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Don’t you hate it when you go to a wonderful event with great food, a superb atmosphere and interesting guests, only to find it tainted by a substandard performer!

Selecting the perfect entertainer for your event can be a bit of a mine-field, with hundreds of performers jostling to fill the spot and each of them proclaiming to be the best thing since sliced bread.

This top ten list is for anyone planning an event and will hopefully reduce the chances of Billy the Clown scaring guests at the next party we each attend!

1.       Consider the number of guests at your event

If you have a small event, with say ten to fifty in attendance, each guest will see a lot of the performer. Therefore it is very important to have an experienced entertainer with a lot of material. It is also a great idea to have a performer with a second talent; perhaps a magician that is also a pickpocket, to keep things exciting! A good rule of thumb is to have one performer per 80 to 100 guests.

2.       Avoid hiring an entertainer that charges ‘per hour’

Every good performer knows that there are times at an event when guests want to be entertained and there are times when they are occupied, so choose an entertainer that is flexible with their timings. By charging an hourly fee performers put pressure on themselves to constantly approach guests as they can’t be seen to be ‘hanging around’, which can be quite annoying!

3.       Don’t search for THE Cheapest.

If you are looking for ‘THE Cheapest Option’ there are much better ways of spending your money. Just as Super Value ready-meals can often harm your body, a cheap magician will often put a damper on your event. It is much better to consider the points in this article and choose a performer that fits your event, or put the money behind the bar!

4.       Check the testimonials

Don’t just look at the testimonials but also who they are from. Top performers like Luis De Matos or James “The Man of Steal” Freedman will be able to supply a list of testimonials that will make your jaw drop, from A-list celebrities to heads of state. However, even new and upcoming talents that are worth having at your event will have worked with a range of respected companies and individuals. If they are not at this stage in their career they are not ready for your event, so regardless of your budget get an entertainer that has amazed amazing people.

5.       Consider the theme of your event

Think about the nature of your event and how the performer fits in with it. If your event is elegant and traditional then a silhouettist may be the perfect choice. If you are launching a new and exciting product then perhaps something a little different such as a contortionist or a mindreader would be better than a traditional magician.

6.       Be careful if you are approaching individual entertainers directly

Every single magician will tell you that they are the best. Regardless of your event, your guests and your numbers, they will “be the perfect choice.” And who can blame them! They wouldn’t have a job otherwise. With this guide you hopefully have a clearer idea of what you want but it is always good to:

7.       Get ideas from an entertainment company

Regardless of whether you use them or not, an entertainment company will be able to give you expert advice about entertainment that suits your event because they are unbiased towards a particular performer. They can also offer ideas and suggestions that you may not have considered so pick their brains!

8.       For large events have a variety of entertainers

If your event is on the larger scale, with hundreds or thousands of guests, make sure that you have an interesting combination of performers. If you have ten jugglers, guests will see the same type of thing again and again. There are plenty of interesting options, from mind readers and bizarre body magicians to escapologists and pickpockets. Just remember that they should fit with your event, your theme and your message. You may want to consider using an entertainment company, who will be able to handle the logistics and provide you with a selection of reliable performers.

9.       Consider how important the entertainer is to your event

If your upcoming event is action-packed with loads of entertainment, a phone call from your entertainer the day before, with the news that they are ill and cannot make it may not be so bad. But what if it is your wedding, or your son’s Bar Mitzvah and they have been excited about the magic show for weeks? If the entertainer at your event means a lot to you or the guests at your event then use an entertainment company that is able to replace them at the very last minute.

10.   Choose a likeable performer

If you are considering an entertainer that interacts with your guests make sure that they are not just a good entertainer, but also friendly and funny! Try and get a performer that you would quite like to have at your party even if they weren’t a performer. This is especially important at smaller intimate events.

We hope that this helps but if you want any advice, tips and ideas about the perfect performer feel free to give us a call. We’re here to help!