Choosing a Children's Entertainer: Questions to Ask

Start With Experience, Not Price

Booking a children's entertainer can feel like a leap of faith. You have a date, a venue, a dozen excitable five-year-olds and a lingering memory of a party where the magician lost the room in under four minutes. The good news is that the difference between a lovely, relaxed celebration and a slightly chaotic one usually comes down to a handful of questions asked before you pay a deposit.

Price matters, of course, but it should be the last thing you compare rather than the first. A performer charging £150 for a polished hour of laughter is better value than one charging £80 for a show that stalls. Ask about experience in specific, countable terms rather than accepting "I've been doing this for years" at face value.

• How many children's parties have you performed at in the last twelve months?
• What is the youngest and oldest audience you work with regularly?
• Can you send two or three recent references from parents in my area?
• Have you worked at a venue like ours — a village hall, a garden marquee, a small community centre?

An experienced entertainer will answer these easily and may offer to put you in touch with a past client. Reluctance to provide references is worth noting.

Insurance, Checks and Safeguarding

This is the part parents often feel awkward raising, and it is the part you should never skip. Any professional working with children should expect the question and have the paperwork ready.

• Public liability insurance — ask for the cover level and a copy of the certificate. £1 million is a common minimum; £5 million is preferable if your venue is larger or a council-owned space.
• An enhanced DBS check — particularly relevant if they will be unsupervised with children during games or balloon modelling.
• A written risk assessment — trailing cables, balloon pumps, small props and anything a toddler might put in their mouth.
• Paediatric first aid training — not legally required for entertainers, but reassuring in a room full of excited children.

Remember that a DBS certificate belongs to the individual, so ask when their check was completed and whether they are signed up to the update service. For a private party, you are the one doing the hiring, so the vetting sits with you.

What Is Actually Included in the Show

"An hour of magic" can mean many things. Ask how long the performance lasts once they have set up, and whether setting up is counted within that time. A typical children's show runs 45 to 60 minutes, with 30 minutes beforehand for setting up and 15 to 20 minutes afterwards for packing away. If you are hiring a hall by the hour, that timing matters.

Clarify what happens after the show finishes. Some performers include balloon modelling, a short disco, or a game or two; others will pack up the moment the applause dies down. Ask specifically:

• Do you bring your own music, speakers and microphone?
• What space and power do you need, and can you work outdoors?
• What happens if it rains and we have to move indoors?
• Do you stay for the cake and photographs, or leave before food is served?

Get the answers in writing, even if it is only a friendly email confirming the details.

Can They Tailor Jokes and Pace for Different Ages?

This is the question that separates a competent entertainer from a genuinely memorable one. A four-year-old adores repetition, silly noises, a puppet who answers back and a trick where the rabbit keeps escaping. A nine-year-old wants a bit of cheek, a puzzle they cannot quite solve, and to be in on the joke rather than the butt of it. Put those two groups in the same room and a rigid, one-size-fits-all routine will fall flat for somebody.

Ask how they handle a mixed-age party, and listen for specifics. Do they use volunteers from the audience and choose carefully? Do they learn the birthday child's name and use it during the show? Do they check for shy children and give them a gentle, low-pressure role? What do they do when a joke dies, or a toddler has a meltdown mid-trick? A skilled performer will have a plan and will talk about reading the room rather than simply performing at it.

If your child has additional needs, mention this early. Good entertainers will happily adjust volume, pacing and audience participation, and will appreciate knowing in advance rather than discovering it on the day.

Logistics, Deposits and the Awkward What-Ifs

Once you are happy with the person, sort out the practicalities before the excitement of the party takes over. A deposit of 25 to 50 per cent is standard, with the balance usually due on the day. Ask about cancellation terms from both sides: what happens if you need to postpone, and what happens if the entertainer is ill?

The illness question is a good one, because the answer tells you a lot. A professional will have a colleague they can call on, or will offer a full refund and plenty of notice. Also ask about their lateness policy, parking at the venue, and whether they need a parking space or access to a lift. It is far easier to sort these out by email in March than in a crowded hallway on a Saturday afternoon in July.

Ask the questions, get the answers confirmed in writing, and then relax. The best children's entertainers are the ones who arrive early, learn the birthday child's name, and leave you free to enjoy the cake.