Step 1: Know what kind of event you are throwing
A 40-minute set at a company holiday party is a different ask from a keynote, a meet and greet, or a headline slot at a public festival. Write down the basics before you look at a single name: private or public, how many guests, indoor or outdoor, and what you want the act to actually do. A singer playing a full set, a comedian doing 30 minutes and an athlete posing for photos all get priced differently. The clearer you are here, the faster everything else goes.
Step 2: Set a realistic budget
Estimated booking fees on this site run from under $25K to $5M+ for one appearance, spread across nine wide fee ranges. Most acts sit in the lower ranges, and the very top is a short list of global stars. Before you fall in love with a name, read how much it costs to book a celebrity and the celebrity booking fees list. Then add room for the costs that sit on top of the fee: travel, hotels, ground transport, hospitality, sound, lights and staging. Those extras can add up, so plan for them from day one rather than finding out later.
Step 3: Lock the date and city (or keep them flexible)
The date matters more than people think. Weekends, holidays and the busy season fill first. An act already touring near your city is often easier to land than one who has to fly in for a single night. If your date can move, say so. A flexible window widens the list of acts who can say yes, and it can help your budget too.
Step 4: Build a shortlist
Pick three to five names instead of one. Spread them across more than one fee range so you have a backup if your first choice is booked. You can browse every act on the site a few ways: singers, bands, genres, categories like speakers and comedians, fee ranges, or the full A to Z directory. Every act page shows an estimated fee range, a short bio and the event types the act fits.
Step 5: Send one inquiry
Every act page on c-e-l-e-b.com has a Check availability button that opens our inquiry form. Fill in your date, city, event type and budget range and send it. Our booking desk at Altus Entertainment takes it from there and comes back to you with availability and real terms.
One inquiry is enough to get things moving. If you have backups in mind, mention them in the message so we can check several names at once. You don't have to chase anyone down or make a dozen calls. That part is our job.
Step 6: Review the offer and sign
Once an act is available and interested, you get real terms: the fee, the set length, what the act needs on site, and the payment schedule. Read it closely. Check the arrival time, the length of the performance, any photo or social media limits, and what happens if the date moves. A booking is confirmed only once a written contract is signed and the deposit is paid. Sending an inquiry does not hold a date.
Step 7: Plan the day itself
The contract comes with a rider, which lists what the act needs: sound, lights, a green room, meals, transport. Get your venue and production team on it early. Agree on a run of show, a load-in time and one point person on your side who can answer questions on the day. Small details like parking, a quiet room and a clear stage time make a big difference to how smoothly the night goes.
Common mistakes to skip
Waiting too long is the big one. Popular acts plan months ahead, so an early inquiry gives you the most options. Other easy misses: forgetting to budget for travel and production, asking about one single name with no backup, and leaving out the basics (date, city, guest count) in your inquiry. Fill those in and you will hear back faster with a clearer answer.
Can I book a celebrity for a wedding or birthday?
Often, yes. Plenty of acts take private events, including weddings, milestone birthdays and anniversaries. Some don't, and some only do private shows at certain times of year. The quickest way to know is to send an inquiry for the act you have in mind and tell us what kind of party it is.
Further reading
For a look at why private shows are priced the way they are, from production and travel to scheduling and security, read Why Private Celebrity Performances Cost So Much (And What You’re Actually Paying For) (The Pop Tales), written by our own Seth Yudof.
The short version
Know your event, set a budget with room for extras, pick a date, build a shortlist across a few fee ranges, then send one inquiry from an act page. We handle the outreach and come back with real terms. Fee ranges on this site are estimates, not quotes.
Find an act and send an inquiry Browse by fee range Singers Bands A–Z