Author Archives: ronwooduk

About ronwooduk

Children's Entertainers and Entertainment for Adults in Yorkshire, County Durham and the North East. Punch and Judy Show, Face Painter, Children's Magic Show, Line Dancing Teacher, Adult Magician, Race Night Service, Balloon Decorating, Chuckle The Clown, Puppet Shows, Circus Skills Workshop, Christmas Puppet Show, Face Painting Courses and more. Prices from £150"

Raptor Conservation Static Bird of Prey Display

Bird of Prey Display to hire.

Raptor Conservation Static Bird of Prey Display and Rescue Service are Yorkshire based and provide static displays at events throughout the north of England.

Ron holding an owl from the Birds of Prey Display

Raptor Conservation Static Bird of Prey Display at Hemsworth Water Park. This is Ron Wood, Jolly Good Productions, holding one of their magnificent owls.

For information and prices:

Display Booking 01709 873 093 Rescue Information 07964 056 707

Also find Ian Eskriett on Facebook.

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Cyrenians at Blagdon Estate

Cyrenians Family Fun Day, June 2013

The Cyrenians are an organization which supports people in need by helping them make sustainable, positive change in their lives. There aim is to  help to integrate socially excluded people back into society.

The Cyrenians regularly hold events to raise funds including their annual family fun day. This year the event took place at the wonderful Blagdon Estate just north of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

It was a lovely sunny day and those attending were able to enjoy a range of fun activities, entertainment and refreshments as well as browsing various side stalls selling plants, toys and handicrafts.

There was Punch and Judy on the lawn in front of the main house and many people brought picnics to enjoy whilst watching the shows.

 

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To find out more about the Cyrenians

 

 

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Good Old Fashioned Fun!

Kids love Punch and Judy

Summer is coming and organizers are booking up entertainment for their shows and galas. It’s always a problem

Punch and Judy Show

Punch and Judy Show (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

deciding what to put on for the kids. It’s usually a committee decision and there is always a view that we need to ring the changes. We a magician last yearso how about a clown this time etc etc.

 

The fact is that kids are more than happy to sit and watch the same shows over and over again if they like it. They are often disappointed if they turn up and the entertainer they loved so much at the last event isn’t their this time. If it works, stick with it.

 

The one show that never fails to please is of course Punch and Judy. It has been around a very long time. In fact Punch and Judy Shows have been entertaining the crowds at fairs, festivals and public gatherings since 1662. Yes, Punch and Judy has been around for over 350 years and the reason it is still going strong today is because children love it and so do many adults.

Punch and Judy is an outdoor show so there is no problem about setting up on a field although if you are planning to use a car park or paved area you might need to make provision for anchoring the puppet heatre down ( wind can be a problem ).

Punch and Judy is a fantastic choice and can be enhanced with other activities and entertainment between shows. For more information go to  Punch and Judy.

 

 

 

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Teesdale Alpacas

Aplaca display for your event

Teesdale Alpacas are available to hire for events, shows and galas. These fabulous animals always draw an admiring crowd. Their keeper is with them to answer questions and give information about them too. For more information call 07976 423258 or visit the web site www.teesdale-alpacas.co.uk

Teesdale Alpacas

Teesdale Alpacas

 

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Ferret Racing

Hire Ferret Racing in the North East

 

If you are looking  for something different for your special event call Barrie Bellwood and enquire about ferret racing. It’s great fun and can be set up indoors or outside weather permitting. Barrie has over thirty ferrets and is a very experienced ferret handler and breeder. Barrie will bring the ferrets, set up the course for you and do all the handling. You would need to arrange for the tote yourself.

For more details call Barrie on Tel no 01207 237458.

 

English: Ferret Português: Furão

English: Ferret Português: Furão (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

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Georgian Punch and Judy

Beamish Georgian Fair 2013

Every May Beamish Museum, in the North East of England,  holds its four day Georgian Fair. It is one of the most popular events in the calendar. Authentic costumes, stalls and entertainment recreate the hustle and bustle of a bye gone era. Punch and Judy Shows were a regular feature in country fairs long before the rise of seaside holidays. In fact Punch and Judy was first seen in England in 1662. I am sure the folk in Georgian times were just as vocal and appreciative of Mr Punch and his antics as the modern audiences visiting the living history museum today are.

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Book a Punch and Judy Show.

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Book interactive stilt walkers for hire in London

Stilt Walkers in London

Stilt Walker In Fairy Costume

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

Stiltwalkers Katrina and Daniella

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

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

Planning for inclement weather!

Children's Tent

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. 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:

  • High Peak Frame Tent

    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.

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Race Night Profits Explained

How much money will a Race Night make?

Race Night at Dalton

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.

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.

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Race Night Tips: Running The Tote

 

 

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