• Free event planning service
• Event planning toolkit
  • Preparation
  • Planning
  • Promotions
  • Trouble shooting
  • Evaluation
  • Special events
• How to plan an event
• Request for Proposal
• BESydney Event Supplier Search
• Conferencing in Regional NSW

• Business Events Sydney
• Plan an event
• Event planning toolkit
• Planning
• » Booking entertainers

Booking entertainers 

The right choice of entertainment can ensure your event is enjoyable, memorable, and enhances your brand and the messages you intend to convey. The key is finding the most appropriate entertainment for your audience, event and brand.

Step 1: Plan early

The most popular corporate entertainers book up very quickly, especially around the popular dates. In fact during the holiday season (around Christmas), entertainers can book up even a year in advance. As soon as you know the date of your event, start searching for the right entertainment.

Step 2: Know your event

Think about the kind of entertainment that will work best for your event and the people attending it. Ask yourself a series of questions, including:

• What is the average age of your guests? What are their demographics?
• Do you want your guests to dance? 
• Is the entertainment a key component of the event (eg festivals and parties)
• Or is the entertainment a small addition to the event (eg exhibitions and conferences)
• Do you need background entertainment, a performance or interactive entertainers?

Step 3: Research entertainers

Once you know the type of entertainment that will best suit your event and your guests, research actual entertainers to find out who is most suitable. Referrals are best, because you have trusted feedback on the entertainer.

Corporate entertainment agencies are an alternative to searching for yourself: they will find the type of entertainer you need, and provide a quality guarantee. However, expect to pay extra for the service.

Step 4: Always ask for a demo

Always ask to see or hear a demo of the entertainers on your shortlist. Most professional entertainers and corporate entertainment agencies have CDs, videos or DVDs they can send you. If they don’t, question the level of their professionalism.

Resources

• Download BESydney’s Choosing entertainers guide that provides guidelines to selecting the most appropriate type of entertainer for your event and guests
• Read BESydney’s Working conditions for entertainers and speakers guide for help providing best-practice breaks, travel and accommodation, and preparing for audio-visual requirements