How can promoters successfully book an event without busting the budget?

Lots of promoters are surprised by the total cost of an event in the early days of their careers. That’s because there are some expenses that tend to get overlooked when budgeting occurs. It’s easy to focus on the cost of paying the talent or to miss an expensive detail that the performer tacked onto a rider in the contract.

As a long-time professional, I’ll tell you that many promoters forget to factor in all of the production costs. Production includes everything from audio and lighting rigs to forklifts and all the people who use this machinery plus install and test the equipment. Many artists want particular types of equipment or rentals through specific companies, so you need to make sure you can afford exactly everything specified. And, don’t forget about special requests added to artists’ riders.

Basically, go over your budget and the contract with a fine-toothed comb before committing to anything.