Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Most Important Things You Must Know Before Booking Entertainment For Your Next Event – Part 1
As a professional speaker and entertainer, I have had the pleasure of attending numerous events all over the country. I have worked with some of the finest event and meeting planners in the industry and have learned from every conversation I have had, every meeting I have attended, and every special event where I have presented my programs. I recently wrote a book to share the most important things someone planning an event must know to be successful when hiring a speaker or an entertainer. Over the next few months I will be sharing some of the best tips and techniques from my book right here on my blog. I hope this information will help guide you through the decision making process and ensure that you have a dynamic, entertaining program. If you are planning an event soon or don't want to wait for all the blog entries to be posted, visit http://www.jasonmichaelsmagic.com/, fill out the webform, and I'll rush you a copy of my new book absolutely free. Enjoy!
INTRODUCTION
So, you're responsible for booking entertainment for your upcoming event? Wow! That's a big responsibility. The truth about most events is that a year from now most people won't remember the decorations. Whether the food was good or not will probably be forgotten. And where it was held will be a footnote in someone's mind. The entertainment, however, will make or break almost any event.
Bore your guests with a monotone speaker or make them sit through a bad comedian, and the potential of a successful event is lost. Instead, it becomes one more long, drawn out, and hard-to-sit-through performance. In contrast, an excellent entertainer or speaker who can engage your guests, make them laugh, and create a fun atmosphere will be remembered for years to come.
The great news is that when a program is a huge hit, the person or committee who was in charge of booking the entertainment gets all of the credit for a job well done. I hope you aren't feeling too much pressure. While you certainly have a very important job, it can be a lot easier than you might think. My book was written to help make your job significantly easier. If you work through this guide step-by-step, it will make the process of finding and booking professional entertainment both exciting and fun.
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, what type of event it is (banquet, meeting, fundraiser, etc), number of guests invited, approximate number of guests expected, 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.
The more details you have planned out before you contact your potential entertainment, the better. Most professional entertainers want as much information as possible. Personally, I look for ways to customize each of my performances to my specific audiences. The more you can tell me about your group, who the audience is made up of, and what the purpose of the event is, the more specific I can be as I plan out the program. There is a huge difference between seeing a generic show and seeing a show that has been specifically tailored to your event. The more details you provide me with, the easier it is for me to create long-lasting memories. In fact, the NEC Corporation had this to say about my show customization…
"Your show was incredible! I truly appreciate how you worked with us so much to meld part of your show to include personalizations to our business. We appreciate all you did to make our banquet an unforgettable one."
As I mentioned in the introduction, it shouldn't be difficult to find an appropriate program for your event. Having the initial questions answered before you seek out entertainment will allow you to judge for yourself how 'on the ball' the entertainer or speaker is whom you are currently interviewing.
Allow me to share an example with you from my own entertainment background. One day I received a phone call from the Gaylord Opryland Sales Team. They were in the process of planning a very special event for a group of VIP meeting planners. The sales team engaged me to create a magical ambience during a portion of their themed event. The event was held in several areas of the property, and my job was to 'wow' the group during dinner. My creative team and I consulted with their sales team on the phone several times. As the event grew closer, we had a meeting to go over the final details. Because they had carefully thought through what they wanted, the sales team was able to easily answer all my questions and give me ideas about how to customize my performance. The day of the event arrived, we delivered a fantastic performance, and it was a huge hit! The Gaylord Opryland Sales Team was so pleased with the results, Sean Perry, Director of West Coast Sales had this to say…
"I just wanted to let you know how great a job you did helping to make my event a success. As you know, it was a very special VIP evening and the entire Gaylord Opryland Sales Team wanted to make sure that we really had a top-notch, highly impressive experience. I really appreciate the time you spent creating ideas that would 'Wow!' my group and then finding ways that actually worked, all while working within somewhat restrictive circumstances."
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 sales meeting, 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. Who is going to be attending, and what fits the event?
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 or speaker's level of experience by their resume, testimonials, references, and letters of recommendation. As you interview entertainers, consider what their past clients have said about them. You should be looking for comments like what Melissa Wilson of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center had to say…
"I would definitely use Jason again and would recommend him to anyone planning an event who is looking for a unique and entertaining performer."
Be sure that your entertainer represents you well! As you consider the details of your program, listen to the entertainer's suggestions. Entertainment professionals who have worked with numerous groups should be able to offer suggestions about what works well and what doesn't.
THE WRAP UP
Click here for Part 2 of The Most Important Things You Must Know Before Booking Entertainment For Your Next Event where we'll take a look at How To Choose the Right Program and The Initial Contact. And remember if you want to receive a free copy of my brand new book, visit http://www.jasonmichaelsmagic.com/, fill out the webform, and I'll rush you a copy.