Cheap Entertainment And How Much It Can Really Cost You

I’ve been getting those calls again. The “How much do you charge for a show?” calls. I understand why I get them. Most people don’t know the right questions to ask. I’ll clue you in on those later in this article.

So, what’s wrong with price shopping? Nothing! That is if you’re comparing the price of apples to apples. If I were shopping for a new car I’d visit several dealers and maybe buy from the lowest price dealer. However, I may pay a little higher price based on other criteria. Like, how long the dealer’s been in business, after sale service reputation or even something totally intangible like the friendliness of the sales person.

But what if I’m in the new car market and I have no clue what make and model of car I want? Should I just go around to dealers asking, “How much do you charge for a car?” Maybe. If I only had enough money for the cheapest vehicle I could find. Then I buy the junker and most likely, as I’m driving home, the problems start. And I end up paying for those problems for a long, long time. But… that was all the money I had to spend. Maybe I should have spent my limited budget on a good scooter instead of an bad car. Chalk it up as a learning experience.

Let’s say though, that my budget is reasonable and I can afford most mid-priced automobiles on the market. Should I buy the cheapest one? Maybe it will turn out that way but I still want to ask questions, gather information and purchase the best vehicle for my needs and hopefully one that won’t give me major headaches down the road.

The same process works for hiring entertainment. You’d be foolish to book based on price only. And since with entertainment (even within the same genre) you’re comparing apples to ugli fruit, you have to know what questions to ask so you won’t have problems down the road. (And the main problem I’m talking about is your tarnished reputation.)

Copy and print this list of questions, they may save your entertainment hiring hide:

o Are you open on the date we’re considering?
o How many shows have you done?
o Do you have letters of recommendation?
o May I call some of your past clients?
o Have you done shows for companies, organizations or associations like mine?
o Do you have a DVD of your show?
o What are your staging, sound and lighting requirements?
o Is travel and lodging included in your price?
o What makes your show different from others in your business? (You’ll probably get a lot of entertaining answers. Like, “I’m the best.)
o And, if the above questions are answered satisfactorily, ask them how much they charge.

If it’s beyond your budget, shop around, you may get lucky and get a Lexus at a Hyundai price. But we both know what the chances of that happening are.

A better strategy is to go to the person in charge of the purse strings and explain the situation. By spending few dollars more now you can avoid costlier problems in the future.

And what if the money just isn’t there? Change plans and choose the ugli fruit instead of the apple. It’s better to have a good ugli than a bad apple.