So how do you break routine and book entertainment that is new and engaging for your group? Below are some guidelines to make the hiring process easier for you.

1. Know Your Budget

Know how much you can spend on entertainment before approaching entertainers to find out about their acts. What you can spend on an entertainer will often dictate the level of entertainment you get.To put things in perspective, you may wish to determine your “per-person” cost budgeted for entertainment or activities. The finest food and beverages you can buy will soon be a fading memory to your guests, but the right entertainment creates an emotionally impactful and lasting impression.

2. Be Prepared to Discuss Your Event and Your Budget

Any professional entertainer is going to be asking you questions about your event, such as what type of event it is, if there is a theme to the event, a general timeline of the event, etc. By doing this, they are determining if their act is a good match for your group and function.

By discussing your budget with them, you are also finding out if they are within your price range. If so, then you can move on with the process, if not, you are saving everyone time.

3. Request Promotional Material

If after your initial contact with the entertainer you feel comfortable with them and you both agree that there is a possibility that they will be a good match for your group, ask them to send you some promotional material.

The promotional material should contain letters of recommendation, a promotional video giving highlights of the show, as well as a sales sheet containing information about the show.

4. Review the Promotional Material

After reviewing the promotional material, you will most likely have questions for the entertainer. Give them a call and get your concerns addressed and questions answered.

Make sure that your entertainer is a specialist that knows the needs and expectations of the corporate environment. A comedian that regularly performs “R” rated shows in comedy clubs would probably not make a suitable choice for a typical corporate conference!

5. Request an Agreement

The entertainer should provide you with a very basic agreement outlining the who, what, and when of your event, or what you have already discussed with the entertainer. Unless you are booking Britney Spears, the agreement will probably be no more than a single page in length.

The agreement should clearly state what you will be required to provide for the event, such as a sound system or lighting requirements, and what the entertainer will be providing. The agreement should also cover travel fees, per diem charges, meals and transportation. All of this should have been discussed in the initial phone call, and there should not be any surprises for you on the agreement.

6. Keep Your Entertainment in the Loop

Your entertainer is there to enhance your event. Keeping him or her informed of any changes in your event helps them to bring you the show you would like, especially if they are doing any customized material for you.A true professional will also want to make sure they are there at the right time to setup and do sound checks before the scheduled show time.

7. Promote Your Entertainment!

Get your people excited by promoting the great entertainment you have booked for them! Your entertainer should be able to make this easy for you by providing you with articles, press releases, and photos that you can use in your event literature to build anticipation.

8. Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy the Show!

By using these simple steps, you should feel confident that the entertainer you have chosen is a professional, so sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Erick Känd is a Comedy Hypnotist dedicated to helping you make your next event unforgettable with entertainment guaranteed to keep everyone laughing .