Category: plan

Unicorn party – games and set up

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There are just so many ways to theme up a party, and play around with what you can do

Depending on their ages, there are so many things that could work for this style of party

I recently did an 8yo Unicorn party, it was Fabulous, here are some of  the games we played

The most important thing is to engage their imagination, and for this, you don’t really need much, just a dash of silliness and some coloured material

First step is, decide with the kids (I have had them tell me it’s a fart/tinkle noise)  what noise a unicorn makes and that is the sound to start and finish games

Have pockets of glitter and make the unicorn sound and throw glitter in the air

  1. tell a story together, this is done with a lot of engagement from the children, we tell a story of a little unicorn (children name and age the unicorn) you start the adventure with this unicorn sleeping and have the chldren be asleep.  then make up a story with the kids input (remember the input because you retell it backwards as the unicorn goes out for an adventure then finds it’s way back home.  The children absolutely love this game, because it engages them in all forms, they get to create a character and take it on an adventure that is all their own

2. Team games, make two hobby horse unicorns out of balloons and have the two teams race once around the table/chair/clothesline and then hand the hobby horse (they mush ride it like its a horse)  over to the next one in line, the team done first starts neighing loudly

3. balancing games with a parachute – kids in the centre are wearing the unicorn horn (balloon horn perhaps) and then you can wash them in the huge unicorn  washing machine (everyone runs around the circle with the edge of the parachute, it twists up and the unicorn in the centre needs to keep their balance

more parachute games here

Running games – blow up a balloon if they can (most cant) assist with your balloon pump and tie off  then they have races frontways backways sideways all together around the yard

2 teams

Jelly bean / Marshmallow run – spoon in mouth,(everyone has their own spoon) picking it up from one bowl and putting it in another

Unicorn tails (snakes or rainbow straps) pegged on a string and have an eating competition

Make unicorn Gel – clear aloe vera Gel plus a drop of glycerine plus loads of super fine glitter can be used for skin or cheeks or lips (always avoid eyes) This is an excellent one for older kids, get them to decorate the pots you put it all in after they have made their magical glitter Gel

Make glitter slime, I have been making slime for years with kids, however there is now an issue with borax so we don’t use it any more, here is a slime recipe that I have been using and adding glitter too so it’s all squishy and lovely

  • 1.5 cups  of white glue
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Baking Soda
  • 2 tablespoons of  saline solution (make it yourself with water and salt)

Mix it, add some shaving foam to make it fluffy, then add food colouring and glitter, loads of glitter, it’s a gooey slimey mess

Aaany way, I had heaps of fun at the party, so did my little friends, happy Unicorning

 

Peace and love

Mel

 

 

 

Balloonacy@work

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I am so grateful that I get to do what I love for work, but it’s been a hard long slog to get here, if you don’t know or haven’t found it yet, there is still time to get in the industry if not exactly the field.. gotta have a go or you’ll always wonder 

Passing Work Around

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Building a team can be tricky when you work for yourself, one of the things we do as Entertainers and Event co ordinators is share the love around, when there is a Job that I cannot do due to time constraints, I heartily recommend several of my competitors, and they in turn send work to me, when we have a big decor install or event, we book each other and everyone gets to wear each others T shirt or banner during that event/decorbuild.

This is important for two reasons,

  1. It’s always good to work with a team even on an adhoc basis, being alone all the time sends some small business people batty.
  2. What goes around comes around, this is true in life and n business, when we support each other, we all move a step forward, being jealous and guarding your customers can only make the customers anxious and therefore less likely to book you. by sharing the love with your peers, they in turn will share with you.(community is Awsome)

Have a Fab week my friends

MelIMG_4167

 

This is what being a Professional is all about, Being Prepared

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So many times I get questioned about why we are expensive, and I get it, you want to look after the budget, but this is why you want want to only work with professionals.

Today, I was twisting balloons and entertaining the crowd, 

A little girl about 12 so not that little I guess, at the front of my line fainted, as a Professional, I have all  my insurances and working with children’s checks, and a senior first aid cerificate, And nearly 20years working with children.

 I’m lucky to have caught her before she hit anything, I let her down gently and made sure her head did not hit the ground, put her into the recovery position and, as others (thank you parents that came in to assist when this happened, you are awsome) called her carers and management, we started cooling her down, this was all done calmly, and methodically.
 Her little sister was also in the line for balloons so after we got sister 1 squared away, cold cloths and cold water, carers in attendance I made her the best poppy troll-like balloon I could, I made sure she had down and got her to smile and relax.

This is my life.

