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SOS Covid-19 helpline for wedding couples

SOS Helpline to Help Couples with Weddings During Covid-19

Denis, 30-03-2020

We have created an “SOS team” to deal with couples and entertainers to arrange new dates and offer plenty of free advice to help them through this difficult period”.

This is open to couples who have booked with BookEntertainment for couples who have booked elsewhere.

To contact our team visit our contact form for details.

Our team can help you see what type of entertainment and bands are available for your new dates.

Keith Donaghy of BookEntertainment.co.uk advises “you need to think of this as a reschedule and not a cancelation”.


If you are a couple that has a wedding planned for the next 16 weeks, it is advisable to do the following:

• Contact your event venue and key suppliers (church, celebrant, photographer) to book new dates in the future.

• Communicate with your entertainment and discuss a plan of action. Find out what their rescheduling policy is as well as future dates that are available. Most suppliers will keep your deposit and use if for your new date. 

• Communicate with your guests as soon as possible on new dates.

• Monitor government advice and how they will affect your plans.

• If you have wedding insurance, you should contact your provider for advice on what you are covered for.

This will allow couples to stay calm and get excited about their new dates. If you act now, you may get a new date that suits you and your guests.


covid 19 wedding

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offering free commission during covid 19 for wedding entertainers.

0% Commission During Covid-19 for Entertainers

Denis, 30-03-2020


We understand during these times everything is uncertain as a self-employed entertainer or musician. As a former entertainer myself, these times when events are being cancelled or postponed can put added pressure on finances and family time.


This is why we will offer all new and existing acts on BookEntertainment.co.uk the full use of our booking and admin system 100% commission free up to 30th June 2020.


This allows you to assist brides and event planners who have to re-book events for new dates and to take bookings for 2021/2022 Weddings and events.


As most of you already know, BookEntertainment was created by entertainers for entertainers.


To avail of free commission, email actsupport@bookentertainment.co.uk to tell us that you are interested and we will forward on the next steps. OR if you are new to BookEntertainment, register for an account at the top right hand corner of the screen and follow the instructions in the dashboard.  


We hope you and your family stay and healthy over the next few weeks,


Keith Donaghy

CEO, BookEntertainment

lost bookings entertainment

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Covid 19 wedding

Updated Covid 19 - Advice for your Wedding or Event

Keith, 14-03-2020

In lieu of the recent events around the world, we are working diligently with our clients and suppliers to ease the process as much as we can.

BookEntertainment have an SOS Bookings team here to help you reschedule your event and have the following tips that we hope you find helpful.


If you have to reschedule your Wedding or Event 

1. Breathe, stay calm, relax and be positive

2. If you need to make changes to your event, think of it as a RESCHEDULE and not a cancelation

3. Communicate with your Act/Entertainer/Supplier and discuss a plan of action (use the message function to speak to your supplier from the BookEntertainment Dashboard). Find out what their rescheduling policy is as well as future dates that are available. Most suppliers will keep your deposit and use if for your new date. 

4. Book a new date for your event

5. Communicate with your guests ASAP with your plan and reschedule date 


If you are planning your Wedding or Event directly after the restrictions have been lifted

1. Communicate with your venue to ensure they have precautions in place to deal with Covid-19. They have adequate supplies of hand sanitiser, wipes and soap. Some venues may split your guests up and use a wristband system to avoid contact between groups of guests.

2. Seriously consider changing buffet style food to table service to stop the potential spread of infection 

3. Do not be offended if invited guests do not attend your event

4. Have a backup plan and be prepared to reschedule at the last minute 

5. Consider live streaming your event to those that cannot attend

6. Communicate with your suppliers to make sure they are still traveling to events


Remember the lives of your family are what’s most important.


Acts and Suppliers: Read this post from The Musicians Union


Any Questions? Contact our customer support team: help@bookentertainment.com

covid19 entertainment
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Christmas Music Quiz 2020

Christmas Music Quiz 2020

Keith, 15-12-2019


Think you know your Christmas party tunes? Put your knowledge to the test with our Christmas Quiz.





Christmas Music Quiz 2019

This is the season to be jolly! Christmas has inspired numerous well know hits over the past decades from Bing to Frank, Slade to Wizzard and Coldplay to The Darkness and not to forget Cliff!
We've created 10 questions to test your knowledge of Christmas Party Hits. Have a go and don't forget to share your result.


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4.0 bookentertainment

BookEntertainment 4.0 has arrived!

Keith, 23-09-2019
After 6 months of listening to your feedback on our marketplace built by Entertainers for Entertainers, we have launched our brand new marketplace. 





Bookent Ertainment 4.0

 


We have added powerful new tools to help make gigging easier for you:

- Clients can only see your fee options when they register and all customers who view your act listing will get a follow up email 24 hours after

- Option to set prices based on different event types (e.g. wedding clients only see wedding rates, party clients only see party rates etc..)

- Really simple Google Calendar 2 way sync (just sign in to sync)

- New secure messaging service, you can see all details about the customers event at the top of the message and customers have a book now button on their message screen

- New bookings layout with printable job sheets

- Opportunity for Regular Bookings from Venues - Option to Set Trade prices for regular venues, pubs and clubs. Only registered trade venues can see these rates. Perfect for filling in blanks and playing at public gigs

- SMS notifications for new bookings and messages

- New event type page - customers can get ideas and see all options available for their event type in their event location. This is a great opportunity to get more bookings.

BookEntertainment has been completely re-designed to make it faster, lighter and easy for everyone to use.

We’re confident that you’ll agree we’ve bettered everything; and will find using our marketplace to be a much more interactive and responsive affair from now on.

Any Questions? Contact our act support team: actsupport@bookentertainment.co.uk

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Event Planning Made Simple

Keith, 12-02-2019


Booking Entertainment can be stressful.  By now your inbox is probably full of quotes from suppliers and you don't know where to start - No wonder event planning is stressful. Using our platform removes the stress from booking entertainment for your event.



a







Event Planning

Made simple












Don't worry, we can help!

With BookEntertainment you can see what entertainment options are available on your date within your budget - Instantly

Because we are a marketplace, you get to book with your supplier directly and your deposit is fully guaranteed by BookEntertainment. You can also spread the cost and pay your balance in flexible installments and have full support from our team.










Trending Entertainment Ideas:




live-bands party-djs
photo-boots magicians
singing-waiters acoustic-acts
classical-musicians events-service-suppliers



Manage My Bookings












Wedding
entertainment









Corporate
entertainment









Party
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Awarded place on Ignite NI Propel Pre-Accelerator 2019 Team!

Keith, 19-12-2018

Exciting news for 2019!  We are proud to announce that BookEntertainment have been awarded a place on the Ignite NI Propel Pre-Accelerator.

Earlier this month BookEntertainment's founders Keith and Denis pitched for investment and a place on the programme to the panel from Invest NI and Ignite NI. The competition was high but the investors seen the potential of our platform and awarded us a place on the team of 20 new startups.





Joining Propel will enable BookEntertainment to scale rapidly across the UK and prime us for global success. It all starts in January and we are looking forward to the mentorship, networking and new opportunities that the program will offer.


We look forward to an amazing 2019!


#Propel19






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northern ireland wedding entertainment guide book

The Ulster Wedding Entertainment Guide

Keith, 03-12-2018


Discover wedding entertainment ideas and inspiration for your big day in Northern Ireland / Ulster. Get the low down on prices for bands, DJs, musicians, and other ideas to make your wedding a little different.






Just add your name and email into the box below to get a copy sent straight to your inbox.


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how to choose a wedding band infographic

How to choose a Band for your Wedding infographic

Keith, 29-11-2018

Choosing a band for your BIG day can be challenging!

This helpful infographic will let you see what to consider before your choose the perfect band.


choose wadding band infographic

How to choose a band for your wedding:



Start Early:


- Don't leave booking your band to the last minute
- Good bands get booked up fast
- Book early at the same time as your photographer


Budget:


- If you are on a small budget consider an all night DJ instead of a band
- 2-3 piece bands will be the entry level for pricing and the prices will rise when you add more members as there are more people to pay. Booking a large band will give you a real fantastic sound with individual instruments but will cost considerably more than a small band using tracks.


Style of band:


- You can choose a style of band that matches your theme and taste from: Floor fillers, Jazz / Swing, Country, Acoustic and Rock Bands


Timings:


- It takes most bands 60 mins to set up
- Usually Wedding Bands start at 8pm and play for 2/3 hours
- Also consider an after band DJ or book a Band/DJ Package to dance into the small hours
- Make sure your band are fully flexible incase your wedding runs behind


Music:


- Consider what dance you would like for your first dance, will the band be able to play it live? or can they play it on mp3?
- Make sure you let your band know any special requests in advance
- Most band have a setlist or playlist, consider asking your DJ after the band to play a personalised playlist. Don't worry if you can't do this as most bands and djs know what they are doing and will read your guests dancing for what works and what does not work.


Also Consider:


- Is there a stage or enough space for the band to perform?
- Are there any restrictions on you venue that could affect the band's performance? e.g. Sound Limiters, Parking restrictions, Load in times
- Does your band have adequate Public Liability Insurance? Some venues will not allow your band to setup if they do not have a PLI Certificate

Thanks to EntertainmentIdeas for the infographic


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top 5 tips for booking a wedding band

5 Top tips to book your Wedding Band in 2021

Denis, 14-11-2018

Planning the wedding car, your wedding dress, the perfect venue and your wedding theme may cause you sleepless nights but remember your evening entertainment is what your guests will have everlasting memories of. 







We have listed the top 5 tips to help you choose the perfect wedding band for your big day.



Tip 1: Book early

This may seem obvious but you would not believe how disappointed brides get when the band they want is booked up.

Bands can only take one booking per night and once the date has been secured they become unavailable. Once you complete your research on which band suits you and your partner, go with your gut feeling and book them.

If you have a weekend wedding in wedding season (between April and September) you cant afford to put off booking your band as most of the good ones are already booked up sometimes up to 2 years in advance.
Our top tip is to secure a date with your venue and place that your ceremony is being held, and then book your band at the same time as your photographer, cars and videographer.



Tip 2: Make sure your band is legit

Imagine the week of your wedding, your outfits are ready, you hotel or venue is ready, your bags are packed for your honey moon and you have even done your rehearsal. Then you get a call from the blue, its your band and they are calling to say sorry we cant do your wedding any more!

Suddenly your stress levels go through the roof! Why did they do this on me? Well the band may not be bothered to do your gig as they may have booked a more expensive gig or they may have forgotten about your wedding and double booked it!

This is a situation that you don't want to be in!. Make sure that when you book your band, you get a proper contract and written confirmation of your booking.

This means that you band must honour your date regardless of other commitments. A proper contract will also state the start times, finish times and amount that you have agreed for the fee. This will keep everything above board and saves any last minute stress for your big day!

Just to know that if you book any band or in fact any act from BookEntertainment, you always get a written confirmation and contract for each act, peace of mind is built in with every booking!

The next question is one we hear all the time
Can we see the band play live?



Tip 3: Viewing the band

This is a tricky one! We get asked this all the time and we totally understand why you want to see them play live. The problem is that all of our bands play at private weddings and parties.

Put yourself in our client’s shoes, would you like a bunch of strangers sitting at your wedding reception eating your buffet? Just because they want to hear the band? Hi we are just here to see the band and have nothing to do with this wedding, do you mind if we take this seat?

You wouldn't want this at your big day so do not expect others to let you gatecrash their weddings!

Whilst some of our bands offer public gigs, these are usually at bars or venues where the style of the band is completely different to the style of a wedding.

It is testament to the band if they are booked all the time and are playing at lots of weddings. All of our acts are booked on their testimonials and feedback on our site that come from our independent trust pilot site.

The reviews are legitimate and after every event we send out a feedback form to welcome a review from our clients. See the videos for your band, read the reviews, and check out their media. This is the best way of seeing your band setup for your wedding.



Tip 4: Keep your dance floor packed

On the night of your wedding, you will want your investment in the band to pay off! To make sure that your dancefloor is packed, prepare in advance!

Lighting:
Make sure that your venue lights are turned down! No one wants to dance in a flood lit room
Do your band have lights? Make sure your band have some form of lighting or you will either be like Bruce Springsteen – dancing in the dark or you will be U2 in the city of blinding lights.

Your dance floor:
Ensure your dancefloor is clearly defined and allow enough but not too much space for dancing because people don’t want to be miles away from the dancing. A starlight dance floor would be a great option as it offers a defined area and centrepiece for dancing.

The bar
Make sure your bar is in the same room- If the bar is in a separate room, people will congregate around the bar area and split your party up. If you can’t have the bar in your wedding room, ask your venue to take away the tables and chairs in the bar area and make sure that your venue offers a table service. This will keep everyone together!

Timings
Timings also help! Don't start the party too early. Remember that your evening guests want to arrive and have conversations so starting at 9pm is a good start time to allow this. You can always have other activities such as a fun casino, hypnotist or even a magician entering your guests as your band setup for the evening.

Finally, Be Present
if your on the dancefloor, everyone else will follow. If you too busy mingling, get at least 2 members of your bridal party to hold the fort and be up dancing and everyone will feel comfortable dancing the night away.



Tip 5: Go with your gut feeling

Have you ever heard the phrase – go with your gut? Well this can be applied with booking anything for your wedding.

This is the most important day of your life and it’s all about you!

Whether it’s your dress, photographer, cars or indeed your band, you will have lots of choice on what to select.

You might like the look of the bands on our site, or bands elsewhere. Don't be tempted in going for the cheapest option. We recommend you go with the option that you feel is right for you.

Remember your entertainment will be the last thing that your guest remember about your wedding day so make sure that your day ends with an unforgettable experience for all the right reasons!

