TIPS & SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO HIRE AN ARTIST OR ARTISTIC TALENT

1. Determine exactly what you want from your entertainer. Give them your visual concepts and dreams about your party or special event. The more you share with them the closer you'll get to your level of expectation.



2. Choose your artist wisely. Ask questions and see samples of their work. Set guidelines for attire, what time they should arrive, where to park and whether or not you want to allow them to share in food and beverages.



3. Ask for references. Sometimes a word or two from a previous customer can either put you at ease or raise some red flags.



4. Who do you want to entertain? Kids, adults, or both? Tell the entertainer who should have access to their services. If you only want to focus on the kids then you should tell your entertainer that.



5. Verify whether or not they bring an assistant. What is that person's job description? You don't want a tag a long friend hovering around your buffet.



6. Artists who produce party favors and gift items have certain space and table requirements. Please get a complete list of their needs so you can make the proper arrangements before your event. Do they need electrical? How much? Does it need to be on a dedicated circuit? Do they need chairs, shade, sun, a quiet area, etc.



7. How many pieces of art can they create per hour? If you plan to entertain 100 kids and the artist produces 15 items per hour you may need an additional artist, pre-made pieces or other kinds of entertainment. There's a list of options here.



8. Entertainers such as jugglers, stiltwalkers, clowns, etc. need a place to prepare before they enter the party. Some may need an area to place props, bags of costumes and equipment. Always inform entertainers of all of your foreseen pitfalls. Do you have steps, a live band or DJ with whom they'll need to coordinate with, a special format or program they need to be aware of, etc. Also tell them about the audience. Different demographics will affect the success of the performance.



9. Each entertainer or artist should have a list of questions they ask you. These questions help them to determine what they need to bring and how they should interact with your guests at your party. Many entertainers have a variety of different skills.
   
   * Clowns for example are often times magicians, face painters, balloon twisters and have multiple talents. A lot of stiltwalkers also juggle.



10. Henna has become a very popular party activity. What kind of henna does the artist use and how long does it take to dry? Do they bring a hair dryer to assist in speeding up the drying time. Henna will wash out of clothes with water but don't wait before cleaning the fabric.



11. Small children are often afraid of clowns and characters even though they're the same kinds of characters they see on their favorite TV shows. Ask your childrens' entertainer about their experience with small children.



12. Fortune tellers, palm readers and handwriting analysts need to be able to talk to the guest in an area that is more quiet. Don't put them next to the DJ or band.



13. There are many different kinds of magicians with various price ranges and skill levels. Many professional magicians have video tapes available for you to view. Always select a magician based on the audience's level of sophistication and your expectation. Don't expect your kid's party magician to do a stage show for your company's holiday banquet. Some could do a beautiful job of this task but many do basic magic that appeals to kids.



14. You usually get what you pay for, even when it comes to entertainment!