I ran across this article in a meetings publication this week, and wanted to share it with everyone who visits our blog. Many of the convention/conference planners out there, some who have been members of CMCN, hire entertainment. Below are six useful steps when contracting or hiring entertainment. Credit is given to Mark Sonder of Mark Sonder Productions.
6 Steps to Hiring Headline Entertainment
from Mark Sonder, CEO Mark Sonder Productions
Successful Meetings, 3/08
1. Research the needs of the audience and identify the appropriate resources to fill these needs.
2. Select an artist. This works best if you (or your client) either select five headliners you would like to have perform at your meeting or event, or prepare an approximate budget and category of music/entertainment/speaker in order to narrow the list of options.
3. Be prepared and empowered to make a reasonably quick decision. It is common to lose headliners when clients are not able to act quickly enough to secure the act. Have your agent or corporate entertainment company make a written offer to the artist. Remember, an agent can offer you only the artists that are on the agency’s roster. If the artists you are looking for are represented by more than one agency, you will need to contact more than one agent or just one corporate entertainment company.
4. If the offer is accepted, sign a contract for services of the artist. Once your written offer is accepted, it is very difficult to turn back. And be prepared to make a 50% deposit when and if a headline entertainer accepts your offer.
5. Secure production for the show or have your corporate entertainment company provide these services.
6. Monitor the production process and evaluate the outcome.
