13 Mar Questions to Ask when Hiring a Corporate Entertainer

Choosing the proper entertainment to perform at a corporate event can be an exciting undertaking. Searching for the talent, reading their reviews, watching their videos and making the final decision can make you feel like you are preparing the cast for the next big play on Broadway. In a way, you are performing a similar task to a casting agent and, while the audience for the corporate event will be considerably smaller than for a Broadway play, there will be several personalities to take into account when deciding on the finished product.

There are many things that must be considered when hiring a corporate entertainer. Here are 5 key questions that should be asked as part of the vetting process:

What type of material do you perform?

There are several types of performances that are perfect in the corporate setting. You need to determine how large the gathering will be to choose an appropriate act. Magicians, comedians, musicians, and impersonators do well for large groups. Ventriloquists, close-up magicians, artists, and solo acoustic performers do well with more intimate groups.

What size of audience have you performed in front of before?

This information will allow you to gauge how polished the act is before they come in for an audition. While the amount of performances is not indicative of ability (everyone has to start somewhere), knowing this information will allow you to properly compare acts when you do your final analysis.

What type of material do you cover in your act?

Knowing this ahead of time may seem like it spoils the fun, but it is imperative that you know ahead of time what kind of material the act will perform for your corporate audience. Considering the human resources ramifications of illicit material being presented in such a setting, you must choose your act with great care in this regard. Suggestive lyrics, profanity, and adult material should be tempered. While you won’t please everyone, you must ensure that you don’t offend anyone.

How long is your act?

Knowing the amount of time the performer plans to be on stage will allow you to plan the other aspects of the evening, such as food and speakers.

How much do you charge?

Money is an important aspect of the vetting process. As with every aspect of the event, a budget must be adhered to. Knowing the fee required by the talent will allow you to make the proper decisions about use, such as choosing local bands over well-known event performers.

Planning a corporate event allows you to create a special show for your colleagues. Since many corporate events are thrown as a way to say thanks for a job well done, the choice of performer is a very important part of that sentiment. Research and planning will aid the search for the perfect event performer. These questions will get you started on your way to finding the perfect match for your company.