Safety First When Performing For Kids

When performing for kids, safety is one of the MOST important things you should be aware of, and protecting yourself, your equipment and your attendees is extremely important. If you are performing for kids, Liability Insurance is a MUST (In fact, liability insurance is good common sense for your business, regardless as to if you perform for kids or adults!) But beyond liability insurance, you should be looking at other ways to protect your equipment. This month, we will discuss a few ideas.

If you are performing at a school in an area with a stage, take the stage! Setting up on the floor leaves too many variables to chance, especially if the children in attendance decide that sliding across the floor on their knees is fun. At some point, they will end up sliding across the floor TOWARD the table with your equipment on it. And if they go too far, the will end up under it. So separate yourself from the crowd and entertain from the stage. By being on a stage, you will also add some “star power” and be able to have everyone’s attention when you are making announcements or performing interactive routines.

You should also tape down every cable that is in an area where kids MAY go. Even if you are on stage, if you bring up guests from the audience, you should tape your cables down to avoid a tripping hazard. If you are in an area where tape will not work, there is a use for those bright orange extension cords that most DJs find noticeable. Use them so that people can see where your cables are.

But what happens if you do not have an area for a stage, or you are performing outdoors? Well, orange cones are a good start. You should consider setting up in an area where your equipment will be protected from the elements (as well as an area where power can be easily accessed, and set up a “perimeter” around your setup with the cones so you can have a boundary and space so that the kids know where they can and cannot be. Also, if you need to run an extension cord across an area where guests can run or walk, run a few extra cones along the cord so that nobody trips.

Remember that children are curious, and sometimes when they see something they want to play with, they will grab it. I often find this happening when I work with hula hoops. Putting all of the items you use for your performance BEHND your table and out of sight can help deter children from playing with them until you are ready to introduce them as part of your show.

Watch out for wandering toddlers! Even though I make an announcement prior to my show for parents to watch their children while I am performing, the parents sometimes forget and toddlers end up walking around aimlessly. And usually, if they see toys like hula hoops, bubble wands, etc. they usually come right to my set up and help themselves to these items, even if I am standing right next to them. In such cases, acting kid friendly toward the child will get their attention, and asking them to walk with you as you walk away from these items usually will work. However, if they won’t, making an announcement over the microphone will usually get the parent’s attention, especially if you use “we have a wandering child who wants to be part of the show!” as an announcement. Of you could say “Who does he/she belong to?” Usually there is one parent (even if it is not their parent) who will help you out.

Safety should be one of the most important considerations when performing for any age group. But taking extra precautions when performing for children will help protect them, you, your equipment and your reputation!

Why be a kids entertainer?

 As a DJ, one market that is generally overlooked is the kid’s entertainment market. If you perform Bar/Bat Mitzvahs or School Events, then you already have the experience to perform for children between the ages of 3 and 7 years old.

There are several pros and cons to providing children’s entertainment that you may want to consider. Among the advantages:

• Kid’s Entertainment can be profitable! If you set up a children’s entertainment program that appeals to the younger audiences, you can book your services for kid’s birthday parties. And parents SPEND MONEY for their kid’s birthdays. (Click this link for a feature from “Good Morning America” that tells more: http://youtu.be/mEH_G9MVqMw
• Potential clients such as Day Care Centers, Camps, Shopping Facilities, Sport Events are ALL looking for entertainment for kids, and will spend money on quality.
• You CAN increase weekday bookings with an entertainment program for kids.
• Performing for kids can open doors to bigger events as a mobile DJ (with the right marketing, networking and follow up.

The cons to performing for kids include:

• Even though your clients will spend money for your services, these events generally do not pay as much as your typical Wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
• Kid’s entertainment is NOT for everyone. If you are unable to be “kid friendly”, or you simply do not like kids, then you will not be successful. It WILL SHOW in your performances!

In considering whether you can or will provide kids entertainment, developing an entertainment program to market these services is important. If you can sing, then a program such as “Kiddie Karaoke” can work for you. A few changes in the library, as well as a kid friendly persona can help make you successful. If you are a Bar/Bat Mitzvah DJ, you probably offer games as part of your services. KIDS LOVE GAMES, and it can be an avenue into entertaining for younger kids. Promo Only offers 2 Music Video discs especially for younger kids which could be integrated into a program.

