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You
have
just
called
an
entertainer
to
inquire
about
having
him/her
appear
at
your
upcoming
party,
and
when
you
got
to
the part about price, you nearly dropped the phone. You said, “How much?”
Live
entertainment
does
not
come
cheaply.
But
then
again,
it
is
more
reasonable
than
you
might
expect.
There
are
many
factors that affect the price you need to pay to bring an entertainer into your home (or office).
The
city
or
community
you
live
in
determines
the
overall
market.
Performers
in
New
York
generally
charge
more
than
performers
in
Cleveland
or
Denver.
Performers
in
Toronto
generally
charge
more
than
performers
in
Ottawa
or
Regina.
Each
type
of
act
or
entertainment
has
a
different
range
of
pricing.
Pricing
for
a
clown
is
different
than
a
face-
painter and that is different than a magician.
How
many
performers
are
in
the
act
that
you
are
booking?
Generally,
a
larger
act
will
charge
more
than
a
one-
person act.
Are
you
booking
a
name
artist?
David
Copperfield
charges
a
lot
more
than,
say,
Jeff
MacBride.
Both
David
and
Jeff
are name entertainers, even if you don’t know who Jeff is. And Jeff charges
a lot more
than I do!
What
type
of
event
are
you
having?
Rates
for
an
in-home
child’s
birthday
party
are
different
those
for
a
wedding
at
a banquet hall or a major corporate event.
Other factors include:
How much equipment is required to stage the performance?
How far does the entertainer have to travel to get to the venue?
What
is
the
date
of
the
event?
For
example,
rates
for
New
Year’s
Eve
are
significantly
higher
than
most
other
days.
Why? Because entertainers are in great demand and it’s simple economics: supply and demand.
Regardless
of
the
type
of
act
or
service
that
you
are
booking,
you
will
find
that
there
are
usually
three
different
price
ranges in play in your area.
There is the median or generally accepted range that most decent and reputable performers will fall into.
Then there are the two outliers.
o
The
budget
or
low
cost
supplier
–
These
are,
for
the
most
part,
not
as
good
or
experienced.
Sometimes,
these
are
performers
that
are
just
starting
out.
Sometimes,
they
are
simply
not
that
good,
and
can
only
get
work
by
under-cutting the market. It’s buyer beware. And understand this, you usually get what you pay for.
o
The
top-tier
acts
–
These
performers
are
the
A-list
performers
in
your
area.
They
get
to
charge
the
top
dollar
because they are generally the best in their field in your area.
Here are some things that you need to keep in mind as the buyer or booker:
You
cannot
shop
strictly
on
price.
The
product
you
are
buying
is
not
the
same,
even
though
it
may
appear
to
be.
Yes,
a
magic
show
is
a
magic
show.
But,
my
magic
shows
are
not
the
same
as
the
shows
offered
by
other
performers. You must compare them in detail.
You cannot make your buying decision simply on what you see on a performer’s website. Look into such details as:
o
The relevance of the show to your event requirements.
o
The
age-appropriateness
of
the
show
to
your
guest
demographics
(this
applies
only
to
children’s
events,
of
course)
o
Does the performer have the experience to deal with any unique needs of your guests or event objectives?
o
What range of testimonials does the performer offer?
You
cannot
make
your
decision
without
actually
speaking
to
the
performer.
If
you
cannot
connect
with
the
performer, how well will the performer connect with your guests? This works in reverse, too!
Are you working through an agent and agency? Here are some additional factors to consider.
The
price
you
pay
goes
to
the
agent
who
may
be
taking
as
much
as
a
60%
commission.
Yes,
you
read
that
right.
Several
agents
in
the
Toronto
area
charge
about
$250
for
a
1-hour
birthday
party
package.
Out
of
this,
the
entertainer
gets
$100-
$110.
You
are
not
getting
a
$250
act.
You
are
getting
a
$100
act.
And
you
have
no
idea
who
is
going
to
show
up
at
your
door.
The
agent
secures
your
booking
and
then
goes
out
to
find
who
is
available
for
the
price
that
the
agent
is
willing
to
pay.
This is true regardless of the type of event.
So
tread
carefully;
there’s
a
lot
more
to
the
price
that
you
were
quoted
than
meets
the
eye;
and
ear!
Ask
questions.
Do
your homework. And you’ll hire the right entertainer and have a great event.
Understanding The Real Cost Of Live Entertainment
You heard the price and said, “How much!?”