Below are the most common issues we hear on a daily basis by clients who have previously booked a band directly without using an entertainment agency:
Risk 1 – The band charged too much.
Some people think if they book a band directly they will save money. Unfortunately this is incorrect, in fact we generally save our customers money when they book through us.
One of the most important issues customers have when they book a band directly without using an entertainment agency is PRICE, live bands tend to over charge for private one off events. When you book through us we make sure that the band ‘keeps it real’ and doesn’t over charge our customers.
Risk 2 – The band changes their price
The live entertainment that you booked changes their mind and decide that the original price quoted is now not enough and want to charge you extra. You could either have to pay more money or could have the entertainment cancel. When you book your cover band with our entertainment agency, the price on the booking confirmation is final unless you change details. Eg: Changing your location or times etc.
Risk 3 – No paperwork
Your live entertainment doesn’t write the details down properly, Eg. They could forget to turn up, they could come at the wrong time or could go to the wrong place; the outcome is that your event could be ruined.
Or, if there’s more than 1 band member looking after the bands bookings and your live entertainment double books themselves, you could be the one that misses out. As an entertainment agency we have a paper trail to minimize these issues.
Risk 4 – Equipment failure
The Bands equipment breaks down, you could be left with no backup plan. If the booking is through our entertainment agency, we have backup bands that can usually replace a band at late notice.
Risk 5 – Playing the right music
Your live entertainment agrees to play a certain style of music when the booking is made, but change their mind; you could end up getting something you didn’t pay for. When you book a band through our entertainment agency, the band is less likely to change their style of music played to avoid receiving bad feedback and being removed from our website.
Risk 6 – Emergencies
If your live entertainment encounters an emergency, Eg. car accident, gets sick, family dramas – you could be left with no entertainment. If this situation ever occurs when booking your band with us, we usually have other bands available at short notice.
Risk 7 – One off gig
Due to being a one off gig for the band, they could turn up unsuitably dressed; they could help themselves to your food and beverages; drink your alcohol and could get drunk, and could be disrespectful to you and your guests, could only play for short periods with extended breaks resulting in your event being ruined. Unfortunately some great live performers can think they’re rock stars and become very demanding, especially if they know there is no one else to replace them.
This is less likely to happen with us because our bands only want us to receive good feedback about their performance to gain more repeat gigs.
Risk 8 – A better offer comes along
A public venue offers your live entertainment permanent weekly work, where one of the dates falls on the same date as your event, the band could cancel your booking first. Or another client offers your live entertainment more money to have them on the same day as your event, they could cancel your gig.
This is simply ‘not a good enough excuse’ for a cancellation with our agency and would jeopardise future bookings for the band with us.
Is it really worth the risk of booking a band directly without using an entertainment agency?