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What Entertainment Is Right For Your Event?

By Lisa Ray, Associate Producer
Mark Sonder Productions

When planning entertainment for any event it is not always an easy task. The objective should be to find the entertainment that fits your specific event, audience and budget but with so many genres and acts to pick from and so much diversity in taste among people, choosing the right entertainment can be very challenging. How do you decide what entertainment is right for your event?

You must first ask yourself what you want the event entertainment to accomplish for your company. What is the overall outcome you desire for your attendees to have from the experience? Entertainment can help in attaining and reinforcing the message you are trying to get across. It can be the core of any successful event. The entertainment you use can be part of the "branding" process of your company which will separate you and your value from your competition. Take your time and be creative. It has been proven that word- of-mouth is one of the best forms of advertisement so with that in mind, give your attendees something to talk about. If your budget permits, choosing a big name entertainer can help generate stories and make your event more memorable. It can also increase your event's attendance.

All entertainment is NOT for all events. You must know your audience. Some entertainment may be considered inappropriate to a certain group of people. Always consider what your attendees' interests and needs are? The right entertainment can generate enthusiasm, bring about dancing, stimulate networking, and promote an idea. It can also simply just provide enjoyment and/or a diversion for your attendees.

Of course, before scanning your choices, know your budget for entertainment. Make sure you look at the whole package cost including the "rider" when considering your options. When booking a headliner, the artist usually has certain requirements when performing for your event. The "rider" may include specific requirements such as travel and accommodations, food and beverage, lighting and sound production, rental equipment and other contract musicians that are not part of the artist's performance fee.

Overall, it is important that the entertainment you hire for your event must be in line with what your company stands for and the message you want to create. Remember also, that events vary in purpose and entertainment sets the mood to support that purpose for any type of gathering. Even though you must consider your budget, strive to make your entertainment a positive experience and one that is talked about long after the event is over. Congratulations, you have taken the first step towards creating an experience!

Mark Sonder, CSEP is the Chief Entertainment Officer of Mark Sonder Productions, Inc., a leading award winning national entertainment agency designing headline talent and production services for large venues, corporations and associations. This article first appeared on the Mark Sonder Productions website, www.marksonderproductions.com.