"Your entertainment directory is a really good idea."
Having kid party entertainment at a kids party often takes the pressure off you in terms of the number of games that you have to organise, how to keep the kids busy and occupied and how to make the party really memorable.
However, deciding what sort of kid party entertainment or entertainer to have and where to find and vet them can be quite a daunting and time-consuming task.
Gone are the days when parties were limited to clowns and Punch and Judy shows - today there are a huge number of extremely talented artists who work full time at their skill in order to give you their very best.
Q: Help me decide what sort of kid party entertainment to choose
A: Think about:
The age group of the guests
The theme of the party (if any)
Do you want an indoor/outdoor act/activity?
Do you want the kid party entertainment to be noisy/funny/active/guests to participate?
What is your budget?
Amount of available space at the party venue
Have you or your kids seen a great kid party entertainment act at a friends party?.
Put all these factors together and then come up with a list of possible kid party entertainment.
Don't just think of the obvious kid party entertainment acts such as clowns and magicians. If you would like a juggling elephant, chances are there is one out there ready for hire!!
A: OK, you've got one or two ideas for the kid party entertainment that might suit your party and your pocket, now where do you find them?
First stop is to get recommendations from friends - a personal recommendation is always much more reliable than a glossy brochure. Next look in your local papers - usually at the back there is an entertainment section. The other place to look is in your own backyard. I bet that you know of someone who is a magician, clown, funny act etc in the making - you know the one who is always the centre of attention at parties. Ask them, and it could well be the making of their new career.
If that draws a blank, look in your local directories such as Thompson or the Yellow pages. Throwing the net wider you could then search the Internet although this can be a time consuming task so why not check out my
kid party entertainment directory
Alternatively you can do a search using the Google search box below.
A: Making contact with the entertainer or hire company is the first step. Phone or email them first. If they are local see if you could arrange a face to face appointment, especially if you have some special requests.
Any well-organised entertainer should firstly get some details from you (have these ready before you speak to him/her) such as:
How many guests there will be
Age of the guests
Where you are holding the party
Type and length of act/entertainment required
Date required.
A word of caution here. Popular entertainers get booked up months and sometimes a year in advance as in the case of seasonal parties such as Christmas. Saturdays, Sundays, school and public holidays are their busiest days. Have a couple of alternative dates for the party assuming that you haven't already sent out the invitations.
The entertainer will give you details of their act(s) and hire services. Listen carefully and don't be shy about asking for clarification and about making your own suggestions.
Do take his/her advice however. For example if they say that the party entertainment act is very noisy, are you sure you really want it for a group of shy toddlers?.
Establish the fee
Establish the full cost before you agree to take on someone's services and get the cost in writing. This saves an awful lot of anxiety and confusion for both parties. Include here the exact date and time of the party and details of the entertainment to be provided. It's very easy to confuse dates when a lot is going on.
Most entertainers will require a deposit, although not all. Check when this should be paid and get a receipt.
Hopefully everything will go as planned and you and the guests will have a superb time. However, occasionally things don't go as expected so it is wise to be prepared:
What happens if the entertainer cancels or doesn't show up? Will you be fully refunded?
What happens if you have to unexpectedly cancel the party entertainment or the party? Will your deposit be forfeited or will you have to pay the full fee?
If hiring equipment such as a bouncy castle, what will the hire company do if the equipment fails or is faulty and what happens if you accidentally damage any of the equipment?
If a child has an accident on any of the equipment, who is responsible? Would your home insurance cover you? Check your home insurance policy for third party liability.
Make sure that on the day you have the space cleared for any equipment
Will the entertainer need a changing room or somewhere to store materials?
Be fair to the entertainer and don't let the guests mob him/her unless he requests it. Encourage the children to be attentive and not running all over the place during the act, although I'm sure that you won't have any problem there!!.
Consider having the act just before or just after the party food. This gives the entertainer the chance to get ready or clear up whilst the kids are eating and are thus not in his way. Don't forget entertainers get hungry and thirsty too!