I think things probably are a little different over our side of the water.
You would usually find in the UK that parents will book a large hall, invite 20 + children (we had 35 at our sons last party) and leave the entertainer/clown to run the show for a couple of hours while they natter with the other parents.
I think you really need to have a good sound system to make sure the sound carries without distortion. On the disco side, when I’m leading the dance moves, I want everyone to be able to see and hear me. This is especially important when you’re doing outdoor events as the sound doesn’t travel too well when the wind picks up. It’s the sound system that takes the time to set up, but I really think it’s essential for large or outdoor venues.
Whilst I have put set up etc down as non chargeable, it is reflected in the overall price, but the time I spend entertaining is what the parents are really interested in, so if they want a one and a half hour party it would cost £150.00 regardless of the set up time.
The time structure above will allow for me to book an 11am and 3pm party in any one day, but I would be happy with three bookings a week, which is quite a realistic starting point and provides a reasonable income.
If I’m doing a party for 10/15 kids in a back garden, then I would probably just take a small all-in-one stereo system, so the set up time would be reduced, but I would still be looking for £50.00 / hour for the time I spend entertaining.
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