by Silva Payne

Created on: July 18, 2010

Hiring a clown or any other kind of entertainer for a child's birthday party is a good way of making the occasion really special. Having an entertainer also give the adults time to set out the party food, or prepare for the next round of games. Knowing what to look for in a children's clown will help you find the right entertainer for your child and their friends.

The first thing to consider when looking for a clown is the ages of the children they will be entertaining. Very small children can be scared by clowns, as well as by the balloons and other equipment that often form part of the act. Small children also do not sit still for very long. You will need to find a clown who can tailor their performance to the ages of the children present.

Recommendations from family and friends are usually the best way to find a suitable children's party entertainer. Ask around to see if anyone has used a clown recently and what they thought of him or her. Your own child may have attended a party where a clown was entertaining the children, so ask the parents for the clown's contact details.

This is only a starting point however. You should still do some basic checks on the type of person you are inviting into your home. In the UK, anyone who works with children should have a full Criminal Records Bureau disclosure (a CRB check) and should be able – and willing – to produce the paperwork upon request.

You may also want to see your clown in action before you agree to hire them. It may not be possible to gate crash someone else's party, but your clown may have a DVD or video recording of themselves at work that you could see. This will give you a good idea of how the children respond to the act as well as to the clown.

Talk to your clown about the age range of children you expect to have at the party. Find out how long the performance usually is. Often 20 minutes is long enough for small children. You should also ask what kinds of props and equipment your clown uses, and if there is an extra charge for balloons or if they are included in the price.

You may be able to hire the clown for the entirety of the party, or just for a short segment of time. Having the clown around to welcome the children as they arrive, and to give out party bags at the end makes the whole experience more memorable for the children. Your clown may also be willing to make each child a balloon animal as a take-home gift.

Make sure you see your clown in person before you hire them for your party. This will give you a good opportunity to see their body language and spot any signs of unwanted behaviour or personality traits. A clown that smells of alcohol at 11am is not one you should consider hiring for any birthday party.

Most children's entertainers are very good at what they do. By doing some preliminary research and checks, you should be able to find the right clown who wont let you down.

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