E3 Group

Last week we reported how the Jayne Middlemiss win on Celebrity Master Chef generated a flurry of interest from event planners looking to hire a celebrity chef. Booking a professional chef for a demonstration, team day or training course has become an increasingly popular option for corporate events and one which we regularly facilitate here at E3 Artists. However, some businesses are not always prepared for the price tag associated with hiring a well-known chef. Fees for top chefs start at around £2,000 for the day.

However, for those who are planning an event without a celebrity budget there are other options. E3 Artists has recently teamed up with catering and hospitality specialists Anne Stewart Ltd. They make it possible to hire a chef for all types of events and circumstances including private cookery lessons, birthday parties and weddings. For further information please contact our London office on 020 7836 4759.

Our entertainment agents here at E3 Artists are used to dealing with requests to book professional chefs for cooking demonstrations and activity days, however, following her win on the Grand Final of this year’s Celebrity Master Chef, our agents are now dealing with a surge in requests to hire Jayne Middlemiss for her culinary skills.

The television and radio presenter, who nearly fell to pieces in Theo Randall’s kitchen on Thursday night’s penultimate installment, went onto win on Friday evening’s show preparing a sensational starter of seared scallops on apple puree, followed by a main course of pan fried veal and a dessert of lavender panacotta with crystallised violets.

Having worked on countless culinary workshops with our clients in the past (co-ordinating demonstrations from maestros such as James Martin and Aldo Zilli), we know that booking a charismatic chef is a guaranteed winner for event planners seeking a unique and unifying team building experience. Those looking to employ the skills of a celebrity chef, Miss Middlemiss included, can contact our agents for advice on 020 7836 4759 (Option 1).

With series 10 of Big Brother now in full-swing, this month’s recommendations are all memorable contestants from previous editions of the show. A popular option for those planning events on a low budget is to hire a Big Brother contestant. Events such as award ceremonies, store openings, exhibitions and corporate fundraisers can have their profile raised by the appearance of a recognisable face from the popular C4 show. Former Big Brother contestants are also an ideal booking for marketing and event managers looking to raise the profile of their brand with their target audience.

1. Jack Dee
Sardonic, dead-pan comedian Jack is one of the UK’s most recognisable comedians. He’s also one of the most memorable contestants from the show, winning the 2001 series of Celebrity Big Brother. For an indication of the cost to hire Jack Dee, view Category A.

2. Les Dennis
Comedian and quiz show legend Les also made a very memorable appearance on series 2 of Celebrity Big Brother. Whilst experiencing personal issues at the time, he still captured the hearts of the nation and followed his appearance on the show with a truly brilliant send-up of himself on the Ricky Gervais sitcom Extras. For an indication of the cost to hire Les Dennis, view Category B.

3. Kate Lawler
A talented DJ, televsion presenter and model, Kate has enjoyed the kind of career that many former Big Brother contestants can only dream of. For an indication of the cost to hire Kate Lawler, view Category C.

4. Brain Dowling
Winner of series 2 of Big Brother, Brian went onto become the first openly gay children’s TV presenter with the ITV show SMTV Live, emerging later as a popular late night television host and awards presenter. For an indication of the cost to hire Brian Dowling, view Category C.

5. Nadia Almada
Remembered as the first transexual winner of Big Brother, Nadia proved extremely popular with viewers with her memorable accent and mannerisms, her volatility and humour. She continues to be a popular booking for fashion and fashionable events. For an indication of the cost to hire Nadia Almada, view Category C.

6. Other Big Brother Contestants
Some of the more memorable contestants from Big Brother can be booked for as little as £500. Notable names include: Anna Nolan, Kinga Karolczak, Makosi Musambasi, Craig Philips, Glyn Wise, Brian Belo, Jon Tickle, Paul “Bubble” Ferguson, Chantelle Houghton, Aishleyne Horgan-Wallace, Sam & Amanda Marchant, Pete Bennett and Cameron Stout.

E3 Artists has forged a close link with many former Big Brother contestants and their management teams. As we regularly book on behalf of our clients we are able to negotiate lower fees. For further information you can contact one of our entertainment agents on 020 7836 4759 or send us a message using our online form.

