY what benefits you provide for my event?" Many performers are more interested in looking good than in meeting your unique needs. As I mentioned previously, make sure the entertainer is clear about how they can help meet your specific needs. Use Your Creativity As with every other aspect of planning your event, don't be afraid to be creative and to think "outside the box". Don't assume that certain types of entertainment are "just for kids". (That's one of the biggest misconceptions I encounter regarding magic, here in the Midwestern United States.) Or that they won't work in certain situations. Quite often the least obvious types of entertainment can be just the unique twist that will bring a touch of freshness and appeal to your event. The main thing is, don't automatically rule something out because you think it "wouldn't work". Look into a variety of options and ask for input from other creative or knowledgeable individuals. Above all, have fun planning your holiday party entertainment, and you're sure to make the party fun and memorable for you and all your guests.

A Word About Agents In the article 'How to Plan a Banquet,' we included a limited discussion about entertainment, and our basic advice was to hire a competent talent agent who specializes in "casuals," which means one-day or one-night events, such as parties, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and other fun events. Some agents represent actors and actresses, and unless they have a department that handles variety acts and bands, they would be of no help to you. Some other agents handle only major attractions and celebrities, and unless you're working with a serious budget, they won't be able to help you get a band for Aunt Sarah's 50th anniversary party. A variety agent is able to help you get that close-up magician, band, and sometimes even name entertainers like Reba McEntire or The Temptations. Those that specialize in variety entertainment are sometimes called "full-service" agencies. How do you tell who is a competent agent? That's a good question, because if you asked an agent if he's competent he'd be a fool to say anything but "Of course!" Having been in the entertainment business for over forty years, I've seen a lot of people set up shop as agents. Some last, some don't. A huge percentage of my business comes from people who either have used my services before or were referred by someone who has used my services. Finding Talent Finding your own entertainment can be fun. I have spent years watching other acts, bands and attractions, and I never fail to enjoy it. The internet or the Yellow Pages are a good starting place. Try using a search engine to find what you're looking for. You'll find listings in the Yellow Pages under entertainers, party planners, entertainment bureaus, and maybe some other categories. Try a search for something like "bands in los angeles" or "juggler orange county" or whatever is appropriate. See what you come up with. Beware that a beautiful website may not mean the best entertainer. Many website are not built by the entertainer and even it is, a nice-looking website does not translate to great entertainment. Referrals from friends might be useful to you if you follow the reviewing procedures outlined below. Watch your local newspaper for entertainers that are scheduled to appear for other groups in your area, and make it a point to catch their acts if possible. Of course, if you start going to other events, you'll see some poor entertainment, too. (I guess it holds true that you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince!) But even that can be helpful, if you are observant and make a note of what made the act good or bad. Reviewing An Act/Band If you're not working with an agent, you will need to review the act yourself. There are three methods of reviewing an act: You can (1) go see the act perform live, (2) watch a video of the act, or (3) have the act come audition for you. By far the best way is to see the act perform under roughly the same set of circumstances as your event. Seeing people perform in Las Vegas to a night-club crowd does not mean they'll be able to perform for little Gloria's 10th birthday party (or vice versa). The problem with going to see live performances is that it is certainly very time consuming, and you will only be able to see a limited number of contenders before it's time to make a decision. But on the other hand, think of the fun you'll have! Watching DVDs is an excellent method, as you can cover a lot of ground in an evening. Unfortunately, not all acts have DVDs or videos, and it would be a shame to eliminate a topnotch act just because they could not supply one. Another BIG problem with video is that many acts supply a short, edited version of their act. This can be very deceptive. When reviewing an act by video, I always insist on (but don't always get) an unedited version of the show. I never hire an act based on an edited video. I've heard of instances where an act was hired because they had a very powerful video, only to find that in their entire show, the only part that was any good was those few minutes on the video. Don't be overly impressed by a DVD or video of a movie appearance, guest spot on a TV show, or commercial. That still does not mean they can do the job you want them for. Unless you're an agent, you can just about forget about having the act audition for you. Maybe an