Tips On Taking Photos Or Video At A Children’s Party

Image by ronwooduk via Flickr

This is just a short post with a few tips about taking photos and videos at children’s parties.

I’d like to start by saying that I do believe birthday parties are important and happy family occasions which should be recorded. You should take lots and lots of photos so that you can look back in years to come on what is sure to be a wonderful experience.

One of the things parents often say to me after a show is how much they loved seeing the children laugh or how they loved watching them smiling and having fun. I was thinking about this today and it dawned on me that when parents video my shows they are nearly always doing it from the back. In other words they never film the most important part which is the expressions and reactions of the children. It occurred to me that you really need to have two cameras. One at the back filming the show and the other at the front filming the audience. By having two cameras you can capture all the action. The funny bits in the act and the children laughing or joining in. You might have to borrow a second video camera or sweet talk a friend or relative to help out but I’m sure it would be worth it.

The same goes for photography. Try to take shots from both directions.

I also think it’s worth either buying or borrowing a tripod. You always get much better results when the video camera is firmly supported compared to hand held.

If you are booking an entertainer have a word with them about the show and find out when there will be some good photo opportunities and then you can be ready to snap away at the right moments. Make a few notes to remind you of what to expect.

If you are planning a party I hope these ideas are useful.

If you are keen on photography and have any useful tips please post a comment below. Thanks, Ron.

Top Filming Tips & Techniques (brighthub.com)
Learning How to Become a Photographer (brighthub.com)

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Kid’s Shows Inside Or Out?

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Quite often children’s entertainment is booked for an event with little consideration being given as to where and how it is to be set up. Whilst some organisers are very good at appreciating what the requirements of the act or performers might be some with less experience may overlook important considerations.

When booking a children’s entertainer to come to an event one of the first things to establish is whether the performance can take place outside in the open or if it needs to be under cover. Some types of show are ideal for outdoors. Punch and Judy is great children’s entertainment and is perfectly suited to being outside. Some juggling acts and clown shows are also meant to be performed in the open. Other types of show such as a children’s magic show or some puppet shows might need to be under cover.

It is always a good idea to consider providing a marquee or large party tent in which to put the children’s entertainment. The advantages of this are :

The rear wall of the tent provides a back drop behind the performance area.
The audience will enjoy the shows more because there are less distractions.
It is a natural focus point for families
The audience are more comfortable as they are under cover and protected from the elements.
The performances will not be affected by inclement weather.
Electrical equipment, speakers, pa systems are protected from the elements.

The disadvantages of providing a marquee or party tent are :

Cost
Space

I do think that having a marquee for the children’s entertainment is a very good idea if there is somewhere for it to go and if the budget allows. The entertainment provider should always be consulted to establish what their actual requirements are. They may also request a power supply for amplification.

Marquee for children's entertainment at the Galtres Festival

Children's tent at the Galtres Festival

The photo above shows a circus workshop taking place in the children’s entertainment marquee at the Galtres Festival near easingwold, North Yorkshire. This type of marquee can be obtained at a reasonable price. It’s really like a big party tent. It has plenty of space for the activity and there is room for the adults to come in and watch too. Matting has been put down on the floor which is another good thing to do especially if the grass is wet.

Children's Marquee at a corporate event in Leeds

The marquee above was supplied by a specialist marquee hire company for a corporate event in Leeds. A stage was provided at one end and plastic seats were set out for the audience. There was an off stage area behind the back drop and power put in for music and lights. At this event there was an on going entertainment programme throughout the day. This was a really excellent set up.

Children's entertainment, Ripon Festival

In the above picture a smaller tent has been provided to cover the actual show but the audience are outside. In this case it was a good compromise. It meant that the organisers could have the show they wanted even though normally it would have to be indoors.

These are just a few examples of how some show organisers have planned for the provision of children’s entertainment at outdoor events. In all three cases above they have thought carefully about how to make the best use of the entertainers they have booked by making sure that they have a suitable performance area to work in and therefore getting the best they can from their acts.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on this subject.

Face Painting For A Party Or Event By Hazel Wood

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Hazel is available to hire for a party or event. Watch this You Tube video to see some of her work.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI3x-eDHP2E]

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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How To Pack Them In On A Charity Race Night!

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Tadcaster and Wetherby Young Farmers Race Night (Photo credit: ronwooduk)

Race Night Attendance

The problem with organizng any kind of event is that you never know how many people are going to turn up. Race Nights are no exception.

If you are trying to raise money by holding a Race Night then you need to get as many people as you can to come along and spend some money. It’s no good leaving it to chance. Putting a few posters out and selling a few tickets is ok. Laying on food helps too. What you really need is an angle.

One of the busiest Race Nights I ever did was for the local football club in Brough, Cumbria. The committee had sweet talked somebody into donating quite a few crates of wine. They were able to offer FREE wine for the first hour. The place was packed. They were literally like sardines in a can.

