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Book Des’ree for a Private Event
Booking a celebrity for a private event, corporate event or ticketed performance can be a complex and time consuming task. If you have never hired an A-list entertainer, be prepared to discuss all of the details of your event including, location of event, expected head count, ticket prices, accommodations, duration of event and more.
With Seattle Entertainment Group, we offer transparent and affordable celebrity booking services. It doesn’t matter if you have a small budget or a six-figure allowance, we will help you locate, select and book the perfect entertainer for your event. We have a vast network of industry professionals that are exclusive and we have personally worked with thousands of entertainers over the last two decades.
Our celebrity booking services will help you save time, money and precious energy throughout the entire talent booking process. This includes negotiating, contracting and offer submission. We hold your hand from start to finish. Already familiar with the process? Great! Let us help you get a lower price using our relationships and routed venues across the world.
Bio
Desirée Annette Weekes, who goes by the stage name Des'ree, was born on November 30, 1968. She is a British pop artist who gained fame in the 1990s, celebrated for her memorable tracks such as "Feel So High," "You Gotta Be," "Life," and "Kissing You," the latter being featured in the film Romeo + Juliet. In 1999, her talent was recognized when she won the Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. Des'ree launched her music career with the release of her debut single "Feel So High" in August 1991, just 12 weeks after signing her record deal. While the song didn’t initially break into the UK top 40, it climbed to number 13 upon its re-release in January 1992. Her first album, Mind Adventures, was released in February 1992, receiving favorable reviews and reaching the top 30 in the UK charts. That same year, she toured as the opening act for Simply Red.
In 1993, Des'ree teamed up with Terence Trent D'Arby for the duet "Delicate," which made its way into the UK top 20 and the US top 100 charts. Later that year, she participated in a historic concert at the Vatican City on December 23, sharing the stage with several artists for the first secular music concert there, which was broadcast on Italian television. This concert, known as Concerto di Natale, has continued annually with various performers. The following year, her single "You Gotta Be" soared into the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, achieving number 5, and it had three successful runs in the UK. The music video for "You Gotta Be" became the most played on VH1 and maintained a presence on the Billboard Recurrent Airplay Chart for an impressive 80 weeks. Riding on the momentum of this success, her second album, I Ain't Movin', sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, which led to a tour in the US alongside Seal in 1995.
In 1996, she contributed "Kissing You" to the soundtrack of William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, where she also appeared in the film performing the song. The following year, her track "Crazy Maze" was included in the soundtrack for the movie Nothing to Lose, featuring Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins. That same year, she lent her voice to "Plenty Lovin'" on Steve Winwood's album Junction Seven. By 1998, her single "Life" had become a hit across Europe, reaching the top spot in numerous countries and also in Japan. In 1999, Des'ree was honored with a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist, and her album Supernatural, which included her hit single, was released that year to mostly positive reviews. However, while it performed decently in the UK, it did not do well commercially in the US.
Though she continued to enjoy success, in 2007, Des'ree gained notoriety when she was voted in a BBC poll for having the "worst lyrics ever," specifically for the lines, "I don't want to see a ghost/it's the sight that I fear most/I'd rather have a piece of toast/watch the evening news." In 1999, she performed a rendition of The Beatles' "Blackbird" at a tribute concert for Linda McCartney, where she met the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and collaborated with them on a cover of "Ain't No Sunshine," released later that same year. After this period, Des'ree took a step back from her music career to focus on her personal life and largely retreated from the public eye. In 2000, a compilation of her rare songs and live tracks titled Endangered Species was released. The following year, she contributed her vocals to the charity single "Wake Up The Morning," which was created in memory of Damilola Taylor, alongside other artists like Gabrielle, Andrew Roachford, and Courtney Pine, under the name Together As One. In 2002, she performed a sung sonnet from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice for the various artists album When Love Speaks. Sony released her album Dream Soldier in 2003, from which only one single, "It's Okay," was released, peaking at number 69 in the UK but not charting in the US. The music video for this single was filmed in Notting Hill, directed by Jake Nava. Unfortunately, Dream Soldier did not achieve critical or commercial success, leading to Des'ree being dropped from her label, Sony/550 Music, after the album's release in March 2003.
SEG does not, nor claims to, represent any celebrity as the exclusive booking agent. Seattle Entertainment Group does not manage any celebrities listed on this website. SEG acts only as a buyer’s agent for venues, event professionals, companies and organizations to book celebrities for corporate and private events, paid commercials, casino concerts, engagements as well as other various appearances. The celebrities listed on this site are for informational purposes only and are intended as a resource for our clients to provide ideas.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need security for my event if I hire a celebrity?
