Before You Book Children's Entertainment — Call Me First

I specialize in entertaining children. That means understanding that a show for a group of four- and five-year-olds should be very different from a show designed for eight-, nine-, or ten-year-olds.

Different age groups have different attention spans, different senses of humor, and different levels of understanding. What fascinates one age group can completely lose another.

Experience has taught me what works, when it works, and why it works. I know how to get children's attention without screaming for it. I know how to involve them without allowing the event to become chaotic. And I know how to keep the show moving so the children stay interested, involved, laughing, and having fun.

One of the most overlooked parts of planning children's entertainment is when the show should begin. Should you perform before the food or afterward? Before the birthday cake or after it? Should presents be opened before the show? What happens if children are still arriving?

After thousands of performances, I've seen what works — and what doesn't. The entertainment should fit naturally into your celebration rather than compete with everything else happening around it. I can help you plan the timing so the show becomes a highlight of the event.

A professional children's entertainer should never forget why everyone is there. If it's a birthday party, the birthday child should feel like the star.

My job isn't simply to stand in front of a room and perform. My job is to use the entertainment to bring everyone together and keep the attention focused on the reason we're celebrating. The magic supports the celebration — the celebration doesn't exist to support the magician.

Homes, schools, churches, community centers, restaurants, country clubs, daycare centers, outdoor events, banquet rooms, and large event spaces all present different challenges. Where should the children sit? Where should the entertainer set up? How much room is needed? What about distractions behind the performer?

After more than four decades in the entertainment business, I've learned the ins and outs of working in almost every type of venue. Sometimes a simple change in the room setup can completely transform the children's experience.

When someone performs for children, there is an additional responsibility that goes far beyond entertainment. Children watch us. They imitate us. They remember what they see.

I understand that I am performing for young, impressionable minds, and I take that responsibility seriously. That's why I don't perform dangerous tricks for children or routines involving fire that could encourage a child to imitate something unsafe later. My children's shows are designed with that responsibility in mind.

When you're inviting an entertainer into your home, school, church, organization, or event, you should know who you're hiring. I am fully insured and background checked, and I bring more than 40 years of professional entertainment experience to every event.

That experience isn't simply about knowing more magic tricks. It's knowing how to read a room. It's knowing when children need to participate and when they need to settle down. It's knowing how to regain their attention without embarrassing a child. It's knowing when it's time to move on — and sometimes, exactly when to end the show while everyone is still having a wonderful time.