In developing a kids entertainment program (or becoming involved with one such as Bubble Parties.com or Campardy), there are a few things you need to know:

CLEAN MUSIC: Clean versions of music is a MUST! You will not go far as a kids entertainer with music that has inappropriate lyrics for children.

HAVE A “KID FRIENDLY” PERSONA: Hosting a kid’s birthday party and emceeing a wedding are totally different. You can not be in “Wedding Mode” when you are entertaining young kids. They LOVE entertainment that is funny and fun. In fact, every interactive dance that most brides and grooms hate can be elements to a successful kids party!

HAVE A PLAN: When developing your program or show, have it formatted out and remember that you need to keep the kids engaged for the entire performance. Planning your format out and spacing out interactive dances and games will allow you to keep your performance at a comfortable pace for kids.

BE ACCESSIBLE, BUT APPROPRIATE: As you begin to do your performances, you may find that kids will become “fans” of your kid friendly persona. As they do, they begin to look at you as a “friend”, which may mean that they may try to get a hug from you at the end of the show. Even though it is harmless, it can be perceived the wrong way. Also, remember you are a kids entertainer and not a parent, teacher or another person in authority. So correcting children at your event, or even disciplining them as if you were in these roles may not be a good idea. Be sure to ask for cooperation from those people in charge to help you with these aspects. They are rare, but they do happen!

As I said before, performing for young children is NOT for everyone. It does take a certain skill to be successful as a kids party entertainer. If you are looking to generate extra revenue for your DJ business, this is just one way…and it CAN BE FUN!

With over 20 years experience in the Mobile DJ industry, Rob Peters is the owner of Rob Peters Entertainment, Inc. located in Braintree, Massachusetts. Rob is an Endorsed Professional Entertainer, author of “The Business Of Mobile DJing” from ProDJ Publishing, and the owner of Bubble Parties.com, which offers a business plan and materials to help DJs make money performing Bubble Parties for children.

Rob is also known as “The Bubble Music Man” throughout the greater Boston area and performed over 180 children’s events in 2010. In 2010, The Bubble Music Man was a finalist for a Parent’s Pick Award from Nickelodeon for Best Kid’s Party Entertainer in Boston

 

Profiting from Non-For Profit Events…WITHOUT Having To Donate Your Services!

We have all received those calls…someone planning a fundraiser for a non-profit organization requesting a donation of entertainment services for their event. Before hanging up the phone, there ARE several ways to actually book the event, get compensated AND gain some business!

So when such an inquiry comes in, you should research to see what organization the proceeds are benefitting. Are they legitimate? Or is this a fundraiser to help someone who has experienced a devastating life event. There’s nothing wrong with helping your fellow man, but if it’s a non-profit organization, the Internal Revenue Service has clear guidelines regarding tax deductible contributions. Unfortunately, because our services consist of our time, such donating our services for their event is NOT a tax deductible contribution. For more information, or an explaination, check out IRS Publication 526 (“Charitable Contributions”. Understanding charitable contributions and the IRS rules around them, plus a little education with your prospective non profit clientele can help you benefit WITHOUT having to donate your services. And the benefits go beyond financial compensation.

The first way to benefit by working with non-profit organizations is by getting the tax deductible donation the RIGHT way. When booking with a non-profit organization and educating them (in my experience, the majority of the people who book events for non-profit organizations believe that your donated services can be a tax deduction), offer to make a donation in the amount of your services IN EXCHANGE for being compensated for your services. In this case, there is no immediate financial benefit, but your donation is considered to be tax deductible.

You may also consider doing a discounted rate for non-profit events. This could be a discounted fee direct to the non-profit organization, or you may use the above technique by being compensated your total fee, and providing a partial donation back to the organization. In the end, the profit will allow you to cover expenses such as fuel, travel or any unexpected expenses that may come up from doing the event. In either case, remember that the dollar amount of the donation written to the non-profit is the amount that would be tax deductible.

In addition to the above, there are several different ways to maximize future business from performing these events. One way is to offer to help raise funds by offering your services. Have the organization promote you to their affiliates, guests of the event or staff, and offer to make a donation to the charity for every event that is booked as a result of your performance. (ie. For every event booked by a guest, staff, or affiliate of the charity, you will make a $25 donation to the charity.) This is a great way to give back, even after the event is over.

Using some of the above information when you receive your next call asking about services for a fundraiser or non-profit event is just another smart way to “profit from a non-profit event.”