Hints and Tips...
Party Tips
Illusions For Kids have over a
decade of experience performing at birthday parties.
Here are some handy tips that might help your party
run smoothly!
1.) It is always best to have the
two hour package and have the entertainer run the
whole party for you. Some parents book Illusions For
Kids for an hour and then try to play the games
themselves. By booking an entertainer for two hours,
everything will be done for you - it's called the
hassle free party package. All you would need to do
is feed the children and then hand then the coats on
the way out.
2.) Make sure your guests (and
your entertainer) can find the venue. Some village
halls can be very hard to find. Make sure everyone
has clear directions as well as a post code for Sat
Navs. It helps to hang balloons outside the venue as
well that way your guests can look for the balloons.
3.) It's always a good idea to
make a list if the names of the children as they are
dropped off. You also want to take the parents phone
numbers if they are not staying. This way you can
contact the parents if there are any problems. It's
also a good idea to find out if any of the children
have dietary requirements or illnesses.
4.) Don't bother with the buffet.
The traditional buffet can become a bit if a free
for all and cause havoc. Instead have pre made lunch
boxes for each child with their name on. It means
that food is easy to give out, you are not left with
loads of leftover food and there are no arguments -
everyone has the same. Plus it's easier for you to
do beforehand.
5.) Have food for the adults
especially if you are having a buffet for the
children. If there is no food for the adults a lot
of parents will dip into the kids buffet which can
cause problems. By having separate food it let's the
adults know the kids food is off limits.
6.) Don't bother with balloons
all over the floor. A lot of parties blow up
balloons and throw them all over the floor. This,
however, can cause problems. It distracts the
children from what the entertainer is doing to start
with. However a lot of younger children will start
crying when they pop (which they will do). The best
bet is to put balloons up on the walls but not the
floor.
7.) Have a parking space near the
front door for the entertainer. This helps loading
in and loading out afterwards. Not having an
available space can lead to the performer having to
park quite a distance away. If the entertainer has a
lot of equipment (which is normally the case) this
could lead to delays.
8.) Consider the location of the
party. If you are inviting a lot of children the
best bet is a hall, function room or similar type
venue. However if you have a smaller amount of
children having it in your house is a great option.
The advantage is you save on venue hire but there be
a lot of cleaning up and it can get a little
stressful depending on the size of the house you
have. In the summer months you might want to
consider having it in a back garden. But make sure
you have a contingency plan in case the weather is
bad - we are in the UK after all!
9.) Have a table for your child's
guests to put their presents on when they arrive.
This way the presents will not end up all over the
place. It's a good idea not to let your child open
these presents until after the party ends and you
are back home. It will give them something to look
forward to. Also opening the presents at the party
can affect the running of everything.
10.) Book the party around lunch
or tea times. The traditional 2pm till 4pm slot is
not the best time to have a party. The children will
have already eaten lunch and will probably not eat
the food you serve. If you book your party 11.00am
till 1pm or even 4pm till 6pm the food you serve
becomes the lunch or the tea for the kids. Also more
parents will bring their kids to a party booked at
these times. A lot of parents look at a party in the
middle of the day as a hassle. It really does not
give them any time to do anything else. However an
11am till 1pm (for example) means they can go to the
party and then go off for a family outing later on.
11.) Beware of distractions. If
the venue you have booked has lots of toys etc out
make sure you put them away or cover them over. The
entertainer will need the kids 100% attention and
this is difficult to get if there are other things
going on that the children are interested in.
12.) Safety is important. If you
are holding a birthday party somewhere other than
your house, ask each parent to tell you who will be
picking their child up at the end of the birthday
party. Do not release a child to anyone you don't
know. During the birthday party, make sure you have
an adult who can run kids to the bathroom if it's
not close to where the main action is
13.) If you have invited a lot of
kids, using name tags is a idea great. Sticky labels
and an ink marker are ideal. This way both you and
the entertainer will know all the children's names
instantly.
14.) Kids love blowers and noise
makers but they can be distracting when trying to
organise food or during a magic show. It is best to
hand these out in goody bags at the end of the
party. This way you will not get a headache ten
minutes into the party. |