I don’t know about where you are, but here where I am it’s gray, drizzly, and only to get into the low 50’s. Is that the kind of day that makes you think of picnics and summer fun? It makes me want to hunker down with some comfort food.
Guess what? Hunkering down is not an option. I’m going to Chairman’s Day at a local farm where groups can rent space and have their picnics catered. There’ll be clowns, stilt walkers, magicians, hayrides, balloon artists (me!), and all sorts of food. From May through December people like me are pretty busy, so it’s best not to wait too long to plan your summer picnic. We’d hate for you to miss out on our balloon fun because you waited too late to make your reservation (booked 1st come, 1st served).
If you’re planning an event and need to rent a space, whether it’s a park, a recreation center, or a banquet hall, contact the facility NOW. Once you’ve secured the place you’re going to have your party, arrange your food and entertainment. You may need to put down non-refundable deposits. Until your deposit is received, your reservation isn’t confirmed. That means that you could lose your entertainer to someone else who makes a firm decision and sends payment promptly. Of course we do our best to notify you and give you 24 hours to complete your deposit before releasing your desired time to someone else, but we are a business. Payment is important to us.
Talk with more than 1 service provider. See how each of them interacts with you, see how they interact with kids if you can. Look at their websites. Discover whether you’ll be dealing with an individual or with an agency. While agencies have a larger pool of talent to draw from, you may prefer to be able to speak 1 on 1 with the entertainer who will be working at your event.
If you have something specific in mind, such as to have a strolling balloon artist moving throughout the event rather than setting up on 1 place, then discuss that in advance. Ask for suggestions from the entertainer or agency. Those of us who go to parties and picnics regularly may be able to help you avoid some glitches. Don’t, for example, place your children’s entertainers right next to the barbecue grill or the beer truck. These things have happened to me and I’ve had to point out that we don’t want kids to accidentally get burned when they’re horsing around while waiting for their balloon creations.
Be realistic with your expectations. If you expect 15 children, make sure you find out in advance how many kids your entertainer can serve in an hour. If your group is too large for balloons or face painting in the time you have allotted, perhaps a show that entertains them all at once would be better. Your entertainer needs to know this in advance, not as a surprise when she arrives at the party.
Finally, prepare to relax and have fun. If you choose the right entertainer, your event will go smoothly and you’ll get good value for the money you spend.
Please let us know in the comments what your best summer picnic experience was and what made it so special. Call or email us now to plan your summer event.
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