MANY PARENTS WHO HIRE ME HAVE NEVER HIRED A CLOWN. HERE ARE SOME TIPS:
1.ASK HOW LONG THE CLOWN HAS BEEN DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK.(I STARTED ABOUT 17 YEARS AGO)
2.ASK FOR REFERENCES IF YOU WISH. IT'S YOUR MONEY YOU ARE SPENDING!
3.IF POSSIBLE, SHOW YOUR SMALL CHILD A PICTURE OF A CLOWN AND SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING HE/SHE WOULD LIKE AND WOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF. YOU CAN SHOW HIM/HER PICTURES OF ME ON MY WEB SITE.
4.KNOW THE AGES THAT WILL BE AT YOUR PARTY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ENTERTAIN 2-YEAR-OLDS SO YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT IF THE PARTY IS AT A DAY CARE AND YOUR CHILD IS TURNING 2, A CLOWN'S ABILITY TO ENTERTAIN 2-YEAR-OLDS IS HARD. IF IT IS A BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH A VARIETY OF AGES INVITED, THEN YOUR 2-YEAR-OLD WILL ENJOY HAVING THE OTHER KIDS AROUND AND MAY LIKE THE CLOWN, BUT HIS ATTENTION SPAN WON'T BE VERY LONG FOR A CLOWN SHOW.
5.IF YOU FEEL THAT YOUR GUESTS MAY ARRIVE LATE, LET THEM KNOW WHAT TIME THE CLOWN IS SCHEDULED TO COME SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN WON'T MISS THE CLOWN ALTOGETHER. I HAVE BEEN TO PARTIES THAT SOME GUESTS ARRIVED AS I WAS LEAVING, AND I HAD OTHER PARTIES TO GO TO AND COULDNT STAY AND MAKE SURE THOSE CHILDREN GOT A BALLOON ANIMAL OR A FACE PAINTING.
6.MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN ARE ALL TOGETHER FOR THE CLOWN'S ARRIVAL IF POSSIBLE. IT MAKES IT EASIER TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE MAGIC/CLOWN SHOW FIRST AND THEN MOVE ALONG TO THE OTHER PARTS SUCH AS FACE PAINTING OR BALLOON ANIMALS.
8.PLEASE ENCOURAGE THE CHILDREN TO FORM A LINE TO WAIT FOR THEIR FACE PAINTING OR BALLOON ANIMAL, AND THE BIRTHDAY CHILD GETS TO GO FIRST FOR EVERYTHING. HE/SHE IS THE HONORED ONE AT THIS PARTY AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY.
9.PLEASE HAVE MY PAY READY TO GIVE TO ME WHEN I ARRIVE IF POSSIBLE. I USUALLY HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT OR TRY TO FIND YOU WHEN I LEAVE. MOST OF THE TIME, THE PARENTS ARE VERY BUSY AT THE LAST MINUTES OF THE PARTY, GETTING READY TO SERVE THE CAKE AND ICE CREAM OR SOMETIMES THEY ARE ALREADY INTO HELPING THE BIRTHDAY CHILD OPEN HIS/HER PRESENTS, SO IT IS EASY FOR ME TO JUST SLIP OUT IF I HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAID.
10.IN THE CASE OF A BUSINESS EVENT, I REQUIRE A $50 NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT BECAUSE I CAN'T OPERATE ON A 30-DAYS DELAY FOR MY MONEY. IF YOU NEED AN INVOICE AND MY TAX ID AND A w-9 FAXED TO YOU, PLEASE TELL ME AND I WILL PROVIDE IT. IF I DO PROVIDE IT IN AMPLE TIME, I EXPECT PAYMENT WHEN I ARRIVE. I AM A SMALL, HOME-BASED BUSINESS PERSON AND I OPERATE ON WHAT I RECEIVE FROM DAY TO DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
11.DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL ME A DAY BEFORE THE PARTY TO BOOK IF YOU HAD ANOTHER ENTERTAINER TO CANCEL; IT IS POSSIBLE I HAD A PARTY TO CANCEL OR MAY HAVE A VACANT TIME SLOT. I WORK WITH PEOPLE IN CASES LIKE THIS, AND I MAY EVEN HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A CLOWN AND IS NOT BUSY THAT DAY.
12.PLAN AHEAD AND THE SURPRISES WILL BE A MINIMUM!
13, IF YOU ARE PLAYING MUSIC WHEN I ARRIVE, PLEASE TURN IT OFF SO I CAN HAVE THE CHILDREN'S ATTENTION AS I DO THE SHOW.
14.YES, YOU CAN GET UNCLE JOE TO DRESS UP IN A CLOWN SUIT AND DO WHAT? PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU ASK MY PRICE, THAT I AM A PROFESSIONAL WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN AND GUESTS, AND REMEMBER I HAVE TO START GETTING READY AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE I AM TO ARRIVE AT YOUR PARTY. I USUALLY DRIVE AT LEAST AN HOUR EACH WAY. I SPEND AN HOUR AT YOUR PARTY. (THIS IS HOW I MAKE MY LIVING). I SPEND ANOTHER 30 MINUTES GETTING THE MAKEUP AND COSTUME OFF ONCE I ARRIVE HOME, AND I AM EXHAUSTED BECAUSE I POUR ALL MY ENERGY INTO MAKING SURE YOUR KIDS HAVE A GOOD TIME AT THE PARTY.
15. IF YOU HAVE A MOON WALK RENTED, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO RENT THESE THINGS OUT, DONT LIKE FOR KIDS TO GO INTO THEM WITH WET FACE PAINT ON THEIR FACES. IT MAKES THE MOON WALK VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN BETWEEN RENTALS.
16. MOST OF ALL, LET'S HAVE FUN! AND TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES OR VIDEOS, BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING MEMORIES HERE!!!!!!