IF YOU ARE BOOKING A CLOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME, HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
1. IF IT IS A DAY CARE PARTY FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SOME OF THEM MAY BE FRIGHTENED OF A CLOWN. ALSO, 2-YEAR-OLDS HAVE A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN, AND THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING A CLOWN DOES. MUSIC IS VERY GOOD WITH 2-YEAR-OLDS AND A CLOWN MAY USE MUSIC TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. ONE-YEAR-OLDS HAVE USUALLY NOT YET DEVELOPED FEARS FOR COSTUMED CHARACTERS. IF YOU ARE BOOKING A PARTY FOR A ONE-YEAR-OLD, HOWEVER, BE AWARE THAT THE ENTERTAINMENT IS REALLY FOR THE OTHER GUESTS BECAUSE A ONE-YEAR-OLD WON'T REMEMBER IT. BUT YOU CAN GET SOME WONDERFUL PICTURES FOR HIS ALBUM.
2. IF POSSIBLE, SHOW THE BIRTHDAY CHILD A PICTURE OF A CLOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT IS SOMETHING HE/SHE WOULD LIKE FOR HIS/HER PARTY.
3.PLAN YOUR PARTY SO THAT THERE ARE NO UNWANTED SURPRISES. IF YOU WANT THE CLOWN ENTERTAINMENT TO BE THE FIRST THING ON YOUR AGENDA, THEN LET YOUR GUESTS KNOW THAT IF THEIR CHILD WANTS TO SEE THE CLOWN ENTERTAINMENT, THEY SHOULD BE THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PARTY. IN SOME CULTURES IT IS FASHIONABLE TO BE LATE; I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS; BUT IF YOU FEEL YOUR GUESTS MAY BE LATE, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD TELL THEM TO BE THERE SOONER THAN YOU REALLY THINK THEY WILL ARRIVE, AND THAT WAY MAYBE ALL THE KIDS CAN SEE THE CLOWN. YOU ARE PAYING GOOD MONEY FOR THIS ENTERTAINMENT, AND YOU WANT TO GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH. USUALLY A CLOWN HAS MORE THAN ONE PARTY IN A DAY, AND HE CAN'T STAY BEYOND THE TIME HE WAS HIRED FOR.
4.BALLOONS ARE A CHOKING HAZARD FOR SMALL CHILDREN UNDER 3. EVEN WITH OLDER KIDS, WE SOMETIMES FIND THAT THEY WILL TEND TO PUT A BALLOON IN THEIR MOUTHS. I DO MY PART TO WARN THEM NOT TO PUT THEM IN THEIR MOUTHS, BUT IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR PARENTS TO REINFORCE THIS.
5.A BABY ONE YEAR OLD DOES NOT WANT A CLOWN PAINTING ON THEIR FACE. IF THE BABY RESISTS, I PREFER NOT TO PAINT THEM BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE WITH THEM SQUIRMING, THE BRUSH COULD GET TOO CLOSE TO THEIR EYE. SOMETIMES THE BABY ENDS UP WITH JUST A "DOT" OF PAINT ON THEIR FACE BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO SIT STILL; THIS IS NEW TO THEM AND THEY DONT LIKE IT.
6.DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR REFERENCES AND DON'T MIND ASKING THE CLOWN ON THE PHONE, "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS?". ASK THEM WHERE THEY GOT THEIR TRAINING. IF THEY JUST WOKE UP ONE DAY AND SAID, "HEY, I'M A CLOWN" THAT MAY NOT BE THE CLOWN YOU WANT TO HIRE. ASK THEM WHAT KIND OF PAINT THEY WILL USE ON YOUR CHILD'S FACE. NOT ALL PAINT IS DESIGNED FOR FACE PAINTING.
7.IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE HIRED A CLOWN, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. ASK THE CLOWN WHAT THEY WILL DO AND APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.
8.PLEASE HAVE MY MONEY READY WHEN I GET THERE. YOU MAY GET BUSY HELPING YOUR CHILD OPEN THE PRESENTS, OR DEALING WITH THE BIRTHDAY CAKE AND ICE CREAM, AND I DON'T LIKE TO INTERRUPT YOU. IT MAKES IT SIMPLER IF YOU PAY ME WHEN I ARRIVE. TIPPING IS PERMITTED IF YOU FEEL I HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB, AND OF COURSE YOU WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL AFTER I PERFORM. I DO ACCEPT TIPS.
9.INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS THE PARENT WHEN I ARRIVE. POINT OUT THE BIRTHDAY CHILD AND REMIND ME WHAT HIS/HER NAME IS. THAT CHILD SHOULD BE THE MOST HONORED PERSON THERE!
10.MOST OF ALL, PLAN TO HAVE FUN AND MAKE MEMORIES. TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS IF YOU LIKE!