Finding entertainment for a corporate conference, holiday party, or convention can seem like an overwhelming task. There are literally thousands of great, good and terrible corporate entertainers available. This list will give you some tips on how to narrow down your search and find entertainment that will help make your event a success!
#10 – PLAN EARLY. The most popular corporate entertainers book up very quickly on popular dates. During the corporate holiday party season (November-January), entertainers can start booking over a year in advance. Avoid disappointment and start looking for entertainment as soon as you know the date of your corporate event.
#9 – KNOW WHAT YOU WANT (AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE WANTS). Top Stories You can make your search for an entertainer easier if you have an idea of what kind of entertainment would work well for your group. Popular corporate entertainment includes:
COMEDY – Comedies can be a great way to get your team laughing together. Comedies don’t have to be just stand-up comedians. Many comedy companies incorporate magic, juggling, or other variety shows into their comedy. This variety helps ensure that there is something for everyone at the show.
No matter what type of comedy you choose, be sure that the comedy will be appropriate for your group. Many comedians have different ideas of what “clean comedy” is, so be sure to request a demo video to preview the show (see #1 below!)
MUSIC – Many singers and bands are available for corporate events.
MAGIC – There are many different styles of corporate magicians and corporate magic shows. Some magicians offer walking magic (going table to table at your event), some perform large illusion shows with special effects and a cast of dancers, others specialize in comedy magic that gets your audience laughing. Whatever styles of corporate entertainment you’re looking for, be sure to find a magician who specializes in just that style. There are magicians who will tell you they do everything – illusions, comedy, tricks, but that’s because they’re not good at any particular style, so all their shows are usually mediocre. For the best possible performance, hire a professional corporate magician who specializes in a style of magic. These performers will be the best in their field at illusion, comedy or impersonation because that’s all they do.
HYPNOSIS – Hypnotists can be great for the right team. Hypnotist shows are very interactive and require a very outgoing and uninhibited team to be truly successful.
#8 – BOOK DIRECT WITH ENTERTAINMENT TO SAVE MONEY AND HEADACHES. Booking your corporate entertainment directly through the entertainer will save you money on entertainment. Most corporate entertainment agencies add an additional 15-35% to an entertainer’s fee. By booking a corporate entertainer directly, you also have the convenience of being able to speak to the entertainer (or their office staff) with any questions or concerns. Most corporate entertainment agencies will not let you speak to the entertainer until the day of the show. By booking direct, you can be sure there are no performance miscommunications. You can find direct contact information for entertainers by doing an Internet search for “corporate entertainers,” “california comedian,” etc.
#7 – PLAN A REALISTIC BUDGET. The old adage, “you get what you pay for,” also applies to entertainment. Entertainment is not a place to save a few bucks. You’ll never cut corners on the food you’ll feed your guests, and you’ll never have to cut back on the fun. Bad entertainment can ruin an event just as quickly as bad food. You won’t be able to get a good quality corporate entertainer to do a show for $400. Fees for a TOP QUALITY professional corporate entertainer will range from $1500 – $100,000 + depending on the size of the show and the experience and reputation of the performer.
#6 – KNOW THE HERMES EXPERIENCE. You want a corporate entertainer who entertains primarily for corporate audiences. Don’t be afraid to ask questions… Is the performer a full-time entertainer? Have they performed at events like yours before? Do they have letters of recommendation and reviews from past customers for you to read?
#5 – IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST….ASK! Many entertainers are willing to adapt part of their performance for your event. If you have a special request in mind, be sure to discuss this with the artist at the time of booking.
#4 – DISCUSS SETUP REQUIREMENTS BEFORE BOOKING. Installation needs for entertainers vary widely. Some can play in the corner of a room with just a microphone, others need a minimal stage area and special sound and lighting equipment. Make sure your venue will be able to accommodate your entertainer’s needs before booking.
#3 – LEAVE YOUR GUESTS WANTING MORE. 90 minutes of entertainment may sound like a great idea when planning your corporate event, but most audiences don’t want to watch a 90-minute show. A bigger show does NOT equal a better show. Even the TOP comedians and entertainers in the WORLD (Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, etc.) only do 60-75 minute shows. Professional entertainers and corporate event planners agree that a good length for most corporate live entertainment is 35-50 minutes. It’s always better to leave your audience excited and wanting more… rather than tire them out and start looking at the clock.
#2- KNOW WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FEE. There are travel expenses associated with hiring national entertainers for your corporate party. Many entertainers include travel expenses in their performance fee and for some trips it will be an additional cost. Make sure you know what’s included in the fee quoted to you to avoid any unexpected (and potentially expensive!) surprises.
#1 – MOST IMPORTANT – ALWAYS ASK TO SEE A DEMO VIDEO. A demo video is the only way to truly judge whether a corporate entertainer will be right for your corporate party. Demo video should be short highlights of segments of an entertainer’s show. The video should be shot in front of a live audience so you can see how a real audience reacts to the show. If an entertainer’s video is nothing but split-second clips and flashy visuals set to music, then they’re probably trying to cover up a lackluster performance – or worse, it could mean they’ve NEVER even performed in front of a real audience.
Top stories from Super Bowl XLIV
For the third year in a row, football fans were treated to a competitive Super Bowl game that often left fans disappointed after several blowouts in recent years.
The New Orleans Saints stunned the sports world by beating an Indianapolis Colts team that was favored to win the game. Much of that was thanks to a strong offensive performance from Drew Brees and his teammates, but New Orleans’ defense was just as effective in containing Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
Let’s take a look at some of the top stories from Super Bowl XLIV. If you missed the game, here are the things you need to know.
First of all, Drew Brees has been nearly perfect after getting off to a shaky start. While he completed just three of his first seven pass attempts, he went 29 over the next 32 to finish with 32 completions on 39 attempts for 288 yards, 2 touchdowns and no fumbles.
Those kind of numbers are remarkable, and this is one of the most efficient quarterback performances in Super Bowl history. It should come as no surprise that Brees won the award.
Perhaps just as impressive was the performance of Saints junior kicker Garrett Hartley, who made all three of his field goal attempts. Having successfully made kicks of 44, 46 and 47 yards, these were all integral to the team’s victory and he was extremely clutch as the Saints trailed the Colts when he made two of his kicks.
Finally, there was a controversy that arose after the game with Peyton Manning. After losing the game to the Saints, the Indianapolis quarterback stormed onto the field without shaking hands or congratulating any of the New Orleans players.
It’s common for players on the losing team to congratulate the winners, which is why many are calling Manning’s act bad sportsmanship. Drew Brees, on the other hand, said he understood Manning’s frustration and held nothing against him for it.