Entertainment agency or entertainer?
When should you use an entertainment or event agency and book an entertainer directly? So there are many considerations regarding booking an entertainer directly or through an event or entertainment agency. The first and perhaps the biggest reason is cost.
Now, most events around the world have a budget. It depends on how limited your budget is, but know that event or entertainment agencies can charge 20% of the fee. So, for example, if you are booking a speaker for £1,000, you may end up paying £1,200 if you book that speaker or entertainer directly with the event agency.
This is more than that because an event agency may use an entertainment agency, and then that entertainment agency may finally book the entertainer. You have yet to learn of their quality because event agencies invariably command that the entertainer has a different name on their website. So you can only be guaranteed a level of quality.
Peace of Mind
Unfortunately, people think you have greater peace of mind if you book with a bureau, an event agency, or an entertainment agency. But I believe that this is not true. The reason is that the event agency may have yet to work with that entertainer.
As a result, they may be sending you somebody whom you could have booked directly yourself because they have just as little experience working with them as you do, having not worked with them either. So, if budget is your main consideration, I would consider going directly to the entertainer first. So, think about commissions.
A good reason to use an event agency or entertainment agency is if you’re looking to book multiple acts. Here, you can negotiate a price for a combination of different acts, but again, it’s worth considering that the event or entertainment agency may not know who they are. That said, they can present a group of acts they may have worked with in the past and know their credentials in a package that could meet your requirements of the theme of your event.
The advantages of using an entertainment agency
Using an event or entertainment agency can be really beneficial. Peace of mind is often cited as a reason for booking an act through an event or entertainment agency. Here, you might have peace of mind that you’re working with an organization and are responsible for putting on this event.
While this may be true, if you book an entertainer, you would expect in their terms and conditions, much like an event agency, to offer similar possibilities if they cannot attend through whatever situation. An entertainment agency offers those same backup plans. Another reason for using an entertainment or event agency is because they can also share your experience, their experience, ensuring that you get all the elements of your event execution.
This could include catering, hiring speakers or hosts, hiring greeters, and hiring cars to transport people from one place to the other. Often, event agencies have a network of preferred suppliers that they’ve worked with in the past. As a result, they may be able to get better discounts or better prices and can work with you and alongside you to ultimately ensure the success of your event.
You can keep all of your outsourcing together. This can save you time, effort, and energy. Rather than hunting down lots of different testimonials and reviews or meeting different suppliers, an event or entertainment agency is a one-stop shop.
They, too, want to preserve and increase the profile of their brand and know that if you’re putting on one event, you may be putting on others. This way, you don’t have to spend your time looking for all the different acts and performers. This is quite a big task, so it can save you a lot of time and money.
Watch Duncan's Entertainer Close Up Magic Showreel Below:
Years of Experience
If an event or entertainment agency has been established for a long time, it would have built up connections with the right acts and suppliers that could help make your event amazing. As a result, it’s knowledgeable about the market. This can help you overcome potential difficulties when choosing a contact.
If you’re looking to book a high-profile act, they may contact their manager or agent directly. You may need to figure out where to go to get this, so it’s far easier for you. They have the connections, knowledge, and know-how, making it easier to bring the perfect act for your event.
Ultimately, working with an event or entertainment agency means they have experience putting on large-scale events. This could include everything from the AV equipment and AV team to something as simple as the decoration around the room. Either way, event agencies focus on doing one thing well.
Watch Duncan Performing His After-dinner Entertainment Cabaret Magic Below:
Are you a good project co-ordinator?
You can be a project coordinator, and it helps take the stress away. Sure, it could be more expensive for you, but equally so, it will save you time, effort, and energy. One solution is to find the entertainment yourself and leave the event agency to focus on all the other elements, such as the AV team, booking the host or the speaker, the lights, the table decorations, hiring the chairs, and hiring the caterers. You could focus on the entertainment yourself, which makes it easier and takes the pressure off.
It also shows your colleagues, your director, your CEO, or your CFO that you have contributed and not just outsourced everything. It depends on your time and budget. An event agency can also offer creative design.
Often, you’ve been presented with the task of organizing an event. Where do you start if this is your first time doing it? Depending on the level and scale, creative input must be provided. Is there a theme, and where do you start with that theme? Does the theme run as deep as the kind of food, the type of caterers, and what entertainment acts will complement your event? What do you need, but what are you missing out on? With years of experience, an event agency can use this creative thinking and help you source the right entertainment and event to make your event memorable.
In conclusion
So, there are some ideas as to why you should hire an event or entertainment agency. Duncan works with several entertainment agencies around the UK and internationally but can be employed directly by himself. He doesn’t work with an agent and has no manager, so you know there are no additional costs.
He covers his own fare within the United Kingdom and travels all over. He spends a lot of his time performing in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Sheffield and travels extensively around the UK. As a full-time entertainer, this is what he does and what he loves to do.
So, if you’re looking to bring a professional entertainer to your event without paying the commission charges of an entertainment agency or event agency, do feel free to contact Duncan. You can learn more about his availability using the contact form at the top of the page or by clicking on the button below to learn more about what he can offer and how he can help. That said, Duncan also has 15 years or more of experience in bringing his thoughts and suggestions to the table in terms of creative design, and he has worked with several other entertainment acts, caterers, and specialists in the business.
So, while he is not an entertainment agency, he can offer similar suggestions, thoughts, and ideas to an entertainment agency without the cost. He looks forward to hearing from you, and we hope to talk to you soon.