Yes, the celebrity may require you to hire unarmed police or private esecurity. It depends on the status of the chosen celebrity and the type of event. The artist needs protection and everyone’s reputation is in jeopardy if they are not reasonably protected. Sometimes the celebrity will bring their own bodyguard.
Will I have to pay for the celebrity’s hotel, travel and food?
Most of the time the celebrity will expect general food and beverage accommodations for the duration of the event. In more complex bookings, they may want to be fed from the day of arrival to the day of departure. Additionally, hotels and transportation should be provided unless a buyout is included in the offer being submitted before you book a celebrity.
Will I get my money back after I have hired a celebrity and my event is canceled?
If your event is canceled sometimes you can receive a refund or a credit toward future or rescheduled performance in the event of a force majeure. Other times the contract has strict cancellation terms that must be adhered to. We help you outline the cancellation terms in the negotiating process.
Can I hire a celebrity for an event myself?
Anyone can hire a celebrity. You will pay more in most cases because an artist can tell if you are not familiar with the process. Always consult with a professional before you book a celebrity yourself. There is a specific process that should be followed.
Will a celebrity prepare a speech or promote my product at the event?
The short answer is yes. The celebrity will help promote your product and deliver a speech if that is included in the deal points when we submit the offer. A celebrity may also post the product on their social media.
What happens if a celebrity is late to my event?
Sometimes flights are delayed, it’s the unfortunate part of traveling abroad. As part of the contract process, we help eliminate delays by adding a late-arrival clause that allows you to cancel the performance if an artist is late beyond a certain point. It’s not ideal and it is rarely a concern, but the good news is that you will get your deposit back and you will not be liable for the performer’s final payment.
Can I pick which songs the celebrity performs at my event?
You can certainly create a list of songs you want performed. The celebrity will sing or perform all of the chosen songs or as many as reasonably possibly within the appearance time paid for.
Will a celebrity sing and perform at my private or public event?
Absolutely, there are some requirements to be aware of if you want a musical performance, however. A celebrity may ask you to fulfill parts of their tour rider, which outlines specific types of equipment needed to execute a live performance.
Are there any celebrities I cannot hire for my event?
It depends, some celebrities will avoid certain political affiliations, communities or parties that may be considered a conflict of interest. We will help you determine the potential obstacles before wasting any time.
Will the celebrity I choose take pictures with my family and friends?
Yes, the celebrity will take pictures with you and a small group of people assuming you make time for it during their appearance. If you want a celebrity to appear for an hour, set aside 30 minutes of that time for a meet and greet, otherwise the celebrity may not stick around for longer than what’s stated in their contract.
How much does it cost to hire a celebrity for an event?
The cost to hire a celebrity can vary from artist to artist. Other determining factors will influence the price as well. The deal points we create on your behalf , the location of your event, and duration of appearance can heavily influence the price of a celebrity booking.
Can you guarantee the celebrity will be hired for my event?
In most cases, if the celebrity is available and the offer is strong, we guarantee the chosen celebrity will strongly consider the offer. Sometimes, it makes sense to have a backup plan, however, schedules change and late bookings can be risky. It’s best to have 2-3 celebrities in mind before you start the process, just in case the first is unavailable.
When will I have to pay the celebrity to appear at my private or public event?
Typically an artist will be paid in two separate installments. The first payment is a deposit of 50% which is usually paid thirty to ninety days from the engagement. Sometimes the artist will require a full payment upfront, it depends on the scope of work and the notoriety of the celebrity being considered. The final payment of 50% is paid on the day of the event, unless there is a ticket reconciliation that needs to occur.
Will the celebrity sign autographs for my team and client?
Yes, of course. We include signed memorabilia in all of our offers (memorabilia to be provided by the venue or client).
How long does it take to hire a celebrity for a private or public ticket event?
It can take as much as three to four months to confirm a celebrity appearance, or two days depending on the deal points, offer and location of your event. Start the process early – that’s our recommendation.
What is the process for hiring a celebrity for a private or ticket event?
The process includes selecting the artist(s), contacting our agency, then creating deal points to include in an offer sheet. Once you have the details outlined, we can discuss the terms with the artist or manager. After the artist agrees to the deal points, a contract is signed, a deposit is made and the performance will happen before the remaining money is paid to the artist.
We can Book Virtually Any Artist
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