Looking for a good live band to hire for your function or party can be quite a difficult task. Budgets tend to prohibit being able to book chart-toppers of the Coldplay or Arctic Monkeys variety. In any case, bands of this sort are less likely to accept fees for private performances when they are filling out stadiums and selling albums by the truckload.

So, is it possible to recreate a certain vibe for your event - be it rock, pop, jazz, soul, disco or swing - but without the rock star price tag? The short answer is “yes”. There are literally hundreds of talented bands for hire throughout the UK, the vast majority of them are unknown and generally unsigned acts. Many of these acts are groups of highly skilled musicians who have developed their own material but are able to cover the classics of their prefered genre. Knowing which one to choose for your event is the tricky decision. Approaching unknown bands directly is risky if you have not seen them perform live before. They will always tell you they are perfect for your party or function even if they are not (their desire to work is greater than their concern for your satisfaction). It’s also quite tricky to preview bands prior to the date of your event. Often the bands in question have busy private booking schedules, are performing at opposite ends of the country or have no live dates fixed in the short term future.

One option is to trawl the internet looking for band websites in the hope of being able to view video clips of them perform. This can be time consuming and, unfortunately, unreliable. Often groups change their line-ups or present material that is inaccurate reflection of their true ability. It’s also quite difficult to make decisions based solely on grainy youtube clips. The other option is to employ a reputable entertainment agency to do the work for you. This has many benefits, a primary one being the inclusion of a legally binding contract between you, your agency and the band. Many event and party planners who book bands directly are left high and dry when the act calls at the last minute to say that they can’t make it. With a legal contract in place your financial investment is protected and, in the event of a last minute cancellation, a replacement is virtually guaranteed.

How much does it cost to hire a band? Fees for 2 or 3 piece bands tend to start at about £500 to £600. A good quality 4 piece band is normally around the £1000 mark. It’s recommended that if you want a great quality, highly skilled and sought after 4 piece band then allow for a slightly higher budget of say £1500 to £2000. In any case, most entertainment agents tend to represent or have close working relationships with a very wide range of bands and will be able to advise you accordingly on suitable acts and budgets. You can view some of our recommended bands here.

Finally, if you are committed to booking a band for your event be aware that there can sometimes be additional costs involved. Most bands have their own sound systems, however, depending on your venue size you may need to consider the hire of additional technical equipment such as speakers and lighting installations. Again, all good entertainment agents will be able to advise you on how to organise these essentials.

Filming for the 2009 series of ITV’s The X Factor began last week with an audition in London presided over by judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Danni Minogue. A ratings winner since the first series aired in 2004, the show has made stars of Leona Lewis, Steve Brookstein and Shayne Ward.

At E3 Artists we have forged a close link with many of the show’s former contestants. This weekend the memorable and uniquely talented singers Ruth Lorenzo and Diana Vickers will be performing for our client Barnstaple Town Centre Management. Appearing as part of our client’s “Games to Inspire” event, the singers will support the local Devon authorities fundraising endeavours whilst also adding some star quality to the day.

Alongside Ruth and Diana we have forged links and acted as booking agents for a range of other former X Factor stars including Chico, Journey South, Same Difference, Austin Drage, Laura White and G4. With the new series of The X Factor set to air on ITV this August, I will certainly have my entertainment agent hat on whilst watching the show; always on the look out for great new acts to book!

Wedding planners across the country are continually searching for unique entertainment acts to add an extra “wow” factor to their special day. Topping the list of the most requested acts to perform at weddings this summer are the Michael Jackson inspired dance act Signature and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Julian Smith. Due to the current demand for both acts, our entertainment agents are now advising our clients on an increase in their fees - previously estimated at around the £2,500 mark.

Booking requests for Signature have gone through the roof following Michael Jackson’s premature death last week. Clearly, many people are viewing Signature as the perfect act to pay tribute to the record-breaking singer. Saxophonist Julian Smith captured many hearts with his performances on the ITV talent contest and the volume of requests we’re receiving for him to perform at weddings are a reflection of this. Both acts can be booked by calling our office on 020 7836 4759.