Although they may lack the cache of a famous name, local acts can be just as entertaining to event attendees. If a planner does have a sizable entertainment budget, a name act may be the way to go, especially if drawing a crowd is a main goal of the event. Famous people can also enhance the guests' experience by signing autographs and taking photos with the guests. However entertainment agencies discourage planners from booking famous entertainers solely on the basis of name recognition. Although the contact itself may be basic, the rider can be several pages with extra expenses for production and travel, doubling the cost of the artist's fee to fully produce the show.
People like to be associated with celebrities.
They're always a draw. Entertainment can make or break an event. Keeping this in mind and weighing all the possible options, find an act within the budget that excites attendees. People may not remember what color the linens were or what they had for dessert, but if they saw a high-energy performance by James Brown or danced the night away to their favorite '70s tunes, it can create a lasting positive impression of the event. This article appears in the August 2000 issue of Event Solutions.