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- 10 POINTS to CONSIDER when
SCHEDULING a SCHOOL PROGRAM
1. How long has the company has been in business?
Experience does count! Most likely if the company has been
around for at least 5 – 7 years, they will have had enough
experience in front of student audiences to have "worked out
the kinks." Like any business, you look to professionals with
a track record to help you. It is the same with booking a
program.
2. Do they have their own sound system? With
hundreds of seated wiggling students in one place, the last
thing you need is for them to not be able to hear the
entertainer(s). Using your school's sound system is another
option but may not have all the components necessary for that
particular program (wireless microphone, easy access to
turning on and off music during the show, the right microphone
stand, etc). Your school may not even have an adequate sound
system for them to use. It should be up to the company
presenting the program to take care of their own sound needs,
not yours. The exception may be if they will be arriving by
plane to get to your school.
3. Do they have an information-rich website to
answer all your questions about their program(s) and have past
positive testimonials from other schools for you to read.
Also, they should be able to give you emails or phone numbers
of schools they have been to recently.
4. Does the entertainer(s) promote tons of different
kinds of programs? That would be like hiring someone who
advertises they can fix your computer, put a muffler on your
car, and do your taxes. They may be a jack of all trades and
not an expert in any of them.
5. Contact other schools in your area to see who
they have hired in the recent past and get recommendations
from them.
6. Block book with other schools in your area. Any
reputable company will give you a better price if you
guarantee them 2 or more schools. If they are travelling long
distances, you can split the transportation costs and hotel
fees with the other schools. Many school performers also
entertain at libraries. You may want to contact the local
library to block book with them as well.
7. Do they have a separate business phone line? If
you call them and their kids answer the phone, they may not be
too serious about their performing business.
8. Agencies who represent many school performers may or
may not have the specific knowledge to answer all your
questions thoroughly. Nothing beats talking directly with
the people who will actually be coming to your school.
They can give you all the details.
9. Talk with the teachers at your school. Many
assembly programs have an educational theme to them. You may
be able to book an educational program at just the right time
in the school year that would complement a particular unit or
subject the students are currently working on. There are many
fine programs dealing with art, music, history, drama, foreign
cultures, geography, character building, and lifelong learning
activities.
10. Learn from the old saying, "you get what you pay
for." If a program fee is much lower than most of the
others you have checked out, chances are you will not be
getting a good deal. Most likely, you will be inviting
inexperienced people to come in front of your students. That
could cause disaster when a person or group does not have
enough skills to be entertaining and educational within a
controlled environment.
OK, here is one more helpful hint
11. If possible, book your school programs in the
spring for the following school year. By doing this you
will be more assured to get the exact date you want and you
will have finished your homework early. Then you can stay up a
little later, have icecream, and watch TV.
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Illinois Juggling Institute * 515 Winston Dr. Suite #6 Bolingbrook, IL
60440 * 815/725-9670 Email: iji@learntojuggle.net
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