Have a look at the largest selection of Wedding Bands in the UK.,

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Dos and Don'ts of your Staff Christmas Party Infographic

The Dos and Don'ts of your Staff Christmas Party

Keith, 13-11-2018

Office Staff Christmas Party 2019 - season is upon us and what better way to thank your staff for all the effort this year than to have a staff Christmas party. But did you know that workplace rules extend to your staff Christmas party and as an employer you still have a duty of care to your employees. Your employees are also still representing your organisation and are expected to act accordingly.
This helpful infographic will show you the dos and don'ts of your staff Christmas party and will help prepare you and your organisation to ensure all aspects of the night adhere to workplace regulations.

christmas party law

Infographic Transcript:


Don’t


- Invite all employees to the party, even ones that are absent on leave
- Forget about food allergies and religious dietary choices
- Drink too much and lose control, you are still ‘at work’ and should conduct yourself accordingly
- Get involved in office gossip, offensive jokes or make unwanted advances, sexual or otherwise
- Forget to check your employers / directors and officers liability insurance is adequate and in date
- Have discussions with employees about promotions and pay rises


DO


- Invite all employees to the party, even ones that are absent on leave
- State the company’s expectations and behaviour that will be considered appropriate before the event
- Offer drinks tokens instead of an open bar to control alcohol and offer non-alcoholic alternative drinks
- Make sure you provide transport home for all employees and offer hours / the next day off work
- Nominate a member of management to refrain from alcohol to deal with incidents that may arise


Enjoy your night, stay safe and thank your staff for all the hard work this year!


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how to plan a party infographic

How to plan a party Infographic

Keith, 12-11-2018


When Planning a party, booking things early will make it easy and stress free! Our useful infographic will help you plan for your event the easy way and let you get back to stress free life.


party planning infographic

Infographic Transcript:


How to plan a party


DATE, BUDGET & VENUE


Select a date - weekends and public holidays are the best dates, however weeknights are better for your budget. Set an estimated budget - be realistic where to splurge and where to save. Look for venues - Keeping in mind the type of party, date and your budget


CHOOSE A THEME


What's the occasion? Children's birthday? Adult birthday/milestone age party? Special occasion or Seasonal event? Pick a theme that matches the personality of who the party is for. Order decorations and accessories.


CREATE YOUR GUESTLIST


Keep in mind 70% of invitees attend Write a list of everybody that you want to attend. Consider the size of your venue and your budget. Social media is great for inviting guests but consider traditional invites for people who dont use it.


ORGANISE THE FOOD


Match the food to your theme Hiring a caterer saves you having to make food during your party and venues can offer food as part of their package. Consider food allergies and preferences. Also remember to order the cake!


BOOK ENTERTAINMENT


The most important part DJs, Live Bands and Musicians are all popular options. Also consider hiring dancers, a photo booth or a magician to make your party stand out. Services like BookEntertainment allow you to see who's available on your date and how much they cost instantly.


ON THE DAY OF PARTY


Prepare and Thanks to your great organisational skills (and this handy infographic), everything should be arranged. If possible, decorate your venue a few hours before the party. The last thing to do is get ready, arrive early to greet your guests and enjoy your party!


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reviews for musicians

Gigging Advice - Why Reviews Matter?

Keith, 12-11-2018

In this video we will be talking about reviews. 

Whether you like it or not, reviews are becoming a large part of the client decision making process to on whether to book you or book someone else. I will be talking about why reviews matter, how to get good reviews, why fake reviews don’t work and how to handle a bad review.

Why reviews matter?

When was the last time you bought something online?

I bet you read some type of review on that product? 

Well the same goes with booking entertainment. As part of the sales process, potential clients will view your media, check availability and your price. If they are happy with everything there will be one more thing that they will do:

a: Want to see you perform live or 

b: want evidence to prove that you are as good as your media and write up says you are.

People, especially brides may want reassurance before they book entertainment for their big event.

Sometimes it can be bad manners to invite strangers to gate crash an event that you are performing at, so having positive, genuine reviews will give the potential client evidence on how good you really are and help sway them in your favour to make a booking. 

Did you know that a survey by brightlocal found that two thirds of customers form their opinion of a business after reading just 4 reviews. 

getting reviews and customer feedback as a musician

Word of mouth

Have you ever heard of the term word of mouth marketing? It really is the best form of marketing

However, As the years move forward, the next generation of clients have been born with the internet and what's happening? No one speaks to anyone anymore!

You probably have noticed that young people will enquire via writing a message or email rather than actually calling you. The same thing is going to happen with word of mouth marketing and the digital equivalent to a word of mouth recommendation is having positive, genuine review.

BookEntertainment has a reviews section built in to every profile and we will ask your customers to provide you with a review after every booking. BookEntertainment will also give you the chance to ask previous customers for a review to help give you a head start. This way not only will you have positive reviews, your profiles will appear ahead of others when customers filter by star rating.

How to get positive reviews

How to get positive reviews?

Now you know that reviews really do matter, i'm going to give you some advice on how to always get a positive review.

Keep in touch with your client before and after the event - Something a simple as contacting the client before their event will reassure them that everything is ok with the booking.

Especially with wedding bookings, an email a few months before the gig date, confirming all details and asking if they need help with anything will give your clients peace of mind. You can also contact the client after the event to wish them all the best and ask them to write a review.

Arrive on time - Make sure you plan your travel well so that you arrive at your gig on time. If your running late due to unforeseen circumstances, call your client straight away and explain the situation.

If its a wedding, call the manager of the venue or the wedding planner if you are running late as the bride and groom generally won't be contactable on their big day. 

Etiquette on the gig - I shouldn't really need to tell you this as its just good manners. Don’t get drunk or let musicians/ staff get drunk, be polite and don't go near the buffet unless the client asks you. Again this is just good manners

Presentation - Make sure you present yourselves in the best way possible. If you need to load gear, try and wear a dark polo shirt and black trousers with a dark coat - don't be arriving at a gig in gym wear. How bad would it look if you are dressed in a neon tracksuit to load gear into a wedding. You could brand up your loading in outfit with your logo etc.. for extra presentation points. 

On stage make sure you and your musicians or staff are presentable and dressed appropriately for your type of event. Finally make your gear nice and tidy, velcro or tape down loose hanging wires and always keep backup essential items like a spare amp, leads mic’s etc..  just in case something breaks during the performance.

Flexibility - Sometimes events run late and as an entertainer you have to just deal with it. You may rock up at a gig only to find that the full event is running 2 hours late. If you use a contract you are probably entitled to perform only to the set times in your contract. 

But really? Is the risking your reputation worth it? I have heard horror stories from clients who have booked a bands for their wedding and their wedding ran behind by an hour. 

The band where booked to play for 1 hour and 30mins and because the wedding ran late the band only played for 20mins and refused to play any longer. You need to work with your client and try to compromise with late running events. Would you rather have a great review on how you where really helpful or a bad review because you where black and white with a contract?

Put on a good show! - If you are genuinely talented at your profession or you if your an event hire pro - put on a great service then you should have no problem whatsoever at getting great reviews. 

But if you can talk the talk but can't walk the walk and your show is rubbish then it doesn't matter how nice you are, it's the entertainment business and you will get bad reviews. Don't over sell your act to avoid disappointed customers - There more on this at the end of the video.

All these steps will help satisfy your client and turn them into a raving fan! If they don't give you a review straight away, don't be scared to reach out to them after the gig and ask for a review.

Why fake reviews don't work

Why fake reviews don't work?

Since the dawn of the internet, people have been trying to be something they’re not. Unfortunately some musicians, bands, DJs entertainers and event hire services are no exception when it comes to playing this game.

Most of us have read product or service reviews online and have probably noticed fake ones! Despite the anonymous nature of reviews, clients are smart and can usually spot out non genuine review. Maybe you are tempted to add some fake reviews? Well they don't work.

Firstly, research from the wall street journal shows that purchase likelihood spikes at 4.5 stars. That's right 4.5 not a perfect 5 stars! That's because potential clients like to weigh the pros and cons and make their own decision. They don't care if there are a few negative aspects about the service as long as their own needs are fulfilled. Reviews that are always 5 stars seem suspiciously too imperfect.

Second, too many fake glowing reviews can then cause bad reviews in the future as clients will have over inflated expectations. If your show or service is not up to the standard in your fake reviews then the client will be disappointed and will leave you bad feedback in the future. 

Finally, it's just the wrong thing to do. Buying fake reviews is unethical and does not help you truly improve as and act in the entertainment industry. You should provide media, write up and reviews that allow the client to make the right choice and have clear expectations. If those expectations have not been met, maybe you should watch my video on how to price your act up and listen carefully to the value section.


How to deal with a bad review?

Its every acts nightmare! A blotch on your record that could potentially turn customers away! It will eventually happen at some stage no matter how good you are, because you can't please everyone. 

But Don't let the negative review just sit there, you have the power to respond and if you respond the right way, you can turn it into a positive!

Look for commonalities:

  • Firstly it's important to note that not all client feedback is beneficial. Taking each and every review into consideration may actually harm your service. 
  • When you start reading through reviews, start by looking for any themes or repeated complaints. The most common word in negative online review is “disappointed”. 
  • This implies that client had higher expectations of your service. Once you have identified the patterns, figure out what aspect of your service is causing the the issue with your clients.
  • Upon determining which aspect of your service needs improvement, brainstorm solutions and weigh up the outcomes. 
  • For example if you are getting complaints that your band members or staff are causing issues then consider setting policies, providing extra training, speaking with them or ultimately replacing them.

The most important thing is to learn from the negative feedback and don't take it personally.

The next thing to consider is responding quickly.

  • Respond to complaints quickly and in a professional manner. When client go to the trouble of submitting a review they expect an answer fast.
  • Make sure you thoroughly read all the reviews people post about your service and don't let anger and frustration take over.
  • Let cooler heads prevail. Apologise, if need be and say sorry for their experience and explain how this is unusual to get bad feedback. 

Offer your client a goodwill gesture to show that you actually care, this could be a partial refund, a gift or if applicable money off their next booking.

dealing with fake negative reviews

Fake negative reviews

Finally in the last section I mentioned fake positive reviews, sometimes you can get malicious fake negative reviews. For whatever reason, people may decide to leave you a malicious negative review. The best thing to do about this is report it to the administrator of the reviews service that you are using.

Explain the reasons why the review is fake and justify why you want it to be removed. While you wait for the administrator to sort it out, reply back to the malicious review and state that you haven't done business with this person and believe the review to be fake.

Summary

  • Customers will look for reviews of your service to help them make a decision to book
  • To get positive reviews, consider things like communication with the client, punctuality, etiquette at the gig, presentation of your show, flexibility with timings and the quality of your talent
  • Don't be tempted to use fake reviews as you will get caught out
  • If you do get a bad review, use the information to help improve your service and turn the negative into a positive 
  • And report malicious negative reviews to the administrator

Let's hear what your thoughts are by leaving a comment below

Happy Gigging!

Keith

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band dj prices

How to set prices as a Band, DJ, Musician or Entertainer

Keith, 09-11-2018

In this video we will be discussing how to price your act up. Whether you run a Band or your a musician, dj, entertainer or you run an event hire service - Your running a business and you need a proper pricing structure for your gigs. I will be talking about how you perceive your value, how to create packages for your customer, how to factor in your running costs, competitors and how best price up your travel.

Value

Before you price up your act, you need to work out your value.

What is value? The extent to which your service is perceived by your customer to meet their needs. Its  

Basically : What are you worth?

Lets give you an example: You are cooking a romantic meal for your loved one and lasagna is on the menu. Its £1 for Tesco value lasagne or £5 for a Waitrose lasagne.  Why would you buy the Waitrose lasagne? You perceive the value in the name, packaging, marketing and you want to impress your other half and a Tesco value lasagne isn't going to cut it. Other brands are available.

What's this got to do with entertainment? Do you want to be a cheap budget act or at the top end of the market?

How to set prices as a Band, DJ, Musician or Entertainer

Some points to consider to work out your value:

  • How much experience do you have?
  • How talented are you?
  • Do you have a record to prove your worth it? Have you got an extensive list of real reviews from your past customers?
  • Is your equipment the best in the industry?
  • Are you doing business the right way with proper insurance cover and are fully compliant with tax?
  • Have you invested in top class photos and videos to showcase your value?

Think about all these factors to help you work out what you are worth

running costs for bands and musicians

Running Costs

Remember - whether you like it or not, you are running a business and like any business you need to cover you overheads and make a profit. In my career as an entertainment agent, I have seen acts price themselves far too cheap just to get gigs and they don't make any profit - They are busy fools and won't last - especially if they are taking bookings up to 2 years ahead. 

You need to take the following running costs into consideration:

  • Band members / Deps / Staff wages
  • Insurance, telephone, website, bank fees
  • Accountants cost and tax
  • Motor vehicle costs
  • Cost of purchasing or maintaining equipment like pa
  • Cost of consumables that you may use

Have a think about what things cost you over a year, then work out what you need to charge per gig to not only cover these costs, but make yourself a decent living too. Don't price yourself too cheap to get gigs and Dont play for free - Exposure won't pay for your bills!

What competing entertainers like your act are charging for a gig

Competition

What are competing services like your act charging for a gig? Again think about the previous 2 points, value and running costs. Don't try and be the cheapest as it's a race to the bottom.

Some acts are apprehensive about displaying the price online as competitors will see it. Well I can set up a fake email in one minute and mystery shop you for your price. Your competitors already know your price anyway and customers will shop around google and contact at least the first 10 search results for price anyway. 

Some people will advice you not to display prices as you can email your customer and close the deal better. - This actually doesn't work anymore - customers will make their decision to book by looking at your media and reviews. It doesn't matter how hard you try to persuade them in an email, they just want price and availability and will make the decision themselves. 

Give the customer what they want and don't be afraid to display your prices

recommended to display your prices and packages

Packages

So now you will have worked out your value, running costs and what competitors are charging. It's time to work out your prices - The best way to do this is by structuring your prices into packages - Customers absolutely love packages!

Create your packages based on performance times and exclude travel for now.

You could start with a package for your basic service for your standard performance times and then create additional packages for things like extra performance times, additional options or an enhanced service.

It's also a good idea to create 3 levels of packages like silver, gold and platinum. Research shows that most customers will not want a basic package and will always opt for the middle or top end package this means that if you price it properly you will make extra profit per gig.

Add the extra profit up over the year and it could be a substantial rise in your income.

wedding prices vs party price packages

Wedding price vs Party price

Some acts may price weddings more expensive than functions or venue gigs. If you want to do this its best to have a separate actname for for the wedding market so that you can justify the extra charge. 

For example your band for gigs at functions and venues are called “The Amplifiers” that wear casual dress on stage and have a party playlist. Then for weddings the band are called “The Wedding Band” wear suits on stage and have a playlist that's geared to weddings. Doing this will save any hassle with wedding couples trying to get your party rate.

Early setups

Also consider how long it will take to get setup. Some clients request that they need an early setup or late packup. The best way to do this is to create an early setup or late pickup fee and charge it per hour. Make sure that it covers you and other members or staff to wait around.

charging for travel as a musician and band

TRAVEL

After you have got your packages in order, then it's time to consider travel. Some acts do this on an as and when basis or charge per mile and the whole pricing setup becomes messy.

