Disco or Kids entertainer

[mike8863]

I am noticing more often lately that if i am covering the wedding breakfast etc with background music and the like that clients are now asking me to play tracks to keep the kids amused early on in the evening.
I have so far, reluctantly, put "High school musical" muisic on etc, but i am planning on telling clients in future that they need to sort an alternative out as i am not a creche entertainer. Or, do i whack up the fee to reflect that i am now being seen as an alround entertainer.......!!.
Is it just me, being grumpy, old, worn out etc, or has anyone else noticed this.....???.

[Vectis]

Use it as a USP and knock the price up a bit

Kids are easy - HSM, Glee, whatever's-hot-right-now, charts. Bit of musical statues if they start getting a bit bored. Sorted.

[mike8863]

you have way to much patience...................

[Vectis]

you have way to much patience...................

What, for an extra £50-£100 when you'd otherwise be playing boring background tunes anyway? Patience can be found

[mike8863]

that is a hard sell round these parts, let me tell you. But I will give it a go....
doh kids.......................

[Vectis]

that is a hard sell round these parts, let me tell you. But I will give it a go....
doh kids.......................

OK - find out how much a bouncy castle costs for a couple of hours, and sell on price parity.

[mike8863]

top advice, thankyou young sir...................

[simon1969]

OK - find out how much a bouncy castle costs for a couple of hours, and sell on price parity.

Or even a costume learn some juggling your away!!!

[Shaun]

Gotta agree with Martin. I've secured a few gigs by entertaining the kids at weddings. I've not charged extra for this service. Maybe I should?

At the pre-event meeting I always ask if there will be many kids in attendance, if there are, I ask the client if they would like a dedicated half hour at the beginning to make the children feel part of the evening. I explain some of the benefits of this, and also some of the pitfalls of children at weddings, and how these pitfalls can be avoided with a little planning. The vast majority think it's a great idea. If there isn't going to be a lot of children I won't make the suggestion. Kids generally tend to get bored at weddings, and ultimately play up. How many times have we all performed at weddings and kids are running around and across the dancefloor during the first dance? This can be avoided by devoting a little bit of time and making the kids feel involved. It also allows the parents to have a bit of a breather knowing where their kids are and knowing that their keeping out of trouble.

The kids really do respond to this and relieves some of the boredom they have. When they're on the floor I explain that this part of the evening is all about them, and that we're going to have plenty of fun over the next half hour. I also explain that after their 'mini party' it's really important that they sit down with their mum and dads for a while as we'll be playing a special song for the Bride & Groom. This I'll explain again at the end of the 30 minute stint. You'd be surprised by the difference this makes, especially after you've devoted some time to them. Many times the mums and dads will join the kids on the floor for a bit so it end up being a nice uplifting and upbeat start to the night. Each time I've done this parents have come up and thanked me saying that it was a nice touch and it was good to see the kids having fun.



It's also important to point out that I'm not a children's entertainer. I no longer even provide children's parties as it's the one part of my repertoire that I feel least out of my comfort zone doing. The average punter wouldn't notice but I really find it very hard work. I have a lot of respect for the DJs that specialise in this. Children's entertaining is definitely not for me, and thankfully I only do the above a few times a year. But it's handy knowing for a short time I can pull it out of the bag when needed.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

If im asked to entertain the kids, i charge alot extra and get a magician friend/business aquaintance onboard.

It can then be upsold further by having him do more adult table walkaround later on!