Being a parent can bring out all kinds of personality traits that you may have never known that you had. If you have been blessed with the ability to get silly, to let loose and be a little goofy, then chances are good that your kids absolutely love it when you do. If your kids love your animated antics and silly shenanigans, there is also a good chance that their little friends would too. In other words, you just might be a great birthday party entertainer.
Being an entertainer at children’s birthday parties is not for the faint of heart. If the mere realization that the other parents at the party will know that it is you dancing around in the Dora the Explorer costume makes you shudder, this may not be the best home-based business idea for you. There’s also the chance that your costume may freak out some of the partygoers, especially if they have not been properly prepared for your appearance. Some of the costumes can be hot, itchy, or uncomfortable. If you don’t mind these things though, and you think that entertaining a room full of little ones sounds like a good way to spend an afternoon, this may be a home-based business that fits you.
While you are creating your business plan for your budding party entertainer business, think about things like where you will rent or buy your costumes and how much that will cost. Perhaps you live near a store that rents many different costumes and you will be able to provide a big list for parents to choose from. If not, that is okay too. You can make costumes, shop around at thrift stores and online, and find other ways to fill a closet with an array of outfits. Don’t be afraid to ask around and see what’s hot in your neighborhood right now. Perhaps princesses are all the rage, and little girls may really enjoy having Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty visit their party and read a story or have a cup of tea. Bob the Builder could bring along some craft supplies and help kids build their own little project to take home. If you can sing and dance, that also expends the range of characters that you can portray but don’t let a lack of those skills hold you back. Stories, games, crafts, and other activities can be great ways to engage partygoers and they will be having so much fun that they won’t even notice that you are not singing or dancing.
It has been about thirteen years or so since my last entertaining appearance at a children’s birthday party, but I remember that I used to have a lot of fun doing them. I was not an entertainer at private parties, but I was a costumed character at Chuck E. Cheese’s. I would dress up as one of the characters (often Chuck E. herself, er, I mean himself) and dance for the kids as they enjoyed pizza and cake. Many parents are choosing to forego birthday parties at restaurants and other locations in favor of parties at home. You can be a part of that as a costumed birthday party entertainer.
Photo by shysie on morguefile.com.