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Briefings
by Kevin Gallagher
Don't you just love briefings? Let me set the common scenario. You agree a
contract where you start work in a reception at 7:30pm to finish at the end of
the meal at 9:30pm for an acceptable fee. Okay, you know as well as I do what
the actual finish time will be but the start time should be predictable. As a
close-up magician, you are asked along with all other entertainers to be there
one hour before so that you can get set-up. By and large, as long as you look
raring to go ten minutes before you are due to start, it is not a problem to
brush this aside, just make sure that you have designed in enough contingency
time of your own. The week before the event, the agent calls to check that you
are okay for it with the ulterior motive of telling you that the client has
called and asked that you be there for 6:00pm for an important briefing. You
turn up an hour before anticipated to attend and you receive the important
briefing from a frantic organiser which goes something along the lines "do some
tricks but don't upset anyone." Durr, thank-you, that might not have occurred to
me. You then have one and a half hours to sit and wait during which time you can
help yourself to fresh orange juice, water and peanuts or occasionally,
sandwiches which turn up just before you are due to start performing.
There are of course, some types of entertainment that require a little more
involved briefing but, as with the one hour set-up, you are simply included
along with all activities but almost invariably, the information that you
receive could have be communicated in around twenty seconds.
Solutions. Amicably paint the above picture to your agents. Let them understand
that you have almost no set-up requirements and that your briefing details are
always very simple. Ask them where possible to fend off any requests for early
briefings by explaining that you are coming from another engagement and will
already be tight on the originally agreed time but to relay any special
information. Generally, they will be sympathetic to your cause and this will be
enough except for particularly important events where your fee is likely to
warrant it or extra fee may be negotiated anyway. For direct work, explain
yourself that the extra time is unexpected and that you will be not be able to
make it because of other commitments but obtain particulars of the organiser so
that you can call and talk to them prior to the event to sort out any extra
details before you arrive.
Clearly, if the briefing is indicated on the contract in the first place, you
have no choice but be there punctually but remember to take something to read.
© Kevin Gallagher February 2003