The best way to work out travel is to break your area up into each county and charge a fixed fee per county. For example you are based in Nottingham. So your county is Nottinghamshire offer this county for free and as you are right beside Leicestershire and Derbyshire offer these counties for free. Then charge a fixed fee for the neighbouring countries of South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, West midlands, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. 

Take traffic hotspots and travel times into consideration and price each county accordingly. If you are paying for staff, dep musicians or other band members, price up their fees per county and this will make it really easy to work out travel expenses to pay and save any arguments about extra fees for gigs.

changing prices per date

Changing prices per date

Finally consider adjusting your price for for specific dates

You could increase your package price for really popular dates such as New Years Eve, Bank holiday weekends and Christmas party nights.

Or you discount your prices for quiet season like January and February, and quiet days like Monday-Wednesday. Just make sure that you cover your overheads and still make a profit when you are discounting.

Summary

  • Its best to create a systemised, clear pricing structure for your act. It will make it easier to price gigs up and keep everything consistent.
  • Make sure you price your act according to your value and what you are really worth
  • Cover your expenses and make a profit that you can live on
  • Make sure you are in line with your competitors prices but don't price yourself cheap
  • Create packages for your customers to choose different options
  • Have an early setup or late packup option
  • Structure your travel fees per county
  • Consider increasing prices for popular dates and discounting for quiet dates

I hope this helps you get a clear picture of how to structure the pricing of your act. 

Let's hear what you think by leaving a comment this post.

Happy Gigging!

Keith

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gdpr for bands musicians entertainers and djs

GDPR for Bands, DJs, Musicians and Entertainers

Keith, 05-11-2018

In this episode we are going to be covering GDPR - and what to do with as a Band / DJ / Musician / Entertainer to make sure that your covered. 

There's so much scaremongering going on in the business community about GDPR - Im going to show that with a little bit of work, you will be compliant in no time!

Firstly as a disclaimer-  I am making this video for advice purposes and if you want to fully implement GDPR to your business you should seek legal advice.

Introduction

Im sure you have heard of GDPR and if you haven't this video will really help you meet the new regulations regarding Data Protection. You need to be compliant now! And if you hold any personal data i.e. email addresses, names, and phone numbers of european citizens you will need to comply with the regulation.

Even post brexit GDPR will still matter in the uk and if you don't have a proper policy in place and something happens -  you could face a fine. If you google gdpr you are going to find a lot of conflicting information and most of it will not apply to your entertainment business. 

Lets go through some of the main points that you will matter to your entertainment business.

The gdpr has 2 main objectives

"To give citizens and residents control of their personal data - Basically to give control of data back to the people"

and

"To put a single set of rules in place - There are lots of different data protection laws in place and its very messy, gdpr streamlines all the laws and regulations into one big policy to make everything clearer"

GDPR for Bands, DJs, Musicians and Entertainers

The gdpr is about privacy by default instead instead of privacy only if you opt out. With gdpr You are going to have privacy, unless you opt in. And you will have more rights to your information that businesses hold on you. This is good news if your a citizen, this causes a slight headache if you own a business. Even if you DJ at weddings as a part time business, your still a business and need to comply.

The gdpr understands that we respect, value and protect people's personal data and if you understand this, then you really don't have to worry about anything. You already might be doing the right steps to be complaint or maybe you need to knuckle down on a few things to get you over the line to comply.

The gdpr applies to all the personal data that you hold including suppliers, clients both past and present, employees (or band members both past and present), contacts and leads!

getting GDPR sorted for entertainers

Lets get your GDPR sorted:

You must know and understand all of the data you hold. Where did the data come from, where is it stored and how are you using it?

Where does this personal data that you hold on people come from?

Does it come from Wedding fayres, contact forms on your website , enquiries or competitions?

Under gdpr you need to how you ended up with that data.

booking management software like Overture, DJ intelligence or giggo

If you use booking management software like Overture, DJ intelligence or giggo then you are already covered for gdpr and this makes life a lot easier. All bookings that will be done through BookEntertainment’s integrated booking system will be fully compliant too. 

If you are using a manual booking system then now might be time to change. If you are do email marketing to your customers you need to have some sort of gdpr compliant email marketing software like mail chimp to keep you covered.

As long as you take the time to set these up properly, you will know someone came into your world. Whether they are a wedding fayre lead, web enquiry, phone enquiry, social media enquiry etc..

Know exactly where your data is stored

Know exactly where your data is stored

Stop collecting data manually using your own systems, having booking management software and email marketing software that is already GDPR compliant means that you can run your business on their systems and let them worry about gdpr security. 

This means that all your personal data is stored within these systems and nowhere else and its sorted!

Using these systems will also answer other parts of GDPR such as the person's right to Access, Rectify, Erase or Move Data. 

How are you using the personal data you hold

How are you using the personal data you hold?

What are you doing with the data you hold? This has to be clear - People have given you details for lots of different reasons. Someone may of enquired about pricing a gig up which is a lead for you. You now have lots of personal data about that person. 

Under GDPR you can only contact them about their enquiry and NOT anything else. The same is for past and present clients. You can only contact them about gig details only and that's all. The days of automatically adding them to your email marketing list are long gone. Under GDPR this will be enforced and you contacts will be more aware and less tolerant.

Use your booking management software for clients data and use your email marketing software for email marketing lists. This way it keeps your clients gig data separate from your email marketing data. If you want to market to your clients you now have to get their EXPLICIT CONSENT to do so.

consent to process people's personal data

If you rely on consent to process people's personal data, that consent has to be clear, specific and explicit.

Whats process mean? It means your using their data to do something with it. 

If your sending out marketing emails out to people on file you could be doing everything ok but there are also a few things you need to tighten up. You can no longer assume that no one wants to hear from you unless you have their explicit consent and can prove that you have it.

Its no longer acceptable to ask people to opt out of your email marketing they now have to opt in and you cannot pre tick the box for opting in! When you are sending out email marketing communication you must have a clear unsubscribe button so that people can opt out. Again if your using email marketing software, this will come as standard.

You can encourage your existing clients past and present to be added to your email list by using your email marketing software to ask them to opt in. Just be clear in the email what they are opting in for. If they don't opt in then you can keep them on your booking management software and communicate about their gig info only. 

booking

What about people already on your email marketing list? 

To be on the safe side you should send these contacts an email to opt in again for their consent, especially if you have taken the addresses without their permission. 

You should screen shot your website contact form and save the screenshots somewhere safe to have proof that you have had opt in forms in the past. Always better to have it now than look for it later! If you already know where your data has come from and you have always asked for consent before adding someone to your email marketing list. You will have nothing to worry about and all you will have to do is tighten up your process a little. 

Under the gdpr there has to be a clear record of how and when someone gave you their explicit consent to contact them. When you use an email marketing system this will be also be covered. 

Other things to consider:

Add a privacy policy on your website - you can find loads of templates online - make sure its gdpr compliant and make sure it covers you.

Conclusion

Email marketing is going to be a lot more tougher and I honestly think it's not going to be effective as it used to. But don't worry you can use BookEntertainment to promote your act online and take bookings without all the time wasting emails checking price and availability.


I hope this helps you get an understanding of GDPR and what you have to do to be compliant. 


Happy gigging!


Keith



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gigging advice on how to organise your gig diary

Gigging Advice - How to manage your diary

Keith, 03-11-2018

In this episode i'm going to talk about organising your gig diary. 

First of all, I need to tell you as an entertainer, band, musician or event hire person, you may do your thing full time or part time but whatever gigs you're doing you are actually running a business and you are responsible for providing a service to your customers.


Dates

Dates are the single most important element to your entertainment business. They need to be planned properly and your diary needs to be strictly organised. I remember as a mobile DJ a school formal assumed that they booked me when they didn't. I got a phone call out of the blue one Friday night asking me where I was? 

I had to literally drop everything, including my girlfriend and frantically load up the car and drive really fast to the venue. I was one hour late and wasn't organised or dressed properly to do the gig and it just wasn't a gig that I would be proud to do.

Luckily it was the organisers fault as I had a system in place to confirm every booking in writing and they actually did not confirm the gig properly. This was the client's fault, but imagine if you didn't run your diary properly and it was your fault. What a disaster that would be to your reputation.

Another aspect of being in this game is that we are weekend warriors and the weekend is where our family and friends have parties, get married etc.. So we have to miss out on these occasions as we are usually working at other people's occasions. 

Gigging

Plan your diary in advance

When do you get your bookings? If your scene is the pub and club scene, usually up to 6 months in advance, if your in the Wedding and corporate scene it can be sometimes up to 3 years in advance. So you have to plan your life in advance.

Book your holidays well in advance and then block book it off in your diary. Have you got children at school? Take a look at school events such as christmas plays, sports days etc. and book it off in your gig diary in advance.

Do your run a band? Make sure you organise your members diaries for their holidays and events. Or make sure you have deps organised for their absence.

buy paper diaries a few years in advance

Type of diary

When I was a dj I had to buy paper diaries a few years in advance. If i got an enquiry from a customer and I wasn't beside my trusty collins diary I had to call the customer back.

If i lost my diary I would of been screwed.

This manual diary system is slow, unreliable and is stuck in the past century. As an entertainment agent, I still have acts running their diaries this way where I have to text them to check availability. Its too slow and It costs them business as other acts that use an online calendar can get booked quicker and will get more gigs.

If you're using an online diary such as google calendar, well done to you. If you're still using a paper based diary you are going to have to change for the future.

use an online calendar for your gig diary

Why use an online calendar for your gig diary?

Its with you all the time-  On your smartphone you can instantly access your calendar and check or add bookings. It's backed up, Lose your paper diary, lose all your information. Lose your phone? The diary is still there on the cloud.

Sharing - With google calendar, you can share your availability with agents and only let them see busy/available without any further details or you can share your gig diary with your band or staff members to help organise everyone the right way.

With sites like book entertainment, you need to have your diary organised online and sync your availability so that customers can fill in the blank dates with paid bookings. If you still don't want to ditch that leather bound paper diary, you can always run the two methods together as a hard backup.

See: how to sync your google calendar with BookEntertainment

Summary

  • Plan your year or years ahead including holidays and family events.
  • If you have other staff members or musicians, make sure they also plan their year in advance and plan your deps in advance to cover them.
  • Ditch your old paper diary and go online

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:

Happy Gigging!

Keith

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Gigging advice - How to win bookings with good media

Gigging Advice - Win more bookings by investing in media

Keith, 01-11-2018

In this episode I want to talk about how you can win more bookings by investing in your media

As an entertainment agent I often get promo material sent to me from bands and musicians with requests like, can go you find me more work and we are finding it hard to get bookings and we need you to fill our diary. The problem? They are not investing in their promotion media.

The days of yellow pages and text ads are long dead now and let's face it, everything is online and that includes your customers. So if im a customer looking for a band and all I see is your one grainy image, why am I going to book you?

This is why your not getting bookings. You could have the best act since led lights and it could be the best kept secret. So If you want more bookings - Invest in your online media

Your online media is broken down into 4 parts:

  • Images
  • Videos and Audio (if your a music act)
  • Bio 
  • Reviews

Gigging Advice - Win more bookings by investing in media

Images

Have you got images? And do your images sell you?

stly you will need a few album style shots, these are still shots of your act or event service. These shots are an introduction to your act and are good as first images, profile pictures etc..

A lot of acts get these album style photos done and then stop. But your missing a trick... you need to sell the dream to your potential customer - so have photographs taken of your act in action shots at gigs!

If your a band, try and have a few photographs of a packed dance floor with you at the back to prove you can do your job.

If your a musician, have photos taken at your environment

If your a musician, have photos taken at your environment like a church, hotel lobby or bar.

If your an entertainer have your action shots taken on the job

If you're an entertainer have your action shots taken on the job, like a hypnotist having their guests under, or a magician wowing their audience.

If you run an event hire service, try and get photos of your service in action

And if you run an event hire service, try and get photos of your service in action. For example if you run a photobooth, get pictures of your client having fun and using your equipment.

get pictures of your client having fun and using your equipment

Remember you have to sell the dream to your potential client so make sure that the people in your action shots are happy, laughing , having fun and smiling unless of course  your a funeral musician…

You can spend whatever you like on your photographs, if your on a budget a mate with a good spec smartphone can take photos, just make sure that they are landscape! I would recommend getting a good photographer, the money you invest will definitely pay for itself over again.

A great tip is if you do weddings, ask the wedding photographer to take a few action shots, and if your friendly enough, they could even give you a discount. And just remember to ask the people in your action shot if its ok to use them!

Having a video will really improve your booking conversion rate

Video

Having a video will really improve your booking conversion rate. Having a staged video is cool, but back it up with a live action video as your potential customers will want to see evidence if you can do your job. So sell them the dream and have them dancing, laughing, surprised and having fun!

If your a musical act and you want to showcase your audio make sure that its properly recorded as i've seen 4k beautiful video with tinny sound and its awful. You can also host your audio separately on services such as soundcloud.

You can go down the DIY route with video and use your phone, make sure its in landscape mode and you have a steady hand. Also you can buy an i-rig pro online that you can hook into your microphone or desk to record sound. 

My advice is to hire a professional videographer and if you're a band or musician get a sound engineer to mic everything up. It's more expensive but again will pay you back tenfold with bookings.

will pay you back tenfold with bookings

BIO / Writeup

Have you seen the wolf of wall street? Where jordan belfort asks, “sell me the pen”. Like this task most people struggle with their bio. Where do you start?

Ask yourself these questions to help you write your bio - why should the client hire you? What makes you unique? Where have you performed? What is your set list if you're a musical act? Dont brag about your gear specifications, the client will not care if you have a JBL MRX DUAL 18 INCH SUBWOOFER or weather you have a shure SM58 mic compared to a sennheiser e835... All they care about is if you have decent equipment. 

Another top tip is to not use “We and “I all the time, Replace we and I with you and your event. If you find it hard to write creatively, use a service like fivverr.com and someone will write you up a bio for a fiver.

entertainers Reviews and testimonials

Reviews and testimonials

What was the last thing you bought online for over £200? Did you just buy it straight away or did you do your research? Read reviews, check out the products so that you make the best decision.

