With so many dazzling types of entertainment to pick from, it’s important that you are choosing the right entertainer for your celebration to maximize the value of your booking. We’re here to help, check out our thoughts below!
Caricatures – Can’t Miss!
Caricature artists have been our most popular booking option for decades because they are a can’t-lose booking option for pretty much any kind of event. Company picnics, weddings, fundraisers, festivals – anywhere people are, they love to get a drawing of themselves!
When it comes to these artists, the “fit” usually comes from art-style. For weddings, reunions, and other classy events, you will most likely want an artist who draws in a refined portrait style. For festivals, college gatherings, street fairs, etc., a funny and exaggerated artist is a perfect fit!
Face Painters – Not just for kids…(but mostly for kids)
Face Painters are such a fun option for child-oriented events like corporate picnics, kids parties, school events and family days. Their bright, vibrant designs are really exciting for young guests, and oftentimes parents will get a fun design as well! Face Painting is not recommended for:
- Pool Parties or Splash Pad events – water-soluble paint will wash right off!
- Outdoor events on very hot days – same issue with perspiration!
- Events with children under 3 years old – for insurance reasons and health concerns, many artists will not apply face paint to children under 3 years old
- Glam events, balls, weddings – the easily-smudged paint may damage garments and upholstery
Balloon Twisters
Balloons are most popular at kids parties and festivals! Twisters are a perfect fit for high-footfall events, as guests can be served in as little as 2 minutes when the artist is offering simple twists. They are also popular at sporting events, tailgates, and university celebrations as their twists can make nearly-instant accessories in team or school colors! Carrying almost everything on their person in a convenient apron, it’s difficult to find an event where a balloon twister isn’t a fun addition, there are very few drawbacks.
Fortune Tellers
Tarot, palm, and crystal readers are most popular for events celebrating Halloween or life milestone events! What says “spooky season” better than a mysterious individual ready to read the future for you and your friends at your party? They are also popular for bachelorette parties, bridal showers, graduations, and retirements – any time guests are thinking of the future and wanting to learn more!
Fortune tellers are not a great fit for:
- Events taking place in religious communities where divination is not practiced or approved of
- Children’ s parties
Stilt Walkers
Are you looking to make a big visual splash with your event? Do you want high energy and engagement from a large number of guests? Hire a stilt-walker! They are perfect for big events like festivals, concerts, fairs and fundraisers. With their sky-high stature and on-theme costuming, they are an instant mood-setter and there’s something about a super tall person in fancy dress that really thrills people.
Stilt-walkers are not recommended for small events or indoor gatherings in spaces with low ceiling clearance. As their main function is to wave, pose, dance and interact with guests, having them at smaller events does not give you a good value and leaves them sitting idle.
Henna Artists
Henna is an ancient and beautiful art form, practiced mostly by and for women for centuries. Some cultures attach special significance to henna tattoo as it relates to marriage and weddings, with intricate “mehndi” henna being traditionally offered to brides in the days before their wedding. As a result, it is very popular for bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and wedding events. Henna is also a fun, sophisticated option to offer adults as an alternative to face paint or temporary tattoos and can be a great fit for corporate events as well.
The primary consideration regarding henna tattoo is that the organic paste should be allowed to dry on the skin to leave a dark stain behind for as long as possible. Smudging, smearing, and flaking-off of the paste is always a possibility. As a result, henna is not suggested for:
- Children’s events
- Pool Parties / Splash pad events
- Luxurious venues with furniture or upholstery that may be damaged by wet paste
- High-density or activity events where guests cannot keep the tattoo free from contact with other surfaces
- Very busy events where time is of the essence – these intricate designs can take several minutes to be applied
Magicians
Magicians can offer action-packed shows tailored to various age ranges.
- Kids’ Magic Shows are the right fit for birthday parties, library shows, and school assemblies. Their simple, silly, fun shows are usually timed to suit short attention spans and keep the energy really high!
- While Kids Magicians are often much less expensive, they are not recommended for adult audiences – material that will dazzle a 4 year old won’t pass muster with a group of retirees who have seen it all before!
- Corporate Magic Shows offer showstopping magic performances that utilize large prop tricks, sound/lighting systems, audience volunteers, and more. These shows have longer run-times and offer material that will surprise and astound even the most cynical audience members!
- With more adult-oriented humor and patter, these shows are not intended for children
- Parlor Magic Shows are smaller adult-oriented magic shows that can be packed into a briefcase and set up anywhere a small group is gathered. Perfect for living rooms, the parlor magic show is up-close and personal and just as amazing as the Corporate-style show, but utilizes smaller props and materials.
- Strolling Magic features a magician who will stroll your event space interacting with your guests and sharing various pocket-sized magic routines with them. Sleight of hand, disappearing/reappearing items, and the classic card illusions make this a perfect fit for cocktail hours, corporate receptions, or company family days.
- Strolling magic is not recommended for small parties; they will bring only 5-10 minutes of material with them and guests are not as dazzled by the same trick after they’ve seen it twice before
