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Summer is the time to go on holiday, on vacation, to your own "paradise."
QUESTION:
What additional costs can I expect in hiring a headline entertainer to Hawaii or other location where they are not presently performing?
ANSWER::
Generally speaking, for private, association or corporate meetings and events where you are not able to “piggy-back” off of a pre-existing public event in that marketplace, round trip air, hotel accommodations, local ground, food & beverage plus a per diem will be additional costs. Please note that backline (the instruments that your entertainers will be performing on), as well as stage, sound reinforcement and lighting will be costs that you will be responsible for regardless of whether you are bringing them in from the mainland or cross-town for your specific event.
In the Atlantic islands of the Caribbean which is not in the US staging entertainment events can be more complex. There can be a narrow range of equipment available to you on-island. And if you try to bring it in, and more importantly out—there can only be complexities at customs in so far as additional tariffs, showing original receipts from the States, etc. I find it generally best to pick up all equipment at the destination and not have the stress of getting the equipment back to the USA.
So in the legendary words of recording artist Eddie Money, “I've got two tickets to paradise, Won't you pack your bags, we'll leave tonight, I've got two tickets to paradise.” Best to you on your summer vacation wherever paradise takes you!
QUESTION::
Conversely,
how do you book big-name entertainers for exclusive shows when the entertainers are already in town for other engagements?
ANSWER: As a private assocation convention event you are in a unique position to hire a headline entertainer who is working in the same marketplace as you are holding your event. This would be impossible if you were a competing public or gated event.
First, you must find out which headliners will be at your destination during the time of your convention event. Your favorite music purveyor should be able to find this out for you with the resources available to them, as reported in the paragraphs above.
Secondly, make a short list of the headliners that you would like to have appear at your convention knowing who will be in-town, whether for a musical performance, comedic stance, playing golf with your association’s VIP’s, giving a Meet and Greet, etc.
Next, find out from your favorite music purveyor what the asking price for that artist is presently. Make a written Offer, with the assistance from your purveyor at a reduced price as the headliner is already in your town, has transportation to that town, has their equipment in that town already just waiting for your call!
Lastly…enjoy the show. This “technique” is called favorable routing as you are now able to deliver 2 dates for the headliner where beforehand they only had one. Enjoy the entertainment!
Click here for this issue's
Industry News: Broadway's Best
Click here for this issue's
featured artist: Les Musiques de Broadway
 Mark
Sonder, CSEP is the Chief Entertainment Officer of Mark Sonder
Productions, an award-winning leading national entertainment agency designing
headline talent and production services for facilities,
corporations and associations. In addition, Sonder sits on
the faculty of George Mason University, University
of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV), The George Washington University, Stratford
University, Northern Virginia Community College, and The University of the West
Indies. Event
Entertainment and Production is the book published by
Wiley authored by Sonder.
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