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Oct. 7, 2011
How to hire an entertainer
A live performance can give your child happy, lifelong memories.
LEANNE FOGARTY
A party performer is a big factor in making your child’s bar or bat mitzvah a success or a flop. Being a full-time, professional event entertainer, I have worked at countless private parties, and I will share with you the many different kinds of entertainers, how to find them, what to ask them and how to maximize their performance on the big day itself.
The number of different types of event entertainers available in British Columbia is staggering. There are many options, including face-painters, comedians, dancers, clowns, henna tattooists, impersonators, magicians, storytellers, caricaturists, jugglers, DJs, musicians, airbrush tattooists, themed actors, sing-along performers, balloon twisters, stilt walkers, and arts and crafts leaders.
The best type of entertainer will depend mostly on the young people attending. Your child is probably 12 or 13 years old, but also think about the age range of the invitees and the mix of boys and girls. For example, clowns can be scary for toddlers or boring for those over eight. Consider each activity or performance and whether it appeals mainly to just girls, just boys or a mixture of both. Although harder to find, entertainment that appeals to all the guests is preferable.
With the advent of search engines, finding an entertainer is easier than choosing one. Type in the kind of entertainer for which you are looking and the city in which you live. Some helpful sites listing local entertainers are partypop.com, hotfrog.ca and vancouverwebsearch.com. Entertainers are also listed in B.C. Parent Family Resource Guide and B.C. Parent News Magazine.
A good entertainer likes young people, is well prepared and looks the part. They are professional, experienced, enthusiastic and flexible. But how do you recognize these traits before the bar/bat mitzvah? Recommendations from friends and relatives are golden but, even then, you still need to do your homework.
Shortlist and phone interview at least three entertainers before making your selection. This will give a basis for comparison and ensure that you are charged a fair price. Visit their website to learn about their performance and policies. If the site does not make sense, has numerous mistakes or makes doubtful claims, don’t hire them. Choose entertainers in close proximity to minimize any possible transportation costs. Do not make your choice based solely on price. The most expensive performer is not always the best performer. For budgeting purposes, you can expect to pay about $130 per hour for a professional entertainer.
Ask questions to discover exactly what is offered and how well it meets your needs. Suitable questions include: What is a full description of the performance? For what age group is it suitable? What is the show’s duration? Why should I hire you over another entertainer? Do you have references and may I contact one? How many years of experience do you have? Are you a full-time or part-time performer? Does your fee include all equipment? Travel? HST? Do you have a satisfied-or-your-money-back guarantee?
At some point, the performer should be asking you all sorts of questions. You will know if he/she can meet your specific needs if they ask about them. Do they seem courteous, interested, positive and thankful for your call? Do they mention how they are going to make the day feel extra special for your child? Once you have decided on an entertainer, waste no time booking them. The best event entertainers have 10 to 30 bookings every month, and may need to be booked several weeks in advance.
Body art – including face painting, henna tattoos and airbrush tattoos – is perfect because the tailor-made art is interactive and enjoyed long after the party finishes. Also, there are designs for every age group, making it flexible for any audience. When screening a face or body artist, ask them what type of materials they use. Confirm that their paints are intended for use on skin (no acrylics) and their henna is not black henna, which contains a dye that can cause scarring. Natural henna leaves a reddish-brown stain, is safe and lasts for one to two weeks.
Magicians are popular because they instil a sense of wonder and often combine humor to enthral young minds. If you opt for a magician, determine if their style is comedy magic, silent comedy (miming), children’s magic, illusion or walk-around magic. Ask what specific tricks they can do and if they have a promotional video.
Jugglers are impressive because their rare skills make them a hit with the young people as well as the adults. Details to consider are what items they juggle, if they include any magic and/or audience participation and if they will feature your son/daughter in their act – preferably not juggling them!
Caricaturists can sketch a guest enjoying their favorite hobby or sport in just a few minutes. This is enjoyable at the event and doubles as a take-home memento to remember the evening. Ask the caricaturist to put “Samuel’s Bar Mitzvah – Nov. 10, 2011” at the bottom of each sketch.
The way the birthday party is handled on the day can have a great effect on how entertaining the performer turns out to be. Have a back room ready for the performer to get in costume and/or prepare. Schedule the entertainment at least a half an hour after the party starts to allow for any latecomers. Have a contingency plan in case the performer is late. Serve food and drinks after the entertainment to ensure complete attention. Make sure no one is talking loudly.
Booking live entertainment gives your child the gift of happy, lifelong memories of their bar/bat mitzvah. It also allows the parents to enjoy the event and interact with the adults. Confirm the entertainer is age-appropriate, has good references and offers a satisfaction guarantee. Good pre-planning ensures a great party. √
Leanne Fogarty is the owner of Mehndi and More Body Art in Vancouver. Her artists provide face and body painting, airbrush tattoos, henna, glitter tattoos and hair wraps in the Vancouver, Victoria and Edmonton areas. For more information, visit mehndiandmore.com or call 604-812-2048.
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