Categories
Interactive & Experiential
Karaoke Host & System
A karaoke host arrives with a full PA, mic-and-mixer rig, and licensed song library to run karaoke at private events, corporate parties, members'-club nights, and bar takeovers. NYC operators book at $200-$700 for a 3-hour set; venues running their own karaoke nights need to know KaraFun PRO is venue-side liability (not bundled), and 17 USC §504 statutory damages run $750-$30K per song for unlicensed playback.
View briefing →Trivia Host
A trivia host is the working MC who runs a weekly bar quiz, corporate teambuilding event, or themed trivia night with prepared question packs and equipment. NYC operators source from Geeks Who Drink (800+ weekly events, 19+ years), Cheap Trivia, and indie hosts at $200-450 per night, with the network-vs-indie crossover hitting around $4-5.5K weekly trivia revenue and 2026 introducing the first IP-licensed bar trivia formats from JBL, Sony, and TimePlay.
View briefing →Auctioneer
A live auctioneer is the licensed professional who runs the paddle-raise and live auction at charity galas, fundraisers, and benefit dinners. NYC operators book through NAA-BAS credentialed pros (Tom Stebbins is the East Coast leader) at $1-3K for a working set, with the charity-volunteer exemption from the DCWP auctioneer license only applying when the auctioneer is unpaid — every commission-paid pro needs the city license, full stop.
View briefing →Emcee & Master of Ceremonies
An emcee is the on-mic host who runs the room — agenda, intros, transitions, and crowd energy — at galas, conferences, fundraisers, weddings, and brand activations. NYC operators book at $400-$2K for working talent with bilingual MCs commanding 20-50% premiums (Kenny Fiesta, MC Vivian) and dedicated wedding MCs (often the DJ in a DJ-MC combo) the most common booking, plus a separate Voice-of-God announcer (Maria Pendolino tier) hired separately at $1.5-7.5K for high-production events.
View briefing →Game & Activity Host
Game and activity hosts run mobile escape rooms, casino-night dealing, drag bingo, mobile axe-throwing, and themed party-games for corporate events, fundraisers, and private parties. NYC operators book at $400-$1K per hour with charity casino tightly regulated — NY Penal §225 plus GBL Article 9-A require a 501(c) nonprofit to hold a Class M license (GC-2/GC-7, 30-day lead) — and drag bingo (Linda Simpson at Bistro Verde, Murray Hill XL) is the dominant NYC residency format.
View briefing →Keynote Speaker & Motivational
A keynote speaker is the named industry leader, author, athlete, or executive who delivers a 30-60 minute talk at a conference, sales kickoff, gala, or corporate offsite. NYC operators book through bureaus (SpeakInc, AAE, Washington Speakers Bureau, CAA) at $1K-5K for emerging talent up to Will Guidara/Anthony Scaramucci/Marcus Samuelsson tier at $50K+, with virtual fees typically 30-50% off the live rate — a useful spread when budgets are tight.
View briefing →Spoken Word & Poetry
Spoken-word and poetry performers cover slam poets, traditional poets, and storytellers for brand activations, corporate events, opening/closing ceremonies, weddings, and member-club programming. NYC operators source from Nuyorican Poets Cafe (founded 1973, reopened Spring 2024), Bowery Poetry, and Button Poetry alumni at $0-100 for community-tier and $500-3K+ for named talent, and wedding-poem commissions are running roughly 3x volume since 2020.
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