Kent Kids Parties

FAQs

• How long do you need to set up?

  30mins

• What experience do you have working with children?

  20 years working as an entertainer. But don't just take my word for it. Take a look at what they have been saying on Netmums. “I booked James for my daughters 5th birthday and was totally amazed at the quality of service he provided from start to finish. He had all the kids (and parents!) entertained throughout the party and made sure that every child was included (all 26 of them). We chose the combination party and it was the perfect mix of games and dancing. My daughter absolutely loved it and so did all of her friends. I’ve had parents coming up to me since saying how much they enjoyed the entertainment James provided. Thank you James we will certainly be booking you again in the future and would recommend you to anyone organising a party!” – Beth “James is awesome!!! If you want to relax and enjoy your child’s birthday party then book him. Very professional, enthusiastic and fun. Everyone loved him, a friend of mine at the party has just asked for his details so she can book him for her little girl. Would definitely recommend.” – Lisa “I cannot recommend James highly enough for a childrens’ party of any age, he is absolutely fantastic. As a parent I was able to relax for once and enjoy my daughter’s 5th birthday party instead of rushing around trying to control the children. James completely captivates the audience (including the mums and dads I must add!). What I really liked is that James ensures that no child is left out .. even the shyest. With a mix of traditional games, magic, disco, lights, bubbles and more, James is simply the best. I have him booked in for next year and also for my son’s birthday. Thank you James for a memorable 5th birthday party!” – Lynn “I had attended a party run by James this year and was so impressed. We hired James to entertain about 40 children for our daughter’s 5th birthday party. There was a mixture of children aged mainly 2-5 present. Making the arrangements was smooth and helpful. He guided us with the planning and made very helpful suggestions. James arrived early to the party to set up and was an extremely calming influence on us all. He was calm, confident and professional and lots of fun! He managed to engage the children without question throughout the whole 2 hours and had a mixture of games/prizes/ disco dancing and general entertainment tricks. The children all enjoyed it and the mums were very pleased to have their kids entertained so well. Thanks again. I would definitely recommend James. ” – Caroline

• Are you DBS checked?

  CRB checks were replaced completely on the 1st March 2013 to become DBS checks (Disclosure & Barring Service). We can’t check ourselves, you have to check us. However, these checks are only for certain occupations. These occupations are set out in law and you won’t be allowed to conduct a check if their occupation isn’t listed. Occupations where these checks apply tend to be occupations where someone is left in sole charge of children. Entertainers like myself don’t fall under the scope of the DBS because we’re performers and we’re not left in sole charge of children.

• Do you limit the number of children that we can invite to our child's Birthday party?

• Is there any video footage of your show?

  99% of the parties we perform at are private birthdays where I obviously can’t take footage. Often parents share footage from parties on their own private social media sites but it wouldn’t be acceptable to share in the public domain without the permission of other parents whose children appear in it. However, there are plenty of testimonials and reviews across the web where you can read about real customers experiences.

• Can we have a show outdoors?

  I know there’s a temptation to have your party outside in the summer and it can be a pleasant change for me to work outside. However in my experience garden parties never work as well. The problem is there are normally too many distractions like swings, slides, trampolines and other games and toys around the garden. Also the sunlight itself can be a hindrance because the kids get agitated having to sit in the sunlight watching. And my cool party lighting won’t show up either so all-in-all I suggest you have the show indoors and then if it’s a nice day you could have a party picnic outside after the show.

• My worse nightmare is the entertainer not turning up. Are you reliable?

  Sadly, all too often we hear of people who have been let down at the last minute and predictably it’s always the cheapies or those who aren’t members of trade associations like Equity. So, even if you don’t book me, please hire someone who’s a member of an association like Equity for that extra peace of mind.

• We saw an entertainer quoting £70 in the local paper. Are you expensive or are they cheap?

  Please don’t be fooled by unbelievably cheap prices. Like any other industry we have cowboys as well. Ask to go see them work first and you’ll probably discover that cheapness and quality rarely go hand in hand. Even if you don’t book me, to ensure you’re booking a professional, you could also consider hiring someone who’s a member of a trade association for that extra peace of mind. I’m a member of Equity which means I have to adhere to a strict code of conduct – but there are many others.