Book interactive stilt walkers for hire in London

March 23, 2013 – 7:29 am

Stilt Walkers in London

Stilt Walker In Fairy Costume (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

Stilt walkers for hire in London are usually booked through entertainment agencies and can be relied upon to entertain people of all ages. When you book the entertainers through the agencies you can expect public liability insurance to be in place, and for performers to be fully CRB checked too. One advantage to booking them is that they can be seen by all due to the heights that they work at, meaning that everyone can be entertained by them at the same time. Many themes can be catered for, so no matter what the nature of your event is, you can expect the walkers to slip into it effortlessly.

Be part of the circus

They can be booked for various different types of event, from small private parties to big corporate get-togethers. Aside from their primary skills, they’ll also be trained to mix and mingle with your guests effectively in order to provide your event with an exciting atmosphere. Stilt walking is usually combined with various other skills such as juggling or balloon-modelling. They are known for engaging effectively with crowds and bringing a circus-like tone to any event. By booking a stilt entertainer through an agency, you can liaise with the agency and sometimes the professionals themselves before the event to ensure that any special requirements that you may have are catered for.

Catering for your theme

To help you get ideas, you could watch various clips online of stilt walkers at play in order to come up with suggestions regarding how they could entertain your guests appropriately. Sometimes bookings for stilt walkers for hire in London need to be made early in order to avoid disappointment as the demand for stilt entertainers can eclipse the supply. There is a seemingly limitless number of themes that you could choose from in order to cater for a particular theme, and the more information that you can give the agency or the entertainer, the more effective you can expect the performance to be. Many people, especially children may have never seen a stilt walker at play in a real-life setting before, so will be in awe of the skills at play in front of them. It’s usually possible to book either a solo walker or a series of stilt walkers, and most agencies will be able to offer a package that suits your budget, no matter how big or small it is.

Engaging energy

Years of training go into stilt walking and learning the other skills that are usually demonstrated alongside it. If you’re hoping to provide entertainment that’s that little bit out of the ordinary, with onlookers bound to take note, booking a stilt walker can help you orchestrate the perfect party atmosphere. You can rely upon stilt walkers to bring energy and excitement to any social gathering, whether it’s of a private, corporate or public nature.

This article was written by the CEP entertainment agency

By ronwooduk | Posted in Supplier | Tagged London, Stilt Walkers, Stilts | Comments (0)

How to make a puppet head | You Tube

January 24, 2013 – 7:30 am

Making Puppet Heads

This interesting video shows how to make puppet heads using clay models.

By ronwooduk | Posted in puppets, Uncategorized | Tagged Puppet, puppetry | Comments (0)

Children’s Entertainer Tent | What Type, What Size?

January 23, 2013 – 8:52 am

Planning for inclement weather!

Children’s Entertainment Tent 10m x 8m.

Often the last consideration for event planners is making provision for the children’s entertainer. The priority is sorting out the main arena, car parking, catering, toilets etc. Hiring in children’s entertainment is included in the budget but little thought is given to the practicalities necessary for the performers / entertainers to do their job effectively in outdoor conditions.

What happens if it rains?

If it rains and the performance space it outside in the open then in most cases the show would have to be cancelled. Expensive props and equipment would quickly be ruined, costumes soaked and people and equipment become soggy and wet. Electrical equipment could not be used in wet conditions and the audience would not want to sit on wet ground. Wind also presents a problem as props and equipment tend to blow away. Trying to perform a children’s magic show outside in windy conditions is a night mare.

For anyone in the event business in the UK the wet weather plan should be high on the list of planning considerations. Unfortunately when it comes to children’s entertainment it is often ignored or the organizers decide to “take a chance” and hope the weather will be okay on the day. Hiring in yet another tent costs money and children’s entertainment is usually a low priority therefore either no provision is made or someone manages to scrounge an old army tent, camping tent or a garden gazebo hoping that this will do at a push. Whilst it is true that something is better than nothing this is far from ideal as there is usually not enough space and these things tent to blow away in anything more than a light breeze unless extremely well fastened down.

