Birthday Party Puppeteers

Comment by puppetlady on February 19, 2010 at 6:12pm

Hi folks

I perform with hand puppets for bday parties, occasionally do a music/puppet variety for bdays. I've started limiting my show to 1/2 hour only for bdays. I use a small booth style stage that sets up quickly. I've recently been making more $ by offering goody bags with coloring/activity sheets for the kids and one of my CD's for a set price. (I'm looking to clear my CD inventory - it's a great way to do it) For the bday child - I give them one of my other CD"s and a pair of "Peepers". I get lots of work, and make decent money by doing bdays! Do others do goody bags, etc.? I've heard of a puppeteer offering a "custom" puppet for the bday child for a fee - anyone do that?

Comment by bob abdou on February 19, 2010 at 7:53pm

Hello Puppet lady

I do give out FREE finger puppets at all my birthday parties, that is a 'got cha" so families can book me, there are a ton of clowns and magicians that get most of the work so I have to have a 'catch" to grab 'em and book 'em.

what kind of peepers do you give out?? mine have moving eyes but the problem is that they are too cheap and the eyes fall out, I actually hate them because they are really cheap and if you drop them on the floor, they break. but they are cheap to buy so it's a trade off,
you can see the finder puppets in my birthday party link on my website at www.mrpuppet.com

Comment by Sandra Reynolds on February 20, 2010 at 6:41pm

Bob, you are very talented and give me inspiration in getting started. I have a Howdy Doody doll and just bought another ventriliquist doll on ebay, which can be howdy's sister.

Comment by Ann T. Davidson on February 21, 2010 at 5:58pm

Hi-I have been doing birthday party shows for 20 years. They are some of my hardiest shows as well as some of the most rewarding shows. Must say that cell phones and talking adults are my toughest challenges. My show runs 45 minutes, I perform 3 ten minute stories and then perform with a large puppet out front of my stage. I build most of my hand puppets.
I do tend to get multiple bookings from a birthday party performance which is nice.

Comment by Buddy Big Mountain on August 27, 2010 at 10:36pm

Greetings, I haven't done a birthday show for so long now, I wanted to pick up on it again.

Comment by Buddy Big Mountain on August 27, 2010 at 10:56pm

In the birthday shows I did, I performed two songs with puppets, then into NewsPaper magic, made a NP hats w/accessories, NP cowboy hat W/ a bandanna appearing out of folded NP, made a NP warbonnet and made a balloon bow n arrow then had them shoot a balloon apple off someones head, produced a bunch of balloons from a duck pan, tied balloon animal (they all looked the same) for everybody and sang happy birthday with a vent figure to introduce the cake.

Comment by Ollie M. DePriest on February 29, 2012 at 6:23am

Dear Fellow Birthday Party Performers,

K.I.S.S.    KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!    This not a smart ass statement.  Over the years performing for birhtday events can be a struggle.  Just have a great fast paced thirty minute performance.  Start with the understanding that this is not going to BE, everyone watching your show.  Don't depend on your audience to respond well.  You are entertainment.   Make sure your performance plays well for one,none or for hundreds.   Simple staging and acts that aren't complicated in thought.   Always present high quality.  Start to finish.    Dress well.  Not jeans and a sweat shirt.  You represent your business.   And please be well groomed.  Be on time!!!

Always work with a signed contract. This makes the day so much more pleasant for you. 

Hope this helps a little bit.

Best to you all.

Ollie

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