Your choice in entertainment will depend very much on the nature of your event, the profile of your invitees, your venue, the purpose of the occasion and your budget. However, if the situation allows, entertainment can play a very important role in your function. Music, guest speakers or performances can, in fact, accomplish the following:
- Set the tone and theme of the occasion (relaxed, formal, fun, African, vintage and so on)
- Encourage guests to relax and enjoy themselves and the company
- Allow people to dance and have fun with one another
- Provide a distraction between meal courses, speeches or presentations
Once you have decided on the nature of your event and the sort of guests you are expecting, you can begin your search for suitable entertainment providers. Be sure to interview a few prospects and ask as many questions as you need to. You do not want to be unpleasantly surprised at your corporate function because you were unprepared for a certain element of the performance. Ask the service provider for a portfolio, informal performance and / or a list of contactable references so that you are confident that their work is of an appropriate standard. Be sure to contact the references.
Some recommended questions for you to ask potential entertainers include:
- Do you have your own equipment?
- Are you prepared in case a piece of equipment fails?
- Are you working at any other functions on the same day as ours? If so, how do you plan to fulfil your obligation to both of us?
- Do you require transport, food and refreshments as part of your package?
- Will you need a break during your performance and, if so, for how long?
- Have you worked at an event of this nature before?
- Have you worked at [name of venue] before?
- What exactly does your final quote include and exclude?
- What do you plan to wear?
There are many options available to event organisers seeking some innovative and appropriate entertainment ideas. For grand affairs such as formal weddings, gala dinners, product launches, celebrity functions and so on, the following options are popular:
- A renowned, talented jazz singer
- A string quartet
- Ballet dancers (either as a featured show or simply in the background)
- An acclaimed or celebrity speaker
- A spectacular trapeze performance above the crowd
- A brass band playing classic favourite
- A tasteful stand-up comedian (preferably one that is well known)
- Fire artists
- An African storyteller
Informal weddings, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, team building events and year-end functions may benefit more from:
- A magician
- Belly dancers
- Line dancing (with trained professionals that involve the guests and encourage them to join)
- A caricature artist
- A DJ that plays fun dance music and classic favourites to encourage guests to dance
- Fire artists
- Clowns or balloon artists (for events with young ones)