If the show is cancelled the performer is still entitled to payment in full. It is therefore better to avoid suffering unnecessary financial loss and disappointing the children. It is better to be properly prepared.

What type of tent is required?

The Children’s Entertainment tent should be:

Okay for smaller events and to keep the sun off but needs sides fitted in windy, wet conditions.

Large enough to accommodate the performers and the audience and have some extra storage space behind the performance area.
It should have a strong frame which will withstand high winds.
It should be anchored down with proper guy ropes.
It should have two side walls and a rear wall with the option to remove them in hot weather.
The front should be open or have a doorway to allow the audience to enter and leave easily.
There should be a safe power supply to enable a pa system to be used.
The tent or marquee should be “clear span” ie have no poles in the middle holding up the roof as this is an obstruction to performance and view.
There should be a parking space for the performers vehicle(s) at the rear of the tent and the vehicle should be allowed to remain on site as this provides secure storage for valuable props and personal effects.

What size should the tent or marquee be?

The size of the tent required depends on what shows or activities are to be performed and the number of children and adults expected to attend.

A marquee ten metres wide and eight metres deep ( 10m x 8m ) would be more than adequate for most small to medium size events where large numbers were anticipated.

What if the budget won’t stretch to hiring another marquee?

If it is not possible to provide an additional tent then consider creating a performance space in another marquee if necessary. This might mean that the original entertainment has to be modified or changed to suit the space available but that would probably be better than nothing.

By ronwooduk | Posted in Event Planning | Tagged children's entertainment, Event planning, marquee, tent | Comments (0)

Race Night Profits Explained

January 11, 2013 – 11:20 pm

How much money will a Race Night make?

Race Night at Dalton

I am often asked by prospective customers about the earnings potential of race nights. It is impossible for me to answer this question because there are many factors to be taken into account. All I can say with confidence is that holding a Race Nights is a great way to raise funds providing it is planned and set up properly.

The secret of success is to ensure that your costs are covered and you are in profit before the event takes place. You do this by selling horses and jockeys in advance. Finding race sponsors in advance and selling side bets such as the Tri-Cast card, in advance. If you do all of this then any money you make on the night is a bonus.

Race Night Income

Here are the ways you can get money in:

sale of horses
sale of jockeys
race sponsorship
side bets
raffle
admission tickets
selling refreshments

Race Night Costs

Race Nights are fun!

Your costs are likely to be:

hall hire
printing
food
prizes for owners of winning horses
hiring the race night operator
paying out on the tote after each race

Balancing the books

As your aim is to make money you need to ensure that income exceeds expenditure. Look carefully at ways of reducing your costs. Often a member of the committee knows someone who can print off the race cards for you free of charge, or they can be done on a home PC. Prizes can be donated and you might be able to get a deal on the food from a local supplier.

To see an example of how it might work go to Race Night Income on our web site. This gives you an idea of what can be achieved.

Unknown Factors

Some of the figures are known and won’t change. You know what your costs will be. You know how much money you will raise if you get all of your races sponsored and sell all of the horses etc. What you don’t know is how many people will turn up on the night and how much money they will spend. That is why working hard before the event takes place is so important.

You must get as much money in as you can before the Race Night tales place and urge as many people to come as you can. Selling tickets helps but keep pushing to get them to come.

Have a Crowd Puller

It you can think of a real crowd puller to attract more people even better. Do you have a friendly local celeb who might agree to make an appearance? Can you offer a special free prize draw with a star prize which can only be won on the night? These are all things worth considering.

Summary

A good Race Night well planned, properly organized and well supported should easily bring in between £500 and £1000.

Book a Race Night

See our Race Night page or for a FREE quotation use this enquiry form.

