Are CRB Police Checked with a fully enhanced disclosure.

Are covered with £5million Public Liability Cover.

Confirm your booking in writing to ensure that both sides are clear of what to expect.

Keep their vehicle well maintained and have roadside recovery protection from a national organization.

Have satellite navigation in their vehicle so you can be sure that they will arrive on time.

Have all their electrical appliances P.A.T tested.

Would only fail to appear in very extreme circumstances and steps would be taken to find a replacement.

Follow Equity's Children's Entertainer Code of ConductReliable: Be there at the prescribed time and place.Clear: Offer a written confirmation.Knowledgeable: Of children and the craft of entertaining them.Responsible: By insisting that there is a responsible adult present when the entertainer is working.Sensitive, flexible and adaptive: To fit a variety of audience types and complete the job satisfactorily.Safe: With good quality, well maintained props and public liability insurance to £5 million.Value for money: With responsible, fair rates and terms.Professional: Committed to the delivery of a good service as this is a career and a vocation not a hobby.

Planning The Party

• Choose your date carefully - avoid clashes with other events (school fairs, other parties, holidays, etc) it would be awful to organize your party and no-one can make it.
• Choose a reputable, full time entertainer who is insured, but more importantly enthusiastic and knowledgeable of children. There are many 'entertainers' who see it as a way to top up the wages of their regular job and they do it very badly! Ask your friends who they would recommend. Be aware that many magicians developed their act 30 years ago and still perform the same routines, therefore they are not in touch with the children of today.
• Once you have booked your entertainer, choose your venue - book both as early as you can because the best ones get reserved very early.
• Send out invitations early remembering to ask for details of any allergies or special diet requirements to be included on the RSVP section. A Bag O' Fun Crew have worked at many parties where some children cannot eat the food due to allergies or religious reasons.
• Make a list of who has replied and use to check off the guests when they arrive at the party.
• Aim to keep party food as simple as possible, children are not impressed by huge buffets. It is much easier to wrap up a plate of food or a party box and give one to each child during the food break. Children love this, as they are less dependant on the adults and feel grown up. It is quicker than queuing for food, easier to clean up and cheaper. Anyone with special diet requirements are not made to feel different as the children all appear to have the same.

At The Party

• Tie balloons to the front door to guide guest to the party.
• Save party horns, squeakers and balloons until after the magic show as even the loudest microphone cannot compete with this combination of noises.
• As you check off guests arriving at the party get a contact number from the parents who are not staying in case of emergencies.
• Stick name badges on each guest - your child will know everyone but you may not. A Bag O' Fun provide name badges for the party guests included in the price of the party.
• Leave a table spare to put the presents on to be enjoyed at the end of the party, bring extra bags to the party so that you can carry the birthday gifts home easily.
• Try and persuade parents to leave, the ones who stay tend to chat loudly at the back of the room spoiling the show for the children. Don't be surprised if your entertainer asks the parents to be quiet (first rule of children's entertaining - keep control of the situation at all times!)
• Do ensure that a responsible adult remains in the room at all times, your entertainer is not a childminder.
• If you are doing your own games, plan well in advance and have more than you think you will need, try to avoid elimination games for younger children - they all want to be winners and cry when they are 'out'. Stock up on prizes for the games. A Bag O' Fun organizes all the games and prizes also pass the parcel, a punch balloon and balloon model for every single child with the party package, and the choice of a temporary tattoo or a magic wand for all.
• Children expect party bags at the end of the party, however they are not necessary. Many parents simply put a piece of birthday cake and a Bag O' Fun Puzzle Page into a party bag.

Dont Forget

• Batteries and film for the camera
• Matches to light the cake, extra serviettes for the birthday cake, the cake!
• Kitchen roll and cloths for spillages, wipes for sticky hands and faces
• Extra party bags for siblings who may stay unexpectedly, plenty of refuse sacks for all the rubbish!