1.  Plan in advance the type of event you will be hosting and the type of entertainment you or your entertainment committee desires. (Planning 12 months prior is not too early).

2.  Contact as many entertainment vendors as possible especially the one's who come recommended, either by the venue hosting your event, or by those who have seen the act you are interested in.

3.  If possible meet with either the agent assigned your account or the act, be sure to ask whether or not the entertainer has had experience with the type of event you are planning. Ask for audio or video tapes or a schedule wherein you can go and see the act performing and watch the audience participation and the acts response to the audience. A good agency will not hesitate to meet with you or your entertainment committee to listen to your concerns and to suggest ways to make the event a success.

4.  If you are interested in engaging a national recording artist, here are some noteworthy guidelines: A national recording artist generally requires, a backup band or backline, sound and lighting reinforcement, meals for members of the band and production assistants, rooms for act and roadies, ground and air transportation may be required for some acts.

5.  Even if a national recording artist is what you desire, do not be afraid to ask for references from other clients the act has performed for. Ask if the act arrived on time, started performance on time, finished on time, added any encores, was the act easy or difficult to deal with and most important would this client hire the act again and why or why not.

6.  Find out who pays the fees to the agent or entertainment company. Will it be you the client or does the act pay the agency. Ask if the entertainment agency packages the requirements for any acts, local or national or are these items you will be responsible for locating and finalizing the above requirements for the act.

7.  Make certain that you are told when the act will arrive to set up and sound check. You want to ensure that the act or performers are not sound checking through your dinner, cocktail hour, or during your VIP's speech. Your should always require that the act be set up and sound checked at least 1 hour before you and your guests are to arrive, that way if any problems arise there is ample time to handle them. Check with the venue hosting your event to determine the earliest time the room will become available for your entertainment to arrive. Be aware that there will likely be an added cost for these extra hours but it will save you, the event planner a lot of stress and embarrassment in the end.

    When purchasing any acts, both local and national from Rainbow Productions Inc. we give you an all inclusive price. What that means to you, our client, is that we handle all reservations for the acts and handle any and all the requirements necessary for their performance. We also ensure that we will have a representative on site to ensure a flawless performance and to pay the act. Remember that most acts require payment prior to performance and thus plans should be made in advance to handle this.

    Once again I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking a few minutes to read over this buyers guide. If I may be of service or you would like more information on the acts we represent please call me Monday through Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm est.

I look forward to hearing and meeting with you soon.