There are many inexperienced corporate entertainers out there and booking the best ones for your corporate event can be a challenging experience. Booking a motivational speaker or comedian who has generic experiences and no real unique naija gist to pass on can be de-motivational for your audience. Many bad motivational speakers use their achievements in the work place which they embellish to inspire others and that’s it. Audiences can see through this and are usually unimpressed. To ensure that you find good entertainment follow some simple advice and avoid generic inexperienced entertainers that will more than likely have a negative effect on the audience than a positive one.
Planning early is necessary as the best corporate entertainers are often booked in advance. It is important to know the theme and type of entertainment you want as soon as possible as this will dictate the type of corporate entertainment you hire.
Once you have established the theme and focus of the event make a short list of the entertainers that will fulfill this. Briefing all the entertainers thoroughly is essential for them to tailor their material to suit the focus. Good corporate entertainers know how to match their material to the brief established. The brief should also include information about the audience which the entertainer is going to address. This could involve the company overview, the level of the participants in the company and any deficiencies which need particular attention. There is no point telling people things they already know.
Meet the entertainers in person is crucial. You will be able to establish in the meeting the level of professionalism of the entertainer, their attitude and whether this will fit in with the corporate culture as well as their likeability. Good entertainers are able to establish rapport immediately and make the audience like them. Likeability and attitude are important as it will determine how the audience will accept and connect with the entertainment.
Ask for references and level of experience. The corporate entertainer you choose should be a full time entertainer and should have performed at events like yours in the past. They will be able to supply you with a Demo of their work. Don’t be afraid to also request a dry run through before the event to make sure that the presentation meets the purpose for which it was intended. At the dry run through you should be able to suggest and make changes to the material.
Remember that people usually have a short attention span and can easily get distracted or bored. An experienced entertainer knows how to keep the audience engaged and also wanting more. A good presentation usually lasts between half an hour and forty minutes. Any longer will certainly make the audience distracted. If the entertainer has a longer presentation then they should present it in multiple parts as to ensure that the audiences, interest are maintained.
Stage craft is extremely important in corporate entertainment, as everyone wants to feel that presentation is directed at them. Experienced entertainers know how to work the stage. They know how to walk in and to command attention and are experts at keeping the audience on point and the crowd under control.
To choose the best corporate entertainer/ entertainment for your Conference, Christmas Party or Gala dinner requires planning and research. Avoiding the mishap of a booking an inexperienced or horrible entertainer can be difficult. The advice you need to ensure your event is a success is contained in this article.
Booking an entertainer in advance is essential. Popular entertainers are often booked months or even years in advance. Upon setting the date for your corporate event, you should then immediately commence searching for the type of entertainment you need and want.
There are many types of corporate entertainment that you could choose for your party or event. Depending on your audience you may want to have a little humour on the night. A stand up comedian to be your MC may assist in lightening the mood. They can not only introduce all the other entertainers and speakers and keep the event in order but they could also do their own routine on the night. Ensure that the comedian or entertainer you select is appropriate for the audience for your corporate event.
A magician, hypnotist or illusionists can be a great novelty and source of entertainment on the night. Not only can they get the audience involved, they can keep the laughter rolling. These types of entertainers add a little class to the event. Magicians, illusionist or hypnotist shows are very interactive and to ensure success, the group should be outgoing and uninhibited. Quiet or shy groups are less likely to participate and have an aversion to going up on stage. So for these groups, this entertainment may not be suitable or enjoyable.
When booking the music for the event, whether you choose a band or DJ, ensure they are familiar with the group and music preference. Ask for a Demo or video of them at an event to ensure that that their music taste will be appropriate for the event your hosting. You may also want to ask for references. Asking for references should apply to all the entertainers your considering.
Generally speaking booking an entertainer directly as opposed to through and agent will avoid miscommunication. It will also allow you to meet with them personally to ensure that they are suited to your event. Often agencies will not allow you to meet the entertainer prior to the event. They add their fees to the overall cost of the entertainer. So by booking directly you could save money on your entertainment. Many entertainers are also willing to customise the performance which is something that is difficult to coordinate via an agent. There are also travel expenses when hiring entertainers. You will need to factor this into the cost of booking a specific entertainer.
To ensure that things run smoothly you should discuss what the entertainer requires on the night. Usually the venue can accommodate them with the sound and lighting equipment and microphones etc. However you should be aware of any other special set up requirement.
Your corporate entertainment should leave you guests excited and wanting more. So keeping the entertainers performance to 30 mins will ensure that guests aren’t bored.
