The decision about what kind of entertainment to have can be a tricky one as there can be so many options and so many opinions thrust your way. If you have chosen to organise your own party then you have ruled out the local childrens play centre and have narrowed your options a little.

Soft play centres can be great as they can host everything under one roof and take away a lot of the organising for you. But these centres are often staffed by young people who don’t really have much expertise in running parties. They just have a formula of when to bring the processed food out and when to let the children free to run riot on the playground. This is great but if you want to make the event more personal and entertainment for everyone, then the private party is always best.

So lets look at the options for your entertainment:

1. Hire a bouncy castle
These can be great but as a sole form of entertainment you will be left to run the rest of the party yourself and at some point will become caterer, party host, entertainer and cleaner upper. (Check out my post on running your own entertainment.)

2. Hire a Facepainter
Again Like No1 this is great if there are other elements to keep the little ones occupied whilst waiting to have their face painted or after they have had it done.

3. A Balloon Modeler/ Clown
This can work really well as the children all leave with a great present from the party. Some Balloon entertainers also provide some form of games and music. These types of entertainers are often more suited to the younger children.

4. Magician
There are many excellent magicians around who can provide a quality magic show which includes audience participation involving the birthday child and several other children throughout the show. They can often provide a 45min-1hr show which will slot nicely into a bigger party

5. Magician/ Party Entertainer (SHOULD REALLY BE No1!!)
This is where you are provided with a whole party package including a magic show, mini disco, party games, balloons and prizes. This option can allow the entertainer to run the party for you from start to finish. This is also popular for christening and wedding parties. This type of service has become increasingly popular over recent years with party packages ranging from 1-2hrs. If you can find a quality entertainer in your area they can be worth their weight in gold.

THINGS TO AVOID!!

There are many DJ’s who promote themselves as childrens entertainers. These are often just people who are looking to fill up their afternoons prior to dplaying at their evening bookings. They rarely have any experience in ‘putting on a show’ apart from playing childrens party music. These types of parties tend to end up as noisy chaotic affairs with little or no content or control. BOOK A PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINER!!!

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Obviously if you are calling round a few entertainers, the first question is often “How much”? There will often be a variety of prices given. The rule as with anything is you get what you pay for. If there is an individual who is charging more than the rest there must be a reason they can charge so. Similarly if there is a much cheaper option you must question why are they cheap? Is this their full time job? Will people be reluctant to pay more for their show?

When organising a party for your little one it is all about creating memories, special memories that you can share for years to come. Do you really want to sharing nightmare stories?
If you can save a bit of money on party bags, food or decorations to invest in the best entertainer you can, then do so!! You have been warned.

BUT WHICH ENTERTAINER TO CHOOSE?

The best way to find a quality entertainer is by recommendation from others. Ask around an dif one or two names crop up regularly then that’s a good indicator of quality. This also gives you peace of mind. Ask the local nurseries, schools or playgroups. They will come into contact with many entertainers over the years and so will be able to advise you.

Searching the internet is a valuable source of information. Checking credentials of different entertainer websites is a good start. ie Client Lists, Testimonials, CRB checks, Public Liability Insurance etc Take a look here for an example of a childrens entertainer in lancashire ‘s testimonials. Also Netmums is a good source of opinion and information.

MAKE SURE YOU BOOK A PROFESSIONAL!

When you book your entertainment make sure you get a professional service. You should receive a proper booking confirmation to confirm the agreement that has been made between you, so that there is no question about what is happening and when and what is expected on the day. You should also be in contact with your entertainer prior to the day to reconfirm everything again. DO NOT assume that because you spoke to them 6 weeks ago that they are coming. If they are providing a professional service then it is their job to ensure you have peace of mind throughout the booking process and prior to the event.

Also please ensure that it is the person who you speak to that will be attending the party. There have been cases where entertainers book in a party and when a better paying job comes along they send another less established or poorer quality performer in their place with little or no excuse (and still expect you to pay the same price)

CONCLUSION