Party Structure

[milo]

How do you guys split your time at children’s parties? I won’t be following a strict routine, but I like to have a plan of how the party is going to flow, so far I have:

Non Chargeable

20 Min – This is my set up time, if I have to offload the speakers and all my equipment from a van parked down the street I need to allow plenty of time for setting up. This will be before the party start time.

10 Min - I thought it would be nice to greet all of the children as they arrive, get to know some names and get a feel for my audience.

Charged Time

5 Min – I would spend this time gathering the children, introduce myself, call the birthday child up to congratulate then and do a couple of funny gags.

10 Min – Puppet routine with Bongo

5 Min – Call birthday child up for balloon modelling sketch

10 Min – comedy sketch with Sid (my magic whiteboard)

5 Min – Call birthday child up for their present (pie in a box that they get to thrust into my face).

Quickly clean up my face (throw a bit of pie at the audience) and take of any make up that is likely to run when I sweat.

15 Min - Party games like musical whoopee cushions and limbo etc.

20 Min – Cake, birthday song and food

30 Min – Disco with me leading all dance moves and mingling with audience (I would start to play the music while the kids are eating so they can go back and forth to the party food i.e. 50 Min disco inc food)

20 Min pack up and sadly leave.

Total time at gig = 2 hours 30 Min
Total party time = 1 hour 40 Min

That is obviously the bare bones of what I will do, there will be balloon modelling, face painting and loads of clowning in between.

This is my standard £150.00 ($300.00) package, but parents can choose to loose the disco or not do the cake while I’m there and the show can be condensed into a 1 hour party for £100.00 ($200.00). Likewise, it can extend to a 2 or 3 hour show for an additional charge and I will also have bouncy castle hire etc.

What do you guys think? Is this similar to your party structure?

[Giggles the Clown]

Hi milo: In my area, mom, dad or gramma usually plans for the clown to be at the party for one hour (if more than 15 children, that time has to be extended for facepainting or balloons). That includes the clown show (warm-up, puppets, magic, comedy, whatever) and the specials (facepainting, balloons, games, etc.) Mom, dad, or gramma usually wants to be in charge of the rest of the party - cake and ice cream or other food, presents, other specials. As the clown, I am only one piece of that wonderful party, and my job is to help mom, dad, or gramma create a successful birthday party for the birthday child. Best of luck. Giggles

[pixcoco]

Well my goodness. I have to keep in mind you are in another country. I don't think that would fly here. I do know that in Mexico the clowns are at the party for 2-3 hours, have an assistant and sound system.

Like Giggles, I am there for one hour at the avarage birthday party. Magic show, face paint, and balloons. Which tricks and bits I do will depend on the kids (age, temperment, ect.) I carry all my stuff in one box and one bag. Easy in and out. I even carry a small folding table.

If that is what they are doing in your area I guess that is what you will have to do also. I don't think I will be much help to you. I hope someone else from the UK speaks up. It would be interesting to learn more about how it is done in the UK and to hear more about Mexico.

[Pickles]

Wow, Milo, I'm impressed! My routine is simple: a 20-30-min. comedy magic routine (depending on the age of kids and their attention span), followed by balloon hats and animals. For younger kids I have some kind of a kazoo birthday march toward the end of the party. I try to leave a few minutes at the end for pictures.

I have a big case on wheels that holds all my props and also is used for my table. I have a pop-up hamper where I store the items I'm finished with -- just to keep things organized. It takes me less than five minutes to set up and even less time to pack up.

Of course, there are occasions when I won't stick to this format. for instance, I have a party for 8 autistic kids coming up. For that, I'm just bringing tons of ideas and props and will just flit from one activity to another as needed.

[tim]

You distinguish "chargable" and "non-chargable" time. While, technically, this may be a necessity, you ultimately need to be billing for the entire time necessary to run the event and figuring that into the "chargable" time.

I'd question whether you need all of the stuff you are expecting. I imagine that most clowns in the U.S. "pack tight" and don't have to carry all kinds of stuff which requires a lengthy load in and out. (I fit my entire show into one or two suitcases - the necessity for the 2nd depending largely upon whether I need extra stuff for juggling or a "big impact" gag that requires more substantial props.) For example, if a speaker system really necessary if you have a party for a dozen kids and the few parents who attend in a backyard or basement? Now, given, if you can offer something greater or have big events and you find buyers, awesome! But now you're probably looking at being there a longer time and acting as the center of the party for maybe three entire hours. You'll likely do everything from DJ to balloons and all that's in between. And you'll charge darn good money for it, too.

It is ultimately a matter of understanding and finding your market then catering to it properly.

[milo]

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.

[tim]

You would certainly know the rates in your area better than I, but what you are citing still sounds low to me for the amount of work you're planning on putting into it. Starting out, you certainly need to cut breaks. But consider that pricepoint carefully, longterm.

[tim]

As far as times for specific portions of the party, I would encourage you to be flexible.

Some things might run faster than you expect. Others may need to be drawn out. Certain matter might take more time. So if you are to be there for 1.5 hours, then make sure that you have enough but also that you can move easily in or out of whatever the circumstances call for without having to feel like you have to "stuff it all in" quickly because that is what you promised. Honestly, I think I would focus on 2-3 specific things, with the timeframe adjustable to whatever gets thrown at you.