Kiddies Disco 4 yr olds

[SPJ]

I've got my first 'gig' in a couple of weeks and need some advice.

Have offered to do a friends 4 yr old lad's disco as a dry run as I've not yet given the kit an airing.

Any ideas for apprporiate music and some games as we'll have a handful of 5s and 6s there too

A quick selection just sprung to mind...

Music Man
Superman
Hokey cokey
DJ Otz - Hey baby
Tony Christie - Amarillo
something from Grease + Leona for the girls!
The ketchup song


Musical statues
Best air guitar to a suitable tune

Have got a couple of good CDs Ultimate cheese and Knees Up to name two which have got loads on them, but what would you think apt for this age group?

Any help most welcome. Can't believe I'm getting a bit nervous about a kids party!!

Cheers
Steve

[BeerFunk]

A disco for a 4 year old?? He won't know what's going on, he'll just be walking and running about, certainly not dancing! You're gonna need help from the adults organising games - musical chairs/statues etc, maybe a balloons game. At that age, their concentration span lasts minutes, so they won't be dancing much!

Sorry if that's a bit negative, I didn't mean it to be, but I would say your best chance is to go with plenty of party games :)

[SPJ]

Cheers BeerFunk, I know it's gettin late, but the title does say 4yr old :rolleyes:

so on that basis, any ideas ;)

cheers

[BeerFunk]

Cheers BeerFunk, I know it's gettin late, but the title does say 4yr old :rolleyes:

so on that basis, any ideas ;)

cheers

Ah, yeah, missed out the '4' :o

I'd say it all still applies though? :D

[Penfold42]

I got a CD called 'Let's Have a Party' aimed at this sort of age. Bit of a cheat really because it does it all for you.....put CD in and play....even talking on it to get the kids attention.

Try here http://www.kidscdsandtapes.com/

Hope this helps.:)

£2 for Woolies..

[Shaun]

Mayhem, is the best man to offer advice.

How many hours is the duration of the party?. Like Beerfunk has has mentioned you'll need lots of games and activities organised, they're at an age where dancing alone won't grab their attention for too long.

Children's parties are probably the only type of gig I truly feel out of my comfort zone..to the extent that I no longer do children's parties under 10 years old.

Anyways, I'm sure Mayhem will be along to offer some great advice on the do's and dont's of children's entertaining. Best of luck to you.

[Tonsk]

A great one for this age is TV Themes..

Get some from CBeebies (Like Fimbles, Balamory etc) or LazyTown, Bear In The big Blue House etc and then challenge the kids...

Get lots of sweets and then say "I bet you'll never guess what this is off" and then offer sweets as prizes.. Kids (even shy ones) will run from all over the hall to shout into the microphone what the answer is...

And if you have a system where you can change their voices to Pinky and Perky status, that's even better...

Works everytime for this age range...

Also - Get a balloon pump and some modelling balloons and make them some swords or dogs... They love them.. If you don't know how, YouTube has videos on how to make them or just throw the inflated balloons into the audience - Either way they love it and it they are sword fighting (or just running around with them) they are interacting in a way you have specified and the parents are happy.

[Marc J]

I love kids.




















Couldn't eat a whole one though :D

[Penfold42]

I love kids.Couldn't eat a whole one though :D

'Just another wafer thin mint sir........' :D :D :D

[Dance FX]

Also - Get a balloon pump and some modelling balloons and make them some swords or dogs... They love them.. If you don't know how, YouTube has videos on how to make them or just throw the inflated balloons into the audience - Either way they love it and it they are sword fighting (or just running around with them) they are interacting in a way you have specified and the parents are happy.


BALLOONS! did somebodymention balloons :D

The problem with balloons is you totally loose their attention because they are too busy playing footie with the darn things :eek:

[Penfold42]

The problem with balloons is you totally loose their attention because they are too busy playing footie with the darn things :eek:

What with helium in......:eek: :p :D

[Dance FX]

What with helium in......:eek: :p :D

Ah! now helium balloons float to the ceiling and the little darlings cant reach them! :devil:

Sarah
(childminder and balloon decorator) :devil: :devil: :devil: ;)

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Steve Mate,

A 4 year old party eh, lets see if I can help you out.

1) With children of this age you MUST grab and keep their attention from the word go.

