You’ve probably seen videos of singers falling off a stage or guests spilling off the dance floor. And, how many times have you been toward the back of a room trying to hear a toast, but the sound system isn’t strong enough? While in some cases the falling and spilling may be due to a bit too much imbibing, more often it is because the stage or dance floor wasn’t big enough. It’s important to keep in mind how size matters for the success of your entertainment.
EPIC Entertainment has years of experience booking all types of acts for all sizes of events. To guarantee that your entertainment makes the impression you’re promising, EPIC suggests considering the following necessary size requirements when booking entertainment:
Staging – Often clients want to try to stay within budget by economizing in these areas, or it can become an “after-thought.” Whatever the reason, the result can ruin an event. You wouldn’t put 10 guests at a 42″ cocktail round. It’s the same for entertainment. You wouldn’t want to put a 5-piece band on an 8’x12’ stage. Remember, it’s more than just five individuals standing there. There needs to be space for monitors, musical equipment (some guitarist use more than one style of guitar) and if there is a drummer, space needs to be allotted for their whole set up. That footprint alone can take 8’ x 8’ space. Laptops are now a common sight, either next the bandleader or another band member, which can take up space as well.
Sound System – You need to consider both space for the speakers and how much volume you need. You definitely don’t want speakers teetering on the edge of a stage that is just too small. A tri-pod tower can take up to three feet of space, just for one – and speakers are on both sides of a stage. The size of the speakers matter not only in allotting space, but making sure there is enough sound carried throughout the room. This is why at EPIC Entertainment, we always ask about audience size. Also very important is whether the event is indoor or outdoors? Part of our service (and the reason we ask so many questions up front) is that we always make sure that the talent has enough sound for the audience size. We always want to let you know way ahead of the event if we need to make arrangements to supplement the sound.
Power – Power is another important consideration. Depending on the entertainment, the power needs can vary. We ask that the power requirements included in our contracts be “dedicated.” That means we are not splitting power with another vendor who may be providing lights, for example, and therefore pulling power away from what the entertainment’s equipment needs are. There’s nothing entertaining about a band that is “popping” the outlet throughout an event.
Lighting – Lighting creates mood and is a basic necessity. If the talent is not providing their own lighting (which is always only directed towards the band itself) are there provisions in place to ensure that the dance floor is lit, too, besides the band? Guests want to be able to see the entertainment on stage, but also need appropriate lighting on the dance floor.
The details of size requirements when booking entertainment: sound system, stage, amount of power, lighting, etc., are so important to the success of the entertainment that only an experienced booking agency knows to plan in advance for the needs of the act. So when “sizing up” the idea for your next event, make sure you work with a booking agency that knows how to ensure your success. At EPIC Entertainment, our vast experience will ensure that any entertainment “jumping off the stage” is by design and not an issue of size.
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