7 Tips When Hiring a Birthday Party Entertainer

To help ensure the kids get the most out of the show, there are some things you should consider when planning the party.

1. Get the showtime right.

Have the show start at least 30 minutes after the party starts, or anytime later. This allows for late arrivers, and for the children to get settled. If the show is set near the start of the party, be sure to let other parents know about it so they make the extra effort to be on time.

2. Choose the best spot for the show.

Ask the performer of he or she has any space requirements for the show. That way you can pick the best spot for the show to take place, and move around any furniture that might get in the way. You may even want to decorate the backdrop a little. This will not only make for a more colourful show, but it will make the pictures you’ll take really pop!

3. Minimize distractions.

No matter how good of a performance you’ve booked for the party, kids will be kids and their attention can easily drift. This is why I normally suggest the kids sit on the floor. Chairs and couches are great, but if there isn’t enough room for everyone, the mood can drop like a rock before the show even starts. Then, during the show, all it takes is one child to “stealing” someone’s spot for a bit of chaos to breakout. Planning for them to sit on the floor is usually the best way to preempt all of that.

4. Leave snacks and drinks until after the show.

When there’s food during the show, drinks will spill and messes will be made. You’ll also find that little things like running out of chips and reaching in front of each other for popcorn can lead to big distractions. Most importantly though, magicians and clowns will have the children bursting into laughter, which could make any food a choking hazard.

5. Let the performer handle the audience (with some exceptions)

Parents often ask me how they should handle the occasional “problem child”. The answer is usually “nothing.” Especially during magic shows, some children will call things out during the act. For magicians, this would be things like “It’s in your sleeve!” and musicians will sometimes hear “Oh, I don’t like this song!” In these cases, an experienced performer will be able to handle it.

The times when it’s good to get involved is when there is an ongoing disruption, when a child actively disturbs the other kids, or when they reach out  to grab the entertainer’s props. I’ve found that these situations very rarely arise, but in these cases you will want to step in, as it simply wouldn’t be appropriate for the entertainer to suddenly take on the role of an authority figure. Even if they were to do so, it would most certainly hurt the flow of their act.

6. Manage the parents.

Speaking of disruptions, one of the most common disruptions that children’s entertainers tend to encounter don’t come from the kids at all. It happens when other parents stay for the party; let’s face it, they’re out of the house and are excited to be social! It’s good to remind the other parents before, and often during the show, that even the quietest chatter can become very distracting to the kids and the performer. You hired a great entertainer, so invite the parents to just sit back and enjoy!

7. Communicate with the performer in advance.

Remember, too, that all entertainers and shows are different. Ask upon booking the act if they have any other restrictions to consider, or if they feel that any of the above points simply don’t apply to their act. Any experienced entertainer will know exactly what kinds of tips to give so that you can end up with the best show possible.

PHOTO: GRAEME THOMPSON/FLICKR CC