One of the best things about GigSalad is how accessible we make great entertainment for the everyday party planner or event host. Finding quality, professional performers or vendors for your event has never been easier. No more asking the cousin with a decent camera for wedding photos, or asking jolly Uncle Ned to be Santa again. With GigSalad, you have access to over 70,000 entertainers, performers, and service providers across 584 categories.
With that access, however, comes a bit of a learning curve. Many first-time party planners or event hosts don’t always know the best questions to ask or the right details to include. GigSalad professionals are doing what they love, but most are also trying to make a living, so they want to focus on requests that will be a success and the right opportunity to showcase their passion.
Whether you’re in search of a superhero or princess, planning a memorable marriage proposal, or responsible for finding a band for the class reunion, we have some tips to help you book just the right entertainment.
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Sound Like a Real Person
Occasionally, people come to our site without any real desire to request or book services. Vague details, poor grammar, or incorrect contact info can slow down the response time. When providing details, try to be as specific as possible. GigSalad offers a wide variety of opportunities to give particulars, and the more you submit, the more accurate and timely your provider’s response will be. If you don’t have any specifics, mention that in the request. Let the entertainers know you are putting details together and that their quote is part of your planning process.
Let Them Know the Budget Right Away
Event planners often represent charities, churches, and other non-profits. As such, you may be needing to look for discounted or free services. If this is your plan to book entertainment for your event, make sure you designate your event as a “Non-Profit.” Understand that for most of our members, their talent or skill is their livelihood, and that doing something for exposure or advertising usually isn’t feasible for them. If you have a limited budget, indicate that up front. This gives them the opportunity to offer their services for free or discounted rates.
Don’t Take it Personally
Although we always encourage swift responses, our entertainers and performers try to stay busy and can’t always get back to you right away. They may have a full gigging calendar or, at times, be occupied by personal matters. Allow a few hours for a response. It could be that a band leader needs to contact her bandmates or a clown needs to clear his schedule. Anticipating a reasonable time frame will save you unnecessary frustration and provide the member time to get you an accurate quote.
Be Flexible on Price
When a performer sends you a quote, it’s helpful to know everything that goes into it. They are calculating their traveling expenses, performance materials, additional performers, any licensing or fees that may be associated, and most importantly, they’re trying to make a living. The talent on GigSalad is some of the best in the country and, by and large, worth every penny. It’s important that you understand the market price of the service you are hiring and be willing to pay for a quality product. GigSalad is an open marketplace, where anyone from weekend warriors just getting started to seasoned pros can list themselves. If you are price shopping or looking for the cheapest deal, realize you may not be getting the highest quality. If you are flexible in your budget, however, that $50 extra could make the difference between an ordinary event and the talk of the town!
In today’s economy, everyone wants to make sure they are getting the best results for their time and money. Using GigSalad is a fantastic way to discover all sorts of enhancements to your event that you couldn’t find before. Following these tips and being ready to communicate with our members will ensure that you get exceptional entertainment at great prices!
Are you looking for entertainment or services for your special event? Search for local performers and book the best at GigSalad.
Loves music, reading, and binge-watching TV and eating pizza with his wife. Has three amazing kids. Believes that life is about questions, not answers.