Where to Start

Browsing is free and you don't need an account for it. You only need a free account to send a booking request or post an event. Two ways to work:

• Go find them — search, shortlist, and request the acts you like.
• Let them come to you — post your event and let available acts reach out.

Most planners do both.

Searching & Filtering

Filter by type (comedian, band, magician, DJ, dancer, variety act, speaker…), location, budget and event type. Start broader than you think — the perfect act for a gala might be a variety performer you hadn't considered.

If you're not sure what you want, browse by type from the home page and watch a few reels. It's the fastest way to work out what suits your room.

Reading a Profile

In rough order of usefulness:

1. The video reel. Watch it. It tells you more than any bio.
2. Reviews from verified bookings on the platform.
3. Past clients & testimonials — do you recognise the kind of events they play?
4. Act types & event types — do they actually do your kind of event?
5. Location & travel — are they local, or is travel part of the cost?

Matching the Act to the Event

The commonest mistake is booking a great act that's wrong for the room. A few honest rules of thumb:

• Corporate & conference: reliability and audience-reading matter more than edge. Ask about their corporate experience.
• Weddings: the act is running the mood of the night — ask how they handle transitions, timings and requests.
• Galas & fundraisers: keep energy up without overshadowing the cause. MCs and variety acts earn their keep here.
• Festivals & fairs: think about set length, repeat sets, and performing outdoors.
• Family & kids: confirm the material and the age range explicitly.
• Mixed or sensitive audiences: say so up front and let the act advise. Good performers will tell you honestly if they're not right for it.

Budget Guidance

Fees vary enormously by act type, experience, night of the week and travel. As a rough orientation only:

• Local / emerging acts: often under $1,000.
• Established professionals: most corporate and private bookings land in the $2,500–$15,000 range.
• Headline & celebrity talent: $50,000 and up.
• Bands & larger ensembles: price scales with crew size, gear and set length.

Filter by budget on search to see who's actually in range. And put a real number in your request — “budget flexible” gets you slower, vaguer replies.

Sending a Booking Request

Open a profile and click Request Booking. The more you tell them, the better the quote: date, venue, audience size and type, run time, and anything unusual about the room. The act reviews it and can accept with a quote, decline, or come back with different details. You'll be notified by email.

Posting an Event

Free, and useful when you're open-minded about who you book. Describe the event and available acts come to you. You can specify which types you're after — or leave it open and see what turns up.

Payments & Deposits

Once an act accepts, they may send a payment request — a deposit, the full fee, or a deposit plus balance. You'll get a secure payment link by email; no account needed, and cards are accepted. Deposits lock the date; the balance is usually due before the event.

Payment details are handled by our payment provider — BookingEventEntertainment.com never stores your card details.

Day-of Logistics

Sort this before the day, not on it:

• Space & power — stage size, load-in access, sockets.
• Sound & lighting — who's providing what? Don't assume.
• Timing — set length, when they go on, and what happens if dinner overruns.
• Green room / parking — small things that make acts want to work with you again.
• A contact on the night — one name and number for the performer.

Tips for a Great Booking

1. Book early — good acts go months ahead, especially weekends and December.
2. Describe your audience honestly. Size, age, mood, what they've just sat through.
3. Get it in writing. We facilitate the connection but don't generate contracts — confirm terms directly with the act.
4. Agree cancellation terms before you confirm.
5. Trust the performer's advice. They've read more rooms than you have.

Reviews

After a booking through the platform you can leave a review. Reviews are tied to verified platform bookings, which is what keeps them worth reading. It takes two minutes and genuinely helps the next planner.