 Being an entertainer means I am always prepared, I have a first aid kit with me should it be required, I am very conscious about health and safety because you and your children are my responsibility, both in entertainment and in safety when I’m booked, because accidents happen my friends, A professional entertainer will always Be Prepared, even if it’s not me, make sure you are sure of whom you are working with
Be well my friends 

Mel

Making balloons at the Royal Children’s Hospital 

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It’s tough when your little one is very, very sick, we are so very lucky to have this amazing technology available to save them and help them heal, as they convalesce, giving them moments of joy is what life is all about 

Thinking of using a Children’s Play land for your little one’s party?

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Choosing the Venue can be tricky, what exactly do you want to do?

Basically you are swapping effort for cash

Birthday Parties and Indoor playgrounds

Do you want to walk in, have it catered and walk out? no cleaning and no fuss?

for a Children’s party, there are many playland options, they usually have food as well, can cater for different developmental play levels if it’s a large party with siblings.

these can be very pricy, but they are walk in, walk out so you have to work out what your time is worth… Prices start (depending on the venue) at $15 per child and $5 per attending adult

For that would get you very basic food, hot chips and meat pies and a cup of soda pop, the party rooms usually run for 2 hours , you bump in, the kids play, food comes, there is cake (usually you provide the cake, they can again, for a price)

You can have an attendant (Pay more for a specific costume eg spiderman) actually to run the party, keep the kids on track and encourage the birthday song, they also will make sure you are in the photo when your one blows out the candle, this get’s forgotten by many a parent.

If some of the attendees parents stay, you will also pay a small cover charge for them, plus you may want to feed them as well, Coffee/tea and various platters.

I have used this when my little ones were around 4-6 and they can run and jump and chase to their heart’s content

In the scheme of things, if you are providing a jumping castle and entertainer, then fiscally this could be on par. however, your guests are sharing an environment with many. many other people, toileting can be tricky and you really only have two hours for the actual room, so you will need to bump out into the general area (they usually have tables and chairs) after this.

do a google search for all the “kids birthday play venues” in your area, ask about what is covered, and do the math, in the long run, there is very little clean up, or prep for you, so you can talk with the other grown ups.

Pro                                                                              Con

Walk in, walk out (no set up or clean up)      Can be pricy depending on amount of attendees

Big play area=lots to do                                        Sharing the area with many other people

Getting to talk to the adults                               Cover charge for each adult + food platters

 

So, all in all quite good, less actual getting hands dirty fuss, you will need to be very clear of RSVP numbers because you pre book the food so the platters are prepped.

If you are bringing cake then all good, (Ice cream is extra) if you are getting the venue to provide cake then be very clear on size, (I was suprised one time by a small cake that had to go around 15 kids)

They will have a professional photographer on hand, again, VERY pricy but some of the shots are good, so all in all it’s up to you

work out your budget then add 20% because stuff happens, and if it does not, you win

Good luck with your Children’s party venue experience, please feel free to comment or leave a message about how your’s went, what you liked, what you didn’t and how we as party going parents can make it easier on ourselves.

 

Cherrio

Mel

 

This is a current sample price @ feb 2016

current-pricelist-for-a-playland

 

 

Running a Birthday Party at Home

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Are you Planning a Party at home?

There are so many variables, have you noticed that some people are all calm and collected when it comes to having a party at their place?

This is the sense of security you get with a little planning 

let’s look at the basics of planning a home Birthday Party

First, ask yourself five easy questions

  1. What is it for / what do you want to achieve? (this question will tell you how much effort to put in. and money spent…,  A low key backyard bbq is different to a full on pirate party).
  2. how many people? kids/adult numbers  (this will tell you how much space you need and food/person ratio) .
  3. How long is the party? (this will give you an idea of how to run it).
  4. Access to toilet facilities (lots of people mean lots of needs, do you have extra toilet paper/hand towels/soap/wipes for accidents and clear instructions if your toilet button needs to be jiggled or bathroom door is tricky to lock etc)
  5. Music/entertainment  (where is it needed? is there power available or do you get a battery powered speaker, how loud, do you want a playlist that goes from one music style to another)

A Few Tips for your party

Handy things to have on hand for the day

Masking tape to write on name tags for kids drink cups or fix something if needed, masking tape is also good for keeping the door unlocked, place tape over the tongue of the door lock and it will stay in.

Marker Pen for writing signs/nametags etc

Bluetac for random signs (eg bathroom) and pin the tail on the donkey type games

Wet wipes/Papertowels strategically placed because lots of people = oopsies

Lighter/Matches  for the candles (less people smoke now, make sure you have one)

Candles back up ones(many times candles  get forgotten)

 

Things to your guests may need to know

Local Taxi / Uber  contact (perhaps a little tipsy, better safe than sorry

Local Supermarket / Bottle Shop (because sometimes they need a certain thing)

Local 24hr Pharmacy or Heaven forbid,  available doctors surgery

 

 

 

If you have any more basic needs for parties. please let me know so we can fill out  the list together

Cheerio

Have a FAB week

 

Mel

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