How to Pack them in on a Race Night

Race Night Tips: Running The Tote

By ronwooduk | Posted in Race Night | Tagged Race Night, Video Horse Racing, video race night | Comments (0)

Birthday Party Magic

January 11, 2013 – 9:15 am

Magic for a Children’s Party

Magician and Children’s Entertainer

Children love magic and so hiring a magician for a Birthday Party is a great way to entertain them.

Once a parent would pick up the Yellow Pages and look up the Children’s Entertainers section where there would be a long list of kids entertainers and magicians offering their services. Today the first port of call is likely to be Google.

Of course children today are very sophisticated and they see such amazing things on TV and You Tube. If you type Magician into Google ( at the time of writing ) you will find a list of articles about the amazing Dynamo whose tag line is “Magician Impossible”. How does he do those incredible illusions? This got me thinking about the expectations of parents and children regarding Birthday Party Magic.

If you type “Magician, North Yorkshire”, or “Magician, Catterick Garrison” or “Magician, Richmond”, the chances are you will probably end up on my Birthday Party Magic Show page and be looking at me Ron Wood aka “Mr Jolly” rather than the famous Dynamo.

Expectations

So what do people expect when they book a Magician / Kid’s Entertainer for a Birthday Party?

Mostly parents want the children to have a great time. They want to hire someone who is good with the kids, who is professional, organized, reliable and experienced. They are not too concerned about the actual content of the show and what tricks will be performed. They may ask if you include balloon modelling or party games. They may even request a particular routine that their child saw you perform at another party or event. They are certainly not expecting disappearing ladies, tigers jumping through hoops or famous people being levitated four feet off the ground.

Children’s Magic

Performing for children is an art in itself. Children like funny stuff. They love it when things go wrong. They like tricks which

Jubilee Magic Show (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

have a story attached to them and they love to join in.

A good children’s magic trick should:

be straightforward and easy to follow
use colorful props
have some humor
be part of a story
include audience participation
have a magical ending

Most important of all is the skill of the performer. An experienced children’s magician can engage and mezmerize an audience using the simplest of props.

Variety is the key

Children have fairly short attention spans and need to be kept interested. An endless string of magic tricks will not work. Variety is the key. A good children’s magic show includes other activities such as balloons, games, storytelling, puppets etc.

The ability to entertain and delight a group of children for sixty minutes is magic in itself.

Birthday Party Magic to me is not about individual tricks, its about being able to create a magical experience of excitement, fun and laughter. Bringing happiness and making happy memories which parents and children will look back on enjoy long after I have gone!

To Enquire about booking a Magic Show for your Children’s Party ask for a free quotation.

By ronwooduk | Posted in Magic | Tagged Birthday Party Magic, Magic, Magician | Comments (0)

Gerry Anderson Tribute

January 7, 2013 – 8:08 am

Torchy the Battery Boy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thunderbirds Creator Dies

Most puppeteers will know that during the Christmas season Gerry Anderson passed away at the age of 83, on December 26th.

Gerry, the film and television producer, created a studio that became one of the greatest puppet film organisations that was known throughout the world, and many of the series of iconic programs that were made are still being shown in many countries.

The early programmes such as ‘Torchy the Battery Boy’,‘Twizzle’ and ‘Four Feather Falls’ were typically puppet style figures. Later the series became major works based on international rescue pursuits, featuring more naturalistic characters, curious creatures, and monstrous flying craft. The puppets were often based on well known film stars. It is interesting to know that Gerry admitted that it was a mistake to make naturalistic characters.

Despite the fact that the programmes were made with puppets, he never really liked them; the only puppet that he liked, and did keep, was ‘Parker’, from ‘Thunderbirds’, his favourite series. It was the last puppet character that I created, and the time that I left the studios. Gerry’s ‘Parker’ was sold in Japan for £38,000, the highest price paid at that time for a puppet in an auction; more recently another Parker was sold for £50,000.

The Anderson studios provided many well known puppeteers years of work, making puppets and manipulating them creating them.

