We all know what it’s like when there’s a birthday coming up… The question of ‘Should I book an
entertainer or not?’ is usually one of the top considerations. Luckily, we have compiled some
reasons why we believe using an entertainer can be a brilliant addition to your event, and to help
you feel more relaxed and ready for your party!
Key Reasons to Book an Entertainer for Your Next Event
A children’s entertainer can add significant value to a birthday party in several ways. They take the
pressure off of parents by professionally managing the children’s activities and attention, which
allows the adults to focus on other aspects of hosting. Captain Fantastic entertainers know how to
keep children engaged and excited for the whole duration of the party – by facilitating ageappropriate games, performing magic tricks or leading activities they are there to prevent the
common issue of kids becoming restless or bored.
Often, we find that because the Captain Fantastic Entertainer is a new face in the space, they can
naturally bring a special element of magic and wonder to the party that parents may find difficult
to create themselves. It is wonderful to see the birthday child brimming with excitement at the
arrival of the Entertainer, it marks the beginning of a few hours of complete fun, laughter and
celebration! Whether the entertainment includes face painting, balloon animals, magic shows, or
character performances – there is no doubt that entertainers provide memorable experiences that
children often talk about long after the party ends!
From a practical perspective, entertainers usually come with their own equipment and planned
activities, which can help reduce the amount of party preparation needed. They’re experienced in
handling groups of excited children and can help maintain a good pace throughout the party,
ensuring that everyone stays safe while having the maximum amount of fun!
Things to Consider When Booking an Entertainer
When booking an entertainer for your next event, there are a few things to consider to make sure
you find the perfect entertainer for the job. Factors like the birthday child’s age (some might be too
young or old for certain types of entertainment) and key interests, your budget, the number of
guests attending as well as the type of venue are all important elements of the party to consider
when booking an entertainer.
Another important thing to reflect on is whether or not the Entertainer has the relevant training,
qualifications and experience? It can be tricky to decide what level of performance skill and event
organisation your occasion may require. Some children’s entertainers may have taken on the role
simply because they wanted to ‘give it a go’. Enquiring about their experience might seem like an
odd question to be asking someone who is marketing themselves as a children’s entertainer, as
you’d assume they’d have plenty of experience… you may be surprised how many don’t!
Entertaining a group of 25+ children is much harder than it looks, so please don’t be afraid to ask
how many parties an entertainer has done and take a look at reviews and references. At Captain
Fantastic all our entertainers come from a performance background and are fully trained to deliver
top class children’s entertainment. The majority are professional performers with a great track
record within the arts and some are part-time musicians and dancers whilst others have attended
prestigious drama schools. This type of information is normally available on the company’s website
or LinkedIn; alternatively, you should make a note to ask these sorts of questions when you
initially enquire with a supplier. And from a practical point of view, it’s also worth questioning
things like whether or not the Entertainer has up to date PAT testing on their equipment, to make
sure that everything is safe and ready to go!
Once you have checked that all the basics are in place and up to scratch, it’s time to assess the
quality of the entertainment that they are likely to provide. A good place to start is to check the
reviews left on FreeIndex, Google and Facebook. If there is a bad reputation lingering about, you
are bound to find evidence of it there. And when you check these review sites, you will find that
Captain Fantastic is the UK’s No.1 Kid’s Entertainment Company, as voted by FreeIndex! Another
good way of determining how reputable a kids’ entertainment company is would be to check with
previous customers. Most will have worked with their local primary schools, so why not request a
reference? We have found that most of our customers find us via word of mouth and are parents
(who LOVE to talk!). You have a high chance of obtaining a reliable reference from a school that
has worked with them previously.
Things to Ask Your Entertainer Before the Party
So… you’ve found an entertainer that is perfect for your event – great! There is one last thing to do
to make sure that everything is absolutely perfect for your special day: have a pre-party chat with
your entertainer.
It is a good idea to mention any specific needs that will be helpful for the entertainer to know
about so that they can make sure the party is as amazing as it possibly can be. For example, does
your child have any specific needs that must be met in order for them to get the most out of the
party? Or perhaps there is something that your child would particularly like to be included (or
not!) in the party. Have a chat with your entertainer and see how they will facilitate this.
Experienced entertainers will have worked with children with different needs and will be able to
ensure your child feels special on their birthday.
Another thing to check when you chat with them is the structure of their show. Most parties are
1.5 to 2 hours long. Will they be entertaining for the whole of that, or will there be breaks for food
and cake? Also check how much time is needed for them to set up and clear away. Not only does
this help with working out how long you will need your venue for and arranging drop off and pick
up times for the children, it also helps you to know how much of the party will be parent-led!
Often siblings will be brought along and want to join in and most of the time this isn’t a problem,
as entertainers will bring extra supplies “just in case”. But letting the entertainer know how many
children you are expecting to attend will help them to prepare and plan their show, as some tricks
work better with larger groups. And finally, check how much space the entertainer will need for
their show as this may have an impact on where you are able to have your party. If you’re using a
local entertainer, chances are they will have done parties in your chosen venue so will know how
everything will fit in.
So now you know why you should book an entertainer for your event, and how to book the perfect
entertainer for your specific requirements! Get in touch today to enquire about booking a Captain
Fantastic Entertainer – our friendly and dedicated team are always happy to offer any advice you
may require about our entertainment services and would love to get involved in your next project!
Captain Fantastic is a company built and run solely by professionals within the arts and
entertainment industries. And as well as providing entertainment for small- and large-scale events,
we also have our very own theatre production and merchandise. We have provided kids’
entertainment for all manner of occasions over the years – including a few celebrity birthdays! We
hope to see you at your next special occasion.
Read More How to Become an Entertainer