Performing at Daycares

[Joey]

I was hoping to perform at daycares in my area. I am not sure how to get the job. Do I ask to speak with the director, and then present myself and what I offer?

We have a YMCA in our town, and would the procedure be the same for a show there?

I have performed at the library, would this help at all?

Thanks again!

[milo]

I don’t know about you guys, but we have something called a CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau) and you can’t set foot in a childcare/schooling premises without one. That is the first thing I suppose you would need to do this kind of gig.

In the UK most daycare providers are privately owned, so it would just be the owner or manager you would speak to. They always welcome people offering to entertain the kids for free because it provides a welcome break from the daily routine, I think you would be hard pressed to get them to pay for it though.

If your pre-schools/nurseries etc are attached to the primary schools, they might be under the control of the schools board of governors – If this is the case I would approach the chairman of the PTA (parent teacher association) and ask them to raise it at the next meeting.

You might want to consider a topical act such as road safety, bicyclical safety, a reading session or even something like maths lessons (take a look at this UK clown www.bubblztheclown.co.uk ).

Don’t know how well that translates to American, but I hope it was of some use.

[milo]

LOL

Talking about road safety……. I reminded myself of the UK road safety campaign which you won’t of seen.

It cracks me up every time, never fails.

Turn your volume up loud, get a hog name and sing along!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hplRpOdOXE&feature=related

[Pickles]

Awwwwww...... Very cute! Hopefully I'll have this road-safety song in my head instead of that squirrel revival song that my kids play non-stop.

Here in the U.S., we'd have to substitute opossums for the hedgehogs.

[Pickles]

Joey:

Another venue you might want to check out is the summer kids' clubs (the places, often schools, where children of working parents go in the summer). I've had paid gigs with kids' clubs in the past. There are usually a TON of kids of all ages there, and they usually have a budget for fun summer activities.

[Giggles the Clown]

Hey Joey: Here is what I did in order to get business at daycares. I built a database (using the internet and mail merge function in Word) of daycares within the area I wish to serve, wrote a brief, snappy introductory letter on clown-type stationery (purchased at Office Depot) and mailed it in May for the summer season. (I didn't do this; however, a good marketing tactic would be to follow the letter with a phone call about 3-5 days after it is mailed.) The next year I followed up with postcards with a colorful clown picture on front and marketing copy on the back. I am satisfied with the results. The key is to market to as many daycares as you can within your driving range, and continue to send out mailings in order to keep your name in front of them, so when they think, "we need a clown," your letter or postcard is on file or at least they remember your name. (Then, of course, you need to be accessible by phone book, internet, or whatever.) Good luck to you! Giggles

[Scruffy]

Milo. here in the states, If you work in the health care industry (and other places too.) You must pass a background check and be finger printed. Also When I joined the American Red Cross as a volunteer clown, they did a background check. Again when I became a children's ministry worker at our church, I got yet another background check.
I would make a casual mention of these things in your publicity literature. I would think that it just further emphasizes that you are not a dangerous person.
Cheers,
Scruffy

[milo]

Cool - I wasn't sure what you guys have to do. We get issued a reference number, which anyone can confirm with the CRB.

I would definatly provide proof of this along with my certificate of insurance.