Magic Puppet Show Birthday Party Houston Texas

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Phone:
281-481-5439

E-mail:
andrea (at) julianfranklin.com

Here are a list of questions you should ask of any entertainer before you hire them and bring them into your home to work with and entertain your children:

	How do I know the show is worth the cost? If an entertainer is truly a professional and does a good job, he or she should have a long list of satisfied clients. Ask if you can call one or two of them and see what they thought of the show. Make sure the names and numbers are from recent shows. If the person you are calling has to go back 4-5 months to find a satisfied client either he is not working very often or he isn't doing a very satisfying job. When you get references CHECK THEM! A good entertainer LOVES when you check his references because happy, satisfied, past clients can sell a show way faster than anyone else. And if an entertainer wasn't that great, you can get that information from a past client much more accurately than from the entertainer himself.
	What is the REAL cost of the show? Many times entertainers offer a low price to lure you in, and then add on extra fees for mileage, extra for puppets, extra for balloon animals, extra fees for "too many" guests, etc. By the time they have finished nickel and diming you, the savings you thought you were getting have all but vanished. My shows start at $300 all inclusive. I never charge mileage or a fee for a theme. If you want to give the guests magic books or books about the puppets in the show, these can be purchased for an additional fee, but these add-ons are completely optional and can be discussed in full if it interests you, but there is never any pressure to do so.
	How much do I have to put as a down payment? What percentage (if any) can I get back if I have to cancel? Some places require a non-refundable deposit of 25%. Others require half up front but you can get some of it back if you need to cancel. Ask about their policy on this matter. I never charge a down payment and since my shows are 100% guaranteed, the thought of not returning a deposit on a show you didn't even do seems very foreign to me. Make sure you feel comfortable with companies that charge this fee as you won't be able to change your mind later.
	What is the policy with contracts? One of the great things about my 100% guarantee is how much paperwork it eliminates for me (and you). Many entertainers require you to sign a contract (they may call it an "agreement" to make you feel better about it, but don't be fooled). I've never seen a contract that protected the client quite as nicely as it protects the entertainer. Most stipulate that if the entertainer doesn't show up and leaves you with a room full of guests wondering what happened, all you are entitled to is your original down payment to be returned. But read the contract where it talks about what happens if YOUR child gets sick and you have to reschedule! Some school districts I work for and most of my corporate clients actually prefer to have some sort of written documentation. In those cases I will gladly sign most any contract they draw up, or I can create one of my own if it is important to them. If you prefer a contract, please let me know and we can mail, e-mail, or fax it to you as you desire. For most people, my confirmation post card is all they need.
	Will the entertainment show up on time? This is a question that everyone you talk to will answer "Yes" to. However, you might not be getting a fair answer. Many times cheaper entertainers try to make up for their low price by doing more shows. I know several entertainers who schedule their shows on the hour (60 minutes from the time their previous party started to the time your party starts). There is no way that anyone can do a full show, pack up their stuff, drive to the next location, set everything up, and then do another full show all in 60 minutes. At least not on time. It's sad, but I get at least one call a month, generally on a Saturday while I'm out performing, from someone whose entertainment has canceled on them and they are willing to pay almost anything to get me to come to their kid's party, even if I only stay for 30 minutes.
	Is the show appropriate for my child's age? Many entertainers don't realize the huge difference in cognitive development a child undergoes each and every year. There is a big difference between what a 5 year old thinks is funny and what a 7 year old thinks is funny. Many entertainers use fire and blades (wrist chopper or sword tricks, etc.) in their shows. For a 13 year old, these "danger tricks" as magicians call them, are all quite safe, help build tension and create a greater sense of excitement while providing lots of opportunities for age-appropriate humor. However, these same effects are completely out of place in a party of 8-10 year olds. Believe it or not, I've been at a party where another magician was performing and he did a wrist chopper on a 6 year old. He spent so much time building tension with jokes and false counts that the boy broke down in fear, pulled his arm from the prop and ran to his room crying. How entertaining is that? Make sure that your entertainer understands the level of emotional and cognitive development in your child's age group. You can ask a simple question like "What do you think kids my child's age would think is funny that they wouldn't have thought was funny two years ago and will think is stupid two years from now?" If they can't accurately answer that question then you may need to reassess their value as a children's entertainer. Julian Franklin (the author of the best selling behavior management book "Kid Control") is well versed in working with children. With over 16 years of teaching experience and over 20 years of performing experience, you can rest assured that your child will be getting the finest available.
	How much entertainment do I get for this price? With most moonwalk or "bounce house" rental companies you get several hours (sometimes even overnight), whereas a magician, puppeteer or face painter might be there for only 30 - 90 minutes. So you have to weigh the emotional impact of the experience (i.e. being the star of a magic show and talking to funny puppets is a much more memorable experience than jumping in a moon walk which most kids have done dozens of times). In my show every child gets the unique opportunity to assist in the show at some point. So time is important, but it is not the only factor. Still, ask about this as there are many magicians who will tell you their show is only 35 minutes long. Often they will try and tell you that a young child's attention span is too short to do a magic show any longer than 35 minutes. That is a reflection of the entertainer you are working with, NOT the children. I regularly perform shows 60-90 minutes long and have the kids begging me not to leave. Kathryn King, the children's librarian at the Bellville Public Library said it best when she wrote me a letter saying "I really don't know how you could possibly improve your show. The kids sat on a hard floor for an hour and enjoyed every minute of it. That is a superb production." I get letters like that all the time from TRAINED PROFESSIONALS like teachers, principals, and librarians. For more testimonials from seasoned pros click here.
	How many kids can I have at the party? School assembly programs comprise a great deal of my work week. It is very normal to work with groups of 500 kids or more at one time. Unless you will be having more children than this at your child's party then it shouldn't be a problem. Check and see what the limit is for other entertainers or other forms of entertainment. Some may have a minimum, others a maximum. You don't want them to try and add on fees because you were over or under their "limit". Also check about having a party for multiple guests of honor. Frequently cousins, siblings, or close friends who have birthdays at about the same time will share a party. Different companies have different policies about this. We never charge extra, even if the party has multiple "heros".
	How dangerous is an event like this? Is the entertainment insured? I'm not even going to discuss the dangers of litigation in today's society of million dollar judgments for people who pour hot coffee in their laps and then act surprised that coffee is served hot. However, you should at least question how safe the activities you have planned are and you should INSIST that whoever you hire be insured against damages. I was at a party several years ago for a girl I never got to meet. She broke her arm jumping in a moon walk and had to go to the hospital before I arrived. I did my show for the rest of the children, but it was a strange party to say the least. Let's face it, kids are going to get bumped, scratched, bang heads, and get hurt. That's part of growing up. But I don't think anyone should miss their own birthday party. Later the mother actually told me that she was glad it was her own child who got hurt and not someone else. I was shocked until she explained that a doctor bill is much easier to pay than a lawsuit judgment. How sad, but true. Also, avoid serving hot coffee to people prone to spilling things in their laps.