What I'm about to reveal I do so with some risk. As a 16 year performer of school assemblies I am uniquely qualified to give you the inside view from my side of the aisle, and that qualifies me as a whistleblower. But as the son of a former School Principal and with my own degree in Business/Communication, I think it is responsible to warn and inform you so you can protect yourself, avoid shady operators, and protect your students and school from some dangerous situations. At the risk of rocking the boat with some of my peers, I divulge:
Student Safety: Many professional performers are overconfident in their abilities and put your students at risk. You won't recognize the danger because you assume they are professionals and know what they are doing, but if your students are seated too close to the action or in certain seats, the performer is merely relying on his/her abilities to in a sense "roll the dice" that nothing will happen. As a conscientious person, I have to warn you about this as student safety is the number one most important place to start before setting up for any school assembly. Make is very clear to your assembly performer that you insist on student safety and setting up the assembly properly before you begin. Don't let them roll the dice with your students, have them explain how they plan to keep the kids safe before the performance and make sure they have all bases covered.
Insurance: School assembly performers are required by law to carry a valid business license and general liability insurance. Sadly, I know for a fact a number of performers who are operating illegally, even to the point of faking insurance certificates to save the money. Make sure you verify, even calling the insurance company to be sure you are truly covered. Hiring one of these performers not only puts your school at risk, but you also reward them and punish the legitimate companies who are investing in the proper insurances and operations to provide you with great assemblies.
Drug-Free Performers: I don't care how talented the performer, you deserve a school assembly delivered by drug-free performers. Not only does drug-use put your students at risk of erratic and strange behavior, but the messages are delivered from a hypocritical standpoint as the performer lives a double life. Insist that your performers are drug-free and live the message. Also, stick with companies that have been around for a long time as they sifted through the bad apples and consistently use only proven performers. The more established companies also have much more to lose so will be less likely to take a risk with an unproven talent.
LIVE Office Staff: While it may not seem important, you will thank yourself for choosing to work with a company you can reach by phone. The internet is a great tool, but sometimes you need to ask a question and speak with a live human being. This can reach a critical point as your assembly approaches because you will want to confirm the performance the day before and have a way to communicate with the performer on the day of the performance. Numerous problems can be avoided by having good communication, call the company at least twice before booking to find out how quickly they return your communication. You will know quickly if you have a company you can count on.
The "COOL" Factor: If you want to really make a big splash with with your next assembly it must be "cool". We all remember when we were kids and sat through boring programs that were "lame". The school assembly is an exciting moment for the students and if you give them something spectacular they will be buzzing around for weeks talking about it. If your assembly is "bigger than life" your students will be spellbound, and the messages will stick. Take a little extra time to find an assembly that is relevant, exciting and above all "cool" and your students will have a great memory and you will be a hero to them and your school
School assemblies can be the highlight of your school year and the students will remember them for a lifetime. Heed the advice in this article and you will avoid the pitfalls of working with a non-reputable company or performer, and you will ensure you students will have a safe and memorable experience.
The author, David W. Holden, is a 16 year veteran of school assemblies, delivering over 5,000 programs from coast to coast since 1996. He founded Wheels of Freestyle and continues to perform as a motivational speaker and professional BMX athlete. He recently was featured as a success story on Tony Robbins latest "Get the Edge" TV Program. You can find out more about his company at Go BIG School Assembly.
