So you’ve decided to put on a large special event and bring in a juggler/stilt walker to entertain your crowd. It doesn’t take a ton of research to realize that there are many options out there! It goes without saying that you want someone that’s appropriate for your particular audience. But what about the entertainer’s experience level?
Experience Matters
When it comes to your decision-making, hiring a full-time professional corporate entertainer is one of the most important things you can do. They bring something to the table that a part-timer is not able to do. A full-time corporate entertainer has the experience necessary to handle unexpected circumstances and turn them into something amazing. They truly know how to work a crowd and are experts at varying their entertainment (when necessary) based on the makeup of their audience. They are extremely adaptable and know how to “go with the flow”!
Respectful
An entertainer that has been performing for a long time understands the importance of showing respect to their client, but also to the people he is entertaining. Is your conference entertainment showing up 15 minutes before go-time or are they arriving early, in appropriate attire for your particular event? Do they speak respectfully at all times, even when they think they’re out of earshot of event attendees? Do they show appreciation to you for allowing them to perform at your event? Do they say negative things about other entertainers/artists or talk about them in less than positive ways? A full-time entertainer knows the importance of interacting respectfully with the client and the audience at all times.
Early Arrival
A true professional entertainer will arrive 60-90 minutes early – depending on the event – in order to prepare without being rushed. Parking is often a problem and this allows enough time to find a space and check in with their contact person, easing their mind and giving them the opportunity to work out last-minute details.
Professional Sound Equipment
An entertainer should always be able to set up their own professional sound system with a mic (for stage shows) if you require that of them. We understand that not every client has a top-notch system available. But a full-time professional corporate entertainer should absolutely have the equipment needed for their type of show in cases where sound is not made available for them on-site.
Performers’ Liability Insurance
Always make sure your entertainer offers to have your organization/festival/corporation the option of being named as an Additional Insured on their Performer’s Liability Insurance – a must-have for anyone in this business. Liability is a hot button issue and it only takes a little bit of advance planning to make sure you’re covered in the rare instance of an accident involving one of your performers/entertainers and/or an audience member. You have the right to ask for an actual Certificate of Liability that shows you are covered during the time of your event.
Promotional Materials for Advertising
With the huge role that digital media plays in the world of entertainment, most clients want high-quality digital images that they can use to promote their event(s). Whether you want still or action shots, a professional corporate entertainer will make them available in a timely fashion. Advertising your event is key to its success, and every entertainer should be able to quickly and easily provide you with a great variety of shots that you can choose from.
Presentation
How an entertainer presents himself to his audience is huge! In some states/cities, variety entertainers are numerous and it might feel like they’re all the same. A stilt walker is a stilt walker, right? But this is definitely not the case! Make sure you find out what additional skills your potential stilt walkers will be displaying. A true professional entertainer should do more than just walk around in a costume or two. Costumes can be wonderful for themed events, but many costumes make it impossible to do other skills like juggling, eating fire, etc. The person you book should be entertaining on their own and not rely on costumes to be noticed. Wearing cool costumes isn’t in itself entertaining, but showcasing their skills and personality are what sets a professional apart!
Level of Talent
There will always be a marked difference between someone who entertains occasionally on the side and those whose livelihood depends on it. When you book an entertainer, make sure that at some point during your event, you’re able to watch them as they perform. A promotional YouTube video might not tell the whole story. But while they’re entertaining at your event (or one nearby) is the best time to see what they do! It’s not that hard to produce a promo video that is staged in a controlled environment. So take the time to seek them out during your event and observe how they interact with an actual crowd. Does their level of expertise match what you were told they can do? Are people enjoying what they see/hear? Is the entertainer a good representative of you and your event/company/festival? And are they interacting with your crowd in a very intentional way? How about the skills they are displaying – are they doing the same thing over and over or switching out props often so that your crowd sees a variety?
Ability to Adapt
Every entertainer at some point has shown up to perform at an event and found a less-than-ideal situation. Maybe there’s a weather-related issue that pops up. Perhaps the provided sound system won’t read their thumb drive or the microphone is on the fritz. Maybe the stage he needs to ride his unicycle on is too small to ride it safely. A full-time professional performer has not only faced about every possible situation, but they’ve figured out how to adapt without missing a beat!
Conclusion The bottom line to think about is how you want your organization to be represented. Every vendor, entertainer, emcee, food truck & band is a direct reflection of you. Are full-time professional entertainers more expensive? Yes, they are. But I believe you’ll see that in the end, it was totally worth it!
