Successful Meetings - March 2008 - (Page 26)

Planner’s Workshop > Pre-Event By Mark Sonder 6 Steps to Hiring Headline Entertainment Entertainment comes in all varieties, in all languages, transcending all borders, whether upside down or inside out, so booking headline entertainment means making choices from among a vast number of options. For the uninitiated, it can be a crazy process. You must first determine what fits your client’s needs and expectations, based on the meeting or event’s goals and objectives so that you will be able to provide the entertainment management company with an audience profile that will help them find the most appropriate speaker or headline entertainer. Here is a step-bystep guide to the process Bette Midler at Caesars Palace Las Vegas and identify the appropriate resources to fill these needs. Select an artist. This works best if you (or your client) either select five headliners you would like to have perform at your meeting or event, or prepare an approximate budget and category of music/entertainment/speaker in order to narrow the list of options. Be prepared and empowered to make a reasonably quick decision. It is common to lose headliners when clients are not able to act quickly enough to secure the act. Have your agent or corporate entertainment company make a written offer to the artist. Remember, an agent can offer you only the artists that are on the agency’s roster. If the artists you are looking for are represented by more than one agency, you will need to contact more than one agent or just one corporate entertainment company. I would counsel all to utilize corporate entertainment companies. If the offer is accepted, sign a contract for services of the artist. Once your written offer is accepted, it is very difficult to turn back. And be prepared to make a 50-percent deposit when and if a headline entertainer accepts your offer. Secure production for the show or have your corporate entertainment company provide the services. 2 3 1 Research the needs of the audience We know sensational meetings. Inside. And out. Accolades from the industry. Praise from attendees. Recognition for sensational gatherings confirms The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island as Georgia’s finest oceanfront destination. Inside is an array of handsome, historic meeting spaces, oceanfront dining and over 190 guest rooms in a variety of settings, including the newest oceanfront rooms on the east coast, each with private balcony or patio. And outside are beautiful beaches, pools, tennis and our award-winning golf at The Hampton Club. For comprehensive facilities information and specifications, visit kingandprince.com. Or call (800)342.0212. For golf information, visit hamptonclub.com. 4 5 PHOTO: COURTESY CAESARS PALACE LAS VEGAS 6 Monitor the production process and evaluate the outcomes. Pinnacle Award 2006, 2007 Successful Meetings Meetings South Best of the South Award 2007 Reader’s Choice Award 2006, 2007 ConventionSouth On the national register of historic places • member: historic hotels of america 201 arnold road • st. simons island, ga 31522 • a member of the mmi hotel group family Mark Sonder, CSEP is the Chief Entertainment Officer of Mark Sonder Productions, a national entertainment agency designing headline talent and production services for facilities, corporations, and associations. He is also the author of Event Entertainment and Production (John Wiley & Sons, 2004). He can be reached at msonder@marksonderproductions.com. MARCH 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS http://kingandprince.com http://kingandprince.com http://hamptonclub.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - March 2008

Successful Meetings - March 2008 Contents Editor's Note Suppliers On the Record Research Associations Planner's Spotlight Management Matters Mouth for Sale Meetings Law Pre-Event Pre-Event Tools of the Trade On Site Quick Tip Critical Conditions A Family Affair Conference Centers We Love CSM of the Year Places & Spaces Luxury Las Vegas New York CIty Houston New Orleans Quebec Bahamas Oahu & Big Island Florida Keys Gurus

Successful Meetings - March 2008

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