2) The main thing that children this age (4 & 5yrs) love to see is sillyness!! especially if you can get one of the adults to be the straight man to your "Silly and Naughty" person.

3) Music and dancing wise, you will not go wrong with the action dances they do in nursery ie:- Wind the bobbin up/heads shoulders/happy and you know it etc etc, they will not be receptive to just a disco.

4) The golden rule is :- If you get out the front and speak to them over the mic kneel down to their level, if you are eye to eye with them then they will be ok.

5) Start your perfomance while you are setting up!!! make them laugh with comments like "No laughing at this party" they love it.

It is a shame I live so far away mate, I would have popped along.

If you require any further help mate just ask.

Let me know how it goes.

Regards

Mayhem 1

[SPJ]

Thanks for your guidance guys. I feel better about this already :D

Mr Mayhem, sir. Fab advice, really appreciate that. :bowdown:

So what do you reckon, as well as the action stuff you mentioned, other stuff like Superman / hokey cokey etc will work? Any games guaranteed a good reception for this age range?

Suppose the good thing about kids is they don't expect super slick mixing skills ;) so even if many of the tracks are on one CD, I can banter a bit in between?

Advice received so far is :cool: if anyone has any more ideas, shout up, please.

thanks again and will report back to base on the outcome.

Steve

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Mate,

Hokey Cokey / Conga / Birdy Song (yes I know!!! but they love it) any Black lace, the list goes on........................

Games:- The usuall musical bumps/statues etc plus my own invention "Musical Poses"

Grab their attention and you are on to a sure winner mate.

You will have to work hard but it will be worth it.

regards

Mayhem 1

[Shaun]

my own invention "Musical Poses"


Sounds interesting, how does that work? :).




How's the planning for the DVD going?.

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Shaun Mate,

The DVD has been shelved due to being messed about by the production company but................... it will go ahead soon as I can get to meet with another company.

regards

Mayhem 1

[SPJ]

I had the kiddies party today, and although it was bedlam for most of it , I think it went off OK in the end.

Had a bit of a technical glitch when one of the CD drawers threw the CD into the back of the player and jammed the drawer open. :eek:
Luckily I'd burnt most of the tracks I was going to use onto one CD which was in the other drawer so managed to get round that one.
Problem now fixed so it works again.

It was decided that rather have all music then food, we'd split it so we had 40 mins or so of music then food, followed by another half hour dancing, etc.
2nd half was definitely better when the kids had got some food down them.

I reckon after cracking this a 40th/60th/Wedding should be a breeze by comparison :D

Anyway, now I've got one gig under my belt, can't wait to get cracking on some more. (adults events though , preferably ) :DJ:

Thanks again for the guidance and no doubt I'll be back for more before too long.

Steve

[Penfold42]

2nd half was definitely better when the kids had got some food down them.

One word....sugar...:D

Glad you had a good time. Well done.
Not done any kids parties yet....should be interesting if and when.

[Mayhem 1]

SPJ: Glad to hear things went ok mate, I said you would enjoy it lol !!!

penmare42: Get on to those Kids parties !!! Commmmmmmmmme Onnnnnnn !!!

regards both

Mayhem 1

[Penfold42]

penmare42: Get on to those Kids parties !!! Commmmmmmmmme Onnnnnnn !!!

I thought I had 2 in the bag, (my kids!) turn's out they now want to got to Alton Towers and Flamingo Land......lol....:D

[Mayhem 1]

Tell them that it will be cheaper to have a party mate lol lol

regards

Mayhem 1

[theoloyla]

You are brave! Adfter all my years of experience I would still be scared to death with an audience as young as that.

[Mayhem 1]

I did a treble 4 year old party yesterday and it was one of the best parties i have ever done mate!!!

Oh yes, bring on the kids parties.

Regards

Mayhem 1

[KrazyKaz]

Oh yes, bring on the kids parties.



Totally agree

[theoloyla]

No not for me. A local junior school rang up last week wanting a disco from 4 till 6. I was available but way too expensive - thank God!

[Key2]

Hi Steve

Just wanted to add my own congratulations. I'm still in the process of getting my equipment together, but hoping to do my first gig before the end of August. Currently thinking of starting off with kids parties too. Well done!

John:)