PRICING: If you want to pack your party with press-friendly famous faces who have no commitment beyond showing up, one way to do it is to pay a wrangler or booking agent responsible for getting them there. The wrangler's fee may be based on the time spent on the project—dependant on how many celebrities are requested, whether the client is nonprofit or corporate, the event's allure and the target celebs' availability and level of fame—and typically ranges between $6,000 and $12,500. Other wranglers get a commission for each big name who walks in the door.
Working with PR agencies that have relationships with celebrities can help you get them to appear at no cost. "It's a win-win situation for the PR firm and for the celebrity it represents," says one PR agency veteran. "It's double publicity."
While planners don't typically pay a fee to celebs, occasionally they provide a small "honorarium" between $1,000 and $5,000 for them to keep or donate to their favorite charities. In addition, celebrities will expect all their expenses paid, including first class round-trip air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodations and meals. A-listers accustomed to comfort can require luxe hotel suites, pricey clothes, stylists and a person designated to assist them on arrival, plus costs associated with accommodating their entourage. You might spend thousands even though the celeb appears for free. And if you're not paying them, it's easier for them to cancel if a paying gig—or anything else—comes up.
Even nonprofits should expect to pay celebrities they want to perform, give a speech or do anything that requires preparation or rehearsal. Even if a headliner agrees to perform for no fee, by the time you pay the other band members, backup singers and sound and lighting crew, the free performance can get costly.
TIPPING: It is common to reward celebrities with goodies for their involvement with events; often these gifts come from corporate sponsors. "I always include a line in my invites to celebrities that they will be getting 'a fabulous basket of gifts as a small token of appreciation' for their participation,'" says Rita Tateel, president of booking company the Celebrity Source. She adds that an adequate basket should have a retail value of at least $1,000, but celebs often get $25,000 or more worth of merchandise and gift certificates—trips are popular—just for showing up at a party.
HOW TO CUT COSTS: Some celebrities have personal connections to charitable causes, and will get involved with their events for free. If you can attach a fund-raising element to your event, you may save money by wooing celebrities for no cost.
—Alesandra Dubin
Working with PR agencies that have relationships with celebrities can help you get them to appear at no cost. "It's a win-win situation for the PR firm and for the celebrity it represents," says one PR agency veteran. "It's double publicity."
While planners don't typically pay a fee to celebs, occasionally they provide a small "honorarium" between $1,000 and $5,000 for them to keep or donate to their favorite charities. In addition, celebrities will expect all their expenses paid, including first class round-trip air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodations and meals. A-listers accustomed to comfort can require luxe hotel suites, pricey clothes, stylists and a person designated to assist them on arrival, plus costs associated with accommodating their entourage. You might spend thousands even though the celeb appears for free. And if you're not paying them, it's easier for them to cancel if a paying gig—or anything else—comes up.
Even nonprofits should expect to pay celebrities they want to perform, give a speech or do anything that requires preparation or rehearsal. Even if a headliner agrees to perform for no fee, by the time you pay the other band members, backup singers and sound and lighting crew, the free performance can get costly.
TIPPING: It is common to reward celebrities with goodies for their involvement with events; often these gifts come from corporate sponsors. "I always include a line in my invites to celebrities that they will be getting 'a fabulous basket of gifts as a small token of appreciation' for their participation,'" says Rita Tateel, president of booking company the Celebrity Source. She adds that an adequate basket should have a retail value of at least $1,000, but celebs often get $25,000 or more worth of merchandise and gift certificates—trips are popular—just for showing up at a party.
HOW TO CUT COSTS: Some celebrities have personal connections to charitable causes, and will get involved with their events for free. If you can attach a fund-raising element to your event, you may save money by wooing celebrities for no cost.
—Alesandra Dubin