Well this is the way things are now done online, with the rise of sites like tripadvisor, yelp and trustpilot your reviews must be independent and true. Book Entertainment will offer you an independent review service on your profile where customers can leave an independent review with the opportunity to post pictures of their night. If you good at what you do this will cement the client’s decision to book you. If you're a cowboy, you will be caught out.

Also Written Testimonials from Mrs Jones or John Smith look fake and won’t convince potential customers to book you. If you want your customers to give you a testimonial, take your phone our and video it at the gig!

This all adds to the value of your act.

If you're a member of Book Entertainment, we will automatically send out a review request to the customer after each gig you perform from our marketplace.

send out a review request to the customer after each gig

Summary

If you want a better chance to convert potential customers into your clients you have to sell them the dream, make sure to have:

  • Good quality photos with both album and action shots 
  • Good quality video with both staged and action shots
  • If your a musical act, make sure you have some audio clips if you cannot record a video
  • A bio that sells you to the customer 
  • Positive, real reviews

Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or sharing this post.

Happy gigging!

Keith

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how to plan a party

Party planning guide

Sarah Doherty, 19-09-2018

Party planning guide - When you’ve been placed in command of organising the next big birthday party, family anniversary, or staff do, it can all get a bit overwhelming - especially if it’s the first party you’ve ever organised. Party planning is daunting enough, but if you’re a first time party planner it can feel like you may as well be stood at the bottom of Mt. Everest in flip flops with a handful of elastic bands. Fear not, however, because we’ve put together a step by step guide for first time party planners to take the dreaded hassle out of organising a fun and memorable party.

Party planning guide

First things first: get your planning hat on well in advance.

It’s human nature to put things off. We’ve all left something important to the last minute, promised ourselves it would be different next time, and, when next time rolled around, once again indulged in a little last minute terror. Normally things are a little rushed, but they get done all the same. Sadly, this is not the case when it comes to organising a party. The fact of the matter is that the earlier you start planning, the better your party is going to be. It’s tempting when you’re organising a party for adults to just tell everyone to show up with enough beer to do them, stick on your own music and leave people to their own devices. For a casual house party this is probably the way forward. But if you’re considering in-depth planning, a casual house party is probably not what you’re going for. 

not naturally inclined to being a planner

Even if you’re not naturally inclined to being a planner, you have to step into those shoes if you want your first party to go off without a hitch. Make some lists – but be sure you don’t go overboard. You’ll want to write down everything to do with budget, guests, and times...but if you’re producing a list detailing what you want everyone to be doing at any given time for the entire duration of the party, there’s a chance you’ve gone a bit overboard. As a first time party planner, you’re going to feel like you’re in that area when you’re making lists full stop, but you definitely need them if you’re going to get anywhere. You’ll need a few basics: a guest list, a budget list, and an ever-evolving to-do list that you will no doubt happily burn once the party is over. 

plan your party by researching event

Begin at the beginning

Get your basics sorted first. It may seem silly, but ask yourself a few simple key questions before you bury your nose in the fancy notebook you bought specifically to house your party planning notes (a necessary purchase for the truly organised amongst us). You need to consider three main questions: who the party is for, what they like, and if they’re going to want all the things you want. It’s easy, as a first time party planner, to forget that this party isn’t actually for you. If you’re organising a party for your great aunt Josephine’s 70th birthday, it might be a good idea to take a step back and consider your key questions: does she share your passion for 80s hair metal? No, she doesn’t. It’s a good thing you double checked that before you hired in the Poison tribute act. No matter what the occasion is, the party recipient is the most important person to consider.

party guest is the most important person to consider

Once you’ve cemented who the party is for, you can pencil in a date and a time. Parties thrown during the week will definitely work out cheaper for you, but your guests will most likely need to be up in the morning for work, so they won’t be able to overindulge or stay too late. Maybe this suits the type of party you’re trying to throw. If it does, good news – if it doesn’t, then you need to rethink your dates. For first time party organisers, beware the coin-toss that is a Friday night party. It can go two ways: either your guests show up ready to have a good time after the stress of the working week, or absolutely wrecked from the culmination of five days hard labour.  

Time becomes a key player in party planning

Time becomes a key player in party planning – more so than you’d probably think. It plays a huge role in both your food and entertainment choices. If you’re holding a party that starts at 6pm then you better feed your guests something decent, but if it’s an 8-til-late soirée then finger food will probably suffice. Chances are you don’t want a party DJ at a lunch time birthday party, and a balloon modeller probably won’t hold much attention by 11 o’clock on a Saturday night at your staff party. Once you have your date and time sorted you can move onto the real numbers game: your guest list. 

Having a solid guest number is integral to choosing a venue

Having a solid guest number is integral to choosing a venue, as well as being an easy way to separate out your budget. You need to take some time to sort out your guests – take out that new special notebook you bought and make your first big list. Start off with your absolute must haves, and then go on from there until you have everyone you want to invite. As a first time party planner, chances are you’ve accidentally created an encyclopaedia of everyone you’ve ever met on your first go, so read through it a few more times to shave off a few non-essentials. Once you’ve got your list down to a reasonable level, make sure you contact your non-essentials straight away to make sure they’re available. If they can’t make it, and you can’t make it a party without them, then you may have to reschedule. Send your guests a quick text to let them know the party’s happening and it has a provisional date. Remind them later by email, or set up an event on social media to make sure they know about it. A good idea is to keep your finalised guest list with you, and update it when people contact you with their RSVP information, as well as other little details like food allergies or issues like epilepsy which could be an issue.

pick a price and place for your party

Pick a Price and a Place

Now that you have your guest list, you can sort out your budget. You’ve probably balked at the idea of setting a budget previously – you’re an adult, you live within your means, you’re not going to blow through money on a party! You’ve got more sense than that! Well, to put bluntly, you are. You’re a first time party planner, and you’re very much are going to lose track of yourself when you see all the amazing things they make for parties these days. If you don’t set a budget, stick to it, and studiously write down everything you buy, you will get carried away and bankrupt yourself. Poor self control in the presence of Really Cool Stuff is just human nature, and as such you need to sort out exactly what you need, and how much you’re willing to spend. Set your overarching budget first, and work downwards from there. 

Having set a budget that you’re definitely going to stick to

Having set a budget that you’re definitely going to stick to, and a definite guest list, you can now start having a real think about a venue. If your party is small enough to hold at home, or if you’re lucky enough to have a party room in your house (which is, apparently, a thing that people literally have), you’re sorted. It may seem the easiest option but once again you have to ask yourself some questions: have you got enough chairs? Enough space? Enough patience to clean up after your guests the next day?

If your guest list is big, but not huge, consider a room in a restaurant or bar. But, if you’re planning a really big shindig, a venue room is probably the best way to go. If you’re going for a venue, make sure it’s a venue that everyone can enjoy Is it wheelchair accessible? Is it close enough to the city for people to actually find? How are they going to get home? Seasoned party planners know you never trust the pictures online when it comes to venue booking, so make sure you get a real life view of your venue before you make anything final. The quality of a venue can really make or break the party – you can have the nicest canapés in the world, but if the toilets are grotty people will still focus on that. 

Food and Drink planning for your party

Food and Drink

Whilst it’s tempting to try and get food and drink knocked off the list early, you’re flirting with disaster if you try and sort it before you’ve got guest numbers and a time for your party. Food and drink need to match up with your guests, both in numbers and needs. If your event is around dinner time, sink a chunk of the budget into putting on a proper meal, lest you have hangry (that’s hungry and angry) friends, family, or colleagues leaving early in search of real food. A later evening party is likely to get a bit boozy, so bring out the real greasy crowd pleasing nibbles. For a party during the day fresh veggies with tasty dips can be a good choice. Regardless of time, venue, or anything else, make sure you have at least three bowls of crisps circulating at any one time. Trust us.

alcohol planning for your party

When it comes to alcohol, if you’ve picked a venue with a working bar, there’s not much you have to do. If not, you need to put a little bit of thought into what you’re providing. Will it be self serve from drinks you’ve provided? Bring your own? A mixture of both? If you’re putting on the liquid spread yourself, make sure you provide ice, as well as non-alcoholic options for those guests who prefer to keep a clear head.

choosing entertainment for your party

Entertainment

You need to book entertainment well in advance if you want to have options. Venue and guest list play a big role here, and by now you’re no doubt about either. If you have a big venue, and best guest list, then the next logical step is big entertainment. Since this is your first time planning a party, chances are it’s your first time sorting out entertainment on a large scale. Long gone are the days of the iPod disco, even for those of us with the excuse of being first time party planners.

choosing a dj for your party

If venue size permits and you need music that lasts the whole party, the easiest option is to hire yourself a DJ. For a musical showpiece, a live band is sure to impress guests. If you’re organising a smaller soirée, however, it’s possible to maintain the atmosphere that live music gives by hiring out a duo or trio to perform. It may not seem like much, but it really goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression, both of the party and of you as a now-experienced party planner. 

entertainment doesn’t live and die with live music

Remember however that entertainment doesn’t live and die with live music – consider hiring out other event services, or an excellent idea for either a venue or an at-home party is the addition of a fun casino night. Casino hire is popular enough that people aren’t going to be perplexed when it arrives, but still uncommon enough that it hasn’t become cheesy or overdone. 

fun casino night for your party

Mix and mingle might be enough to keep your party afloat, but why take that chance? You can have a chat and a few drinks any night, and providing entertainment for your guests is an easy way to make sure everyone gets in the party mood from the outset. For a house party, set piece entertainment should be enough to keep everyone lively, but for bigger venues you’re probably going to want to hire something that’ll last you all night, or a few smaller pieces dotted throughout the evening. Don’t count out party games like twister, or plugging in a dance mat – they’re going to take everyone back to the excitement of those childhood birthday parties, and they’re not mandatory for those who’d rather sit them out. You’re a first time party planner, so no doubt the reams of results that your search engine threw back at you is seems insurmountable. Don’t be afraid to reach out to an entertainment booking website, they’re big, experienced, and there to help.  

The key for any first time party planner is not to stress too much

To conclude

The key for any first time party planner is not to stress too much. Start your planning early, and make sure you stay organised and on top of things. Chances are this party is for someone you care it about, be it family member, friend, or colleagues, and they’re going to be pleased with the amount of effort you put in and appreciate it was all for them. Make sure when you’re endlessly planning that you plan to have everything sorted an hour before the party so you have time to unwind and enjoy the fruits of your labour. It’s tempting to go over elaborate with your first party, but remember – it’s about fun, not finances. People will come to a party you’ve organised because they want to, so they’re already looking forward to it no matter what you’re doing! Do the hard work in advance and don’t absolutely lose it over disasters – you need to be involved and present at the party, not crying in the kitchen because you’ve burned the sausage rolls. If you take your time, follow our guide, and stop for breath every now and again, your guests will remember your first ever party for all the right reasons. 


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How to get more paid gigs

How to get more paid gigs

Admin, 08-08-2018

So you’re in the Event Entertainment Industry?

You may run a band, be a pro DJ, play an instrument, entertain people or provide event hire services. No matter what entertaining you do, the one thing in common is that you need to keep getting paid gigs in the diary to survive.

There are lots of ways to do currently do this:


Infographic Transcript:

Start a facebook page

Pros: Facebook is great, you can share updates, post videos, post photos and accumulate “likes”. Your facebook page is like a track record of your act and will reassure customers on how busy / good you really are.

Cons: A facebook page doesn’t make for a very good promotional website. Only a small percentage of the people who like your page will ever see your updates. Most of the time, people who make enquiries on your facebook page are unqualified leads. People on your facebook page are “Just looking” and are hard to convert to a booking.

Build a website

Pros: You can build your own website to promote your Act. Customers can see an online brochure of what you do and can make an enquiry to your phone or email. Visitors who are on you site are qualified and have a good chance of making an enquiry.

Cons: Websites aren’t cheap and once you have your website built you need to attract visitors. For that you need to learn or pay for SEO (Search engine optmisation) to get your webpage found on the search engines. The problem with this is that you could be one band out of 100’s in your local area all competing for space on the first page.

Advertise in a web or event directory

Pros: Some web directories can provide you with leads and enquiries. If you perform at weddings have a look at advertising in the bridal directories.

Cons: Web and event directories are basically advertising. This means the people viewing your ad are generally unqualified and leads will be hard to convert into sales. Some wedding directories can charge premium prices with no work guaranteed in return.

Join an entertainment agency

Pros: An entertainment agent will deal with all your enquiries, promotion and booking admin in return for a commission for each booking. Often the agent will charge you a percentage and the client an additional fee on top. If your act is not your main job then an entertainment agent can help you get paid bookings without much work.

Cons: Most entertainment agencies will want full control and exclusivity of your Act. This means handing everything over for the Agent in return for paid bookings. Quite often entertainment agents do not deliver on the bookings promise and will demand commission for events that you have booked privately. Some agents send Acts to unsuitable events just to cover their quota. Breaking up with your agent can result in legal battles and bad feeling. Entertainment agents are a middle man and are becoming redundant in this age of technology.  

Attend a Wedding Fayre

Pros: If your Act performs at weddings, taking a stand at a wedding fayre will directly put you in front of your customers. You can speak with them, hand out promo material and take bookings on the day.

Cons: You have to invest money in making your booth stand out at a wedding fayre. There are a lot of wedding fayres and this is leading to saturation with decreasing footfall at shows. Wedding fayres take up a lot of time to get leads with a low booking rate in return. Large wedding shows are expensive for a small amount of bookings in return.

 

Act Admin

Once you have sorted your promotion, you will also need to administer your entertainment business to ensure you get paid gigs.

You will have to:

  • Respond back to customer emails and social media messages to check price and availability
  • Wait for customers to get back to you
  • Do admin work on each booking
  • Chase payments from customers
  • Accept payments via card using paypal (3%) or pay £40/month for a merchant bank account and chip/pin

 Gigging at events is the fun part and the Admin is the boring part that takes up a lot of time. Would it be great to have one service that does everything?

Well that's why we have created BookEntertainment

With BookEntertainment you can:

  • Setup your own profile with videos, images, sound bites and a writeup
  • Be found on the first page of search results in your area
  • Set your own prices and adjust them for different dates
  • Sync your diary or google calendar
  • Let customers check your availability 24/7 and book you instantly, without all the time wasting emails
  • Take card payments automatically from the customer, before you perform without the need for a merchant account or paypal
  • Perform booking admin easily with integrated booking system

Its free to register and you only pay a commission of 15% when you get a paid gig. There are no monthly fees or hidden costs, it's simple!

