Event Entertainment Services in Ireland
A date for event entertainment is booked ahead, and once it is agreed the date does not move easily. Weddings, birthdays, christenings, school graduations, charity nights and community fundraisers in Ireland are usually planned around one fixed day, so the entertainer's calendar fills from the busiest months outward. The customer describes the event on ShamFix: the date, the county, the venue or the marquee in the garden, the start and finish times, the number of guests, whether there is a stage, power and shelter, and whether the entertainment is the centrepiece or background to a meal. Post your task and describe what you need, and you can browse provider profiles by county and contact them directly. Posting a task on ShamFix costs nothing today. Your task stays open for 30 days. Providers registered in this category can see it.
What shapes the price of event entertainment
- Entertainment pricing is usually built as a package rather than a single hourly figure, and the package is where most of the difference between quotes sits.
- A solo musician with their own small PA is one thing; a function band with a lighting rig, a DJ plus a saxophonist, a magician working table to table, a children's entertainer, a céilí band or a comedy act is another.
- Ask what the package includes: the number and length of sets, the break music between sets, the sound equipment and who operates it, lighting, travel to the venue, setup and takedown time, and whether the price covers the full evening or finishes at a set hour.
- Extras are common and should be named in writing: an extra hour, a second performer, a bigger PA for a large marquee, a wireless microphone for speeches, a first-dance arrangement learned specially, or a daytime set as well as an evening one.
- A deposit is normally requested to hold the date, with the balance due before or on the night, and travel beyond a certain distance is often quoted separately.
- Ask whether VAT is included in the figure quoted.
How long event entertainment takes
Popular dates go first: Saturdays in June, July, August and December, and the weeks around Christmas and New Year, are often booked six to twelve months ahead, and wedding bands and DJs for a summer Saturday can be gone a year out. For a christening, birthday or anniversary, four to eight weeks is usually workable outside peak season, and a few weeks may be enough for a midweek or off-season date. Children's entertainers and smaller acts are often booked two to four weeks ahead. If your date is close, contact several providers in your county at once and be flexible on the start time. Confirm the booking in writing, pay the deposit to hold the date, and agree a check-in call in the week before the event to confirm arrival time, setup, power and the running order.
What to ask before you hire
- 01Ask about cancellation and postponement first, because the date is the whole booking.
- 02What happens if the venue falls through, if numbers drop, or if the event moves to another weekend?
- 03Is the deposit refundable, transferable to a new date, or lost, and how much notice is required?
- 04Ask what the package includes in detail, in writing: arrival and setup time, the number and length of sets, the finish time, the equipment provided, and who supplies power and shelter.
- 05If the performer is ill or unable to attend, ask what cover is arranged, whether a substitute act is offered, and whether the deposit is returned if no cover is found.
- 06Ask which professional body they are a member of, whether they carry their own public liability insurance, and whether they can provide a copy of the policy for the venue.
- 07For a wedding, ask how they handle the first dance, requests, and a do-not-play list.
- 08Confirm the total price, the deposit, the balance date and any travel charge in writing before paying anything.
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Event entertainment questions people ask
How far in advance should I book a wedding band or DJ?
For a Saturday between May and September, book six to twelve months ahead, and a year is not unusual for a popular act. Off-season Fridays and Sundays can often be arranged with three to six months' notice. If your date is sooner, contact several acts in your county and be flexible about start times and set lengths.
What should a wedding entertainment package include?
A typical package names the arrival and setup time, the number and length of sets, break music, the sound system and who operates it, and the finish time. Ask whether lighting, a wireless microphone for speeches and travel are included. Get the full list in writing before you pay a deposit.
What happens if the entertainer is ill on the day?
Ask this before booking. Many acts arrange a substitute performer or a fellow musician who knows the set list, and some carry a backup DJ. Confirm what cover is promised, who pays any difference in price, and whether the deposit is returned if no cover can be found.
Is the deposit refundable if I postpone the event?
It depends on the terms, so ask directly. Many acts will move a deposit to a new date within the same year if you give enough notice, while others treat it as non-refundable once the date is held. Read the cancellation and postponement clause before paying.
Do I need to provide power and shelter for the act?
Usually yes, unless the package says otherwise. Outdoor sets need a covered, level area and a nearby power supply, and marquees should have a safe stage or floor space. Confirm the voltage and socket type the act needs, and agree who supplies and operates the equipment.
How long do performers usually play at a function?
Most bands play two or three sets of forty-five to sixty minutes with short breaks, and a DJ often plays from the end of the meal until the venue closes. Some packages include a daytime set as well as the evening. Confirm the total playing time and the finish time in writing.
Need event entertainment in Ireland?
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