act will drop off literature. In the case of a magician, mime, or similar variety act, you may receive a short demonstration. However, this small segment along with its glib pitch can be very deceiving. Don't take chances; be sure of what you're buying! When you talk to an entertainer on the phone, ask him to send his "press kit" or literature and a DVD or video tape. Most variety acts will have printed literature or a complete press kit (which includes a photo, biographical information, letters of recommendation and references or list of past performances). Please don't be taken in by good printed material. Usually, but not always, you can get a pretty good idea of their level of professionalism by the materials they send you. I do know some really great acts that work all the time and have virtually nothing in the way of printed materials. Of course I've also seen some really outstanding printed materials but was disappointed when I saw the act. I have a band that I send out to a lot of small weddings and installation banquets, and it took me almost a year to get a photo from them. (I'm still hoping to get a song list some day.) I've got another band that is absolutely tops in promotional material and their band is absolutely tops, too! Some performers no longer use paper press kits but instead prefer an electronic press kit either contained on a DVD they send you or simply up on their website. That's fine. It's certainly a more contemporary method of promoting one's self. Arrangements It's important, once you've decided what entertainers or band you're going to hire, that arrangements be made clearly and in writing. I've enclosed a sample letter you may wish to use. Some entertainers have their own contracts, but many do not, making it necessary for you to put everything down on paper and send it to the entertainer. I'm not a lawyer so I don't know how enforceable the letter is, but at least you have the information down on paper and you both understand and agree to the terms. If I'm serving as Agent, I fill out a contract based on our conversations, and then forward it to my client for a signature. I try to collect as much information as I can about the event so that I can prevent any surprises. The entertainers also receive a binding contract. By the way, this might be a good place to mention that talent agents are like travel agents in that they don't charge you for their services, but instead charge the entertainers. The agent is really looking out for your interests and can draw from countless entertainers and bands, being reasonably familiar with what each act does. There is an internet subscription service that lists thousands of entertainers, who their personal manager is (if any), and/or how to reach them. All entertainers are available to a full-service agent, rather than just a handful of acts that the agent has been able to put together. When making your arrangements with entertainers make sure that you discuss everything: Location. Best to send the act a map. Date of performance. Time and duration of performance. Bands usually work 4 hours, with a 10-15 minute break each hour. Talk to them about their breaks and how much overtime will cost. Some bands supply recorded music during their breaks. Put the fee down in writing. I would hesitate to pay the act a deposit, although some entertainers and bands require it. I'm a licensed agent, so an act knows that once I send the contract their pay is guaranteed. Both you and the entertainer are acting on a trust not yet demonstrated. The entertainer wonders if he'll get paid, and you wonder if he'll show up! It's the only system we have. Method of payment. Acts always expect to be paid in full following the performance. If any other arrangements are to be made, please not only discuss it with them, but put it in your letter of agreement. An act will want to know your time schedule... what time is the cocktail hour, dinner, etc. and this brings up an interesting subject: feeding the act. Usually, if you have only one individual doing a show after dinner (e.g. a magician or a singer), you should invite him to join your group for dinner. However, it would not be expected of you to feed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Even bands are seldom fed. If you use the band for the cocktail hour, during dinner, and then have them take a break while you give out awards or conduct other business, then it would be appropriate to feed them during that hour. It's not mandatory, however. (Keep in mind that a meal is a nice consolation for the act if they are giving you a special break on the fee.) Who supplies the public address system? Bands usually have their own equipment; other acts may not. A guitar player who sings may require two microphones. Four singers might require microphones and expect you to supply them. If you're at a hotel or other banquet facility, you may be able to get everything you need from them. Extensive sound systems will have to come from a professional sound company. Make sure you discuss this with your performer and put it in writing. Lighting. Again, your facility may have what you need. Spotlights with an operator can be rented for around $350. Big concerts will require the services of a professional lighting company. Stage? A banquet of fewer than 50 people may not even need risers, but when you start getting up in the numbers, you'll need to get your entertainers up