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SOS Covid-19 helpline for wedding couples

SOS Helpline to Help Couples with Weddings During Covid-19

Denis, 30-03-2020

We have created an “SOS team” to deal with couples and entertainers to arrange new dates and offer plenty of free advice to help them through this difficult period”.

This is open to couples who have booked with BookEntertainment for couples who have booked elsewhere.

To contact our team visit our contact form for details.

Our team can help you see what type of entertainment and bands are available for your new dates.

Keith Donaghy of BookEntertainment.co.uk advises “you need to think of this as a reschedule and not a cancelation”.


If you are a couple that has a wedding planned for the next 16 weeks, it is advisable to do the following:

• Contact your event venue and key suppliers (church, celebrant, photographer) to book new dates in the future.

• Communicate with your entertainment and discuss a plan of action. Find out what their rescheduling policy is as well as future dates that are available. Most suppliers will keep your deposit and use if for your new date. 

• Communicate with your guests as soon as possible on new dates.

• Monitor government advice and how they will affect your plans.

• If you have wedding insurance, you should contact your provider for advice on what you are covered for.

This will allow couples to stay calm and get excited about their new dates. If you act now, you may get a new date that suits you and your guests.


covid 19 wedding

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Covid 19 wedding

Updated Covid 19 - Advice for your Wedding or Event

Keith, 14-03-2020

In lieu of the recent events around the world, we are working diligently with our clients and suppliers to ease the process as much as we can.

BookEntertainment have an SOS Bookings team here to help you reschedule your event and have the following tips that we hope you find helpful.


If you have to reschedule your Wedding or Event 

1. Breathe, stay calm, relax and be positive

2. If you need to make changes to your event, think of it as a RESCHEDULE and not a cancelation

3. Communicate with your Act/Entertainer/Supplier and discuss a plan of action (use the message function to speak to your supplier from the BookEntertainment Dashboard). Find out what their rescheduling policy is as well as future dates that are available. Most suppliers will keep your deposit and use if for your new date. 

4. Book a new date for your event

5. Communicate with your guests ASAP with your plan and reschedule date 


If you are planning your Wedding or Event directly after the restrictions have been lifted

1. Communicate with your venue to ensure they have precautions in place to deal with Covid-19. They have adequate supplies of hand sanitiser, wipes and soap. Some venues may split your guests up and use a wristband system to avoid contact between groups of guests.

2. Seriously consider changing buffet style food to table service to stop the potential spread of infection 

3. Do not be offended if invited guests do not attend your event

4. Have a backup plan and be prepared to reschedule at the last minute 

5. Consider live streaming your event to those that cannot attend

6. Communicate with your suppliers to make sure they are still traveling to events


Remember the lives of your family are what’s most important.


Acts and Suppliers: Read this post from The Musicians Union


Any Questions? Contact our customer support team: help@bookentertainment.com

covid19 entertainment
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northern ireland wedding entertainment guide book

The Ulster Wedding Entertainment Guide

Keith, 03-12-2018


Discover wedding entertainment ideas and inspiration for your big day in Northern Ireland / Ulster. Get the low down on prices for bands, DJs, musicians, and other ideas to make your wedding a little different.






Just add your name and email into the box below to get a copy sent straight to your inbox.


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how to choose a wedding band infographic

How to choose a Band for your Wedding infographic

Keith, 29-11-2018

Choosing a band for your BIG day can be challenging!

This helpful infographic will let you see what to consider before your choose the perfect band.


choose wadding band infographic

How to choose a band for your wedding:



Start Early:


- Don't leave booking your band to the last minute
- Good bands get booked up fast
- Book early at the same time as your photographer


Budget:


- If you are on a small budget consider an all night DJ instead of a band
- 2-3 piece bands will be the entry level for pricing and the prices will rise when you add more members as there are more people to pay. Booking a large band will give you a real fantastic sound with individual instruments but will cost considerably more than a small band using tracks.


Style of band:


- You can choose a style of band that matches your theme and taste from: Floor fillers, Jazz / Swing, Country, Acoustic and Rock Bands


Timings:


- It takes most bands 60 mins to set up
- Usually Wedding Bands start at 8pm and play for 2/3 hours
- Also consider an after band DJ or book a Band/DJ Package to dance into the small hours
- Make sure your band are fully flexible incase your wedding runs behind


Music:


- Consider what dance you would like for your first dance, will the band be able to play it live? or can they play it on mp3?
- Make sure you let your band know any special requests in advance
- Most band have a setlist or playlist, consider asking your DJ after the band to play a personalised playlist. Don't worry if you can't do this as most bands and djs know what they are doing and will read your guests dancing for what works and what does not work.


Also Consider:


- Is there a stage or enough space for the band to perform?
- Are there any restrictions on you venue that could affect the band's performance? e.g. Sound Limiters, Parking restrictions, Load in times
- Does your band have adequate Public Liability Insurance? Some venues will not allow your band to setup if they do not have a PLI Certificate

Thanks to EntertainmentIdeas for the infographic


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top 5 tips for booking a wedding band

5 Top tips to book your Wedding Band in 2021

Denis, 14-11-2018

Planning the wedding car, your wedding dress, the perfect venue and your wedding theme may cause you sleepless nights but remember your evening entertainment is what your guests will have everlasting memories of. 







We have listed the top 5 tips to help you choose the perfect wedding band for your big day.



Tip 1: Book early

This may seem obvious but you would not believe how disappointed brides get when the band they want is booked up.

Bands can only take one booking per night and once the date has been secured they become unavailable. Once you complete your research on which band suits you and your partner, go with your gut feeling and book them.

If you have a weekend wedding in wedding season (between April and September) you cant afford to put off booking your band as most of the good ones are already booked up sometimes up to 2 years in advance.
Our top tip is to secure a date with your venue and place that your ceremony is being held, and then book your band at the same time as your photographer, cars and videographer.



Tip 2: Make sure your band is legit

Imagine the week of your wedding, your outfits are ready, you hotel or venue is ready, your bags are packed for your honey moon and you have even done your rehearsal. Then you get a call from the blue, its your band and they are calling to say sorry we cant do your wedding any more!

Suddenly your stress levels go through the roof! Why did they do this on me? Well the band may not be bothered to do your gig as they may have booked a more expensive gig or they may have forgotten about your wedding and double booked it!

This is a situation that you don't want to be in!. Make sure that when you book your band, you get a proper contract and written confirmation of your booking.

This means that you band must honour your date regardless of other commitments. A proper contract will also state the start times, finish times and amount that you have agreed for the fee. This will keep everything above board and saves any last minute stress for your big day!

Just to know that if you book any band or in fact any act from BookEntertainment, you always get a written confirmation and contract for each act, peace of mind is built in with every booking!

The next question is one we hear all the time
Can we see the band play live?



Tip 3: Viewing the band

This is a tricky one! We get asked this all the time and we totally understand why you want to see them play live. The problem is that all of our bands play at private weddings and parties.

Put yourself in our client’s shoes, would you like a bunch of strangers sitting at your wedding reception eating your buffet? Just because they want to hear the band? Hi we are just here to see the band and have nothing to do with this wedding, do you mind if we take this seat?

You wouldn't want this at your big day so do not expect others to let you gatecrash their weddings!

Whilst some of our bands offer public gigs, these are usually at bars or venues where the style of the band is completely different to the style of a wedding.

It is testament to the band if they are booked all the time and are playing at lots of weddings. All of our acts are booked on their testimonials and feedback on our site that come from our independent trust pilot site.

The reviews are legitimate and after every event we send out a feedback form to welcome a review from our clients. See the videos for your band, read the reviews, and check out their media. This is the best way of seeing your band setup for your wedding.



Tip 4: Keep your dance floor packed

On the night of your wedding, you will want your investment in the band to pay off! To make sure that your dancefloor is packed, prepare in advance!

Lighting:
Make sure that your venue lights are turned down! No one wants to dance in a flood lit room
Do your band have lights? Make sure your band have some form of lighting or you will either be like Bruce Springsteen – dancing in the dark or you will be U2 in the city of blinding lights.

Your dance floor:
Ensure your dancefloor is clearly defined and allow enough but not too much space for dancing because people don’t want to be miles away from the dancing. A starlight dance floor would be a great option as it offers a defined area and centrepiece for dancing.

The bar
Make sure your bar is in the same room- If the bar is in a separate room, people will congregate around the bar area and split your party up. If you can’t have the bar in your wedding room, ask your venue to take away the tables and chairs in the bar area and make sure that your venue offers a table service. This will keep everyone together!

Timings
Timings also help! Don't start the party too early. Remember that your evening guests want to arrive and have conversations so starting at 9pm is a good start time to allow this. You can always have other activities such as a fun casino, hypnotist or even a magician entering your guests as your band setup for the evening.

Finally, Be Present
if your on the dancefloor, everyone else will follow. If you too busy mingling, get at least 2 members of your bridal party to hold the fort and be up dancing and everyone will feel comfortable dancing the night away.



Tip 5: Go with your gut feeling

Have you ever heard the phrase – go with your gut? Well this can be applied with booking anything for your wedding.

This is the most important day of your life and it’s all about you!

Whether it’s your dress, photographer, cars or indeed your band, you will have lots of choice on what to select.

You might like the look of the bands on our site, or bands elsewhere. Don't be tempted in going for the cheapest option. We recommend you go with the option that you feel is right for you.

Remember your entertainment will be the last thing that your guest remember about your wedding day so make sure that your day ends with an unforgettable experience for all the right reasons!

Have a look at the largest selection of Wedding Bands in the UK.,

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Event Planning Made Simple

Keith, 12-02-2019


Booking Entertainment can be stressful.  By now your inbox is probably full of quotes from suppliers and you don't know where to start - No wonder event planning is stressful. Using our platform removes the stress from booking entertainment for your event.



a







Event Planning

Made simple












Don't worry, we can help!

With BookEntertainment you can see what entertainment options are available on your date within your budget - Instantly

Because we are a marketplace, you get to book with your supplier directly and your deposit is fully guaranteed by BookEntertainment. You can also spread the cost and pay your balance in flexible installments and have full support from our team.










Trending Entertainment Ideas:




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photo-boots magicians
singing-waiters acoustic-acts
classical-musicians events-service-suppliers



Manage My Bookings












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how to plan a party infographic

How to plan a party Infographic

Keith, 12-11-2018


When Planning a party, booking things early will make it easy and stress free! Our useful infographic will help you plan for your event the easy way and let you get back to stress free life.


party planning infographic

Infographic Transcript:


How to plan a party


DATE, BUDGET & VENUE


Select a date - weekends and public holidays are the best dates, however weeknights are better for your budget. Set an estimated budget - be realistic where to splurge and where to save. Look for venues - Keeping in mind the type of party, date and your budget


CHOOSE A THEME


What's the occasion? Children's birthday? Adult birthday/milestone age party? Special occasion or Seasonal event? Pick a theme that matches the personality of who the party is for. Order decorations and accessories.


CREATE YOUR GUESTLIST


Keep in mind 70% of invitees attend Write a list of everybody that you want to attend. Consider the size of your venue and your budget. Social media is great for inviting guests but consider traditional invites for people who dont use it.


ORGANISE THE FOOD


Match the food to your theme Hiring a caterer saves you having to make food during your party and venues can offer food as part of their package. Consider food allergies and preferences. Also remember to order the cake!


BOOK ENTERTAINMENT


The most important part DJs, Live Bands and Musicians are all popular options. Also consider hiring dancers, a photo booth or a magician to make your party stand out. Services like BookEntertainment allow you to see who's available on your date and how much they cost instantly.


ON THE DAY OF PARTY


Prepare and Thanks to your great organisational skills (and this handy infographic), everything should be arranged. If possible, decorate your venue a few hours before the party. The last thing to do is get ready, arrive early to greet your guests and enjoy your party!


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how to plan a party

Party planning guide

Sarah Doherty, 19-09-2018

Party planning guide - When you’ve been placed in command of organising the next big birthday party, family anniversary, or staff do, it can all get a bit overwhelming - especially if it’s the first party you’ve ever organised. Party planning is daunting enough, but if you’re a first time party planner it can feel like you may as well be stood at the bottom of Mt. Everest in flip flops with a handful of elastic bands. Fear not, however, because we’ve put together a step by step guide for first time party planners to take the dreaded hassle out of organising a fun and memorable party.

Party planning guide

First things first: get your planning hat on well in advance.

It’s human nature to put things off. We’ve all left something important to the last minute, promised ourselves it would be different next time, and, when next time rolled around, once again indulged in a little last minute terror. Normally things are a little rushed, but they get done all the same. Sadly, this is not the case when it comes to organising a party. The fact of the matter is that the earlier you start planning, the better your party is going to be. It’s tempting when you’re organising a party for adults to just tell everyone to show up with enough beer to do them, stick on your own music and leave people to their own devices. For a casual house party this is probably the way forward. But if you’re considering in-depth planning, a casual house party is probably not what you’re going for. 

not naturally inclined to being a planner

Even if you’re not naturally inclined to being a planner, you have to step into those shoes if you want your first party to go off without a hitch. Make some lists – but be sure you don’t go overboard. You’ll want to write down everything to do with budget, guests, and times...but if you’re producing a list detailing what you want everyone to be doing at any given time for the entire duration of the party, there’s a chance you’ve gone a bit overboard. As a first time party planner, you’re going to feel like you’re in that area when you’re making lists full stop, but you definitely need them if you’re going to get anywhere. You’ll need a few basics: a guest list, a budget list, and an ever-evolving to-do list that you will no doubt happily burn once the party is over. 

plan your party by researching event

Begin at the beginning

Get your basics sorted first. It may seem silly, but ask yourself a few simple key questions before you bury your nose in the fancy notebook you bought specifically to house your party planning notes (a necessary purchase for the truly organised amongst us). You need to consider three main questions: who the party is for, what they like, and if they’re going to want all the things you want. It’s easy, as a first time party planner, to forget that this party isn’t actually for you. If you’re organising a party for your great aunt Josephine’s 70th birthday, it might be a good idea to take a step back and consider your key questions: does she share your passion for 80s hair metal? No, she doesn’t. It’s a good thing you double checked that before you hired in the Poison tribute act. No matter what the occasion is, the party recipient is the most important person to consider.

party guest is the most important person to consider

Once you’ve cemented who the party is for, you can pencil in a date and a time. Parties thrown during the week will definitely work out cheaper for you, but your guests will most likely need to be up in the morning for work, so they won’t be able to overindulge or stay too late. Maybe this suits the type of party you’re trying to throw. If it does, good news – if it doesn’t, then you need to rethink your dates. For first time party organisers, beware the coin-toss that is a Friday night party. It can go two ways: either your guests show up ready to have a good time after the stress of the working week, or absolutely wrecked from the culmination of five days hard labour.  

