£175 for a magician at a kids birthday party?!!!

[northerner]

Is that about the going rate then?

Ds would love it but I will not stretch to that.

Anyone know of any cheaper alternatives, I'm in Harrogate N Yorks btw.

Thanks

ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is no way and I am usually prepared to pay for things that might be on the pricey side but thats just ridiculous.

Bloody hell. Some people must pay that too!!!!

That sadly is the going rate, but if you get a good one, it is money well spent.

Gosh, I am clueless

Skyler

I live in Surrey, we paid £220 for Uncle Charlie, he arrived half an hour early, met the children at the door, worked like a dog for an hour and a half, worked the tables during tea-time, and then worked for another 30 minutes until it was home time.

All I had to do was sort out the tea for the children and tidy up and with 38 children believe me that is enough.

Blimey!! I'm in the wrong job!!!

Agreed Pink! We should set up an agency.

Scary but I fear it is the rate.

went to an Uncle Charlie party before Xmas, LGJ, thought he was v good.

Professor Smartly with his assistant Candy Floss was £110. (June last year)They did magic, games, and provided music and prizes. About 3 hours worth IIRC.
Shared the cost with another mum who's DS birthday was in the same week as DD.

Oh, and Northerner, he is from Pontefract, vv good and may travel to Harrogate - he does summer seasons in Bridlington and Scarborough

I got some expensive quotes when looking last year. I went for a big sports hall, bluncy castle, music and craft instead - worked out so much cheaper!

ideal if you can share costs though, and the one GB mentions did seem very good. The children certainly seemed to have agood time.

Absolutely, PPB! Know any magic tricks??

Oh dear, I have all this to come. My eldest will be 4 this year and dh is baulking at the costs of the local soft play where they do the food and the party bag all in for £7 a head. I am trying to persuade her that a trip to the cinema would be nice but I don't think I will get away with it.
LGJ - How old was your child having the party? Just wondering how long I have to save up

Northerner, I've used Bob's your Uncle before, I presume that's who's charging £175 and I must say that I think he's worth it. If you compare the price to, say, Time Machine for 20 children to Bob and 20 children on a weekend then it works out cheaper (last I heard Time Machine was about £10 per head). He is fab and the children really love him. Agree that it is a lot but they only have big parties until age 6 or so don't they? (hopeful!)

I know how to make my husbands money disappear!

Yes it was Bobs your Uncle. I see what your saying about cost per child, but on top of that I need to hire a hall, feed them etc....

I think £175 is just too expensive TBH. Especially with exervything else on top.

DD's party wasn't that much in total, and there were 25 children - included hall hire (£30), bouncy castle (£40), craft activities, party bags (books), food boxes and food, food for adults), etc.

Is there anyway you can have a joint party with another friend? We have been to Bob's parties at houses as well as halls and he just uses the space he's got, there are some halls around that are very reasonable, church halls, community rooms in villages for example. I know it's a lot but even swimming parties seem to add up to so much and do it your own parties soon creep up there too!

I usually pay around £100 - £150 for an entertainer. My ds is dyspraxic and has mild Aspergers and the big sports hall parties are not much fun for him. I am planning a magic party for his next birthday. He loves magicians, it will mean we can entertain the children without worrying about how much ds is interacting with them or not, and all I have to do is provide some food for the kids and wine for the grown ups. Makes it much less stressful. Money well spent for me!

northerner, dd1 had her b'day party at the Jennyfields community centre last year, it was FAB - the teenagers working there did a great job keeping the children entertained, and they all loved the bouncy castle & soft play. They have a kitchen next to the hall and plenty of seating.
Total cost was around £50 IIRC, maybe £60.

For the 3rd year running I'm stumping up £195 for 2 hours fromthese guys

They are amazing and I would thoroughly recommend them.