"How much!?!...but it's only a kids party!!"

[rob1963]

Kids parties can work in your favour.

I have a friend who does quite a few.

They are often late afternoon, in which case he has time to go on to a normal gig afterwards, thereby earning money from TWO different gigs on the same evening!

Personally, I wouldn't touch kids discos with a barge pole.

I leave them to the Mr Mayhems (experts) of this world.

[flatliners]

i once done a kids party and at the time i was charging 60 pounds for 2 hours on a sat afternoon i got an extra 2 kids bookings on the day and another 3 people out of the cards i gave out rang me turned out 2 be adults partys and another kids all in all that 1 do get me some nice work so dont knock a kids party just think of the work it could generate
but if people want a kids party on a saturday night they will have to pay saturday night prices

[CRAZY K]

You know the scenario.....

Get a phone call from a parent wanting to hire you to provide a kids party on a prime Saturday evening date. Give them the quote and you hear...."How much!?!...but it's only a kids party!!". My overheads don't get cheaper if I do a kids party and neither does my price. I will reduce the price for daytime or weekday, but definitely not for a Saturday evening.

I've had too many of these kind of calls lately, and if I'm really honest these are my least favourite types of events. I have a lot of respect for people like Mayhem and KrazyKaz that specialise in these types of parties, as it's definitely a skill to do them correctly.

I've officially retired from kids parties.....

Im doing a Western Theme Kids Party on Friday--I ALWAYS insist I wont do more than 2 hours---attention span and all that stuff.

Because its local and 2 hours I knocked £25 off the full rate

It was a recommendation--so its take it or leave it--kids can be far more demanding to control --I have to shout a lot more ---so no favours on the price.

The lady booking it was a bit concerned about controlling the kids---dont you worry I said---my PA is much louder than they will ever be

I think the great unwashed public out there need educating--

I use the comparison with people like Dynorod--if they turn up you have a fixed charge and then time charging---they dont charge peanuts for turning up thats for sure ---nor do I!!!!!!!!!

Maybe thats how we should quote--£100 to turn up and x pounds an hour--easier to get over to the public?

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

Maybe thats how we should quote--£100 to turn up and x pounds an hour--easier to get over to the public?

That's exactly how I work with one of my corporate clients. One place I work for regularly offers a range of party options, some lasting 90 minutes, some 2 hours, and over the course of an evening several will overlap. Sometimes I'll start at 6:30 and be finished by 8:00, othertimes it's a 6:00 start / finish 10:30 and this often isn't known until the actual date.

So he pays an 'attendance fee' (covers the overheads) then a half-hourly rate.


In light of this and the fact that I love kids parties (over 6's under 16's) I put together a package aimed squarely at that market - a loud sound system with a laptop full of everything you're ever likely to need at that age range, video projector and half a dozen impressive lights & lasers. Fits in half a van, takes 20 minutes to set up. Price is for up to 3 hours, then it's extra per half-hour. It's selling very well. OK so not as much profit as your typical wedding but virtually no planning required, usually home by 10:30 and, as has been alluded to already on the thread, LOTS of repeat business and 'adult' gigs come out of it too. And as my charges are on a sliding scale and also seasonal, if someone wanted to book a kids party on a Saturday night in July, then it would be rather expensive but if they went ahead and booked, I wouldn't feel cheated.

[Tonsk]

I love kids parties and do charge a little less for them if on a Saturday night, but not a great deal..

For example, I have one coming up in November - My ordinary charge is £225 from 8 till midnight for adult functions... This one I'm charging £185 from 7.15 till 9.30.. Will be home for 10.30 so early night and can be up early the next day for a full day with the wife and kid....

Win win for me, plus less equipment, more up for it crowd etc etc....

They do get glowsticks, flashing hair braids, flashing necklaces, balloons etc etc but they are soo much easier to entertain..... As long as you don't lose their interest EVER.... If you do, then you are in trouble...

So £40 less, but an early night with a lot less carrying of equipment.... Worth it in my book.... Plus, as Vectis says, I get lots of repeat work for adult functions from it...

[TONYTIGER]

i once done a kids party and at the time i was charging 60 pounds for 2 hours on a sat afternoon i got an extra 2 kids bookings on the day and another 3 people out of the cards i gave out rang me turned out 2 be adults partys and another kids all in all that 1 do get me some nice work so dont knock a kids party just think of the work it could generate
but if people want a kids party on a saturday night they will have to pay saturday night prices

Spot on as i said i just do them off peak had a quick look at my books brings in between £2000/2500 per year nice little earner. Mind you not everybodys cup off tea you have to be very confident to take them but very satisfying.

[Cj_The_Dj]

i totally agree your in this trade for a living .

you couldn't walk in a shop and say how much for a mars bar . "HOW MUCH!! its only for a kid" lol yes in day time i go cheaper depending on the gig

[Sam]

i totaly agree you in it for a living .

you couldnt walk in a shop and say how much for a marsbar . "HOW MUCH!! its only for a kid" lol yes in day time i go cheper depending on the gig but i would never sel my self sort lol

how do you self sort?

I generally charge cheaper for childrens discos...
why? Because they are easier. and because why should they pay the same as someone who wants a wedding disco.. not quite the same .. havind said that the childrens discos seem to 'fill the slots' nicely.. when i don't have weddings booked.

I tend never to go below £150 for a disco though.

[Vectis]

you couldn't walk in a shop and say how much for a mars bar . "HOW MUCH!! its only for a kid" lol

Ah, but if I were an enterprising shopkeeper, I could retort with "Oh well if it's for a kid, then I can do you this snack sized Mars Bar for two-thirds of the price of a normal-sized one"

Then you'd get yourself a reputation as a flexible and considerate shopkeeper who has a variety of options to suit all Mars Bar requirements!

Maybe

[Cj_The_Dj]

how do you self sort?

I generally charge cheaper for childrens discos...
why? Because they are easier. and because why should they pay the same as someone who wants a wedding disco.. not quite the same .. havind said that the childrens discos seem to 'fill the slots' nicely.. when i don't have weddings booked.

I tend never to go below £150 for a disco though.

but around south Yorkshire people wont pay much more than 100.00 because there is some people in yellow pages who charge £90.00

so i cant realy aford to do a sturday night for £60.00 as i would charge in day time for a kid party