Tips From A Pro
Planning today’s birthday party is more complex than ever before. Parents are faced with countless choices in party entertainment and finding the perfect party amusement can seem overwhelming. Should you hire a party clown, a pony ride, an inflatable bouncy castle? There’s no need to panic when it comes to planning your child’s party, just follow these insider tips from a birthday party expert. Party entertainment can be divided into two major categories;
Live entertainers include magicians, clowns, puppet shows and costumed characters. Amusements range from arcade game rentals to carnival rides. Choosing which type of service to hire depends upon your budget, party venue, and the number and ages of your guests. Mechanical amusements can offer your guests lots of fun if you plan them properly. An outdoor event is a great place for rides of all kinds as long as you have adequate supervision and the equipment vendor is properly trained and insured. Any time you combine a group of children with an exciting physical activity you always increase the possibility that someone is going to get injured. Inflatable rides are responsible for many injured children each year. Keep small toddlers and bigger children separated when operating rides. Party rides and games often require on-site electricity and protection from the elements. A sudden thunderstorm can play havoc on your party plans so be sure to have a backup plan in case of rain. Live entertainers are extremely popular at children’s birthday parties. Party clowns, ventriloquists, jugglers, magicians, puppet shows and costumed characters can add fun and excitement to a party without costing a lot of money. Whenever you hire a party entertainer always be sure to ask for references. Pretty much anyone can call themselves a party entertainer so quality can vary greatly. Party clowns are popular however very young children may be frightened by the grease paint and shocking colors that some clowns use. Choose a clown who uses just a minimal amount of makeup and takes a quiet approach to entertaining. Puppet shows can be entertaining but without adequate adult supervision very young children may have trouble paying attention to the entire show. Because the puppeteers are usually hidden behind a curtain they will need your help keeping the audience together. Costumed characters can give your party a quick bit of fun, but they won’t keep the kids' attention beyond a few minutes. They can pose for pictures and dance around a little bit but they won’t be able to do much else. Because most popular characters are trademark protected there are very few professionally made costumes that resemble the original character. You may think you’re hiring Mickey Mouse and instead receive an odd looking “Mister Mouse” instead. Magicians are a great choice for birthday parties with children ranging from ages four and up. Very young toddlers won’t sit still for magic show. Under the age of three they may not appreciate the difference between reality and magic. Be sure to hire a magician that specializes in children’s entertainment. Kids can be a very difficult audience for an inexperienced magician so make sure to check the performer’s references. Make sure your party entertainment company is adequately insured and all staff is properly trained. Don’t be tempted to go with a cheap company that may not provide the highest quality of equipment, service and safety. To save money on party entertainment, book early. Some companies may be happy to book a party months in advance and by planning early you can shop around for the best value. It’s also possible to get a bargain by calling some local vendors the day before your event. Most business owners would rather be working for some money than making nothing for the day and may be willing to do your party for less than their published rate. Choose off-peak dates to save money. Party companies do most of their business on the weekends so by planning a party on a weekday you can save quite a bit of money on the venue and entertainment. Buying in bulk doesn’t just save you money on groceries; it can save you a ton of cash on party services as well. By hiring a DJ, tent rental and pony ride all from one company you can very often save a tidy sum. If you’re willing to pay in cash ask for discount. By prepaying for your party services months in advance you can save an additional amount. No matter which type of party entertainment you decide to hire ask your provider about their rain date and refund policies. Find out what backup plans they have in the event that the scheduled performer or service is unavailable on the day of your party. New York magician Hijinx entertains at children’s parties and has over 30 years of party planning experience. His magic show travels from Long Island to Brooklyn and the Bronx.
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