to where the audience can see them. A catering facility or hotel will usually have 4' x 8' risers at various heights so that you can build a platform or stage for your entertainment. Is it outdoors? What if it rains? You should really specify what you will do. Will you then hold it indoors? The act or entertainer has blocked out that day for you and perhaps turned down other work. They are really entitled to their fee even if the program is rained out, unless you've made other arrangements. Seating. It's very difficult for an entertainer to have a dance floor between himself and the audience. If you're having a dance after a comedian or other entertainer, talk with the act about how close the seats or tables need to be. Maybe he/she can work on the dance floor. Does the act need a place to change clothes or set up equipment? Does the act sell albums or other merchandise at the performance? Some musical acts offer albums after the show. Is this all right with you? Parking and unloading. How nice it is for an entertainer to pull up in front of the YMCA and find a sign "Reserved for Entertainer." You can't always do that, but remember that some acts have a lot to carry in. If the only parking available costs money, you should reimburse the entertainers. Talk about it and include your decision in your letter of agreement. There are plenty of things to inquire about. Take time to picture in your mind exactly how things will be. If there is a question in your mind about anything, ask. Ask the hotel, the band, the act, the agent. Conclusion Well, really, that was easy. Just spend months looking at acts and days negotiating and a few weeks wondering if you blew it. (Or give a call to a competent talent agent and let him worry about the hard stuff!) Perhaps a good rule to remember is "You get what you pay for." A friend called me and wanted Mariachis for a Church Mexican Fiesta. I quoted him a price for five Mariachis for two hours, but he went out and hired his own for less. He called me up later just sick about it. He had called a group advertised somewhere and got a low price...and low quality. It's not a new story. Don't look for the lowest price; look for quality. If you can't afford top quality, it's probably better not to have entertainment at all rather than to hire an act that makes you and everyone else squirm in their seats. ----- Sample Letters PRINCESS WANTA COMPANY Makers Of The Unbreakable Widget 1842 Los Albany Street, Los Angeles, CA 90023 312/555-2345 February 31, 2009 Freddy the Magic Man 1234 Count Me Out Street Pasadena, California 93345 Dear Mr. Magic Man: This is to confirm our arrangements for you to entertain at our annual installation banquet to be held October 32, 2009 at the Rancho Cucamonga Holiday Hotel, 2345 Hotel Ave., Cucamonga, California. The banquet will begin with the cocktail hour from 6:00pm to 7:00pm at which time we will sit down for dinner. We would be delighted if you would join us. Please let us know if you would prefer the fish or the steak. We have a deejay who will provide you with a microphone on a microphone stand and the hotel has arranged to put up a 8' wide by 6' deep by 2' high platform, with stairs at one end, for you to perform on. Your 30 minute performance of comedy and magic should begin after dinner, approximately 8:15pm. I will have a $750 check ready for you at the conclusion of your performance. Please also bring me your parking ticket for full validation. Please sign a copy of this letter and return to me to solidify our arrangements. Most sincerely, Marta Stuart ----- From: Freddy The Magic Man To: Marta Stuart Everything looks great! I'll be there. I'd prefer: Steak ______ Fish ______ X_____________________________________ ----- LIBERTY AWARDS FUNDING Helping to improve life through investing 2356 Nobody Street Lancing, Ohio 98823 912/555-3456 February 31, 2009 Leon Huge Big Band From Cleveland 1902 Go Jump Street Pine Grove, Pa 69903 Dear Mr Huge: Thank you for agreeing to have your 8-piece band play for my daughter's wedding on July 14, 2008 at the Forrest Glen Country Club, 2323 Country Club Drive, Lancing, Ohio from 8:00pm to midnight. As we discussed, the band is to complete their set-up by 6:00pm and you will play recorded music through your sound system from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for the cocktail hour and dinner. You also agreed to act as the emcee introducing the bride and groom and the entire wedding party as they enter the room at approximately 6:30pm. I will e-mail you the line-up at least a week before the event. Please kick off the dance set at 8:00pm with the Father /Daughter dance "Isn't She Lovely" and then invite the entire wedding party to join them on the dance floor at the end of that song and play "Celebration." I understand that the band will play four 45-minute sets each hour and you will provide recorded music during your breaks. I will have a check for $2,450 ready for you when you arrive. I will also obtain full validation for all of your musicians if you will collect their parking slips. I will have sandwiches, sodas, coffee, iced tea and fruit juice in the break room at 7:00pm for you and the band. Please check in with Diane at the Country Club and she will show you the break room. Please sign below and return a copy of this letter to make sure we're on the same page. Thanks. Sammy Claws ----- Sammy: Everything is as agreed. We will be there.