Children’s science party entertainers

…. and spot the good from the bad!

With an overwhelmingly large number of children’s entertainers out there nowadays, to actually find a good one can be like finding a needle in a haystack. It’s every parent’s nightmare to be landed with a less than decent entertainer that can’t control the kids.

There are a lot of good kids’ entertainers around but there are a huge number of bad ones too. So how do you spot the good from the bad?

Here’s a helpful list of things to look for that will certainly help you on your search.

Energy – a kids party entertainer needs a natural energetic personality and this should be conveyed in their voice when you call them up. When you speak to them on the phone make sure they sound enthusiastic. If you call a company you may end up speaking to someone who just works in the office doing admin as opposed to the entertainer so if that’s the case make sure to ask a bit of info about the entertainer you are getting.

Variety – no matter how good an entertainer is, kids won’t concentrate on any one thing for long, especially not a party, so your entertainer needs to offer a huge variety of activities to keep it nice and engaging for the children. Avoid people that offer just one or 2 activities or kids will get bored very quickly.

Good value – kids parties aren’t cheap but you shouldn’t get fleeced either, so shop around for an idea on the going rate. The average cost of an children’s entertainer is £200-£250. Don’t just look at price though, look at what’s being offered. A kids party entertainer might offer a really cheap price but just offer magic and games and nothing else. Whereas someone for a bit extra might offer a whole lot more.

Science parties for kids

React to kids on the day – the mark of a good entertainer is someone that can adapt their show to the way the kids are at the party rather than plan a magic show for 30 mins at the start, then games for 20 mins and so on. If kids are really lively they won’t sit and watch a magic show for 30 mins so you need someone who can make their show fit around how the kids are on the day. Ask y if this is something they do. Avoid ones that have a set time constrained set of activities.

Up to date music – check what music your entertainer has. Kids aren’t interested in songs they don’t know so ask for songs that are up to date or for songs you know your child likes. A good entertainer should be able to keep up with the times and accommodate most requests.

Referral / recommendations – its always great to get a recommendation from a friend who’s had a good experience. So ask around. If no one can help though check out impartial reviews on websites to find out who has come highly recommended.

Party Extras – these other points won’t determine the quality of your kids entertainer but they are things you should consider nevertheless:

• Back up entertainer – does the company have a back up person if your entertainer falls sick?
• DBS check and insurance – its a legal requirement for entertainers to have a DBS c heck (CRB) and public liability insurance but check they have it as some may not.
• Pat testing – it’s not a legal requirement but it is highly recommended to have all electrical equipment pat tested to ensure its safety. With kids you can’t be too careful so ask if your entertainer has this.

There are so many children’s entertainers around and it really can become choice paralysis after a while. If you’re looking for help with planning your kids party, Froggle Parties is a reputable children’s entertainment company that has also featured on CBBC and has a huge range of children’s entertainers and parties you can choose from. They also offer free party invitations and help with finding a venue. www.froggleparties.com