Whether you book through an agency or directly, a few simple checks protect your event and your organisation. None of them is unusual, and a professional performer or agency will expect you to ask.
Insurance
Ask for evidence of public liability insurance, and check the level of cover and the expiry date against your event date. Many venues set a minimum; £5 million is common, and some ask for more. If you book a team through an agency, ask whether every performer is covered, not just the agency.
A written agreement
Get the arrangement in writing before you pay anything. It should cover the date, times, venue, fee, deposit, when the balance is due, what happens if either side cancels, and what happens if a performer is ill. Read the cancellation terms before you sign, not after.
References and evidence
Look for evidence of real events: photographs of guests reacting, not just studio shots, and references you can follow up. Membership of a professional body, such as The Magic Circle for magicians, tells you a performer has been assessed by their peers.
Timings and logistics
- Confirm when performers will arrive and who they report to.
- Agree where they can leave coats and cases.
- Share the running order and any cue for them to stop.
- Check the dress code.
Safeguarding
If children or vulnerable adults will be at the event, ask how the performers handle safeguarding, for example whether they hold a DBS check or need a responsible adult present, and make sure the agreement says so.
Paperwork for your organisation
If your finance or procurement team needs a purchase order, supplier forms or specific documents, ask before you book rather than after. A good supplier will tell you plainly what they can and cannot provide.
Our supplier information page lists the documents we hold and their status, and our booking terms summarise the agreement you would sign with us.
