Hiring an entertainer for a children's party can be a
stressful experience. Knowing how to choose the right
entertainer and one who will be a safe bet can be
challenging; you don't want just anyone in charge of your
children and you want to keep them safe from strangers. The
steps provided in this article are a quick but sure way to
ensure that you hire a professional and weed out any
businesses that will give you no recourse if something goes
wrong or consist of uncaring or unprofessional people. The
goal of hiring a children's entertainer is ultimately to
have a successful children's party that is safe and fun for
your children and their friends.
!! Steps !!
Call local companies only. If you're calling an entertainer you've
found on the Internet, ask them where they're located. If they're
hundreds of miles away, if they even agree to help, they'll probably
be a "talent agency" middleman company that will subcontract the job
to some unknown person who is local to you and this will end up
costing you more. Avoid this kind of third party contract; it's not
only cheaper to find the local person yourself but it is also better
because you can meet them in person and ask around about their
reputation.
* Word-of-mouth is a very important means for finding good
entertainers. Ask around other moms and dads, teachers, carers,
etc., to get their feedback on entertainers they've used in the
past.
* Call earlier than you think you should! Many good entertainers
will be booked out well in advance and finding a time that suits
you might be hard, especially during holiday seasons.
Call several entertainers to ask for a quote. Have the following
information ready to tell them:
* The exact date and time. It can also be handy to ask about
cancellation fees or reschedule dates in case something goes
amiss.
* Exactly how many kids you're expecting to be at the party and
their age range.
* How many kids the entertainment package will cover.
* The amount of time you want the kids to be entertained for, and
whether or not this includes eating time.
* Ask about the level of variety (for example, face painting,
balloons, tricks, stories, etc.) the entertainer can provide; this
can be very important for a party of longer duration where the
kids can easily grow bored.
* Any particular preferences for performance ideas, tricks, and so
on, that you have in mind.
* If you don't have a venue in mind, this is a good opportunity to
ask if the entertainer has their own premises or good suggestions.
Make a choice based on more than price. Price is not the only
indicator to keep in mind when making your selection. While you may
be tempted to take the cheapest price, only do so if you're also
guaranteed a high level of professionalism and the entertainer has
a good reputation.[1]
* Does the manner in which they present their company or activities
appear professional and polished? Does their advertising material
(website, pamphlets, etc.) reveal that they have taken care in
putting together what they have to offer? Have they taken the time
to add photos or videos of their work and talents?
* Does the entertainer provide the range of activities and talents
you're after?
* Does the entertainer provide more than one person where he or she
is offering one-to-one activities such as face-painting? If not,
how can they keep the remaining children entertained while one
child is the focus of their attention?
* Does the entertainer have any memberships or qualifications that
they can show you? For example, does the entertainer belong to a
guild of magicians, a club of children's entertainers, etc., that
you can look up online or phone to check further? What about
references from other parents or schools? And an entertainer who
has received specific education in their field of entertainment
will have been trained in safety issues and proper care of
children as well as in performing.
* Ask whether the entertainer has been checked with police and if
they are covered by liability insurance.
* Do the two of you "click"? The entertainer's enthusiasm and
willingness to be a successful part of your child's party should
be evident to you through their tone of voice, the information
they've provided you, their flexibility to accommodate your
wishes, and the extent of agreement to the things you'd like to
happen.
Get the confirmation in writing. Once you've agreed to the date,
duration, and cost, be sure to get an email or written confirmation
from the entertainer that you will be able to hold them to.
* With respect to payment, do not give out your credit card
information to companies you've hired off the net. If you must pay
a deposit, use PayPal instead. For local performers, either turn
up in person to make a deposit, or send a check. The best
arrangement is the one where you pay in full at the door when the
entertainer arrives. They have your address, so the arrangement is
trustworthy.
Prepare the entertaining space. If the entertainer needs to arrive
beforehand to set up props, tricks, etc., be sure to know this in
advance and make arrangements so that it won't interfere with the
rest of your party preparations. If you need to supply anything, be
sure to have confirmed this well in advance of the party.
* Know in advance if there are specific space, height, or safety
requirements to ensure, such as room for juggling, no cords to
trip over, etc.
* Ask the entertainer about preferred seating arrangements for the
children.
On arrival, check basics before the entertainer can proceed with the
entertainment. Do the following checks:
* Ask for the entertainer's identity. Use the entertainer's
business license or driver's license for proof of identity. You do
not want strangers in the house with your children. You will be
able to call the registering authority to check a business license
holder's credentials.
* Ask to see the entertainer's certificate of liability insurance.
It must have the entertainer's name on it. Professional
entertainers in the USA and Britain have liability insurance and
this will protect you from personal liability if an accident
happens. For other jurisdictions, check the local requirements, or
check your own insurance coverage.
* Make a written contract at the door if you haven't already done so
in advance.
Enjoy the occasion. You've put in the hard work to hire the right
professional for your children's party, so sit back, relax and enjoy
watching your children have a lot of fun!
* Another reason for doing all the checks and being certain about
the entertainer is that this frees you up to deal with catering,
other parents, and any wayward upset kids at the party.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* If you're not sure what is age appropriate for your child, ask the
entertainer for his or her thoughts; they will be able to tailor
their activities to the age group, as well as taking into account
the concentration spans of the relevant age group.
* Expect to pay for a minimum time; setting up, preparing,
traveling, and doing a good job of entertaining all takes time.
Don't expect to just pay for a half hour of time; it won't happen!
In addition, don't be surprised to be charged a travel fee if
you're not in the normal range of the entertainer, usually to
cover fuel costs and time.
* If electrical equipment is involved, be sure to check that it is
properly certified.
* It's a really good idea to take into account your children's
wishes and ideas; they're the ones who will be enjoying the
occasion and they'll soon let you know if they don't like it!
* If you email, it can be easier to set out all of your requirements
in advance but it's also a good idea to connect personally with a
follow-up phone call.
* If you strike an answering machine, leave the following
information: Your phone number, the event type, preferred date,
and location. If you can't remember it all, at the very least
provide your phone number.
* Some entertainers will also supply party give-aways, party
supplies, costumes, games, prizes, etc. Just be sure that
everything you'd like them to include is organized in advance and
that payment is properly sorted so that you don't get any nasty
surprises or end up doubling up on things.
!! Warnings !!
* Some children might be frightened by certain styles of
entertainment, such as clowns. Ask the entertainer if they have
"less scary" makeup or appearances for younger kids who express
concerns. For example, some clowns will appear without makeup but
will still do lots of funny antics, make balloon animals, and face
paint, etc. if requested.
* Entertaining children well is hard work. Children can spot phoneys
a mile off, they're brutally honest, they like to wind up people
who are too pompous or stiff, and if they get bored, they mean it.
A good entertainer will use a combination of good self-directed
humor, relaxing techniques, top quality entertainment, and a love
for children all in one; it's worth its weight in gold, so bear
this in mind when considering the cost.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* License checks
* Internet access
* Phone
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Hire a Clown
* How to Host a Children's Christmas Party
* How to Have a Children's Garden Party
* How to Organize a Birthday Party for Kids
* How to Throw a Children's Tea Party
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
* Discuss
0 comments:
Post a Comment