Time becomes a key player in party planning

Time becomes a key player in party planning – more so than you’d probably think. It plays a huge role in both your food and entertainment choices. If you’re holding a party that starts at 6pm then you better feed your guests something decent, but if it’s an 8-til-late soirée then finger food will probably suffice. Chances are you don’t want a party DJ at a lunch time birthday party, and a balloon modeller probably won’t hold much attention by 11 o’clock on a Saturday night at your staff party. Once you have your date and time sorted you can move onto the real numbers game: your guest list. 

Having a solid guest number is integral to choosing a venue

Having a solid guest number is integral to choosing a venue, as well as being an easy way to separate out your budget. You need to take some time to sort out your guests – take out that new special notebook you bought and make your first big list. Start off with your absolute must haves, and then go on from there until you have everyone you want to invite. As a first time party planner, chances are you’ve accidentally created an encyclopaedia of everyone you’ve ever met on your first go, so read through it a few more times to shave off a few non-essentials. Once you’ve got your list down to a reasonable level, make sure you contact your non-essentials straight away to make sure they’re available. If they can’t make it, and you can’t make it a party without them, then you may have to reschedule. Send your guests a quick text to let them know the party’s happening and it has a provisional date. Remind them later by email, or set up an event on social media to make sure they know about it. A good idea is to keep your finalised guest list with you, and update it when people contact you with their RSVP information, as well as other little details like food allergies or issues like epilepsy which could be an issue.

pick a price and place for your party

Pick a Price and a Place

Now that you have your guest list, you can sort out your budget. You’ve probably balked at the idea of setting a budget previously – you’re an adult, you live within your means, you’re not going to blow through money on a party! You’ve got more sense than that! Well, to put bluntly, you are. You’re a first time party planner, and you’re very much are going to lose track of yourself when you see all the amazing things they make for parties these days. If you don’t set a budget, stick to it, and studiously write down everything you buy, you will get carried away and bankrupt yourself. Poor self control in the presence of Really Cool Stuff is just human nature, and as such you need to sort out exactly what you need, and how much you’re willing to spend. Set your overarching budget first, and work downwards from there. 

Having set a budget that you’re definitely going to stick to

Having set a budget that you’re definitely going to stick to, and a definite guest list, you can now start having a real think about a venue. If your party is small enough to hold at home, or if you’re lucky enough to have a party room in your house (which is, apparently, a thing that people literally have), you’re sorted. It may seem the easiest option but once again you have to ask yourself some questions: have you got enough chairs? Enough space? Enough patience to clean up after your guests the next day?

If your guest list is big, but not huge, consider a room in a restaurant or bar. But, if you’re planning a really big shindig, a venue room is probably the best way to go. If you’re going for a venue, make sure it’s a venue that everyone can enjoy Is it wheelchair accessible? Is it close enough to the city for people to actually find? How are they going to get home? Seasoned party planners know you never trust the pictures online when it comes to venue booking, so make sure you get a real life view of your venue before you make anything final. The quality of a venue can really make or break the party – you can have the nicest canapés in the world, but if the toilets are grotty people will still focus on that. 

Food and Drink planning for your party

Food and Drink

Whilst it’s tempting to try and get food and drink knocked off the list early, you’re flirting with disaster if you try and sort it before you’ve got guest numbers and a time for your party. Food and drink need to match up with your guests, both in numbers and needs. If your event is around dinner time, sink a chunk of the budget into putting on a proper meal, lest you have hangry (that’s hungry and angry) friends, family, or colleagues leaving early in search of real food. A later evening party is likely to get a bit boozy, so bring out the real greasy crowd pleasing nibbles. For a party during the day fresh veggies with tasty dips can be a good choice. Regardless of time, venue, or anything else, make sure you have at least three bowls of crisps circulating at any one time. Trust us.

alcohol planning for your party

When it comes to alcohol, if you’ve picked a venue with a working bar, there’s not much you have to do. If not, you need to put a little bit of thought into what you’re providing. Will it be self serve from drinks you’ve provided? Bring your own? A mixture of both? If you’re putting on the liquid spread yourself, make sure you provide ice, as well as non-alcoholic options for those guests who prefer to keep a clear head.

choosing entertainment for your party

Entertainment

You need to book entertainment well in advance if you want to have options. Venue and guest list play a big role here, and by now you’re no doubt about either. If you have a big venue, and best guest list, then the next logical step is big entertainment. Since this is your first time planning a party, chances are it’s your first time sorting out entertainment on a large scale. Long gone are the days of the iPod disco, even for those of us with the excuse of being first time party planners.

choosing a dj for your party

If venue size permits and you need music that lasts the whole party, the easiest option is to hire yourself a DJ. For a musical showpiece, a live band is sure to impress guests. If you’re organising a smaller soirée, however, it’s possible to maintain the atmosphere that live music gives by hiring out a duo or trio to perform. It may not seem like much, but it really goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression, both of the party and of you as a now-experienced party planner. 

entertainment doesn’t live and die with live music

Remember however that entertainment doesn’t live and die with live music – consider hiring out other event services, or an excellent idea for either a venue or an at-home party is the addition of a fun casino night. Casino hire is popular enough that people aren’t going to be perplexed when it arrives, but still uncommon enough that it hasn’t become cheesy or overdone. 

fun casino night for your party

Mix and mingle might be enough to keep your party afloat, but why take that chance? You can have a chat and a few drinks any night, and providing entertainment for your guests is an easy way to make sure everyone gets in the party mood from the outset. For a house party, set piece entertainment should be enough to keep everyone lively, but for bigger venues you’re probably going to want to hire something that’ll last you all night, or a few smaller pieces dotted throughout the evening. Don’t count out party games like twister, or plugging in a dance mat – they’re going to take everyone back to the excitement of those childhood birthday parties, and they’re not mandatory for those who’d rather sit them out. You’re a first time party planner, so no doubt the reams of results that your search engine threw back at you is seems insurmountable. Don’t be afraid to reach out to an entertainment booking website, they’re big, experienced, and there to help.  

The key for any first time party planner is not to stress too much

To conclude

The key for any first time party planner is not to stress too much. Start your planning early, and make sure you stay organised and on top of things. Chances are this party is for someone you care it about, be it family member, friend, or colleagues, and they’re going to be pleased with the amount of effort you put in and appreciate it was all for them. Make sure when you’re endlessly planning that you plan to have everything sorted an hour before the party so you have time to unwind and enjoy the fruits of your labour. It’s tempting to go over elaborate with your first party, but remember – it’s about fun, not finances. People will come to a party you’ve organised because they want to, so they’re already looking forward to it no matter what you’re doing! Do the hard work in advance and don’t absolutely lose it over disasters – you need to be involved and present at the party, not crying in the kitchen because you’ve burned the sausage rolls. If you take your time, follow our guide, and stop for breath every now and again, your guests will remember your first ever party for all the right reasons. 


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Christmas Music Quiz 2020

Christmas Music Quiz 2020

Keith, 15-12-2019


Think you know your Christmas party tunes? Put your knowledge to the test with our Christmas Quiz.





Christmas Music Quiz 2019

This is the season to be jolly! Christmas has inspired numerous well know hits over the past decades from Bing to Frank, Slade to Wizzard and Coldplay to The Darkness and not to forget Cliff!
We've created 10 questions to test your knowledge of Christmas Party Hits. Have a go and don't forget to share your result.


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Dos and Don'ts of your Staff Christmas Party Infographic

The Dos and Don'ts of your Staff Christmas Party

Keith, 13-11-2018

Office Staff Christmas Party 2019 - season is upon us and what better way to thank your staff for all the effort this year than to have a staff Christmas party. But did you know that workplace rules extend to your staff Christmas party and as an employer you still have a duty of care to your employees. Your employees are also still representing your organisation and are expected to act accordingly.
This helpful infographic will show you the dos and don'ts of your staff Christmas party and will help prepare you and your organisation to ensure all aspects of the night adhere to workplace regulations.

christmas party law

Infographic Transcript:


Don’t


- Invite all employees to the party, even ones that are absent on leave
- Forget about food allergies and religious dietary choices
- Drink too much and lose control, you are still ‘at work’ and should conduct yourself accordingly
- Get involved in office gossip, offensive jokes or make unwanted advances, sexual or otherwise
- Forget to check your employers / directors and officers liability insurance is adequate and in date
- Have discussions with employees about promotions and pay rises


DO


- Invite all employees to the party, even ones that are absent on leave
- State the company’s expectations and behaviour that will be considered appropriate before the event
- Offer drinks tokens instead of an open bar to control alcohol and offer non-alcoholic alternative drinks
- Make sure you provide transport home for all employees and offer hours / the next day off work
- Nominate a member of management to refrain from alcohol to deal with incidents that may arise


Enjoy your night, stay safe and thank your staff for all the hard work this year!


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offering free commission during covid 19 for wedding entertainers.

0% Commission During Covid-19 for Entertainers

Denis, 30-03-2020


We understand during these times everything is uncertain as a self-employed entertainer or musician. As a former entertainer myself, these times when events are being cancelled or postponed can put added pressure on finances and family time.


This is why we will offer all new and existing acts on BookEntertainment.co.uk the full use of our booking and admin system 100% commission free up to 30th June 2020.


This allows you to assist brides and event planners who have to re-book events for new dates and to take bookings for 2021/2022 Weddings and events.


As most of you already know, BookEntertainment was created by entertainers for entertainers.


To avail of free commission, email actsupport@bookentertainment.co.uk to tell us that you are interested and we will forward on the next steps. OR if you are new to BookEntertainment, register for an account at the top right hand corner of the screen and follow the instructions in the dashboard.  


We hope you and your family stay and healthy over the next few weeks,


Keith Donaghy

CEO, BookEntertainment

lost bookings entertainment

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4.0 bookentertainment

BookEntertainment 4.0 has arrived!

Keith, 23-09-2019
After 6 months of listening to your feedback on our marketplace built by Entertainers for Entertainers, we have launched our brand new marketplace. 





Bookent Ertainment 4.0

 


We have added powerful new tools to help make gigging easier for you:

- Clients can only see your fee options when they register and all customers who view your act listing will get a follow up email 24 hours after

- Option to set prices based on different event types (e.g. wedding clients only see wedding rates, party clients only see party rates etc..)

- Really simple Google Calendar 2 way sync (just sign in to sync)

- New secure messaging service, you can see all details about the customers event at the top of the message and customers have a book now button on their message screen

- New bookings layout with printable job sheets

- Opportunity for Regular Bookings from Venues - Option to Set Trade prices for regular venues, pubs and clubs. Only registered trade venues can see these rates. Perfect for filling in blanks and playing at public gigs

- SMS notifications for new bookings and messages

- New event type page - customers can get ideas and see all options available for their event type in their event location. This is a great opportunity to get more bookings.

BookEntertainment has been completely re-designed to make it faster, lighter and easy for everyone to use.

We’re confident that you’ll agree we’ve bettered everything; and will find using our marketplace to be a much more interactive and responsive affair from now on.

Any Questions? Contact our act support team: actsupport@bookentertainment.co.uk

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Awarded place on Ignite NI Propel Pre-Accelerator 2019 Team!

Keith, 19-12-2018

Exciting news for 2019!  We are proud to announce that BookEntertainment have been awarded a place on the Ignite NI Propel Pre-Accelerator.

Earlier this month BookEntertainment's founders Keith and Denis pitched for investment and a place on the programme to the panel from Invest NI and Ignite NI. The competition was high but the investors seen the potential of our platform and awarded us a place on the team of 20 new startups.





Joining Propel will enable BookEntertainment to scale rapidly across the UK and prime us for global success. It all starts in January and we are looking forward to the mentorship, networking and new opportunities that the program will offer.


We look forward to an amazing 2019!


#Propel19






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reviews for musicians

Gigging Advice - Why Reviews Matter?

Keith, 12-11-2018

In this video we will be talking about reviews. 

Whether you like it or not, reviews are becoming a large part of the client decision making process to on whether to book you or book someone else. I will be talking about why reviews matter, how to get good reviews, why fake reviews don’t work and how to handle a bad review.

Why reviews matter?

When was the last time you bought something online?

I bet you read some type of review on that product? 

Well the same goes with booking entertainment. As part of the sales process, potential clients will view your media, check availability and your price. If they are happy with everything there will be one more thing that they will do:

a: Want to see you perform live or 

b: want evidence to prove that you are as good as your media and write up says you are.

People, especially brides may want reassurance before they book entertainment for their big event.

Sometimes it can be bad manners to invite strangers to gate crash an event that you are performing at, so having positive, genuine reviews will give the potential client evidence on how good you really are and help sway them in your favour to make a booking. 

Did you know that a survey by brightlocal found that two thirds of customers form their opinion of a business after reading just 4 reviews. 

getting reviews and customer feedback as a musician

Word of mouth

Have you ever heard of the term word of mouth marketing? It really is the best form of marketing

However, As the years move forward, the next generation of clients have been born with the internet and what's happening? No one speaks to anyone anymore!

You probably have noticed that young people will enquire via writing a message or email rather than actually calling you. The same thing is going to happen with word of mouth marketing and the digital equivalent to a word of mouth recommendation is having positive, genuine review.

BookEntertainment has a reviews section built in to every profile and we will ask your customers to provide you with a review after every booking. BookEntertainment will also give you the chance to ask previous customers for a review to help give you a head start. This way not only will you have positive reviews, your profiles will appear ahead of others when customers filter by star rating.

How to get positive reviews

How to get positive reviews?

Now you know that reviews really do matter, i'm going to give you some advice on how to always get a positive review.

Keep in touch with your client before and after the event - Something a simple as contacting the client before their event will reassure them that everything is ok with the booking.

Especially with wedding bookings, an email a few months before the gig date, confirming all details and asking if they need help with anything will give your clients peace of mind. You can also contact the client after the event to wish them all the best and ask them to write a review.

Arrive on time - Make sure you plan your travel well so that you arrive at your gig on time. If your running late due to unforeseen circumstances, call your client straight away and explain the situation.

