Brighten up your event!

Entertainment in events helps to create different states of mind, to move a group of attendees from one place to another, to associate values, to support the message, as ice-breakers, to grab attention Â… The functions are many and diverse. And when hiring entertainment services there are aspects that an organiser should bear in mind.

Think about your target and the event
Entertainment should be designed not only to give answers to: who, how, when, what, why, but it must also achieve the objectives of the event. The profile of the target audience is key in determining the degree of ‘involvement’ with the public, and to avoid making the entertainment counter-productive.

In addition, it is necessary to know the company well, the purpose of the event and the philosophy of the public at the moment of defining the entertainment. The context and the quality of entertainment (level of performance, interaction, costume, and presentation) are also important factors to consider.

At the right time Â…
The timing of the entertainment activity is key: if it is programmed in an inadequate moment, it can create an uncomfortable ambience for both the audience and the artists. For example, when the people are talking, entertainment can be a nuisance. When people are not very receptive, a comedian act may be delicate. It is important to always provide an appropriate act at the right time in the event to a receptive audience.

It is said that every thing has its moment Â… and in entertainment too. Factors to consider are the type of animation (noisy, active, subtle, loud, the involvement of the public or it is visual,3), the program of the event (if there are moments without activities, whether time is needed for the transition of an activity to another, pauses, etc.).

Â… And the right duration
Any entertainer has a time duration in captivating the audience. A good entertainer can perceive the reaction of his audience, deliver the message that is required and the professionalism to adapt to the different situations that may occur.

An entertainment may be too short that it does not achieve the objectives, or too long that the audience loses interest. You need to know how to maintain the rhythm of the entertainment within the programming of the event.

Innovate
When an entertainment activity has worked once, it does not mean that it is going to work again. Entertainment is not to be taken from a catalogue, innovation, adaptation, modification are always needed to make sure it fits into the event. Search and investigate what are the latest trends in art, music, theatre Â… and even in technology to create new and impressive entertainment that your guests will remember.

In tradeshows
Entertainment is a resource that can be very effective to attract the visitors to your stand in a trade show. Be it in your own exhibiting space or within the fairground, entertainers can help to bring visitors to a stand the more impressive and surprising they are the better.

Remember that entertainers can communicate and represent messages and be live decoration in a venue.

See the central topic of eventos Magazine n º 12: Animation, the communication in direct contact with the public.