After fifteen years of answering the same parent questions (and sometimes rescuing the same parent parties), these are the five mistakes I see most often — and what to do instead.
Mistake 1: Booking the cheapest option
I completely understand that parties are expensive. But a £80 entertainer is often either a hobbyist with no insurance, someone who has just started out, or someone cutting every possible corner. The full pros working in Dorset charge £200–£350 for a 2-hour party. That difference buys you a properly structured show, reliable kit, a back-up plan and £5m of public liability insurance.
If an entertainer can't email you their DBS certificate and insurance documents within 24 hours — keep looking.
Mistake 2: Leaving it too late
Local entertainers’ weekend calendars fill up 6–12 weeks in advance. I regularly turn down three or four bookings a weekend because I’m already booked. Once you have a date and a venue, book the entertainer that same week, even if it’s 2 months out.
Mistake 3: Hiring an entertainer AND a bouncy castle AND a soft-play
Sounds generous, but it's a recipe for chaos. If there's a bouncy castle in the room, half the children will be on it during the magic show. Either do a bouncy castle for 45 minutes at the start and then pack it away for the show, or hire one or the other — not both at once.
Mistake 4: Not telling the entertainer about special guests
If your child has additional needs, is a reluctant birthday star, or there’s a guest with a specific fear (loud bangs, dogs, etc.), tell me in advance. Twenty seconds of context changes how I approach the whole show. The best entertainers adapt in real time, but we adapt much better with notice.
Mistake 5: Overplanning the day
Parents sometimes try to cram an entertainer + party games + craft session + treasure hunt + cake + disco all into two hours. The result is frantic, the children don’t fully enjoy anything, and nobody finishes their food. Pick ONE big centerpiece (usually the entertainer) and let that do the work.
A simple 2-hour structure that always works
- 115 minutes of arrivals and free play
- 21 hour of entertainer (magic + dancing)
- 325 minutes of food, cake and Happy Birthday
- 420 minutes of quiet play + party bags + goodbye
Keep it simple, keep it structured, and let your entertainer do what they’re brilliant at. That’s the secret.
Written by
Children's Entertainer Dorset
Professional Children's Entertainer
Children\'s Entertainer Dorset is a full-time professional children's entertainer based in Bournemouth with 15+ years of experience throwing brilliant parties across Dorset. He has performed at thousands of birthday parties, school shows and family events.
