The Great Entertainer

Leave It to the Pros

It's best to work with a party planner or booking agent to hire the band of your dreams. "A consumer can't go directly to a talent agency," Tutera says. "It's not possible for novices to do this at all. They wouldn't know where to begin."

Part of the process entails reading and agreeing to the requirements in the contract rider, which can be 30 to 50 pages long.

Even if the host were able to wade through the paperwork, he or she isn't likely to have the time, skill or inclination to produce a show with professional lighting, sound and staging.

And an amateur would almost certainly be out of his league when it comes to awareness of permits, liability, safety issues and sound ordinances. "It's not as easy as dialing and hiring," Marshall explains.

Sour Notes

Strange as it seems, there are drawbacks to scheduling a killer act for your event.

If several generations will be present, it's hard to accommodate all tastes. And a concert-style performance is going to cut into the amount of time guests have to visit with one another. "You're not going to hire a band of this caliber to perform for 15 minutes," Tutera says. "An hour-long show is a big percentage of ... a party."

Further, famous performers may shift the focus from guest of honor and become the main attraction.

That may not be a big deal to 50-year-old birthday boy dancing to the Beach Boys. But the usual star of a wedding, bat or bar mitzvah, or sweet 16 may feel as if they're playing second fiddle, and the meaning of day could get lost in the excitement over the entertainment.

Be aware that many contracts include a 30-day out clause, which gives the entertainer cancellation privileges. A Grammy win, a prominent film role or even a juicy scandal can boost a star's income above the amount agreed to in the contract.

"Someone may ask for $50,000 now, but their price doubles in six months if their career takes off," Weiner explains. "With a 30-day out clause, if a better offer comes up, they can cancel."

	A Party to Remember

Ask that the clause be deleted or modified to give you greater protection. If this causes your first choice to turn down the offer, that's too bad. But it could keep you from having to scramble for a substitute at the last minute.

Practically everything about hiring a star for a private event is up in the air: There's no guarantee that those who have performed at private events in the past will still be available, or that the remuneration settled upon earlier will continue to be adequate.

But for hosts seeking to create unforgettable memories and astound and delight their guests, there ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby.

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