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- DO give the speaker or entertainer the demographics of the audience, and the culture of the organization.
- DO give the speaker or entertainer time to eat – either before or after.
- DO thorough research on your speakers, and their ability to capture an audience.
- DO make sure the act is relevant to your organization or that it can be customized to be made relevant to your organization.
- DO make sure that your speakers can provide practical information to your attendee – information that they can really use when they get back home.
- DO make sure there’s a full understanding – by both sides – of the rider requirements.
- DO try to get to know the speaker or entertainer, whenever possible; their needs should be considered as well.
- DON’T book an act without fully accounting for any extras the entertainers might needs such as extra musicians, technical people, etc.
- DON’T spring last-minute surprises on the talent by asking them right before they go onstage to do something that’s not specified in the contract.
- DON’T be afraid to ask the speaker/talent for a reduction in the price; you can’t receive what you don’t request.
- DON’T go to a speakers bureau first. Your first step should be to find out if any of your members have any connections to the speaker(s) you’d like.
- DON’T forget that there must be perceived value for the attendees in the speaker or entertainer. After all, it’s their money you’re spending.
- DON’T hire talent that wouldn’t be effective in your venue.
- DON’T let one speaker or entertainer exceed his time limit, especially if it’s going to impact the next presenter.
- DON’T forget to have someone onsite specifically dedicated to working with the talent, so that any last-minute crisis can be avoided.
Written by Steve Winston excerps from the article, "Speakers And Entertainers: The Vital Sparks Behind Successful Events," originally published in Association Conventions & Facilities magazine.
Click here for this issue's
Industry News: The End of Monoculture, by Bob Lefstez
Click here for this issue's
featured artist: Non-Performing Celebrities
 Mark
Sonder, CSEP is the Chief Entertainment Officer of Mark Sonder
Productions, an award-winning entertainment producer, Mark Sonder Productions, Inc. is the national leader in designing event marketing solutions through headline entertainment and production services for facilities, casinos, corporations and associations, since 1985.
In addition, Sonder sits on
the faculty of the University
of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV), The George Washington University, and Stratford
University.
Event
Entertainment and Production is the book published by
Wiley authored by Sonder.
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