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What ages are you able to do parties for? Which ages are best entertained by a performer such as yourself?
Having performed at over 700 celebrations so far, I have been to parties ranging for children of ALL ages. Some parties involve a group of children all the same age, and others have a wide range of ages. I am more than happy and comfortable performing for any age group, however I find that ages 1-13 tend to be MOST excited and receptive to a character birthday party. Often times, siblings, cousins and other family members and friends of various ages will be at a birthday party--so even if your child is celebrating their first birthday, having a character performer for face painting and balloon animals is a great way to keep the older children entertained!
How are your parties received by a group of boys?
They love it! Not all of our characters are revolved around princesses and Justin Bieber--a clown is a great character to bring in entertainment for a party that is mixed with both boys and girls. Also, we have just added Batman, Spiderman, a Jedi Knight, a Prince, and a Dragon Slayer through our male performer! A don't forget: Professor Snuggles, an evil scientist! Volcano BLAST! is the PERFECT option for a boy's party, ages 6-12, where they make and explode their own volcanoes. There are many options for your little superhero or scientist who is not interested in fairy princesses! And, although a lot of boys will swear they are not interested in a princess at first while at a girls' party, they always end up just as engaged in interaction with me as the girls are. I can also do plenty of typical "boy" related face painting and balloon animals, such as sharks, swords, dragons, airplanes, trains, etc.
Do you perform only for birthday parties?
No! We are available to perform for any celebration or gathering. Birthdays, holiday parties, corporate events, you name it, I've already done it (and will do it again!)
What areas do you travel to for your parties?
We will travel ANYWHERE in the entire San Francisco Bay Area--we currently have 11 professional entertainers on staff throughout the bay area and unlike other companies, WE DO NOT CHARGE GAS FEES! :)
How far in advance do I need to book?
Within 12 weeks of your party is the best time to book. I book on a first come, first serve basis, so the sooner the better--we fill up fast! It also helps if your preferred booking time has some flexibility in case another party has already been booked for that day--then we can more easily work out a time that works for both of us.
Will you show up in costume? Do I need to provide anything?
Yes, I will show up in full costume, hair, and make-up. I believe it's very important that the children believe I am the "real thing" the entire way through--to them, I am not wearing a "costume," but my royal ball gown straight from the castle, or my clown clothes from the circus! I bring all of my own face paints, brushes, balloon animals, and balloon pump. In most cases, all you will need to provide is a small cup of water for the face painting. If anything else is needed, you will be notified at the time you book.
What do you think about having a bounce house in addition to a character performer? Can I book one through you, too? What about cotton candy, popcorn, sno-cone machines, etc?
In my experience, the most successful parties have BOTH a performer and a bounce house. I can easily hold a large group of children's attention during the group activities: magic shows, volcanos, balloon animals, etc.--but a bounce house is GREAT to have for individual activities like face painting. This is when I get to spend a few minutes of one-on-one time with each child, and a bounce house is a wonderful way for the other kids to stay entertained while waiting for THEIR turn. And yes, you can book through Kari by phone! You can read more on our our "Bounce Houses" and Bounce House FAQ pages or simply call Kari at any time for more information! (925) 849-4462.
My child is shy, do you think having a character performer will be too much for her?
No. Of course, every child is different, but I have yet to meet one who did not open up to me and end up on my lap by the end of a party. I will always give special attention to the birthday child, and go out of my way to help a shy child feel comfortable if they are feeling nervous. I easily adapt to the needs of the children at each individual party--whether shy and timid, or vocal and energetic.
Is a 1.5 hours really enough time for a magic show, face paint for everyone AND making them each a balloon animal?
If your party consists of no more than 12 children who will be participating in the face painting and balloon animals, then yes--there will be time for me to face paint and make one balloon animal per child--with a magic show. I usually work many parties throughout the bay area PER DAY and must leave on the time scheduled in order to make it to the next party in a timely manner. If you expect more than 12 participating children to show up, please consider booking a 2 hour party for $199, where I can accommodate up to 20 children total. This way, you will be ensured that there will be plenty of time for each child to get their turn! An extra half hour after a 2 hour party is an additional $39. For parties longer than 2 hours, please contact me for a quote.
Can I book you on a weekday?
Of course! As with on weekends, weekdays are booked on a first come, first serve basis--plus, we offer weekday discounts!
Are you reliable?
Yes. Of course, there is always the chance of an unpleasant surprise or unexpected delay such as in the case of a car accident causing traffic--but I have never, ever pulled a "no-call, no-show" and I have never been late in the past 4 years of magic-making. I also have a very nice (and very expensive!) GPS system for extra back-up.
Do you do anything other than a magic show, face painting and balloon animals?
Yes! We also perform puppet shows (geared toward the toddler age, in place of a magic show), play classic children's games, etc. and offer bounce houses, party foods and supplies, and more if requested to be part of the party plan. Great for boys (and girls!) is "Volcano BLAST!" where the evil Professor Snuggles will come and teach your little scientists how to make and explode their own volcanos! Also, if you're interested in having a High School Musical Cheerleader to your party, you can mix and match your activities to include cheerleading lessons that will end in a group performance by the children, with the birthday girl as the star! Please contact me for additional ideas and recommendations to best fit your needs! Non-Stop Dance Party, Girls Night In, Toddler Sing and Dance have now been added and can be found on our Party Options page!!
Do you offer any discounts or have a referral program for past clients?
Yes! If you book your party for a weekday (Monday-Friday) you will be offered a discounted price. In addition, we are almost always offering some sort of special deal. Please don't forget to tell us how you hear about us--chances are, you'll receive some sort of a discount just for mentioning where you heard about us!
Why should I hire you, and not someone else for my child's birthday?
Because I genuinely love what I do. There is nothing I love more than making a child feel the same way I felt when I saw or met someone truly magical when I was a child myself. If it weren't for having to pay bills, I would do it for free. I am hard working, friendly, and HONEST the whole way through, even if it means that you end up not booking me, something that is, sadly, hard to come by these days. Also, I have yet to find a company that charges less than what I do for the amount of experience that I have.
**Please note: if you are searching for bounce/jump house FAQ, please click HERE.
Email Me: magicparties@live.com Call Me: (925) 849-4462
Questions? Ready to book? Call Me: 925-849-4462 Email Me: magicparties@live.com
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