Event Essentials: Entertaining Entertainment
Have you ever been to an event that was just a total snooze fest? You found yourself checking the time to see how much longer you have to stay? The worst. One of the things that we put so much focus on when planning an event for our clients is the entertainment to avoid just that.
Whether it’s a large event with a quarter million dollar budget for entertainment or a small event that is just looking for a killer DJ – who you choose is essential.
When it comes to booking a live band there are a few important things you will want to keep in mind to ensure everyone – including the performers – are happy at the end of the night. First and foremost, what kind of band are you looking for? Are you in need of a band that will be the main entertainment of the night? A name headliner? Someone people recognize? A party band that really gets your guest-hyped? Or are you looking for some background entertainment? Once you know the answer to that question, you are ready to get your search started!
When dealing with live entertainment, the bigger the name the bigger the expense. We cannot stress how important it is to make sure you completely read through the contract and the rider. Many times bands will include requirements that you will be responsible for covering/providing like travel, lodging, meals, snacks, specific dressing room requirements, supplies, equipment, etc in their contract/rider. Bands can be very particular so you’ll want to make sure you know what you are agreeing to when signing the dotted line.
We all love a live performer, but they oftentimes are much more expensive than a DJ, so if your budget does not allow for one, DJs are another great option for a great time! Like a band – or really any vendor – you want to make sure you read through their requirements and/or needs. More often than not DJs are pretty self-contained, meaning they come with everything they need to get the party started. However, sometimes that is not the case. Some DJs won’t have their own equipment which may mean you are responsible for sourcing or footing the bill. It’s also a great idea to ask for a sample reel of their work. Being a DJ is much more than hitting play on a list of songs, they are performers themselves so you want to make sure they are the right fit for your event.
While bands and DJs are arguably the most popular, entertainment does not have to stop with music.
We recently had a client whose mission is to provide grants to underserved communities so when we thought about the entertainment for their event – we really wanted to pull from the communities our client represented. From music to spoken word performers it made the event that much more impactful that guests were hearing directly from those that can speak to the mission.
No matter what direction you go, reading through contracts and really doing your research will ensure your event is a killer time!