Party Game Idea – Stick the Wand on the Magician   An updated version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  Get a large sheet of poster-board and make a large drawing of a magician holding his magic wand (see drawing for an example).  Make a number of other wands from poster-board, and write guest’s name on each.  Blindfold guests and play.  Whoever can attach the wand closest to the right spot wins!

 

 

 

 

 

A. Tie a bouquet of balloons on your mailbox, front porch or apartment door so it’s easy for your guests to find the party (not to mention your magician!).  Have the birthday child select the balloon colors.

 

B. Involve the entire family in your child’s party.  Assign duties for each.  Perhaps one parent can be in charge of taking pictures.  Maybe one of the siblings can introduce the magician when it’s time for the entertainment.  Another might hang up coats or prepare refreshments.

 

C. Prepare your child for the party.  You might play act or rehearse how you would like your child to answer the door, greet your guests and receive the presents.  Discuss good manners and acceptable behavior for the party, and what areas are off limits (e.g. bedrooms).  It’s also important to give your other children a little extra love on the day of the party, remembering the limelight is on the birthday child.

 

D. Protect your pets.  I suggest that they be placed in a safe area away from the children.  Some children like to play rough, and animals may bite if they feel threatened.

 

E. Presents – You might want to consider having a large cardboard box handy to put presents in.  The birthday child could decorate it with bright wrapping paper or simply color it.  You might also purchase some stickers or labels, and put each invited child’s name on two stickers.  When the child arrives at the party, place one sticker on the present and the other on the card.  That way, if the gift and the card get separated, you have two chances at being a little less creative with your thank you notes.
 
F. Timing of the entertainment - a good rule of thumb is to have the magic show near the start of the party.  I usually suggest about 30 minutes into the party, to allow guests time to arrive, should they be running late.  You can always open presents or play a game at this time.  After the show, I usually recommend the food.  The children are usually excited after an interactive show, and it’s wise to contain their energy, so it is not dispensed on your home.

 

G. When I’m asked “What food should I serve, and when?” I usually suggest light snacks, such as small finger-size hot dogs or pizza squares.  (Cutting the pizza in squares makes it easier for small children to handle.)  Apple juice is also a parents’ favorite.  Most party foods have sugar, which tends to make children unruly and difficult to deal with.  For this reason, the food should come at the end of the party.  If you feed the children up front, the sugar kicks in and it’s every adult for him or herself.  So why not save that wonderful sugar high for later, when they go home!  Hehehe!

 

H. Another suggestion is that, instead of buying a great big birthday cake, you might purchase or make a small cake, just big enough for the family.  Use this cake to light candles and sing ‘Happy Birthday’, then serve individual cupcakes, which can be handed out quickly and are less messy.  And by saving the real cake for the family dinner hour, the whole family can share the birthday cake, a much appreciated plus, particularly if one of the parents must work at the time of the party and cannot attend.

 

I. Let the birthday child select two friends to sit next to him/her when you serve the food.  Have the birthday child sit down first, invite the two friends to join him, and then have all the other children find seats.  Pre-assigned seating often results in tears for someone who wanted to sit with someone else.  The only other suggestion here is that if it is a co-ed party, the birthday child might be asked to pick one male and one female friend to sit on each side.

 

J. As an entertainer, my job is to make everyone at your party feel good.  The more information I have, the better I can be of service to you.  I like to get everyone involved.  So it helps if I know whether your child is shy or has a special need, and who their best friend is.  I would also appreciate it if you would take a moment when I arrive at the party to point out the who’s-who in your family.  In this age of step-parents, single parent families, and multiple sets of grandparents, it’s important that I know who to include in family tricks and how to introduce them in my show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan early.  If you want to hire a professional performer, take action well in advance.  Then, you’ll get the entertainer on the date and time you want.  Although some of my long-time customers make arrangements nine to twelve months in advance, a good rule of thumb is usually one to three months in advance.  (Sometimes I'm able to help with a date, with only a week or two notice.  Sometimes I'm already booked up.)  The same is true if you need to reserve a rental room for your party, if having it away from the home.

 

Where to look.  If you see a performer you like at another family event, ask them for their business card, or jot down their name.  Or, ask other parents, friends, and co-workers if they have hired an entertainer before, and about their experience with that entertainer.  Other good sources of names and numbers can be found by doing a web search for “Victoria Magician” (name of your city).  Sometimes there are ads in parent magazines or newspaper classifieds.  Because you're on this webpage, you've already found one magician - me! :)

 

Some tips on making your initial inquiry a success.  Don’t rush the call.  And, don’t just ask for show length and cost.  Set time aside for this conversation and take the time to listen to ALL of the information being offered, so you can make an informed decision.  Usually, a professional will start by asking you some questions, so they can understand as much as possible about your situation and your needs.  They want to help you, so be honest and open with them.  Then, after that part of the conversation, they will give you full information about their act, experience, packages, and fees.

 

A professional should anticipate your needs.  Did the performer offer full birthday show information online?  How skilled was the entertainer’s description of their performance on the telephone?  The performer’s ability to anticipate your questions and deliver a complete, well-thought-out description of their background and performance during your initial inquiry call is a sign of how professional you can expect their show to be. 

 

Did they offer follow up information in the mail or online (with photos and customer testimonials)?  Did you receive no further information at all?  Or did you receive a flimsy flier that really told you nothing more than they were able to explain over the telephone?  The performer’s skill in creating a visual image of their show in advance is certainly a big reflection on the overall quality of what you will receive on the day of your party.

 

“Can I talk to some of your past customers?”  Reference and recommendation comments are helpful in making an informed decision, but do not expect the entertainer to just give you the name and telephone numbers of past customers.  In this age of diminishing privacy, would you want a phone call at home from a complete stranger?  A professional should anticipate your need in this area, and offer you quotes from testimonial letters as part of an information package, and also have some testimonial quotes online at their website, to help you in your decision making process.

 

Ask questions and seek advice.  If you still have some questions after the performer has completely told you about their show, then ask away.  The professional will encourage open communication, and often has some wonderful advice to make your upcoming party more successful.

 

The bottom line is VALUE!  “Is it worth the investment?”  This is a better question to consider, rather than measuring the length of the show vs. price.  Carefully consider what you really want (your true “buying criteria”) when choosing a performer.  Will this entertainer make my child’s party memorable?  Will the show be age-appropriate?  What is this performer’s experience?  What is unique about this performer?  Am I just getting a basic magic show, or a complete entertainment “package” (with additional items included)?  Can I trust them to not cancel on me?  Will the performer confirm my reservation in writing?  Although they may advertise, this does not make them professional.  Look for the signs of professionalism and value.

 

The savings from hiring an amateur rapidly disappears if that amateur arrives late (or cancels on you last minute), has shabby props and costuming, or embarrasses you with an under-whelming show.

 

Choosing a professional entertainer is your assurance of a fun and memorable experience that you’ll remember with pride.

 

The author of this birthday party tips page is Donald Dunphy.  Donald has been entertaining children’s and family audiences for 34 years.  He has performed over 3500 live shows, and about 1000 of those shows have been for children's birthday parties.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phone me today at 250-727-6505 - Victoria, British Columbia - to discuss availability, or to ask any further questions.