by Karyn Maier, Managing Editor
Getting a celebrity to attend your club event may seem like an impossible wish, but with a little well-placed effort, you can make this dream come true. It’s not a matter of who you know either; it’s a matter of knowing where to find the right people who can make the right connections for you.
First, let’s consider how your club and its activities might define what constitutes being a celebrity. Clearly, well-known celebrities from television or the big screen, such as Pamela Anderson or Will Smith, certainly fill the role. However, personalities from other leagues may come into play, and be of particular interest to sports clubs and other interest-specific groups. The following are some examples:
>> Consider local celebrities, such as a radio show host, a local book author, the Mayor of your city, or other regional personalities familiar to your group.
>> Make a pitch to alumni athletes and retired coaches representing your field of sports.
>> Call your local news stations and newspapers and inquire about the availability of sports anchors and/or columnists to speak to your club. Many small television stations and newspapers are often pleased to participate in such an event for the mere price of favorable PR and promotion of their media services.
What if you have your heart set on Pamela Anderson or Will Smith? Reaching out to Hollywood to get a big name to headline your event isn’t as difficult as you might think. In fact, a phone call to SAG (the Screen Actors Guild) will usually result in a few contacts to the celebrity’s agent, manager or other representative to whom you may make a written request for a guest appearance. Click here for contact information for regional offices and specific divisions of SAG.
Looking for a national sports celebrity to rally behind your club event? Let a professional planner make it happen for you. Locoloboevents.com has established contact with many sports celebrities who make themselves available for speaking engagements. Click here to get started on finding the right sports celebrity to attend your club event.
Other Things to Consider…
- Expect to compensate a national celebrity for travel and lodging e
xpenses at minimum. Note, however, that most local personalities are often willing to appear for free or for a modest fee.
- Save money by coordinating your club event to take place at a time when you celebrity of choice is expected to be in the area.
- If your club operates on a tight budget, consider approaching businesses and corporations to help fund a celebrity appearance. You’ll attract (and keep!) more sponsors if you can offer a certain level of publicity in exchange.