If its a wedding, call the manager of the venue or the wedding planner if you are running late as the bride and groom generally won't be contactable on their big day. 

Etiquette on the gig - I shouldn't really need to tell you this as its just good manners. Don’t get drunk or let musicians/ staff get drunk, be polite and don't go near the buffet unless the client asks you. Again this is just good manners

Presentation - Make sure you present yourselves in the best way possible. If you need to load gear, try and wear a dark polo shirt and black trousers with a dark coat - don't be arriving at a gig in gym wear. How bad would it look if you are dressed in a neon tracksuit to load gear into a wedding. You could brand up your loading in outfit with your logo etc.. for extra presentation points. 

On stage make sure you and your musicians or staff are presentable and dressed appropriately for your type of event. Finally make your gear nice and tidy, velcro or tape down loose hanging wires and always keep backup essential items like a spare amp, leads mic’s etc..  just in case something breaks during the performance.

Flexibility - Sometimes events run late and as an entertainer you have to just deal with it. You may rock up at a gig only to find that the full event is running 2 hours late. If you use a contract you are probably entitled to perform only to the set times in your contract. 

But really? Is the risking your reputation worth it? I have heard horror stories from clients who have booked a bands for their wedding and their wedding ran behind by an hour. 

The band where booked to play for 1 hour and 30mins and because the wedding ran late the band only played for 20mins and refused to play any longer. You need to work with your client and try to compromise with late running events. Would you rather have a great review on how you where really helpful or a bad review because you where black and white with a contract?

Put on a good show! - If you are genuinely talented at your profession or you if your an event hire pro - put on a great service then you should have no problem whatsoever at getting great reviews. 

But if you can talk the talk but can't walk the walk and your show is rubbish then it doesn't matter how nice you are, it's the entertainment business and you will get bad reviews. Don't over sell your act to avoid disappointed customers - There more on this at the end of the video.

All these steps will help satisfy your client and turn them into a raving fan! If they don't give you a review straight away, don't be scared to reach out to them after the gig and ask for a review.

Why fake reviews don't work

Why fake reviews don't work?

Since the dawn of the internet, people have been trying to be something they’re not. Unfortunately some musicians, bands, DJs entertainers and event hire services are no exception when it comes to playing this game.

Most of us have read product or service reviews online and have probably noticed fake ones! Despite the anonymous nature of reviews, clients are smart and can usually spot out non genuine review. Maybe you are tempted to add some fake reviews? Well they don't work.

Firstly, research from the wall street journal shows that purchase likelihood spikes at 4.5 stars. That's right 4.5 not a perfect 5 stars! That's because potential clients like to weigh the pros and cons and make their own decision. They don't care if there are a few negative aspects about the service as long as their own needs are fulfilled. Reviews that are always 5 stars seem suspiciously too imperfect.

Second, too many fake glowing reviews can then cause bad reviews in the future as clients will have over inflated expectations. If your show or service is not up to the standard in your fake reviews then the client will be disappointed and will leave you bad feedback in the future. 

Finally, it's just the wrong thing to do. Buying fake reviews is unethical and does not help you truly improve as and act in the entertainment industry. You should provide media, write up and reviews that allow the client to make the right choice and have clear expectations. If those expectations have not been met, maybe you should watch my video on how to price your act up and listen carefully to the value section.


How to deal with a bad review?

Its every acts nightmare! A blotch on your record that could potentially turn customers away! It will eventually happen at some stage no matter how good you are, because you can't please everyone. 

But Don't let the negative review just sit there, you have the power to respond and if you respond the right way, you can turn it into a positive!

Look for commonalities:

  • Firstly it's important to note that not all client feedback is beneficial. Taking each and every review into consideration may actually harm your service. 
  • When you start reading through reviews, start by looking for any themes or repeated complaints. The most common word in negative online review is “disappointed”. 
  • This implies that client had higher expectations of your service. Once you have identified the patterns, figure out what aspect of your service is causing the the issue with your clients.
  • Upon determining which aspect of your service needs improvement, brainstorm solutions and weigh up the outcomes. 
  • For example if you are getting complaints that your band members or staff are causing issues then consider setting policies, providing extra training, speaking with them or ultimately replacing them.

The most important thing is to learn from the negative feedback and don't take it personally.

The next thing to consider is responding quickly.

  • Respond to complaints quickly and in a professional manner. When client go to the trouble of submitting a review they expect an answer fast.
  • Make sure you thoroughly read all the reviews people post about your service and don't let anger and frustration take over.
  • Let cooler heads prevail. Apologise, if need be and say sorry for their experience and explain how this is unusual to get bad feedback. 

Offer your client a goodwill gesture to show that you actually care, this could be a partial refund, a gift or if applicable money off their next booking.

dealing with fake negative reviews

Fake negative reviews

Finally in the last section I mentioned fake positive reviews, sometimes you can get malicious fake negative reviews. For whatever reason, people may decide to leave you a malicious negative review. The best thing to do about this is report it to the administrator of the reviews service that you are using.

Explain the reasons why the review is fake and justify why you want it to be removed. While you wait for the administrator to sort it out, reply back to the malicious review and state that you haven't done business with this person and believe the review to be fake.

Summary

  • Customers will look for reviews of your service to help them make a decision to book
  • To get positive reviews, consider things like communication with the client, punctuality, etiquette at the gig, presentation of your show, flexibility with timings and the quality of your talent
  • Don't be tempted to use fake reviews as you will get caught out
  • If you do get a bad review, use the information to help improve your service and turn the negative into a positive 
  • And report malicious negative reviews to the administrator

Let's hear what your thoughts are by leaving a comment below

Happy Gigging!

Keith

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band dj prices

How to set prices as a Band, DJ, Musician or Entertainer

Keith, 09-11-2018

In this video we will be discussing how to price your act up. Whether you run a Band or your a musician, dj, entertainer or you run an event hire service - Your running a business and you need a proper pricing structure for your gigs. I will be talking about how you perceive your value, how to create packages for your customer, how to factor in your running costs, competitors and how best price up your travel.

Value

Before you price up your act, you need to work out your value.

What is value? The extent to which your service is perceived by your customer to meet their needs. Its  

Basically : What are you worth?

Lets give you an example: You are cooking a romantic meal for your loved one and lasagna is on the menu. Its £1 for Tesco value lasagne or £5 for a Waitrose lasagne.  Why would you buy the Waitrose lasagne? You perceive the value in the name, packaging, marketing and you want to impress your other half and a Tesco value lasagne isn't going to cut it. Other brands are available.

What's this got to do with entertainment? Do you want to be a cheap budget act or at the top end of the market?

How to set prices as a Band, DJ, Musician or Entertainer

Some points to consider to work out your value:

  • How much experience do you have?
  • How talented are you?
  • Do you have a record to prove your worth it? Have you got an extensive list of real reviews from your past customers?
  • Is your equipment the best in the industry?
  • Are you doing business the right way with proper insurance cover and are fully compliant with tax?
  • Have you invested in top class photos and videos to showcase your value?

Think about all these factors to help you work out what you are worth

running costs for bands and musicians

Running Costs

Remember - whether you like it or not, you are running a business and like any business you need to cover you overheads and make a profit. In my career as an entertainment agent, I have seen acts price themselves far too cheap just to get gigs and they don't make any profit - They are busy fools and won't last - especially if they are taking bookings up to 2 years ahead. 

You need to take the following running costs into consideration:

  • Band members / Deps / Staff wages
  • Insurance, telephone, website, bank fees
  • Accountants cost and tax
  • Motor vehicle costs
  • Cost of purchasing or maintaining equipment like pa
  • Cost of consumables that you may use

Have a think about what things cost you over a year, then work out what you need to charge per gig to not only cover these costs, but make yourself a decent living too. Don't price yourself too cheap to get gigs and Dont play for free - Exposure won't pay for your bills!

What competing entertainers like your act are charging for a gig

Competition

What are competing services like your act charging for a gig? Again think about the previous 2 points, value and running costs. Don't try and be the cheapest as it's a race to the bottom.

Some acts are apprehensive about displaying the price online as competitors will see it. Well I can set up a fake email in one minute and mystery shop you for your price. Your competitors already know your price anyway and customers will shop around google and contact at least the first 10 search results for price anyway. 

Some people will advice you not to display prices as you can email your customer and close the deal better. - This actually doesn't work anymore - customers will make their decision to book by looking at your media and reviews. It doesn't matter how hard you try to persuade them in an email, they just want price and availability and will make the decision themselves. 

Give the customer what they want and don't be afraid to display your prices

recommended to display your prices and packages

Packages

So now you will have worked out your value, running costs and what competitors are charging. It's time to work out your prices - The best way to do this is by structuring your prices into packages - Customers absolutely love packages!

Create your packages based on performance times and exclude travel for now.

You could start with a package for your basic service for your standard performance times and then create additional packages for things like extra performance times, additional options or an enhanced service.

It's also a good idea to create 3 levels of packages like silver, gold and platinum. Research shows that most customers will not want a basic package and will always opt for the middle or top end package this means that if you price it properly you will make extra profit per gig.

Add the extra profit up over the year and it could be a substantial rise in your income.

wedding prices vs party price packages

Wedding price vs Party price

Some acts may price weddings more expensive than functions or venue gigs. If you want to do this its best to have a separate actname for for the wedding market so that you can justify the extra charge. 

For example your band for gigs at functions and venues are called “The Amplifiers” that wear casual dress on stage and have a party playlist. Then for weddings the band are called “The Wedding Band” wear suits on stage and have a playlist that's geared to weddings. Doing this will save any hassle with wedding couples trying to get your party rate.

Early setups

Also consider how long it will take to get setup. Some clients request that they need an early setup or late packup. The best way to do this is to create an early setup or late pickup fee and charge it per hour. Make sure that it covers you and other members or staff to wait around.

charging for travel as a musician and band

TRAVEL

After you have got your packages in order, then it's time to consider travel. Some acts do this on an as and when basis or charge per mile and the whole pricing setup becomes messy.

The best way to work out travel is to break your area up into each county and charge a fixed fee per county. For example you are based in Nottingham. So your county is Nottinghamshire offer this county for free and as you are right beside Leicestershire and Derbyshire offer these counties for free. Then charge a fixed fee for the neighbouring countries of South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, West midlands, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. 

Take traffic hotspots and travel times into consideration and price each county accordingly. If you are paying for staff, dep musicians or other band members, price up their fees per county and this will make it really easy to work out travel expenses to pay and save any arguments about extra fees for gigs.

changing prices per date

Changing prices per date

Finally consider adjusting your price for for specific dates

You could increase your package price for really popular dates such as New Years Eve, Bank holiday weekends and Christmas party nights.

Or you discount your prices for quiet season like January and February, and quiet days like Monday-Wednesday. Just make sure that you cover your overheads and still make a profit when you are discounting.

Summary

  • Its best to create a systemised, clear pricing structure for your act. It will make it easier to price gigs up and keep everything consistent.
  • Make sure you price your act according to your value and what you are really worth
  • Cover your expenses and make a profit that you can live on
  • Make sure you are in line with your competitors prices but don't price yourself cheap
  • Create packages for your customers to choose different options
  • Have an early setup or late packup option
  • Structure your travel fees per county
  • Consider increasing prices for popular dates and discounting for quiet dates

I hope this helps you get a clear picture of how to structure the pricing of your act. 

Let's hear what you think by leaving a comment this post.

Happy Gigging!

Keith

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gdpr for bands musicians entertainers and djs

GDPR for Bands, DJs, Musicians and Entertainers

Keith, 05-11-2018

In this episode we are going to be covering GDPR - and what to do with as a Band / DJ / Musician / Entertainer to make sure that your covered. 

There's so much scaremongering going on in the business community about GDPR - Im going to show that with a little bit of work, you will be compliant in no time!

Firstly as a disclaimer-  I am making this video for advice purposes and if you want to fully implement GDPR to your business you should seek legal advice.

Introduction

Im sure you have heard of GDPR and if you haven't this video will really help you meet the new regulations regarding Data Protection. You need to be compliant now! And if you hold any personal data i.e. email addresses, names, and phone numbers of european citizens you will need to comply with the regulation.

Even post brexit GDPR will still matter in the uk and if you don't have a proper policy in place and something happens -  you could face a fine. If you google gdpr you are going to find a lot of conflicting information and most of it will not apply to your entertainment business. 

Lets go through some of the main points that you will matter to your entertainment business.

The gdpr has 2 main objectives

"To give citizens and residents control of their personal data - Basically to give control of data back to the people"

and

"To put a single set of rules in place - There are lots of different data protection laws in place and its very messy, gdpr streamlines all the laws and regulations into one big policy to make everything clearer"

GDPR for Bands, DJs, Musicians and Entertainers

The gdpr is about privacy by default instead instead of privacy only if you opt out. With gdpr You are going to have privacy, unless you opt in. And you will have more rights to your information that businesses hold on you. This is good news if your a citizen, this causes a slight headache if you own a business. Even if you DJ at weddings as a part time business, your still a business and need to comply.

The gdpr understands that we respect, value and protect people's personal data and if you understand this, then you really don't have to worry about anything. You already might be doing the right steps to be complaint or maybe you need to knuckle down on a few things to get you over the line to comply.

The gdpr applies to all the personal data that you hold including suppliers, clients both past and present, employees (or band members both past and present), contacts and leads!

getting GDPR sorted for entertainers

Lets get your GDPR sorted:

You must know and understand all of the data you hold. Where did the data come from, where is it stored and how are you using it?

Where does this personal data that you hold on people come from?

Does it come from Wedding fayres, contact forms on your website , enquiries or competitions?

Under gdpr you need to how you ended up with that data.

booking management software like Overture, DJ intelligence or giggo

If you use booking management software like Overture, DJ intelligence or giggo then you are already covered for gdpr and this makes life a lot easier. All bookings that will be done through BookEntertainment’s integrated booking system will be fully compliant too. 

If you are using a manual booking system then now might be time to change. If you are do email marketing to your customers you need to have some sort of gdpr compliant email marketing software like mail chimp to keep you covered.

As long as you take the time to set these up properly, you will know someone came into your world. Whether they are a wedding fayre lead, web enquiry, phone enquiry, social media enquiry etc..

Know exactly where your data is stored

Know exactly where your data is stored

Stop collecting data manually using your own systems, having booking management software and email marketing software that is already GDPR compliant means that you can run your business on their systems and let them worry about gdpr security. 

