Great venue for a birthday party or family event.
Contact Mrs Kim Hall tel 01325 319823
Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting
To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]
For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]
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SPRING INTO MAGIC.
Funfilled family variety show…..first and only time in the nort heast!
Brand new production starring master illsuionist ‘Van Buren & Allyson’ and TV’s sar ventriloquist ‘Ward Allen’ and ‘Roger the Dog’and local speciality act ‘Tom Rolfe’ as compare.
Feats of mesemerising illusion, magic, comedy, ventriloquism, juggling, unicycling and much more… something for all the family.
Saltburn Communtiy Theatre
Sat 26th March
7.30 pm.
Adults 7.00
COncessions 5.50
Family (4) 22.00
Groups 10+ (1.00) off per ticket.
To book call 07745 283 265 / (01642) 490129 .
SPRING INTO MAGIC
A funfilled family variety show.Professional entertainment for all tastes and age ranges.
Full professional show starring: Internation Illsionist – the UK’s number one plate spinner ‘Andrew Van Buren’ and Tv’s star Ventriloquist ‘Ward Allen’ & ‘Roger the Dog’ as well as speciality act / juggler ‘Tom Rolfe’ as compare.
Saturday 26th March
Saltburn Community Theatre.
Albion Terrace.
Saltburn – by – the – sea.
7.30 start.
Doors & bar 6.45.
Juggling, unicycling, illusions, plate spinning, magic, ventriquism, old and new variety spectacular.
Image by ronwooduk via Flickr
Thinking about hiring a Punch and Judy Show for a corporate family fun day, festival, gala, fete, store promotion or birthday party? If so then size matters. Read more to find out why:
The booth or puppet theatre used by the performer can vary in size considerably as can the height of the play board ( the puppet stage ). Choosing the right one can be significant for several reasons. It can affect how many people can see the show, it can affect their enjoyment and overall impression of the event, it might not be suitable for the space available.
If you are organising a big company event with plenty of space then you should hire a show with a large size puppet theatre. This will stand out more and won’t look lost amongst everything else. It will also be more impressive which will contribute to the overall flavour of the event. A small booth is likely look a little insignificant. I know this sounds awful but it could also look like you have been penny pinching ( appologies for saying that ).
If you are expecting large crowds then you should hire someone who has a large booth in which the play board ( puppet stage ) is high up. Many Punch and Judy booths have the play board at chest height. This is not so good for outdoor events as those at the back of the audience may struggle to see the action. Having the puppets high up is much better for family fun days or public events, shopping centres etc where there might be lots of people.
For a parent hiring a show for a party at home in the house then a small booth is much better. Many modern houses have low ceilings and so height could be a problem. Also if the puppets are high up the children may not be able to see them because they will be sitting too close.
Finally Punch and Judy Shows are sometimes hired for store promotions. In this case it is likely that floor space could be the determining factor. Having a larger puppet theatre would certainly be more eye catching and attractive but it may be that it would be too big for the area allocated. Careful consideration should be given to this before making a booking.
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Bank Holiday Weekend 28th/29th May Crook Town AFC present a two day event Saturday 28th features DJ’S & Bands including BEZ x Happy Mondays star, the Sunday is 70’s day with David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Free, T.Rex tribute bands plus many more in the three Marquee’s on the pitch Tickets are £15 saturday, £10 sunday from the club house Crook Town AFC DL15 9PW & Hope St News Crook also online www.etickets.to/buy/?e=6443 go to www.crooktownafc.co.uk for further details. Tel 01388 762959
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Right now it seems that everyone is talking about Zumba. I travel a lot and whether I’ve been in London, the Midlands or Scotland I’ve heard people talking about it. Zumba is the latest dance / fitness craze to hit the UK. I am told that it’s a cross between dance and aerobics. As I am neither a dancer nor a fitness fanatic I am not qualified to give an informed analysis of either. It does seem to be mainly ladies who go in for these things. I know there are some men who participate but I think it fair to say that most of those taking part are female.
Zumba classes are so popularat the moment that in some places you can hardly get through the door. The venues are packed to the point of turning people away.
I’ve been trying to decide why something suddenly becomes so popular. There is no doubt that Zumba is a craze. I would be very surprised if all the classes that are running at the moment will still running in twelve months time. So why do people feel compelled to go?