Another great way to ensure lots of folk turn up is to try and combine the Race Night with some other important event. A presentation of prizes, awards ceremony, AGM etc. If possible have at least four races at the beginning of the evening as some people may not stay until the end.

You could also try to find a local celebrity to turn up to endorse the event, perhaps give an introduction and sign autographs etc. The more popular and well known the better.

Offering the chance to win an amazing prize can also be effective. It needs to be something really special and it needs to well advertised. Don’t say when the draw will take place only that it will be at some point during the evening and you must be there to have a chance to win.

These are just a few ideas. Put your imaginations to work and see if you can come up with something really exciting. If you want to ” pack em in ” then offering an attractive incentive is a great idea.

Let me know if you have come up with any great ideas for getting lots of people to come and support your Race Nights. Comments and questions are welcome.

For a FREE Race Night Quotation please use this Enquiry Form.

Race Night Profits Explained

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How To Draw Attention To Your Store Opening

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When you are opening a brand new store you want to get noticed and make a big impact so that everyone knows you are there. There are lots of things you can do to draw attention to your Grand Opening.

Stilt walkers in colourful costumes

Use promo staff to give out leaflets in the local area.
Have a DJ playing middle of the road popular music outside the store and making announcements to passers by.
Decorate the store front. Balloon displays are a great way to grab attention.
Have competitions and dicount vouchers / free gifts to hand out to customers throughout the day.
Hire a children’s entertainer to ammuse and delight the youngsters. Face painting is always good for pulling a crowd too.
Use stilt walkers in bright, colourful costumes to assist in attracting attention, engaging with the public and helping to give out leaflets and entertain the kids.
Have a greeter at the entrance to welcome people as they come in.
Put on extra staff to ensure you can cope with increased foot fall. If people have to wait in long queues at the check outs they will get fed up and may leave with a bad impression.
Brief all staff to be happy and cheerful. People coming into your premises will appreciate a friendly atmosphere.

Making a good impression with your customers on the first day of trading counts for a lot. Its always worth spending a little bit more of your budget to get the right people working for you on the big day. Don’t rely on an agency to book people in. This is the easy option but remember they are taking a cut and may be shopping round to get the cheapest entertainers / suppliers they can find whilst still charging you full whack. It’s better to book direct if you can.

I have worked on store promotions and store openings all over the UK for most of the big high street names. I have also worked for many independent retailers too. Please contact me if you would like any advice or suggestions. Jolly Good Productions are not an agency but we do have a lot of experience in this type of work and would be delighted to advise or help if we can.

Share your ideas on store openings below. You can also use the comments box to post questions to me if you wish.

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Who To Invite To A Children’s Party

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Image by ronwooduk via Flickr

Every parent wants their child’s birthday party to be really good. A birthday party is special. It’s exciting for the birthday child and it is a happy and memorable occasion for family and friends. The child’s mum is usually the one who does all the hard work of organising everything. Sometimes it’s the Dad but often father is in a supporting role rather than being the main driving force.
Inevitably the question arrises of who to invite. Before I go any further I need to explain that I am very experienced in the world of birthday parties. First of all Hazel and I have three daughters, all grown up now but we have been through the birthday party phase. We have experienced first hand the stress and effort that goes into party planning. Second, I am a very experienced children’s entertainer. I am not bragging when I say I’ve seen it all. I have been employed to entertain at the most lavish birthday parties you can imagine where people have spent an absolute fortune ( and I mean thousands and thousands of pounds )and I have also worked at parties where I’ve been in someones garage with the mum and four kids. So on the subject of birthday parties I do speak with some authority. I’ve seen so many different kinds of parties that I’ve got a pretty good feeel for what works and what doesn’t.

Here are a few considerations to make when deciding who to invite to a children’s party.

Age Group. If you are hiring a children’s entertainer it is much better to have all the same age group.If it’s a fifth birthday party you don’t want a group of ten year old boys getting bored and deliberately spoiling it for the little ones.
Space. If you are hiring a hall this shouldn’t matter too much but if you are doing your birthday party at home then you need to think carefully about how many children ( and parents ) you can comfortably fit in.
Cost. Some venues will charge per head and therefore the more children you invite the higher the cost. If you are hiring a hall or having a party at home then increasing the numbers shouldn’t have too much of an effect because children don’t eat too much anyway. A few extra sausages on sticks, sandwiches or crisps won’t break the bank. Also the cost of your bouncy castle or children’s entertainer will be same whether you have ten kids or a hundred.
When. Will the party be on the actual birthday? Is it going to be mid week or weekend? Friends and relatives living farther away may not be able to come at certain times.
Naughty kids. This is always very tricky as you don’t want to offend people. Unfortunately there are some children who are very badly behaved and they could spoil the party. Have you got the courage not to invite them?

