In April I booked an entertainment package through Bounce North East. Without telling me the company substituted their DJ with a freelancer who just turned up on the day.
The DJ, a guy called Chris, turned up at 10 am. I asked him if everything was going to plan and if he needed me to help with anything before the party started. He said everything was in hand. Phew, I thought. At that point I didn’t realise that he was a Stand In.
He started at 11 but by 11:39 there were no games or activities going on; just music. I went to check with him and He then admitted he had no prizes or pass the parcel items. My daughter and I dashed to Tesco and bought some prizes and wrapping paper. We wrapped them and gave them to him and he seemed relieved but carried on with the grown up tunes. I spent more time on that stage prompting him to do kids stuff. So he put on chichua and we got up and encouraged adults n kids involved in that. I was stressed to hell all the way through.
Afterwards I asked why he’d done that to us - being unprepared to play kids games etc. He said his “head was all over the place” and he didn’t know what to say. This gig had been dumped on him. He’s asked me to take up a complaint with Bounce North East. He also mentioned a 3rd Party company called JK Bouncy Castles and said his contact from there, Kevin, was doing us a massive favour just having someone turn up to cover.
He then said he’d got another party in To go to and they are about to get more of the same (his words). I was shocked and suggested he be up front and honest with the hosts when he gets there.
We can’t turn back the clock and make things right. But I’m chewed to the point that it’s on my mind that these people were irresponsible and should have let us know there were difficulties as soon as they knew (Friday) so that we could plan better to pull things around.