This is a guest post by Jesse Dameron<\/a>, 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<\/a> member since 2021. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Going the extra mile before the big day sets the tone for a smooth, memorable event. Small touches show your clients you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t show up at the wrong address, and that we won\u2019t mix up the times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is an email template that I use for check-ins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hi [first_name],<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n With your event at [venue] just [days] away on [date], I wanted to reach out and <\/em>put your mind at ease. There\u2019s nothing you need to do \u2014 I simply wanted to reassure you that everything is on track and nothing has been forgotten. Luckily, online booking platforms such as GigSalad<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1GigSalad tip<\/strong>: Create saved messages<\/a> and quotes<\/a> to reduce response time and your workload. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t 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<\/a> offers free templates you can edit and download. Postermywall<\/a> has premium, highly visual template options for just $2.99. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an example of a free poster created by editing a template from Postermywall<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These real-life examples illustrate how digital posters can provide practical value to clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83c\udf82 A client planning a milestone birthday party, such as a Sweet 16 or 40th birthday, used a digital poster to help generate excitement and encourage more guests to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f An asset management firm hosting a client appreciation reception displayed a digital poster on a projection screen, helping attendees find the entertainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f A fundraising gala organizer used a digital poster to promote the entertainment and help drive ticket sales and attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83c\udfe8 A hotel used a digital poster to promote entertainment to its guests, helping more people discover and enjoy the experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Your performance doesn\u2019t end when the music stops or the act concludes \u2014 it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Offer an unofficial or official \u201cmeet and greet\u201d before or after your performance. Spend a few minutes chatting with guests, answering questions, or simply connecting with people who enjoyed your work. It\u2019s a simple way to show that you\u2019re invested in the experience, not just there to perform and leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going above and beyond doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to over-deliver before the event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd33 Check in with clients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/em>
Thanks!
<Your Name><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\ud83d\uddbc\ufe0f Create a custom digital poster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image.jpeg?resize=695%2C900&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow to over-deliver during the event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\ude4f Thank your client<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u23f0 Perform overtime<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd1d Do an unofficial meet & greet <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Get-Tips-from-GigSalad-Members-music-mobile.png\")
<\/picture><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow to over-deliver after the event<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2709\ufe0f Send a thank you card and gift<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udc4d Endorse your contact’s skill set<\/strong> on LinkedIn<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udcf8 Share photographs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Unlock](\"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Get-more-leads-Upgrade-CTA-mobile.png\")
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