Stress-Free Birthday Party in Raleigh, NC
1) The most popular time
to have a Raleigh children’s birthday party is at 2:00 pm on a Saturday. This is because people are often free, and it is not close to lunch or dinner, so a meal is not necessary. This also makes it a bad time to have a party because other parties will be competing with yours for that time slot.
I personally think 2:00 pm on a SUNDAY
or after school/work on a Friday is good because there is less competition for your guests. Some schools & preschools allow parties at school. This cuts out competition completely and makes the party much easier for you.
2) Outdoor parties are never as good
as indoor parties when it comes to this type of entertainment. In Raleigh, outside it can be too hot, too cold, too windy, dirty or it can rain. Insects and noise can factor in. If you want to have an outdoor party, please try to have the magic indoors and the rest outside. I won’t have kids running around breaking and spilling things at my parties — I keep them occupied!
I have found that having a party outside in the yard can actually cause more problems inside the house than having the whole party inside. Children track in mud and other things. If a child has to use the bathroom, he or she can end up wandering all over the house unsupervised. Children often bring outside behavior inside and can accidentally break, stain, or otherwise hurt your home by running and playing roughly.
At my Raleigh inside party, the kids are closely supervised and that red Kool-Aid never gets into the living room to be spilled on the rug or furniture. In thousands of parties, I have seen very little problems when a party is just indoors. REALLY!
I do magic because I love it and outdoor parties are not nearly as fun. I do not do kid’s parties outdoors for all these reasons.
3) Children generally aren’t fussy over food in my Raleigh magic shows.;
they just want something quick and easy so they can get back to enjoying the party as soon as they can. Plain cheese pizza and chicken nuggets are sure hits. Fancier foods can be a smash with the adults.
4) Some children will ALWAYS arrive late,
and disrupt the birthday party as everyone rushes over to greet them and tell them what has happened. To avoid this, it is best to have the entertainer arrive after the party has been going on for about a half hour or more. This gives the children plenty of time to meet and greet. Hopefully, there will not be any distractions by late arrivals.
5) AIR CONDITIONING!
It can get hot in Raleigh. This is an active magic party. With kids jumping up and down for an hour, things can get HOT. Crank up the air conditioner BEFORE the party starts. It should be a little too cool . . . Don’t worry, the kids will warm things up!
6) Parents are VERY welcome
to the magic show! Parents are sometimes needed (even if the children think not!), but in the past, some adult conversations have created MAJOR distractions for the children. We all are disturbed when children talk at the theater. Well, this is the children’s theater!
For deluxe shows and shows with a lot of adults talking I bring a powerful PA and microphones. Make sure to ask for them!
7) Name badges/stickers
for the children help keep order, and then every adult can address a child with the child’s proper name. It also can make things more personal to your guests when the entertainer calls them by their first name.
8) Toddlers are welcome to the birthday party
to enjoy the show, so long as the toddlers can sit with their parents and won’t go walking around the older children! The kids get very excited and can easily not see a baby in their midst. Toddlers often like to come and visit the entertainer during the performance, and that can slow down the party, too.
9) The birthday party show is very interactive,
and the food will slow everyone down. A child can also choke when laughing with a mouthful of food. Plus, eating and drinking before or during the show can cause stains! Not only can a spill damage your carpet, but it stops the show until it is cleaned up. Considering the entertainer is paid by the hour, that is also expensive!
10) Turn party preparations into a family project!
You have less work to do AND your children will feel they helped make the party a success!
11) Make a realistic estimate
of how much preparation time is involved and how much time you can devote to party preparation. Things always take longer than you plan.
12) Start preparations early.
It is much easier to find 15-30 minutes per evening than to do it all the day before the party.
13) Shop smart for the birthday party.
Make a list of things you need and where you can get them. In Raleigh and the surrounding area, there are numerous party stores.