When I first began entertaining at private parties, weddings and corporate events I would always ask where the stage was going to be located.  Sometimes the stage was located on the small side of a very large rectangular space leaving me positioned far away from the majority of the audience. I would always find myself working twice as hard to capture a room and many times it was impossible. Then, a few years ago, I changed my approach. I was talking to a friend who is also an event entertainer and he said something that always stuck with me. He told me that when he works an event, rather than asking where the stage will be, and accepting this as a done deal, he works with the client to inform them where the stage would be most effective.

In the case of both my friend and I, we both run a dueling piano show in different cities, and the key with both our shows is audience interaction. We want the audience to have direct access to the stage to make requests, or come up and dance, or bring the birthday boy or bachelorette up for a roast.  We also work the audience from the stage, encouraging singing, clapping and general mayhem. So the way that works best is when the audience is in close proximity to the stage.  That can mean placing the stage in the middle of the longest wall (rather than the short wall where you are at the very end of a long narrow room), or even better, in the middle of the room where we are central to everyone. This “theater in the round” setup wouldn’t work for all types of entertainment, but for the situations it does work, it serves to cut the distance in half from the stage to the furthest audience member, making audience interaction so much easier.

Another consideration for me is the height of the stage. Higher isn’t always better for every type of show. With dueling piano shows, it’s not a concert but rather, the entertainer is the first partier among equals, meaning that I don’t want to be looked at as “the performer” but rather as the guy who leads the party while still being part of it. So I find that a stage height of 6″ -12″ inches is perfect for small to medium-sized rooms, because that makes me more accessible both physically (for those who want to come up on stage) and figuratively (I’m not elevated above the guests.) In larger rooms, a higher elevation may be appropriate so that those that are far from the stage can still have an unobstructed view.

So if you are a professional event planner, or just a person throwing a party, know that where you choose to put your entertainers could make or break your party. Ask your entertainer for their informed opinion. Obviously what works for Dueling Pianos may not work for a magician, and what works for a magician might not work for a wedding band. Every room is different and every show is different. If you are working with professional event entertainers, they will gladly research the venue and help you figure out how they can make the maximum impact for your guests.