Often when the party rolls around, we like to hand-off the entertainment to a professional to save us planning time.  But basic questions quickly arise such as, "How do I find one?" 

To help you figure out who best to hire for your next party, we have dedicated this newsletter to articles designed to help you find the perfect one for you and your kid. 

Whether a clown, balloon magician, or ponies and reptiles, let the entertaining begin!

So, you have decided the type of entertainer you would like…how do you select one?
Let’s say you have decided to have a clown entertain at your 4 year olds’ party. Here is a handy list of basic questions that I recommend you ask the entertainer on those initial phone calls:

What does your “clown” routine entail?

What is the length of your show?

What do you consider your specialty?

What is the cost? Does the cost include anything more than just the show, they may include the cost of the balloon animals in the show or they may not.

Here's a complete list of questions you should ask. You can also check out entertainers in your city who have already answered these questions for you.

I hired an entertainer for my kid’s party this year.  During the entire routine, the parents who were present were talking so loudly that many of the kids could not hear the entertainer during his performance.  How can I avoid this situation during future parties?

During your next party, ask your entertainer to ask everyone (especially the “Big” kids) to keep quiet during the show.  The friendly word from the entertainer himself at the start of the show should help this problem.

Still, this will be the time during the party that parents may feel able to chat and catch up with one another.  If this is the case, have munchies and drinks available in a different area of your home, away from the entertainment, that will allow for easy mingling among parents that does not intrude upon the entertainment. [more...]

It depends on where you live, the length of entertainment routine, and what is included in the routine.  On average, entertainers charge $150 to $250 for a 45 minute performance. 

Entertainers may also provide a longer routine, goody bags and balloons either as part of the routine or for an extra cost. [more...]

Dress your daughter up as a fairy and snap her picture.  Use this as the front of the birthday invitation.  Inside, provide all of the party details. For the thank you notes, write, “Thank You Fairy Much!”

For decorations, use light-colored balloons and streamers to decorate the party area.  Ask your birthday kid what are her favorite fairy colors and use those as the color theme.

Have a Treasure Hunt to find the precious gold and silver coins that the tooth fairy lost the previous evening out in the garden.  Have the kids search for chocolate coins and keep them as a treat. Serve Serve fairy punch, marshmallow wands and Fairy Cookies.

Let the kids also take home the crafts they may have made: wings, tiaras, magic wands or fairy stickers, Pop Rock candy, Pixie Stix, Bubbles etc. [more...]

My child is turning 3 in December. I want to give him a party with a theme that he will fully enjoy…BUT he changes his mind every few weeks! With entertainers booking up so quickly for the December holiday season, by the time he decides what he really wants it may be too late to book the right entertainer. When should I book an entertainer to make sure he gets what he wants?

The earlier you can book your entertainer the better. Still, if he is into pirates in June and you book your entertainer, with this age group, I can easily see that he may not be into them 5 months later….3 year olds can be awfully fickle in what they like!

Check what your child is interested. Try to have your child tell you what he likes generally, i.e. trains, princess, etc. This way, you can hire an entertainer under a more general umbrella…As an example, you may not get a Barbie, but you have a princess party.

Once you have booked your entertainer, make sure to tell your child all about his special party that is coming up very soon…talk it up to maintain their interest.