As with all new things there is a big wave of interest at the beginning and then it gradually tails off as the less enthusiastic or less highly motivated people drop out. Lots of people are keen to try things out but then find it’s not for them, their interest wains, they find it difficult to attend regularly due to other commitments or something else comes along that they would rather do instead. Friends dropping out also has an effect because it’s not so much fun going by yourself.
Am I being skeptical when I say it won’t last? I don’t think so. I can recall many other so called crazes which have experienced huge popularity only to fade away once the initial rush to give it a try is over. Aerobics, Step, Line Dancing, Salsa are just a few that come to mind. Yes, they’ve all had their moment in the limelight and yes they are all still going but now they are old hat. They are not exciting any more.
Will I be joining a Zumba class? Probably not but if I do I will certainly be waiting until the numbers die down?
Have you tried Zumba? Did you like it? Will it last? What’s your view? I’d love to know. Leave me a comment below.
It is very important to me to have my every day working kit immaculately clean at all times. My sponges, brushes, water containers and paints are thoroughly cleaned after each session. To me this gives the impression that not only are you professional, but that you care about the people you are painting. Over the years I have had lots of compliments from parents, not only about the quality of my work but also on the cleanliness of my kit. This makes me feel great! Thank you, Hazel.
Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting
To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]
For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]
When it comes to entertaining children there is no one size fits all. A birthday party is a very special occasion and every parent wants to do the best they can to make it is good as it can be. For the child it is very exciting because they know they are going to get lots of presents and have lots of fun. For parents a birthday party is an expression of love and pride. Having a brilliant birthday party is could be described as a kind of emotional out poring. A way of showing their love? This might sound a little over the top but I believe this is true. As a parent myself I am speaking from experience. Hazel and I always tried to give our three girls really good birthday parties even when money was in short supply and let’s face it a birthday party is expensive! They are all grown up now but we’ve been there, done that and bought the T Shirt as they say.
I am digressing. My opening statement is true. When it comes to entertaining children there is no one size fits all. The kind of stuff which will amuse and entertain a four year old is different to what will delight a ten year old. To organise a birthday party for a four year old boy and then invite his ten year old brother and all his mates to come too is a recipe for trouble. Older children are more sophisticated. They are far more advanced both physically and mentally and they are much bigger! The older children will naturally dominate the little ones. They will win all the games and sometimes younger children can be knocked over and hurt if the big ones are chasing around in the excitement. Controlling older children can sometimes be a problem too. Often you will not know all of the children who are coming to the party and so you have to hope that they will be well behaved.
This all sounds like bad news. It’s not meant to be. Mixed age group parties can work. It depends on the kids. If you are lucky enough to get a group of really well behaved children and the older ones are quite happy to mix in with the little ones then all well and good but be warned. It could go the other way so why take chances.
If you are planning a birthday party for a three or four year old child then invite all three and four year olds. This is by far the best approach.
Younger Children Love Puppets
If you are going to do the entertainment yourself and you are wondering what to do then draw inspiration from nursery school, play group, mother and toddler group or Tumble Tots. Think of the kind of activities and games that the children do at these places. Make a list of everything you can think of that you might be able to use at your child’s birthday party. Games, songs and stories are all good. Work out how long each activity will take and then make a little programme up. Alternate between an activity which involves sitting and listening and one which involves movement. Don’t try and do too much. Plan on thirty to forty minutes before the party food and then perhaps another thirty minutes or so after the meal. Use less energetic activities such as “pass the parcel” and “pin the tail on the donkey” after the children have eaten. End the party on a high note by doing the “hokey cokey” or something similar. If possible enlist the help of a friend or relative who works with pre school age children in a professional capacity. A nursery nurse, teacher or child carer would be ideal. It is also a very good idea to involve the other mums too. Ask them to join in with their children. This will make things much easier for you.
You may decide to hire someone to come and organise the birthday party entertainment for you. There are people who specialise in entertaining preschoolers. Often they are people who are ex teachers or who have experience as nursery nurses, child carers etc. Sometimes they are mums themselves who have set up in business because they enjoy working with kids and they like the flexibility this type of work affords. There are people who will organise games, do craft activities, do dressing up parties, do storytelling and so on.
