If you plan to book a mentalist, the following checklist can help everything at your event run smoothly. As the quote goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
- Can the mentalist provide proof of liability insurance to your venue? Venues sometimes do not mention this requirement until last minute. If the mentalist does not have a copy of liability insurance to show the venue, the venue may forbid the performance.
- Will there be any off-color jokes? Many mentalists include comedy in their shows. Before you hire a mentalist, it is worth confirming whether or not there will be any profanity, sexual content, or anything else that might offend audience members.
- What is the mentalist's cancelation policy? I don't mean your ability to cancel the show. I mean the mentalist's ability to cancel you if another client offers more money. You want to make sure your calendar date is locked in and there won't be unpleasant surprises.
- How will the mentalist dress at your event? If you want the vibe at your event to be casual, you can check to see if the mentalist can dress casually. If you have a formal leadership event, you may want the mentalist to dress in a suit. You can check to ensure this will happen.
- Does the mentalist need anything from you? You may want to see if there is a Technical Rider that you should pass along to your event venue (or an A/V vendor). Is the mentalism show modular? This means that the duration of the show can be trimmed or expanded to fit your agenda (event schedule).
By following the short list above, you can secure your event against unexpected friction.