With the arrival of autumn, it’s time to start thinking about your holiday party.  Corporate events, family gatherings, and staff banquets are right around the corner – and many will include some form of entertainment. 

I’ve written about how to find talent for your event, so let’s now discuss how to know your talent is right for your event.

One thing every event planner has experienced is a disconnect between someone’s self-promotion via a website or video and the reality of their performance.  

Let’s face the reality that on paper, everyone is amazing.  According to “their” website, the pianist has performed at Carnegie Hall, the comedian was Carson’s favorite, and the magician is a regular at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.  With everyone creating their own narrative, what can you do to save yourself the embarrassment of a bad act?

Video

A promo video is the logical first stop when booking entertainment. It shows you what they do, how they dress, and in essence, that they have done this in the past. Be wary of any promo video that doesn’t show an audience enjoying the act or only “on the street” footage. If they’re not showing what they do in a setting somewhat close to what you are looking for, think twice. For example, would you hire a comedian if their promo video was only shot on a street corner or in their living room, or a singer only performing in the shower?

Testimonials

The first thing you should do when researching an act is read their testimonials.  Yelp, Google Reviews, Gig Salad, and yes, on their own website, every performer should have verifiable reviews and testimonials.  Skip over the celebrity endorsements or anything that isn’t a full name.  Many performers will have quotes like “Best event ever, Joan A., Microsoft,” take that with a grain of salt and look for the reviews or comments that come from real people.  I always say if you can actually find and connect with the person who gave the review, consider it a real comment.

Referrals

This is actually a follow-up to testimonials.  If you read the testimonials and see a company that you know someone at, call them up and see if they can refer someone.  Or even better, post to social media.  You’ll be surprised at how many people have hired an entertainer in the past and can give an honest recommendation.

A second option is to get referrals from other entertainers.  If you’ve worked with any entertainment in the past, the chances are they know other people who can make your event a success.  So reach out, ask for a few names, and know that you’re most likely in good hands.

Trust, but verify

Ok, you’ve gotten a referral, you’ve checked the testimonials and watched the promo video.  Now it’s time to do the hard part… talk to the talent.  My best advice for getting great talent for your event is to actually talk to the talent you’re thinking about hiring. Ask them basic questions like:

• Is this your full-time job (this is not a reason to not hire someone, but it’s good to know)
• Have you performed for a group our size, in a location like this, for our industry, etc
• Do you stay after the show and talk to people
• What happens if we’re running late/early
• Do you charge for travel or is that built into your cost
• Can you handle a rough crowd
• Do you bring all your own equipment or do we need to provide anything
• Can you provide us with marketing materials
• Do you use animals in your performance
• When would be the best time for your performance (can you do it while we’re eating)

The most important thing with all of this is that the performer gives you the sense that they are the right person for the job.  Like a job interview, each performer should be an expert in their field, with experience to back it up.

Good luck and happy holidays!

Michael Gutenplan is a top-rated mentalist for corporate events and private parties. He was awarded “best club entertainment” by Boardroom Magazine.