WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ENTERTAINER CANCELS ON YOU?
Entertainment is a crucial part of any event, setting the tone and adding a layer of enjoyment for your invited guests. However, as with any plans, sometimes things can go awry. What happens if your entertainment cancels on you at the last minute?
While no one wants to deal with last-minute cancellations, these steps can help you navigate through such a situation with minimal stress.
Also remember that as a professional in the entertainment industry, I'm here to help you!
If you think that I can fill in where another magician, performer or entertainer has dropped out then I would be happy to help. I can provide mix and mingle magic, and group performances of magic for a variety of events. So if I can help get in touch with me today and I’ll be happy to get your event back on track.
Even if I can't help personally, I am often able to recommend someone. It's worth a call, right?
Call:
With that said, here's my step-by-step guide on what to do if your entertainment cancels.
And stick around, because at the end of these tips, I’ll explain what I do to prevent this situation happening to me and my clients.
STEP 1. ASK IF YOUR ENTERTAINMENT CAN PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT
If your entertainer cancels, the very first step should be to ask them if they can organise a replacement performer. At the very least they should be able to recommend someone rather than leave you in the lurch. Ideally, they would contact the other performer on your behalf and get everything sorted for you, so that the replacement happens seamlessly.
STEP 2. REVIEW THE CONTRACT
After receiving notice that they need to cancel, revisit the agreement or contract you had with the entertainer. Check for any cancellation policies or refund agreements. Perhaps if you had your heart set on that specific performer, you might instead prefer just to have a refund on the money paid.
STEP 3. REACH OUT TO YOUR NETWORK
If the entertainer can’t provide a replacement and you need to quickly find something that can fill their void, then one good idea is to to tap into your network. Reach out to your friends and family on social media or any contacts that you have in the event planning industry and ask for recommendations. Ask for recommendations and their experience of who they can suggest.
STEP 4. BE FLEXIBLE
In these circumstances, it’s so important to be flexible. You might have to be open to different types of entertainment that might work for your event, so for example, instead of a caricaturist, a magician might work well - they both have that similar walkaround style of performance. You might also need to consider adjusting the schedule to accommodate the availability of your replacement entertainment.
STEP 4. COMMUNICATE THE CHANGE
Once you've found your replacement entertainment, confirm their booking as quickly as possible. Ensure you establish a clear contract or agreement with them, outlining the specifics of their performance and your expectations. Also, if necessary, let your guests know about the change in entertainment. If it's a formal event, you may need to update your programme or event schedule, if the cost of doing so would not be too prohibitive.
Of course, the other part of this situation is choosing a professional performer in the first place. Prevention is better than cure, right? I occasionally get enquiries from people who have had an entertainment supplier cancel on them, and while it’s not always the case, I often suspect this is because the performer does not rely on events for their livelihood, so are happy to let someone down if a better offer comes along. A shameful practice in my opinion. Here’s what I do to make sure I keep to my promises.
SECURED BOOKINGS
Once you’ve paid your initial booking payment, your event is booked in with me and all other bookings for that date and time are turned away!
DOUBLE CALENDARS
Your booked event goes straight into two calendars. That way I have a backup to reduce the chance that I double book myself. I have never done that!
SOLUTIONS NOT PROBLEMS
But, do you know what, there are genuine reasons to cancels. So, if on the rare occasion that I can’t attend your event, due to an illness, or an emergency, I’m well connected within the magic industry and have a small group of highly trusted fellow performers. That means not only can I recommend someone, but often I can organise a replacement on your behalf before I even contact you. That means, I’ll call you with a solution, rather than a problem.
While I understand that cancellations are sometimes inevitable, careful planning can often mitigate most of them, or at the very least make them less of a hassle when they do occur. As a professional magician, I rely on events to earn my living, so cancelling is the last thing I want to do. It's I think, why I have so many fantastic reviews, like the one shown below.
Likewise, I’m here to help if your entertainment has cancelled on you. Get in touch with me today and I’ll do all I can to assist you and hopefully restore your faith in entertainers and magicians.
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YOUR INCREDIBLE EVENT IS
JUST A FEW STEPS AWAY
1. CONNECT
It's easy to get in touch with me, either:
email ↓
ed@edsumner.com
call ↓
07792 129 828
or fill in an enquiry form.
2. DISCUSS
During a short phone or video call, we'll talk about your event and your initial ideas. Don't worry, if you're not sure. I've helped to plan many events so I can advise on the best use of magic and other events entertainment.
3. AGREE
Once all the details are agreed, I'll send you a booking confirmation and ask you to make the first payment which confirms your date in my calendar. Then it's time to start looking forward to your big event.
4. ENJOY
I'll check in with you in the week before your event, and on the day of the event. All you need to do now is enjoy the magic, mind reading and conversational comedy.