Once you have thought about all of the above you need to make a list. Involve the birthday child. Sit down with him / her and ask who they would like to come. Use this list to help you :

Best friend
Friends
School friends / class mates
Friends from clubs / organisations / hobbies
Relatives ie cousins
Children of parents close friends

Cross off people who you don’t want to invite and those you know can’t make it and you now have a list which you can use for sending out the invitations.

Incidentally it’s a good idea to make a proper list and make sure you know the child’s full name, the name of their parent or guardian and a contact telephone number / mobile number so that you can contact them if you need to either before or during the party.

I hope you found this article on birthday party planning useful. If you have any questions or would like to add anything on this subject please use the comment form below. Your views are most welcome.

Ideas for Planning The Birthday Party of Your Five Year Old Daughter! (socyberty.com)
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How To Get Even More People To Attend Your Event!

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Image by ronwooduk via Flickr

Although it’s not something I really have to worry about, the subject of numbers is always going through my mind. I have been in the event business for a very long time and have been involved in one way or another in literally hundreds and hundreds of events over the years. These days I don’t organise big events any more I just perform at them. However, I do appreciate how important it is for those in charge to get as many people to come along as possible. If nobody comes then its not been a very good event and nobody wants that. I am therefore writing once again about ways to get more people to attend your event.

In this article I’d like to put forward the idea of “asset management”. By assets I’m referring to anything you are going to be bringing in specifically for the event. All events have a budget of some kind. Some are quite healthy and others meagre. Decisions will have to be made about how to spend the money. What are the essentials that are going to have to be paid for and what can be borrowed, donated or done without.

Too often organisers do not make the most of their assets. Posters will go up, the local press will be informed and someone might contact the radio. Fliers are dished out all over the place. A lot of effort is going into putting the word out and promoting the event but often there is not much detail. It’s just another Fun Day, Fair or Gala etc. Why not tell people more about what is going to be happening.

Perhaps your local butcher who happens to make the best pork pies in the world is coming to your show. I would mind betting there are a lot of pork pie lovers who would just love to come and sample his delights.

You might have a Fun Fair coming with the very latest motion simulator or the highest inflatable slide in the world. This could be a great crowd puller but if your poster or advertising just says ” Fun Fair ” it doesn’t mean too much.

You might be hiring in a children’s entertainer. It could even be me ( I hope so ). Don’t just put Punch and Judy or clown or children’s entertainer on the advertising. Give more information about who is coming and what they will be doing. Make it interesting. Tap into the popularity of your entertainer, use them to help increase your gate.

In summary I do feel that event organisers are missing a trick by not making the most of their suppliers. If there is a story to tell or they are well known or they have something special on offer then do make the most of it. Let people know and I’m sure it will help to increase attendance.

I hope this gives food for thought. Post any remarks or questions in the comments box below and please do feel free to advertise your event on our site using the ADD NEWS tab above. Good luck!

Ticket Tailor Allows Event Organisers to Sell Tickets On-Line Without Paying Booking Fees (prweb.com)

Punch And Judy Kissing Is No Laughing Matter

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Mr Punch is no romantic that’s for sure. He’s pretty direct when it comes to his dealings with his wife Judy. When he wants a peck on the cheek he says “kissy kissy kissy”. Listen to the laughter from the children during my Punch and Judy Show as Mr Punch tries to be affectionate.
There are so many funny scenes like this in Punch and Judy. No wonder the show is as popular today with children and adults. It’s just so much fun. I hope you enjoy this short film clip.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTTPOp5IAZ8]

To see more of my show or to enquire about booking me go to my Punch and Judy page.

Punch and Judy act toned down after warnings (telegraph.co.uk)

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Birthday Cake Ideas

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Birthday Cakes come in all shapes and sizes these days. Are you looking for inspiration. Go our photo gallery to see what other people have done. A children’s party is a special occasion. Some people buy a ready made cake from the supermarket whilst others make their own cakes. There are also plenty of shops who specialize in party cakes and cakes for anniversarys and weddings etc.

Pirate Ship Birthday Cake

The above Pirate Ship Birthday Cake was made for a little girl who wanted a pirate party. In fact her mum booked the Jolly Good Productions Pirate Puppet show. The cake looks just like the ship in the show.

Do you know any really good cake suppliers? Share their details using the comment section below, thanks, Ron

Need ideas for a birthday cake? See our gallery below :

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Methodist Church Hall, Scorton

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The Methodist Church Hall, Scorton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire is an ideal venue for a birthday party, especially for younger children. It’s got a nice kitchen and there is plenty of parking round the village green.

Scorton Methodist Church Hall

To enquire about hiring the hall Tel 01748 810850

Jolly Good Productions (Blog)

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Tips On Taking Photos Or Video At A Children’s Party

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Methodist Church Hall, Scorton

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