dave.and.lisa

I ask this question as I am thinking of setting myself up in business once in NZ as it will fit in with my kids and OH working. I was going set my own business in the UK before we decided we were going to NZ. From the research I have via the internet there seems to be very little in the way of party entertainers mainly for birthday parties and was wondering if this is because in NZ people just dont go to town on parties like they do in the UK or there just are'nt many of them!!! I know this is not the usual question asked on here but anyone with kids my be able to help me out..Thanks lisa:

garryhg

hi jacky here,doesn't seem to be much call for it here,well not in Auckland anyway,sons been to a few parties here,and i must say not much variety in nz for childrens parties,back home there would be a least 3 a month from kids in his class,not so much here.....don't know if its because people don't have the same disposable income here....but good luck anyway....jacky

happynz

I think that is probably it.

dave.and.lisa

Thanks guys looks like I will have to stick to nursing!!!!!!

Jude J

My little one that has just turned 3 and is at kindy has been to a few parties. Only one had an entertainer, a girl dressed as a fairy who read stories, did dances, face painting etc. It was great but probably just for young kids.

dlmckay

A quick search through www.yellowpages.co.nz reveals 4 listings for children entertainer party in New Zealand, one of which seems to be the fairy lady that Jude J refered to.

I don't think it's something that would pay full time...

lardyl

Lardy MkII has twin school friends and their dad does the very thing but his company also does the other party stuff too - eg disco hire, etc.
They seem to be pretty busy as we asked them to quote for his recent party and they had no dates available......
I can dig out the contact details if you would like to speak to them
You'll need to work in a patch where people do that sort of thing - there are probably only a limited number of places where there is demand and people can afford to have entertainers - bear in mind that childcare costs in NZ are pretty low - we pay about $4-$5 an hour to get our littlie baby minded with Bernardos, so people will have certain expectations of the cost of a party.

Jude J

The fairy lady (there may be more than one!) charged $100 an hour which I thought was reasonable.

karonious

There's only one Fairy Lady on here!! And if Am loolah is going to start entertaining at kiddies parties - I would love to be there

Jude J

True...I wonder what you get for your 100 bucks

lardyl

/slaps self around face with a wet fish/

lardyl

Beachcombers

There is a circus school in Christchurch, I know a few of the students make spare cash by doing kids parties, but they tend to end up being glorified babysitters, all the growups then getting pissed!

luvwelly

Been here less than a year but all the kids parties we have been invited to so far have been:
Ten-pin bowling
or
Indoor soft-play centre (of which there are several) or skating arena where you can bring your own food.

Wellington is another of the areas where a percentage of the population would have the disposable income but whether they'd have the inclination or not I don't know.
Don't think there are the same peer pressures here to out do the previous party/find sth different.

For older kids sleepovers seem to be the norm accompanied with a trip to the cinema or similar.

P18PPS

We've been to 20 or so kids parties in 2 and a half years - only one had a kids entertainer and it was an english family that had organised it!! At $100 a go that seems like a lot of money for the average family to spend on an hours worth of balloon blowing and water pistols.... you have to bear in mind you are entering the world of "bring a plate" and "shared lunches" and birthday parties on the beach or other public land at zero cost to the parents....

good luck, but I don't think children's entertainers are in excessive demand in Auckland at the present time.