 It's important
to keep in mind that comedy entertainment and motivational keynote
programs require a seated, captive audience. Dale's programs are
highly "visual" and it is important that everyone be able to
see his presentations, as well as hear them. Room set-up suggestions
are diagrammed below.
There is a difference between local,
regional and national entertainers/ speakers, both in price and
quality. Someone like Dale, who routinely performs in venues across
the country, is going to deliver a consistently higher quality and
more memorable program than someone with more limited
experience.
Read Dale Brown's biography
and use it as a comparison for other entertainers/speakers.
When you hire an entertainer, you've
made an investment in how your attendees will react and remember your
event. Note: After
reading this sheet, you may want to print it out and s give it
to the manager of the facility where your event is being held. Also,
give a copy to your master of ceremonies.
Following are basic suggestions compiled by professional
program planners that you can, and should use to help insure your
audience gets the most enjoyment possible from the ventriloquist
entertainment you've provided.
Program
Agenda
Your agenda can have a major impact on the success of your
program.
- Except for music, never schedule
your entertainment as the last thing on your program. After
dinner, attendees tend to feel lethargic, tired, and bloated.
Speakers, presenters, auctioneers, or other participants often
have a difficult time generating audience enthusiasm and
enjoyment. Putting your entertainer on during desert or
immediately after dinner will help liven the audience up and make
them more receptive and appreciative of other speeches or
activities you have planned. Doing it in reverse will have a
reverse effect. You'll be lucky to have half your audience left by
the time you're ready to introduce the entertainer.
- Handing out gifts or performing an
auction or similar task prior to the introduction of your
entertainment, is a sure formula for failure. The end of an
auction, in particular, signifies the end of a program. As you get
up to introduce your entertainer, you'll notice many of your
attendees will already be heading for the exits. You've wasted the
money you've invested on entertainment.
Sound
System
Sound systems are integral to your audience's enjoyment of a
professional ventriloquist act.
- Make sure the sound system works.
Test it.
- Find out who will be in charge of
the sound system during your event in case of a problem, or if
changes have to made to the volume, tone, etc.
- Be sure the microphone will be on a
microphone stand and not attached to a podium.
Podiums
Podiums are great for your speakers and presenters. They are a major
hindrance to a ventriloquist.
- If you use a podium make sure it can
be moved out of the way, so that your audience will be able to see
the performer. Ventriloquism is a visual type of comedy. If
audience members are not able to see the puppets or the performer,
they're enjoyment will be significantly hindered and you will have
squandered your investment in entertainment. Consider using your
podium at one of the front corners of the stage, versus the center
of the stage. It will make it easier to move out of the way
without affecting the audiences view of your speakers. Facility
managers will place the podium wherever you want it ... so,
remember to ask.
- If the microphone is attached to the
podium, hotels and banquet facilities usually tape the cord to the
floor making it difficult to move the podium and even more
difficult to remove the microphone and place it on a mike stand.
The performer and facility manager can usually work out a way to
set up the podium in a manner that will meet everyone's needs. If
you think there may be a problem, make sure the performer is made
aware of it so that he or she can make arrangements for a smooth
transition from your introduction of them, to the start of their
performance.
Master
of Ceremonies
Following are some simple dos and don'ts for your Master of
Ceremonies.
- Check with the entertainer, prior to
his or her introduction, to see if there is anything they will
need help with, i.e. pulling a podium out of the way, moving a
microphone, turning up the volume on the P.A., etc.
- Always use some form of formal
introduction for your entertainer. This not only makes you look
like a well organized professional, it provides credibility for
your performer and gives audience members specific reasons to look
forward to, and enjoy the program.
- Never announce that audience members
have just a couple of minutes to "stretch their legs,"
prior to the introduction of your entertainer. People will head to
the bar, the bathrooms and the parking lot ... and never return.
Facility
Layout
Again, ventriloquism is a visual art. The more audience members that
can be seated in front of the stage area, versus to the sides, the
better off you'll be. This is true even if audience members will be
farther away from the stage.
If there is a dance floor directly in
front of the stage, ask the facility manager to place tables there for
your banquet. The tables can be removed for dancing, after your
program ends.
The following diagrams show effective
and ineffective stage layouts.
Effective - Click on diagram to view
larger version.
Ineffective - Click on diagrams to view
larger versions.
|
