Ten Top Tips to Find the Best Children's Entertainer in Peterborough

Planning a child's birthday party and looking for a children's entertainer in the Peterborough area? Find one, book one and enjoy a stress-free party.

But choose the wrong children's entertainer and you could finish up with a no-show. Or a clown whose make-up terrifies the children.

So how do you pick the best children's entertainer? You'll find plenty on the Internet and in your Peterborough Yellow Pages. Follow our Ten Top Tips to pick the one for you, for smiles all round without stress.

1. Is he here yet, mum? Imagine a room full of expectant children and no entertainer turns up. Nightmare! Some children's entertainers are far from professional with their booking system. Always ask for written confirmation.

2. Send in the clowns - kids love them, don't they? Well no. Some children can be terrified by a clown's scary make-up. And so can some adults. Unless you want children hiding under the bed instead of enjoying the birthday party, choose a clown who's funny enough not to need make-up.

3. Dodgy card tricks and a few adult-only jokes aren't quite what you had in mind for your children's party. Ask your children's entertainer exactly what their programme includes and for what age group it's suitable.

4. Keeping in touch. You want your child's birthday party to be a really special occasion. So you may want to talk to your children's entertainer before the big day. Be realistic - if they're popular you won't get hold of them at weekends, their busiest times. But if you can never reach them during the day, is being a children's entertainer their full-time job or just a money-making sideline?

5. If a call's worth making, use your landline. So we're told. Does your chosen children's entertainer have one? If they have only a mobile number, and never answer when you call, book someone you can get hold of when you need to.

6. Visit their website. A professional children's entertainer will have one. It should tell you exactly what they provide, and give full contact details for more information.

7. Read the testimonials. A professional children's entertainer should have testimonials from satisfied parents proudly displayed on their website.

8. Come to a party! Some children's entertainers promise party invitations then expect you to print them yourself from their website. If busy mums and dads had time for that, they wouldn't need someone to organise the birthday party for them!

9. Age appropriate. Choose a children's entertainer with experience your child's age group. The wrong material can spoil birthday party fun. If it's too old for them, or worse still, too babyish, it will all end in tears.

10. Safety first. You want your child's birthday party to be safe and full of fun. Especially as you'll also have other people's children in your home. Ask to see a risk assessment.