Live entertainment gives you the chance to kick your event into the next gear. Instead of just plugging someone’s Spotify into a speaker, live entertainment gets people’s blood flowing and bodies moving.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to decide what the best live entertainment is for your party. Bands? Quartets? Dancers? The options are as neverending as your ever-growing guest list, but luckily there are a few notes to hit on to make sure you find your perfect fit.
The Crowd
You’re throwing an event for specific people, so it’s essential to keep them in mind. You want to make sure the performers you get are ones that suit the theme of your party, and that your invitees will enjoy.
If you’re throwing an 80s themed party, don’t go and hire a modern country performer. There are tons of cover artists who will play the new-oldies for your audience with the same passion as when you first heard the songs.
If you’re not sure what kind of music your guests will expect, you can mass email or message people and gather ideas. You can be surprised at what people want, while also getting to give them what they expect.
The Location
Although a full string orchestra may seem like a romantic idea for a wedding, fitting 12 to 21 performers in a small church gathering is impossible. Consider the space you have to offer. Don’t hire a tap-dancing group for a beach party, decide on something that will suit where you’ll be. If you’re hard-pressed to have that specific performer, you can change venues instead.
Don’t put a performer in the uncomfortable position of having to decline your work because it would be impossible for them to entertain your guests.
The Budget
This tip may seem common sense, but a lot of novice party planners can forget how important it is to budget. Performers deserve to be paid well for their services. Make sure that you find a performer you can afford- or save more for one that you want who’s a little pricier.
If you can’t afford the full cover band you’re wanting, step down a notch to a single singer. Live performances will awe your guests regardless, and you can make sure you’re not breaking the bank- or asking a performer to perform for pay beneath their worth.
Availability
Unfortunately, there are many times of the year where performers will be in higher demand. Acoustic groups and musicians are in higher need in June for weddings, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a rock singer for hire around the fourth of July or New Years. If you have a specific dream for your event, plan, and hire as early as you can. If you don’t, you’ll be stuck having to settle for a different kind of performer.
What hiring live entertainment comes down to is planning. Don’t lose track of the vision of your party and your guests, and you can ensure that everyone will have the night of their lives.