The creators of special effects had their own studios and were one of the most talented groups of special effects creators in the film industries, many of them continued to produce masterpieces of special effects for some of the finest major cinema films. The writers and the actors were also some of the leading film and television personalities.
Two years ago, at the last ‘Fanderson Event’, I was invited as a special guest; sadly Gerry was very ill and found it difficult to remember people. The event was extraordinary in many ways, with writers, actors, creators and other specialists involved in the films related to the creation of the various programmes, spent many hours signing books, photographs and other objects. There were remarkable extraordinary hobbyist copies of puppets and the various crafts seen in the programmes. Gerry and the other guests provided talks and interviews to packed audiences. People of all ages, young and old, travelled from many parts of the world to join the event.

It was wonderful to see so many people young and old alike that have, and are inspired by the programmes. Some of the many talented hobbyists ultimately found themselves working in the studios and special effects departments. The ‘Fanderson’ organisation and the world wide following of fans will certainly make sure that the legacy of Gerry Anderson and the team that created the films will continue into the far distant future.

John Blundall
December 2012

By ronwooduk | Posted in Musings | Tagged Gerry Anderson | Comments (0)

Laughter is the Best Medicine: The Health Benefits of Humor

January 6, 2013 – 4:53 pm

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HUMOR AND LAUGHTER

Chuckle The Clown

Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use

See Full Article

Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A., Gina Kemp, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. Last updated: November 2012.

Hire Chuckle The Clown to bring laughter to your party.

By ronwooduk | Posted in Humour | Tagged Clown, health, humour, laughter | Comments (0)

Birthday Party Clown

January 4, 2013 – 11:31 am

Clown for a Birthday Party

Chuckle The Clown

If you are wondering how to make your child’s birthday party a very special memory that they will never forget then hiring a clown entertainer could be the answer you are looking for.

A clown turns your child’s special day into an exciting magical experience.

Clowns are exciting and fun. Children love their colourful costumes and crazy antics.

Clowns are often multi-skilled and can do lots of fun stuff like juggling, balloon modelling and magic tricks but what makes them different from other entertainers is that they are very silly too!

Children delight in watching the clown get into a muddle. Clowns are clumsy, forgetful, hoplessly incompetent. They get mixed up, they drop things, they walk into things, they fall over and sometimes even fall asleep.

A clown show is more like a pantomime!!!

Clowns are very versatile performers and can work in all kinds of situations. They are perfect for a children’s birthday party but can also entertain in shopping centres at family fun day events, store promotions, fetes, shows and galas.

Clowns can work with children of all ages but they can entertain adults too.

A clown will bring laughter, smiles and happiness to your child’s party.

CLOWN PARTIES ARE FUN!

Looking for a Birthday Party Clown in North Yorkshire or The North East?

Chuckle The Clown covers Richmond, Catterick Garrison, Northallerton, Darlington, Barnard Castle, Northallerton, Harrogate, York and Middlesbrough. He also works in Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and Leeds areas.

Contact Chuckle The Clown using our enquiry form here.

By ronwooduk | Posted in Children's Entertainment, Clown | Tagged birthday party, Chuckle The Clown, Clown, clowns | Comments (0)

Christmas Eve, FREE Show!

December 23, 2012 – 7:27 am

Christmas Puppet Show

Ron with Santa and Rudolph from the Christmas Show.

Jolly Good Productions present:

“Santa’s Busy Day”

A puppet show with magic and lots of festive fun.

The Town Hall, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Monday, 24th December 2012.

11am to 12 Noon.

All welcome. Ideal for younger children ( 4 – 8 years old ).

Admission is FREE. Donations to the Mayor’s Charity most welcome.

Refreshments available to purchase.

T’Old Hoss

The Old Hoss will perform immediately after the puppet show.

