Top Tips for Booking Entertainment!

To ensure that you're not left disappointed with your entertainment, follow these simple 3 steps.

1. Use an entertainment agency and ensure that there have testimonials on their website. 

2. Ask for a contract between yourself and the act through the agency.

3. Build a rapport with the agency and the act. Talk to the agency and act frequently, tell them exactly what you want and build a relationship with them. This will build your trust with both parties.Top 5 reasons for booking through an entertainment agency.

1. Top quality acts. Most agencies have a strict criteria when it comes to acts being accepted. So only top quality and reliable acts will be available.

2. Office contact. The agency will have office personnel on hand if you have a query, and an emergency number if you have any problems on the day of your event so someone will be able to talk to you about it directly.

3. Contracts. All agencies will use contracts. This is for all parties involved so that there is a clear and concise set of guidelines and all dates, times and financial factors are covered legally.

4. Financial Factors. The entertainment agency will take care of all the financial aspects from deposits to full payment so it is less stress for you and all prices are handled professionally and securely.

5. Back Up. If the band you have booked through the entertainment agency has had a last minute disaster and cannot attend the event, the agency will have back up bands in the system so your event will still go ahead with zero panic.

Gloria Miller Entertainment is a great place to start when looking for entertainment for your next event! We provide star-quality entertainment at affordable prices for Weddings, Corporate & Private Events and Venues. 

Click here to get a quote for your next event or you can call me at 02392 894902 to chat about what type of entertainment you looking for. Gloria Miller Entertainment, have we got an ACT for you!

Promo Video

As an agent I get submissions from Acts all across the globe who are looking for work through my agency and very few of those submissions include a video that clearly shows what the Act is about. You've typically got about 10 seconds to capture the attention of the viewer of your video, and in that 10 seconds you need to have clearly shown the following:

1. Type of Act (function/party band; solo, duo, or Tribute act, etc.)
2. Personality of Act (fun, upbeat, mellow, laid back)
3. Genre(s) of Act (Pop, Motown/Soul, Vintage, etc.)
4. Talent (get right to the best part of your Act; no long intros; no long guitar solos, etc.)

If you are submitting promo videos for function and event work, don't send a 'music' video of your latest single. Use those types of videos for booking festivals and shows. Here's some things to think about for your promo video:

1. Length should be no more than three minutes long. 
2. Include short clips of several songs showing the variety of music you perform.
3. Use a professional videographer.
4. If the video is being captured live from one of your shows, make sure that the video is angled to capture each member of the Act and that the sound quality is good. Try to avoid picking up too much background noise and people randomly walking in front of the camera. It's fine to include shots of your audience having a good time, but not vital. The video is about showcasing your talent.
5. If you are staging your video, make sure you've got good sound & lighting. Use two to three different camera angles (including full body shots, close-ups, etc.)
6. If you are working with many different agents, make sure the video is unbranded (no contact info in the intro our outtro). Agents will add their own branding when they are submitting you for work.

Here are some examples of really good promo videos:

Staged Video

Live Video

Acoustic Video

I hope you found this information helpful. If so, please let me know by leaving a comment below. Also, you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter by joining my mailing list.

If you need a promo video, I recommend Mayfield Media Ltd. 

Blurred Lines

According to Google Trends, the most searched item on Google yesterday was Blurred Lines with 100,000+ searches. Needless to say, people are indeed talking about Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams being ordered to pay $7.4 million to the children of the late singer Marvin Gaye, after a judge ruled that their 2013 hit Blurred Lines was plagiarised from Gaye's 1977 track Got to Give It Up. Here's a mash up of two songs: 

I have to admit that while I was listening to Blurred Lines when it was first released, I found myself singing Got To Give It Up to the track. This was before the plagiarism controversy broke out. As a songwriter myself, I just chalked it up to these young artists being influenced by the late great Marvin Gaye. 

I like what Bobby Owsinsky had to say in Forbes: "We’re all influenced by the art and/or craft that we love, and that influence seeps into our every creation whether we like it or not. Sometimes in music it’s totally obvious (the famous George Harrison “My Sweet Lord” vs. “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons lawsuit), and other times its less so (Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” vs. Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”), but with only 12 notes and a limited number of chord progressions that are pleasing to the Western ear, one might think that it’s surprising that there aren’t more lawsuits for copyright infringement than there already are."

According to Ari Herstand, there are 22 songs that sound MORE similar than Blurred Lines and Got To Give It Up. He also mentions George Harrison vs. The Chiffons and Sam Smith vs. Tom Petty, along with 20 others. Click here to see the full list.  

Thicke and Williams are apparently not going down without a fight and plan to appeal the court's decision according to Pitchfork.com. Their attorney, Howard E. King, had this to say: "We owe it to songwriters around the world to make sure this verdict doesn't stand,” King said. "We are going to exercise every post-trial remedy we have to make sure this verdict does not stand. ... Just because eight people think two songs are similar doesn't mean they are. I think this is a horrible decision that is going to affect whether or not record labels provide the necessary funds for new music to be created."

According to Time Magazine, "Robin Thicke's legal defeat could have a chilling effect on Music." Time goes on to say "It’s easy to see the judgment as a worrisome sign that authorship in music is about to get a lot more narrowly defined." 

Twitter was also buzzing about the ruling with some colorful comments ranging from support for Thicke and Williams that the ruling would set a terrible precedent for the music business to others feeling that the musicians had got everything they deserved. My favorite twitter comment was: "Blurred Lines should have paid us all 7 million for having to endure it for a whole year."

I think that the songs are so obviously similar that Thicke and Williams should have gotten permission to 'cover' Got To Give It Up. What do you think?

The Art of Asking ... Amanda Palmer

I was introduced to this very inspirational lady by Ari Herstand* who's newsletter I subscribe to. Take a look at this YouTube video for inspiration to get your music to your fans in new and innovative ways. Let me know what you think by sharing your comments.

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02392 894 902
07504 611 173

We provide star-quality entertainment for every budget covering most genres and eras from the 30’s through today for weddings, corporate & private events, venues, festivals and cruise ships offering solo acts up to 8-piece bands, tribute & variety acts, and more!

* http://ariherstand.com

X Factor Production Team are coming to Caffe Concerto!

The X Factor Production Team are coming to Caffe Concerto on Thursday 12th March at 7pm. Who is interested in coming down to showcase their talent to them?  Limited slots available – please email daniel@caffeconcerto.co.uk for a booking and for more information.

Daniel Benisty will be organising singers to perform from 7:30pm to 11pm. Arrival ideally by 7pm, but in some circumstances, he will allow a later arrival. 

Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/events/1561186014100364/

If you're interested, contact:

Daniel Benisty 

www.danielbenisty.com

Good Luck!

Gloria xx