Maya RichardsonThe wrong entertainer can leave your guests checking their phones instead of hitting the dance floor, and that is the last thing you want after weeks of planning.
A great one anchors the whole room, which is why I dug into the local scene to find the best entertainer in Columbus for everything from a low-key birthday party venue to a big wedding reception.
So here are my top local picks. Each one knows how to read a crowd and put on a memorable show without piling stress onto your plate.
How much does it cost to hire an entertainer in Columbus?
Hiring an entertainer in Columbus typically costs between $125 and $500 for a standard performance, though the rate scales based on the type of talent you book.
| Performer Type | Average Rate |
| Face painters and balloon artists | $125 to $150 per hour |
| Caricature artists | $125 to $250 per hour |
| Magicians and stilt walkers | $150 to $250 per hour |
| Cover bands and DJs | $150 to $450+ per hour |
| Specialty acts | $300 to $550+ per event |
| Celebrity and corporate acts | $1,000 to $10,000+ per event |
1. Jest Murder Mystery Co. of Columbus
Website: jestmurdermystery.com
Areas Served: Columbus and nearby areas
Contact: (888) 234-9984 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Throwing a corporate mixer or a private dinner often needs an interactive spark to keep guests engaged, and that’s exactly where Jest Murder Mystery Co. of Columbus shines.
The company’s high-energy comedy shows are built around audience participation and shared laughs. Each show mixes a written script with live improv, so your crowd’s choices steer how the night plays out.
Also, they only hire trained professional actors for these mobile theater experiences, which helps maintain high quality.
I caught one of their team-building events last year, and the cast used humor to quickly break down the usual awkward office barriers.
The main catch is their strict booking schedule. You have to lock in your date well in advance and put down a deposit before they start coordinating. Still, that early planning means the show runs like clockwork on the day.
Customer Reviews
They were absolutely amazing and funny
We had Taliana and Ed at our holiday party for a company I work for. They were both so kind and nice at the beginning giving out our parts and staying so wonderfully in character. They were so funny, very professional, dressed amazingly including the outfit changes! I was laughing so hard. They were absolutely amazing and funny. I wholly recommend this company.
– abby schors | Google Review
Everyone had the best time and laughed the entire show
We used Jest Murder Mystery Co. for our Corporate Holiday Party and it was a hit! Everyone had the best time and laughed the entire show. Mary Beth and Leslie were a dream to work with and made coordinating the event a breeze. The actors were top notch. Everyone stayed engaged and most importantly had the best time. Thank you Jest!
– Holly Ring | Google Review
2. Carroll Baker & Co.
Website: carrollbaker.net
Address: 3754 Lifestyle Blvd
Contact: (614) 800-8909 | [email protected]
Hours: Available 24/7
Carroll Baker brings decades of full-time magic experience to the table, weaving guests into his routines with natural charm.
He also takes the stress out of booking with a money-back policy, so you pay nothing if his performance falls short. On top of that, his extensive performance history means he can easily scale from intimate close-up magic to larger-scale stage routines.
Finding an act that lands with every age group without feeling cheesy is easier with this company. A neighbor of mine hired them for her son’s birthday and said the kids and the adults were equally hooked the whole time.
One frustrating drawback, however, is that you can’t run his interactive magic while guests are eating, so you have to plan the show around dining blocks.
Booking outside the local area also adds travel fees. Even so, the careful scheduling pays off with a tight, polished set.
Customer Reviews
An entertainer for all ages
Carrol Baker is an amazing magician! We have booked him for multiple parties and he always amazes us with new tricks. He is an entertainer for all ages and is absolutely hilarious too! Highly recommend Carrol!
– Kate Cunningham | Google Review
A masterclass in showmanship
Had son’s 7th birthday party with around 75 guests. Carroll gave us 45 minutes of non-stop magic mixed with laugh out loud entertainment. Guests still raving about it. Still don’t know who had more fun, the kids or the parents. Masterclass in showmanship. Impeccable professionalism. Just give him a space and let him do his thing. Thank you Carroll, that was special.
– Chris Hurdzan | Google Review
3. SONUS Entertainment
Website: sonusent.com
Address: 6740 Huntley Rd, Suite 101
Contact: (614) 407-6863
Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Booking a top-tier disc jockey takes more than someone playing music off a laptop. SONUS Entertainment works directly with each client to build a custom celebration instead of leaning on cookie-cutter playlists.
A friend hired them for her wedding last spring, and the team coordinated every production detail so she never stressed over the timeline.
Their staff also train as skilled masters of ceremonies (MCs), so they handle crowd flow with real precision. On top of that, plenty of local event planners in Columbus rate their club-quality sound gear and modern lighting.
Just keep in mind that their entry-level package caps at 5 hours, and booking a Saturday between April and October incurs a seasonal fee. That said, the polished production easily justifies planning around those limits.
Customer Reviews
Everything went off without a hitch
Emily was absolutely awesome! From our first meeting we had such a great conversation and we’re so glad we had her as our DJ. She accommodated all of our requests, including a ton of specific versions of songs that were not originally in their list. SONUS’s online portal is incredibly user friendly and made planning so simple. Emily and Stan made sure everything went off without a hitch.
– Amanda Laubach | Google Review
4. Matt Ryan Mobile DJ Entertainment
Website: mattryandj.com
Address: 196 Oak St
Contact: (614) 885-6735 | [email protected]
Hours: Contact for availability
Sorting through the endless pricing tiers of party vendors gets exhausting fast. Matt Ryan Mobile DJ Entertainment keeps it simple with upfront, all-inclusive packages, so you skip the stressful price haggling.
Matt brings extensive professional experience to every gig, having run thousands of events since 1996. Rather than sticking to rigid routines, he reads the room and adjusts to the crowd in real time.
He’s also played most of the major party spaces around town, which cuts down on technical surprises during setup. His planning even includes a direct sit-down with Matt himself, so nothing gets lost in translation.
Just note that you can’t drop in on active events to preview his live sets because of client privacy rules. You also usually need to book six to twelve months out to lock a date. Even so, that long runway means your event gets his full attention.
Customer Reviews
He kept everyone engaged and entertained
Matt Ryan was incredible. He kept everyone engaged and entertained throughout the night, and kept everything running smoothly. He has great energy, and a wonderful team. He is super responsive and easy to work with. He knows his craft and he makes you feel confident as a parent investing a lot into an event that everything will go without a hitch. I would highly recommend!
– Sarah Ferrin | Google Review
5. Good Company Wedding Band
Website: gcweddingband.com
Areas Served: Columbus and nearby areas
Contact: (856) 381-2128 | [email protected]
Hours: Contact for availability
Nothing captures the energy of a big celebration quite like a live band like Good Company Wedding Band. A coworker booked them for her reception and said the live sound completely transformed the room!
This group rolls out a full eight-piece lineup, complete with dedicated trumpet and saxophone players.
The musicians have a long history of playing together, which gives them great group chemistry on stage. They also shift smoothly between current hits and classic grooves to keep the dance floor packed.
The trade-off is that all that live instrumentation needs a lot of floor space and staging, so cramped venues can hit setup snags.
Just be aware that you’ll need to plan months ahead to finalize custom setlists with them, which rules them out for short-notice events. For a well-planned celebration, though, that prep pays off in a tight, polished set.
Customer Reviews
They sounded incredible
Cannot say enough good things about this band! Amazing experience! Everything they do is so well done! They DJ’d our ceremony and cocktail hour. Band played when it was time to dance and they sounded incredible! They had so much chemistry with each other and looked like they were having so much fun playing which made everyone else have fun too! They were so kind and accommodating.
– Megan Armfelt | Google Review
