One simple way to make sure you hire the right entertainer is to do your research. Thoroughly vet each candidate online through reviews, and don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, colleagues, or other connections for referrals and personal experiences. Finally, you need interview every potential entertainer. Interviewing entertainers not only gives you a good idea of their personality and professionalism, but also allows you to ask these 4 very important questions:

• Will We Have a Written Contract? There is nothing worse than getting a call the week before your event saying that your DJ or band is no longer able to play. To prevent this from happening, its vital to make sure that you and your entertainer have a written contract that outlines all terms of service such as overtime, fees, and the legal name or entity of all involved parties.

• Who Will Actually Perform at the Event? While it may seem obvious that the person you speak with or interview will be the same person to perform at the event, this is not always the case. Big entertainment companies sometimes hire out subcontractors to perform if they are over-booked, even if the entertainment company’s name is on the contract. Unless you get it in writing who will specifically be performing at your event, you might have to suffer through a stranger’s performance.

• What is Your Experience? While everyone has to start somewhere, you don’t want to hire someone for their first gig. Be sure to ask the performer how long he or she has been in business and performing professionally. You should also get a list of references, reach out to former clients, and read plenty of online reviews.

• Who Chooses the Music? Many event hosts want control over what is and what is not played at their event, while others don’t want to have any part in the music choice. Decide how much or how little you want to be involved in the music decisions and then choose a performer that can accommodate that preference. Remember, many bands are limited in the number of songs they can play. So, if you want a particular song, be sure to give them at least 3 months’ notice. Also, some DJs have limits in terms of rights for the songs they can play, so they need notice as well.

Want more tips to make sure your next event is the best that it can be? Memorial Event Center, a Pharr, TX event center, can help. Please stop by and visit us at 208 E Canton Rd, Edinburg, TX 78539 or give us a call at (956) 720-4332 to learn more about what we can do for you and your next event.