How to Over-Deliver Before, During, and After an Entertainment Gig

Last updated on September 29, 2026

Great entertainment gets you in the door. Great service gets you invited back. We can increase our bookings with repeat business and positive reviews. However, customer retention also depends on the overall quality of our service, not just the entertainment itself. With thoughtful preparation and hard work, you can ensure that each client feels like a VIP, not just another gig on the calendar.

This is a guest post by Jesse Dameron, a professional Philadelphia magician and mentalist who also serves Main Line and nearby suburbs, as well as New Jersey’s “pharma belt.” With more than 13 years of professional experience, he is an official partner of Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau with credits including the CPHI Annual Conference, a breakout session at the CoreNet Global Summit, Ocean Casino Resort, Chateau Grande Hotel, and more. He has been a GigSalad member since 2021.

How to over-deliver before the event

Going the extra mile before the big day sets the tone for a smooth, memorable event. Small touches show your clients you’re organized, reliable, and fully invested in making their celebration a success. These pre-event actions build trust, reduce stress, and make the eventual performance feel effortless.

🤳 Check in with clients

Hiring a freelance entertainer, who is a stranger, comes with anxieties about the entertainer showing up for an event. We entertainers are not established, recognizable, huge companies like Lyft and Uber that people automatically trust to show up on time. Multiple check-ins reassure clients that their event isn’t forgotten, that we won’t show up at the wrong address, and that we won’t mix up the times. 

Here is an email template that I use for check-ins:

Luckily, online booking platforms such as GigSalad can help you manage your events. GigSalad not only sends automated email updates to clients, but also reminds you, as an entertainer or service provider, of the event details and upcoming gigs. This helps protect you from embarrassing moments and negative reviews. 

💡GigSalad tip: Create saved messages and quotes to reduce response time and your workload.

🖼️ Create a custom digital poster

A custom digital poster gives your clients an easy way to promote your entertainment. The more people who experience the entertainment, the more value the client gets. The good news is that you don’t need to be a graphic artist to give your clients a professional digital poster. You can find, edit, and download digital poster templates in a few places. Canva offers free templates you can edit and download. Postermywall has premium, highly visual template options for just $2.99. 

Here’s an example of a free poster created by editing a template from Postermywall:

These real-life examples illustrate how digital posters can provide practical value to clients.

How to over-deliver during the event

Your performance doesn’t end when the music stops or the act concludes — it’s about creating a complete experience. Thoughtful gestures during the event, from extra time to personal interactions, leave a lasting impression and show clients that you care about more than just the check.

🙏 Thank your client

Express gratitude to the client for having you at their event. Before leaving, thank the client again for having you. A sincere thank-you can leave a positive final impression and help end the event on a high note.

⏰ Perform overtime

If you don’t have anywhere else to be and the client doesn’t have a time constraint, you can work overtime at no extra cost. If you are concerned that this may set the same expectation for future events or undermine your ability to command a firm hourly fee, it may not be the best fit. It tends to work better for entertainers who charge a flat per-appearance or per-event rate.

🤝 Do an unofficial meet & greet

Offer an unofficial or official “meet and greet” before or after your performance. Spend a few minutes chatting with guests, answering questions, or simply connecting with people who enjoyed your work. It’s a simple way to show that you’re invested in the experience, not just there to perform and leave.

How to over-deliver after the event

Going above and beyond doesn’t stop when the last guest leaves. Post-event touches, like a handwritten note, a small gift, or sharing photos, extend the positive experience, reinforce your professionalism, and keep your services top of mind for future bookings.

✉️ Send a thank you card and gift

After the event, I usually handwrite a personalized thank-you card and mail it. I also like to order a little something sweet to go along with it. I usually head to lindtusa.com for Lindt chocolate truffles, since the site lets you add a personalized note. It’s a small gesture, but it goes a long way in showing your client you’re grateful for more than just the paycheck.

👍 Endorse your contact’s skill set on LinkedIn

If the person who hired you works at an organization or company, you can endorse them on LinkedIn for skills relevant to event planning. For example, event planning itself is a subcategory of “Project Management.” Your contact at the company who communicated with you may have demonstrated communication skills, organizational skills, management skills, etc.

📸 Share photographs

If you hire a photographer, you can share some photos with your client. Any time your client looks at photos that show your entertainment, they will be reminded of your services. They may even be more likely to think of you when they’re planning their next event or recommending entertainment to someone else.

Thanks to Jesse Dameron for sharing the behind-the-scenes secrets he uses to go the extra mile for his clients! Small touches that exceed expectations can make a lasting impression and lead to repeat business, referrals, and more bookings down the road. With a little extra effort, you can turn a great performance into an experience your clients will remember and want to share. 🌟🙌

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