Beaky...before I “burned out” I was doing kids events regularly, albeit, as a DJ. It’s next to impossible to do it as a one-man-band.
Working with kids is NOT difficult...you just have to be creative and come up with simple ideas in entertaining them. AND....the most important thing is: you have to be confident in what you’re presenting them with (ideas, patter, contests, etc). Many of the things you bring up may initially sound “stupid!” It’s your job to take command of that microphone and show them you know what you’re doing. Audiences (and kids especially) will do anything you lead them into if you sound CONFIDENT in what you’re doing.
One of my biggies, and a good “time-taker-upper,” and a great parent/child get-together is the “dance contest.” Get parents and their children onto the dance floor, have a series of “dances” lined up on a CD, and take them through it one by one. First a “throw-a-way” “warm-up” dance to loosen them up...then I do a waltz (Blue Danube), cha-cha, swing, merengue, polka, tango, disco and on and on...about 15 altogether. If done properly, everybody goes home happy. The kids had fun learning some new dances, the parents re-connected with their kids, and you just used up another 15-20 minutes.
Other winners are so simple they get overlooked:
OK kids...let’s have some names. Take the wireless mike out to some of them and let them introduce themselves...ask them questions...do you have a pet?...what’s your favorite subject in school...do you have a girl/boy friend? Kids love talking about themselves and parents love hearing it.
Limbo: first...line them up into a conga line and throw on “Follow the Leader” by the Soca Boys or Cuba by the Gibson Brothers or Mueve La Cadera (Move Your Body) by Reel to Real...then march them around the room a few times and then direct them to the Limbo bar...keep the excitement from the music going
Do the Freeze Dance...combine it with Huggy Bear
The Chicken Dance
Macarena......they still do like doing that
Ask all “dad’s” to come up to the floor with their daughters...have the daughter’s say to their dad’s: Daddy, may I have this dance...play Thank Heaven For Little Girls by Maurice Chevalier...have them "bow and curtsy" to each other at the end of the song
Finally...if you temporarily run out of ideas...turn to the kids and say something like...”OK, guys who has a game they like that we can all play?”...if it sounds good, run with it.
In working with kids ALWAYS remember to give them the impression you’re one of them, but make sure they subconsciously know YOU are in command...YOU are the leader...they love having a “leader” and a friend at the same time!
I put enough material together to do 3-4 hours. I could go on and on, but it’s easier to tell you to think up your own ideas...what works for YOU and YOUR personality.....the simpler the idea the better. Muscle Man contest...play Macho Man (Village People)...Jr. Miss America (introduce each young lady as she presents herself on the dance floor and to the audience and does something graceful to show “how graceful she can be.
Nothing I’ve written so far has ever failed me, but ONLY if you learn that the microphone is your best friend.......learn how to "work" that mike....the music and games are secondary!
I’m sure you get the drift by now. As for me, I’m going back to “recovery mode”...."advice" I can do, but NO MUSIC for me for the immediate future.
Hope this helps launch your new career as a children's entertainer.
Mark
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