As we approach the holiday season, many of us are going to be planning Christmas parties and holiday celebrations. Finding the right naija gist for these events is a huge undertaking. Get it right and you’re a hero! Get it wrong and your guests have to suffer through a boring program. No pressure, huh?
Don’t worry! As a professional speaker and entertainer, I have worked with some of the finest event planners in the industry and have learned from them all. Follow this guide to help you through the decision making process and guarantee that you have a massively successful event.
1. Planning
One of the very first steps when planning an event is to decide on as many of the specific details as possible. These details should include date, time, location, number of guests invited, etc. Most entertainers and speakers will ask you these questions to get an idea of what you are planning so they can adjust their performance to best fit your event.
2. Type of Program
The type of event you are planning will also dictate what type of program to consider. If you are planning a Christmas party, you will obviously be looking for a different type of program than if you are planning your child’s birthday party. You must consider who your guests are and what they will find entertaining.
Keep this in mind: your entertainer is representing you at the party. Therefore, you have an excellent opportunity to show off without lifting a finger! The person you choose should be professional and have experience that gives you confidence in them. You will know about an entertainer’s or speaker’s level of experience by their resume, testimonials, references, and letters of recommendation.
3. Choosing the Right Program
All savvy, business-minded, professional entertainers and speakers have websites. A well designed website allows your future entertainer to list their specialties, describe exactly what they do and how they do it, as well as post video clips, photos, letters of recommendation, etc. A good website is the ultimate brochure for entertainers to inform potential clients on who they are.
You should be able to see enough from an naija gist website to get a really good idea of whether he or she will be able to do the job for you or not. Be sure to evaluate whether or not the entertainer you are considering specializes in entertaining groups like yours.
4. The Initial Contact
There are several ways to make contact with your prospective entertainer or speaker. The easiest is to just pick up the phone and call the entertainer’s office. Making contact with your prospective entertainer with a phone call is an excellent way to get to know them. By actually speaking with your entertainer you can learn things that you may not be able to tell through other contact methods. A conversation allows you to hear the person’s voice and it allows you to get an impression about how appropriate this person is for your event. A phone conversation also allows your entertainer to ask you specific questions that they need answered in order to quote a fee, check availability, and be sure that they are the right fit for your event.
Another option is to send the naija gist an email. Email is a great way to make first contact with your prospective entertainer. If you choose to make contact through email, try to give as many details about the event as possible. Include your phone number and a window of time when you will be available to talk so that the entertainer can call you back and ask additional questions he or she may have.