Alternatively you might want to hire a professional children’s entertainer such as a magician, clown or puppeteer. All children love magic. Most love clowns and puppets are always a big hit. Not all children’s entertainers will work with very young children. The sudden appearance of a clown in the midst of a group of three and four year olds could terrify some children especially the more timid ones. When working with under fives approach is everything. The first step is to win over the confidence of the children and make sure they feel safe and are relaxed. Next the material has to be simple and uncomplicated. The funny business and humour must be pitched at a level that the little ones can understand. This may seem obvious but it is very important. Entertaining pre school age children at a birthday party is an art in itself and requires experience, knowledge and understanding. Not everyone is capable of entertaining very young children at birthday parties and so you do need to make sure you are hiring an entertainer who knows what they are doing.
Here is what one mum wrote about a party for her four year old daughter at which we had performed a magic and puppet show:
Hi there! What a super afternoon – thanks largely to you! Willow had a fab time and told her grandma all about the ‘funny man who can’t clap and had lots of sheep and a cow called Daisy’. We have our own puppet theatre at home and have been playing with it already this morning, re-christening one of the characters ‘Bonkers’. I think we may be stealing some of your act! Our guests are raving about the party and we certainly won’t forget you in a hurry. Unfortunately I can’t post anything on your facebook page for Jolly Good Productions – but will gladly do so – think we may need to be friends in order to do so?? Just wanted to let you know that we were super impressed and it was such a stress-free party for us. The kids loved you (perhaps a little too much at times) but I guess that’s just the sort of reaction you need. Thanks so much again.
Birthday parties are special. Think carefully about what you are going to do and hopefully you will have happy memories to look back on in years to come.
If you have any ideas to share about entertaining pre school age children at a birthday party please contribute to the discussion using the comment section below. Thanks.
Find more information about Birthday Party Entertainment:
In the amazing world of the Internet there has never been more information available to learn just about anything you can possibly think of. If there isn’t an article on it then there is bound to be a You Tube video. There was a time when researching and finding out meant a trip down to the library where you could browse through book lists and then order in what you wanted hoping your questions would be answered. Sometimes you would need to wait for weeks before your book or books to arrive. Alternatively you could locate individuals and organisations by telephone or letter requesting help. Again all very time consuming. Thank fully those days are gone and now we have information at our finger tips 24/7. We can connect to the Internet with a computer or mobile phone and find a wealth of information in seconds.
The Internet is a brilliant resource. If you plan to become a face painter then certainly you are going to use the Internet. There are so many tutorials to view and download it’s mind blowing. It’s more a question of where to start. One of the problems with the Internet is that information can be posted by anyone and you have no way of knowing what their credentials are or how appropriate it is for your purposes. You end up just trawling around and gathering all sorts of information but you’re never sure if you have got the full picture.
Face painting is a skill. Anyone seriously interested in becoming a good face painter needs to learn a range of techniques which are best taught in a practical lesson. The acquisition of good basic skills is the foundation on which to build and develop. These practical skills can’t be learnt properly from a book or a video. They need to be explained and demonstrated face to face and then practiced under supervision.
The first step in setting up as a face painter must be to find a good teacher. Although there are lots of face painters who offer face painting courses its worth searching around to find someone who really knows what they are doing. Look for someone who :
Hazel Wood
Attending a good, well organised, comprehensive face painting training course is essential if you want to learn face painting properly. It is worth giving up the extra time and money to go on the best course you can find than by trying to take short cuts.
If you go on the right face painting course you can be confident that there are no gaps in your knowledge. You will also learn the practical skills you need without picking up any bad habits and you will learn lots of tips and tricks which your teacher has acquired the hard way. In addition you will also save yourself money by not going out and buying the wrong supplies. It’s easy to spend a fortune when you are starting out by buying all sorts of things you don’t need or because you didn’t know any better. A good course will help you to decide which materials to buy to suit you.
Once you have been on a proper beginner / foundation course then you should practice regularly to improve your skills and to build up you your speed.
Applying to join an organisation such as FACE ( The Face Painting Association ) is a good idea as you will need to pass an entrance test and have your work assessed to show that you can meet certain approved standards. This is a useful form of accreditation.
Develop your kills further by purchasing books on face painting, watching tutorials on You Tube and attending face painting conventions and jams.
Look on our main web site for more information about face painting courses.
Find more information, photos and video clips about face painting
To hire a Professional Face Painter go to Face Painter [ Jolly Good Productions ]
For information about Training go to Face Painting Courses [ Jolly Good Productions ]