By ronwooduk | Posted in Christmas Entertainment | Tagged Christmas Eve, Christmas Puppet show, Jolly Good Productions, North Yorkshire, Richmond, Santa's Busy Day | Comments (0)

How to plan a Children’s Christmas Party

December 9, 2012 – 9:09 am

Christmas Party Planning Checklist

Organizing a great Christmas party can be a headache. Use this basic check list to help you plan your event:

Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer and Santa Claus (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

Pick a date.
Estimate how many children and adults will be coming
Choose a venue.
When will the party start and finish?
Decide what entertainment you will have.
Room decoration.
Consider food and refreshment.
Book Santa Claus
Sort out presents for the kids.

Choosing a date for your Christmas Party

There are only two or three weekends in December and as the dates are usually in big demand it is a very good idea to book early unless you are holding the party on your own premises. The most popular Saturday and Sunday will always be on the middle weekend so avoid these if possible. Consider a Friday evening or mid week as an option if you can.

Estimate numbers attending

You will need to get an idea of numbers of adults and children attending and the ages of the children. It is a good idea to send out booking forms in advance to find out who intends to come. If you are spending a lot of money on the party you need to have some commitment from people that they will be there.

Knowing the ages of the children also helps when booking entertainment and food.

Choosing a venue

Here are some points to consider when looking at venues:

Xmas Puppet Show (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

Location. Is it easy to get to.
Parking. Does it have a car park or FREE public parking close by?
Access. Is it easy to get in and out of?
Ground floor? Booking an upstairs room can be a real problem for discos, bands and entertainers with lots of equipment.
Space. Is it big enough?
Seating. Are there enough seats for the adults? Does it have any tables?
Changing area? Is there a changing room for acts and Santa?
Performance area. Where will the entertainment take place ie stage, dance floor?
Does it have a kitchen or a bar?

Party times

When will the party start and finish? Consider these points:

Allow time for everyone to arrive.
How long will the entertainment last?
How long will it take to feed everyone?
How long will it take Santa to give out the presents?
Will there be any more entertainment after Santa has gone? If so for how long?

Entertainment

Are you going to entertain the children yourself or will you book in a professional children’s entertainer?

Entertaining children is very demanding. If you are a teacher or have a lot of experience in working with kids and have other reliable adults to help then you could do it yourself.

If not then you will need to hire in professionals who know what they are doing and are self contained with everything required to do a really good job.

As it is Christmas look for entertainers who offer a proper Christmas Show. Puppets and Magic always go down well and children love to dance and play games so a Christmas disco is also a good idea.

Look for entertainers who can offer a selection of entertainment to appeal to a broad age range.

Decoration

Christmas Balloons (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

Most venues will have Christmas decorations already but you may want to add to this. Balloon decorating is a great way to

create atmosphere. A few eye catching displays can transform the party room. If you do need to put in some Christmas decorations then build this into the budget and allow time for setting up. If you are employing a supplier to do the decorating find out how long they need and arrange access for them accordingly.

Food and refreshment

At the very least you will need to provide tea and coffee for the adults and soft drinks for the children. It is a nice idea to put food on if you can. Children don’t need a lot of food and sandwiches, sausages on sticks, crisps, biscuits and cakes are all that are needed. Keep it simple. For the adults a finger buffet will also suffice. Don’t arrange too much food as it may be wasted.

If your party is mid afternoon people may have eaten before they come. They may also be planning a meal at home afterwards so take this into consideration.

Santa Claus

No children’s Christmas party would be complete without Father Christmas. You will need to sort out a willing volunteer to take on the job and a costume. Alternatively book in a Santa or ask your entertainer if they provide Santa as part of their package.

Presents

At some Christmas parties the adults provide presents for their own children in advance. At others they pay for the presents and the organizers buy the gift for them.

Sometimes all of the children receive the same present or presents can be sorted into boys or girls and then by age range.

The presents will need to be wrapped and put in a sack for Santa to carry. Alternatively place then next to Santa’s chair so they are handy when he makes his big entrance.