Hiring an entertainer for your child’s birthday comes along with a lot of questions and variables. For some, the thought of handing over a significant chunk of money to an entertainer is a gamble. We’ve all heard horror stories from parents who say their magician never actually showed up but kept their money, or that the clown who arrived to entertain their kids was creepy or just not good at being a children’s party entertainer. When you do your research and select the correct entertainer for your party, hiring a performer can be exactly what takes your party from good to great.
Here are some important things to keep in mind to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth when you hire a children’s party entertainer.
1. Ask for recommendations or search through Google or performer directories to find party entertainers in your area.
The first step is doing a little research to see what your options are. Ask for recommendations on Facebook or reach out to people you know have hired birthday party entertainers before. You can also do a Google search to see what is available in your area. Search for “birthday party entertainers in (your city)” or do a specific search for clowns, magicians, princess impersonators, or superhero characters to quickly narrow it down to only the companies in your area who have the type of entertainer you are looking for. You can also go to a site that is specifically for hiring entertainers, like GigMasters.
2. Search through reviews in various places to get a good idea of what to expect from each company.
Once you have a few possible entertainers in mind, try looking on review sites like Yelp or on Google Places to see what people have to say about the entertainers you’re considering. If the reviews are overwhelmingly positive or overwhelmingly negative for a company, you can probably get a pretty good grasp on what their company is like. If the reviews are a mixed bag, you can’t be as confident that you’d know what to expect if you were going to hire them.
3. Make sure your possible entertainers can deliver what it is that you want.
After narrowing down your options, check their websites or call them to discuss what you get for your money. It’s never good when you hire a performer you expect to interact with your kids and they show up for photos and then leave. Many companies have party packages at different price points which will include different activities the characters will do while at your party. It’s great if a company has a realistic-looking Superman entertainer, but Superman make sure you know what that Superman entertainer will do at your party before shelling out the cash.
Hiring a party entertainer can sometimes be a little scary, especially if you don’t know where to start. If you have a plan and do your research, though, you’ll love having the added magic of a birthday party character to entertain your party guests!