This means that all your personal data is stored within these systems and nowhere else and its sorted!

Using these systems will also answer other parts of GDPR such as the person's right to Access, Rectify, Erase or Move Data. 

How are you using the personal data you hold

How are you using the personal data you hold?

What are you doing with the data you hold? This has to be clear - People have given you details for lots of different reasons. Someone may of enquired about pricing a gig up which is a lead for you. You now have lots of personal data about that person. 

Under GDPR you can only contact them about their enquiry and NOT anything else. The same is for past and present clients. You can only contact them about gig details only and that's all. The days of automatically adding them to your email marketing list are long gone. Under GDPR this will be enforced and you contacts will be more aware and less tolerant.

Use your booking management software for clients data and use your email marketing software for email marketing lists. This way it keeps your clients gig data separate from your email marketing data. If you want to market to your clients you now have to get their EXPLICIT CONSENT to do so.

consent to process people's personal data

If you rely on consent to process people's personal data, that consent has to be clear, specific and explicit.

Whats process mean? It means your using their data to do something with it. 

If your sending out marketing emails out to people on file you could be doing everything ok but there are also a few things you need to tighten up. You can no longer assume that no one wants to hear from you unless you have their explicit consent and can prove that you have it.

Its no longer acceptable to ask people to opt out of your email marketing they now have to opt in and you cannot pre tick the box for opting in! When you are sending out email marketing communication you must have a clear unsubscribe button so that people can opt out. Again if your using email marketing software, this will come as standard.

You can encourage your existing clients past and present to be added to your email list by using your email marketing software to ask them to opt in. Just be clear in the email what they are opting in for. If they don't opt in then you can keep them on your booking management software and communicate about their gig info only. 

booking

What about people already on your email marketing list? 

To be on the safe side you should send these contacts an email to opt in again for their consent, especially if you have taken the addresses without their permission. 

You should screen shot your website contact form and save the screenshots somewhere safe to have proof that you have had opt in forms in the past. Always better to have it now than look for it later! If you already know where your data has come from and you have always asked for consent before adding someone to your email marketing list. You will have nothing to worry about and all you will have to do is tighten up your process a little. 

Under the gdpr there has to be a clear record of how and when someone gave you their explicit consent to contact them. When you use an email marketing system this will be also be covered. 

Other things to consider:

Add a privacy policy on your website - you can find loads of templates online - make sure its gdpr compliant and make sure it covers you.

Conclusion

Email marketing is going to be a lot more tougher and I honestly think it's not going to be effective as it used to. But don't worry you can use BookEntertainment to promote your act online and take bookings without all the time wasting emails checking price and availability.


I hope this helps you get an understanding of GDPR and what you have to do to be compliant. 


Happy gigging!


Keith



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gigging advice on how to organise your gig diary

Gigging Advice - How to manage your diary

Keith, 03-11-2018

In this episode i'm going to talk about organising your gig diary. 

First of all, I need to tell you as an entertainer, band, musician or event hire person, you may do your thing full time or part time but whatever gigs you're doing you are actually running a business and you are responsible for providing a service to your customers.


Dates

Dates are the single most important element to your entertainment business. They need to be planned properly and your diary needs to be strictly organised. I remember as a mobile DJ a school formal assumed that they booked me when they didn't. I got a phone call out of the blue one Friday night asking me where I was? 

I had to literally drop everything, including my girlfriend and frantically load up the car and drive really fast to the venue. I was one hour late and wasn't organised or dressed properly to do the gig and it just wasn't a gig that I would be proud to do.

Luckily it was the organisers fault as I had a system in place to confirm every booking in writing and they actually did not confirm the gig properly. This was the client's fault, but imagine if you didn't run your diary properly and it was your fault. What a disaster that would be to your reputation.

Another aspect of being in this game is that we are weekend warriors and the weekend is where our family and friends have parties, get married etc.. So we have to miss out on these occasions as we are usually working at other people's occasions. 

Gigging

Plan your diary in advance

When do you get your bookings? If your scene is the pub and club scene, usually up to 6 months in advance, if your in the Wedding and corporate scene it can be sometimes up to 3 years in advance. So you have to plan your life in advance.

Book your holidays well in advance and then block book it off in your diary. Have you got children at school? Take a look at school events such as christmas plays, sports days etc. and book it off in your gig diary in advance.

Do your run a band? Make sure you organise your members diaries for their holidays and events. Or make sure you have deps organised for their absence.

buy paper diaries a few years in advance

Type of diary

When I was a dj I had to buy paper diaries a few years in advance. If i got an enquiry from a customer and I wasn't beside my trusty collins diary I had to call the customer back.

If i lost my diary I would of been screwed.

This manual diary system is slow, unreliable and is stuck in the past century. As an entertainment agent, I still have acts running their diaries this way where I have to text them to check availability. Its too slow and It costs them business as other acts that use an online calendar can get booked quicker and will get more gigs.

If you're using an online diary such as google calendar, well done to you. If you're still using a paper based diary you are going to have to change for the future.

use an online calendar for your gig diary

Why use an online calendar for your gig diary?

Its with you all the time-  On your smartphone you can instantly access your calendar and check or add bookings. It's backed up, Lose your paper diary, lose all your information. Lose your phone? The diary is still there on the cloud.

Sharing - With google calendar, you can share your availability with agents and only let them see busy/available without any further details or you can share your gig diary with your band or staff members to help organise everyone the right way.

With sites like book entertainment, you need to have your diary organised online and sync your availability so that customers can fill in the blank dates with paid bookings. If you still don't want to ditch that leather bound paper diary, you can always run the two methods together as a hard backup.

See: how to sync your google calendar with BookEntertainment

Summary

  • Plan your year or years ahead including holidays and family events.
  • If you have other staff members or musicians, make sure they also plan their year in advance and plan your deps in advance to cover them.
  • Ditch your old paper diary and go online

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:

Happy Gigging!

Keith

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Gigging advice - How to win bookings with good media

Gigging Advice - Win more bookings by investing in media

Keith, 01-11-2018

In this episode I want to talk about how you can win more bookings by investing in your media

As an entertainment agent I often get promo material sent to me from bands and musicians with requests like, can go you find me more work and we are finding it hard to get bookings and we need you to fill our diary. The problem? They are not investing in their promotion media.

The days of yellow pages and text ads are long dead now and let's face it, everything is online and that includes your customers. So if im a customer looking for a band and all I see is your one grainy image, why am I going to book you?

This is why your not getting bookings. You could have the best act since led lights and it could be the best kept secret. So If you want more bookings - Invest in your online media

Your online media is broken down into 4 parts:

  • Images
  • Videos and Audio (if your a music act)
  • Bio 
  • Reviews

Gigging Advice - Win more bookings by investing in media

Images

Have you got images? And do your images sell you?

stly you will need a few album style shots, these are still shots of your act or event service. These shots are an introduction to your act and are good as first images, profile pictures etc..

A lot of acts get these album style photos done and then stop. But your missing a trick... you need to sell the dream to your potential customer - so have photographs taken of your act in action shots at gigs!

If your a band, try and have a few photographs of a packed dance floor with you at the back to prove you can do your job.

If your a musician, have photos taken at your environment

If your a musician, have photos taken at your environment like a church, hotel lobby or bar.

If your an entertainer have your action shots taken on the job

If you're an entertainer have your action shots taken on the job, like a hypnotist having their guests under, or a magician wowing their audience.

If you run an event hire service, try and get photos of your service in action

And if you run an event hire service, try and get photos of your service in action. For example if you run a photobooth, get pictures of your client having fun and using your equipment.

get pictures of your client having fun and using your equipment

Remember you have to sell the dream to your potential client so make sure that the people in your action shots are happy, laughing , having fun and smiling unless of course  your a funeral musician…

You can spend whatever you like on your photographs, if your on a budget a mate with a good spec smartphone can take photos, just make sure that they are landscape! I would recommend getting a good photographer, the money you invest will definitely pay for itself over again.

A great tip is if you do weddings, ask the wedding photographer to take a few action shots, and if your friendly enough, they could even give you a discount. And just remember to ask the people in your action shot if its ok to use them!

Having a video will really improve your booking conversion rate

Video

Having a video will really improve your booking conversion rate. Having a staged video is cool, but back it up with a live action video as your potential customers will want to see evidence if you can do your job. So sell them the dream and have them dancing, laughing, surprised and having fun!

If your a musical act and you want to showcase your audio make sure that its properly recorded as i've seen 4k beautiful video with tinny sound and its awful. You can also host your audio separately on services such as soundcloud.

You can go down the DIY route with video and use your phone, make sure its in landscape mode and you have a steady hand. Also you can buy an i-rig pro online that you can hook into your microphone or desk to record sound. 

My advice is to hire a professional videographer and if you're a band or musician get a sound engineer to mic everything up. It's more expensive but again will pay you back tenfold with bookings.

will pay you back tenfold with bookings

BIO / Writeup

Have you seen the wolf of wall street? Where jordan belfort asks, “sell me the pen”. Like this task most people struggle with their bio. Where do you start?

Ask yourself these questions to help you write your bio - why should the client hire you? What makes you unique? Where have you performed? What is your set list if you're a musical act? Dont brag about your gear specifications, the client will not care if you have a JBL MRX DUAL 18 INCH SUBWOOFER or weather you have a shure SM58 mic compared to a sennheiser e835... All they care about is if you have decent equipment. 

Another top tip is to not use “We and “I all the time, Replace we and I with you and your event. If you find it hard to write creatively, use a service like fivverr.com and someone will write you up a bio for a fiver.

entertainers Reviews and testimonials

Reviews and testimonials

What was the last thing you bought online for over £200? Did you just buy it straight away or did you do your research? Read reviews, check out the products so that you make the best decision.

Well this is the way things are now done online, with the rise of sites like tripadvisor, yelp and trustpilot your reviews must be independent and true. Book Entertainment will offer you an independent review service on your profile where customers can leave an independent review with the opportunity to post pictures of their night. If you good at what you do this will cement the client’s decision to book you. If you're a cowboy, you will be caught out.

Also Written Testimonials from Mrs Jones or John Smith look fake and won’t convince potential customers to book you. If you want your customers to give you a testimonial, take your phone our and video it at the gig!

This all adds to the value of your act.

If you're a member of Book Entertainment, we will automatically send out a review request to the customer after each gig you perform from our marketplace.

send out a review request to the customer after each gig

Summary

If you want a better chance to convert potential customers into your clients you have to sell them the dream, make sure to have:

  • Good quality photos with both album and action shots 
  • Good quality video with both staged and action shots
  • If your a musical act, make sure you have some audio clips if you cannot record a video
  • A bio that sells you to the customer 
  • Positive, real reviews

Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or sharing this post.

Happy gigging!

Keith

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How to get more paid gigs

How to get more paid gigs

Admin, 08-08-2018

So you’re in the Event Entertainment Industry?

You may run a band, be a pro DJ, play an instrument, entertain people or provide event hire services. No matter what entertaining you do, the one thing in common is that you need to keep getting paid gigs in the diary to survive.

There are lots of ways to do currently do this:


Infographic Transcript:

Start a facebook page

Pros: Facebook is great, you can share updates, post videos, post photos and accumulate “likes”. Your facebook page is like a track record of your act and will reassure customers on how busy / good you really are.

Cons: A facebook page doesn’t make for a very good promotional website. Only a small percentage of the people who like your page will ever see your updates. Most of the time, people who make enquiries on your facebook page are unqualified leads. People on your facebook page are “Just looking” and are hard to convert to a booking.

Build a website

Pros: You can build your own website to promote your Act. Customers can see an online brochure of what you do and can make an enquiry to your phone or email. Visitors who are on you site are qualified and have a good chance of making an enquiry.

Cons: Websites aren’t cheap and once you have your website built you need to attract visitors. For that you need to learn or pay for SEO (Search engine optmisation) to get your webpage found on the search engines. The problem with this is that you could be one band out of 100’s in your local area all competing for space on the first page.

Advertise in a web or event directory

Pros: Some web directories can provide you with leads and enquiries. If you perform at weddings have a look at advertising in the bridal directories.

Cons: Web and event directories are basically advertising. This means the people viewing your ad are generally unqualified and leads will be hard to convert into sales. Some wedding directories can charge premium prices with no work guaranteed in return.

Join an entertainment agency

Pros: An entertainment agent will deal with all your enquiries, promotion and booking admin in return for a commission for each booking. Often the agent will charge you a percentage and the client an additional fee on top. If your act is not your main job then an entertainment agent can help you get paid bookings without much work.

Cons: Most entertainment agencies will want full control and exclusivity of your Act. This means handing everything over for the Agent in return for paid bookings. Quite often entertainment agents do not deliver on the bookings promise and will demand commission for events that you have booked privately. Some agents send Acts to unsuitable events just to cover their quota. Breaking up with your agent can result in legal battles and bad feeling. Entertainment agents are a middle man and are becoming redundant in this age of technology.  

Attend a Wedding Fayre

Pros: If your Act performs at weddings, taking a stand at a wedding fayre will directly put you in front of your customers. You can speak with them, hand out promo material and take bookings on the day.

Cons: You have to invest money in making your booth stand out at a wedding fayre. There are a lot of wedding fayres and this is leading to saturation with decreasing footfall at shows. Wedding fayres take up a lot of time to get leads with a low booking rate in return. Large wedding shows are expensive for a small amount of bookings in return.

 

Act Admin

Once you have sorted your promotion, you will also need to administer your entertainment business to ensure you get paid gigs.

You will have to:

  • Respond back to customer emails and social media messages to check price and availability
  • Wait for customers to get back to you
  • Do admin work on each booking
  • Chase payments from customers
  • Accept payments via card using paypal (3%) or pay £40/month for a merchant bank account and chip/pin

 Gigging at events is the fun part and the Admin is the boring part that takes up a lot of time. Would it be great to have one service that does everything?

Well that's why we have created BookEntertainment

With BookEntertainment you can:

  • Setup your own profile with videos, images, sound bites and a writeup
  • Be found on the first page of search results in your area
  • Set your own prices and adjust them for different dates
  • Sync your diary or google calendar
  • Let customers check your availability 24/7 and book you instantly, without all the time wasting emails
  • Take card payments automatically from the customer, before you perform without the need for a merchant account or paypal
  • Perform booking admin easily with integrated booking system

Its free to register and you only pay a commission of 15% when you get a paid gig. There are no monthly fees or hidden costs, it's simple!

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