What Makes a Great Entertainer?

Most people at some point in their lives encounter a great entertainer, unless of course they live under a rock. And, most of those people if they're lucky enough get to see more than one. Most everyone instinctively knows a great entertainer when they see one however, do they really know what goes into making one?

Based on my experience it's not an accident that some entertainers stand out from the crowd. It's based on a carefully laid out plan that includes; stage presence, humility, confidence, mental preparation, natural talent, experience and one secret ingredient.

Did you know that the number one fear in North America is public speaking? The only way to alleviate that fear is with practice. Public speaking or any type of performance in front of an audience takes practice. It's not just about what to say or do, it's about how to say or do it. Most great entertainers know that it's far less important what you say or do, it's how you say or do it.

So, how do you learn how to give a great performance? Well, the first thing you need is the right information. It always amazes me how few people know how to interact with an audience. It's not just about being confident it's about where to stand, how to stand, when to speak, how to speak, body language, how to move and how to address the audience. This type of information starts with a template. There actually is a template for giving any type of presentation. Most great entertainers know this. They do not wing it.

For example, there is a template just for the introduction which includes things like; how to take the stage, what to say first, asking enrolling questions, earning the right and strategically letting the audience what the presentation is all about and what's in store for me. While this may seem like a simple thing, it's not. An entertainer needs to know exactly how to perform each one of these steps. It's not enough just to know the steps, you need to know how to deliver them.

Then, once you have the template down the hardest part comes next; how to put your personality into the template. This is the part that takes the most practice. I remember when I first put the template into practice it was nothing short of a disaster. Why? Because, I tried to be someone that I'm not. An audience can see right through that. I needed to find myself within the template and learn how to be me while still covering all of the things I need to do to connect with the audience.

Ok, so let's say you've mastered the template and can deliver it in your own style and personality. What else do you need to know? Just this; the audience is the star! That's the secret ingredient. Without it, you can never hope to be a great entertainer. And, that's the biggest mistake that most upcoming performers do not understand. It's all about the audience. In fact, the more you make it about the audience the more success as a great entertainer you'll have.

The last thing an audience wants to see is some ego maniac artist take the stage and make it all about them. For example; if the artists performs what they want and say what they want with little regard for what the audience wants. That's so wrong on so many levels. How to do you make it about the audience? Use the template. The template teaches you how to interact with them instead of performing down to them. If the audience sees you at their level the more success you'll have.

A combination of the perfect performance template, experience and making the audience the star will propel any career beyond normal expectation. Just remember to get the right information from the right people. How? Go to someone who's already doing it and ask them. It's as simple as that.

As an artist entertainer, Paul Tobey gives very entertaining and unique piano music shows. He is an award winning concert pianist who teaches through experience what it takes to be a great entertainer.

How to Get Work on a Cruise Ship as a Guest Entertainer Part IV

Dress Code

One of the advantages of being a guest entertainer is that we have passenger status

while on the ship, allowing us in to public areas where other crew members are not

allowed. We get to mix and mingle with passengers and over the years you will keep

meeting the repeat passengers and you can develop some very nice relationships.

On ships they usually have dress codes such as semi-formal and formal nights. You

are still employed by the cruise line, and like being employed in any job you are an

ambassador for the company, therefore you are expected to adhere to the dress

code for the evening and also dress in a smart and appropriate manner during

daytime hours.

Formal nights most men will wear tuxedos and the ladies are dressed in evening

gowns, on other nights I always wear a dress shirt and smart pants.

Gratuities

You are expected to pay gratuities to your cabin steward at passenger rates at the

end of the cruise. On some ships where we are in staff areas then the gratuities are

sleightly less because they only come in once a day and you won't get the full

service as if you would if you were in a passenger area.

If you eat in the dining room then you must tip your waiter and busboy. As a rule if I

chose to eat in the dining room I always tip after my meal, but that isn't very often

as I usually eat in the Buffet or Bistro.

On the ships now they often have an automatic charge of $10 per person per day

gratuity added to your bill, however you do not have to pay this unless you chose to.

This is what the passengers pay and it covers all gratuities including the dining

room. As I said, I never eat in the dining room and so only my cabin steward gets a

gratuity. If we chose to eat in another restaurant on the ship, rather than the buffet,

then of course we leave a tip. They usually recommend $3.50 per day for the cabin

steward in passenger areas.

Dining

You are allowed to dine in the passenger dining room and a buffets. Priority to

passengers must always be observed.

Usually the maitre d' will have a special table put aside for guest entertainers,

although on many ships they have placed us with passengers. There are usually two

main sittings, one at 6pm and the other at 8.15pm. On the modern ships now they

promote open dining so you no longer have to have a seating assignment. Also with

the larger ships there is much more choice of dining from 24 hour Lido, Pizzeria,

Italian Restaurants, Chinese Restaurants and a Steak House. Of course each ship

differs with various restaurants. On the larger ships there will be a cover charge in

some restaurants such as the steak house charges $15.00 for the meal, the Italian

restaurant charges $25.00 per meal. All crew and passengers pay the same amount

to go to these specialality restaurants.

On vessels with alternate dining facilities, a cover charge will be made to all staff,

guest entertainers, and officers which are usually no more than $2.00. When you

join ask if there is such a list with the various charges, or ask another guest

entertainer who can tell you.

Dining in the officers' mess is by invitation only.

Gambling

Ships are now like traveling resorts with all types of activities, one of the most

popular is the casino. You will need to check out what the rules are pertaining to

gambling on the ship you are to be working, but I know that the rules for the

company I work for state that guest entertainers and their guests and NOT

permitted to gamble onboard. This includes the casino, bingo, horse racing, and any

other gambling activities.

Note: Update, as of re-reading this article Guest Entertainers are NOW allowed to

gamble in the casino for the cruise line I work for.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning

Again, this varies from company to company, something you will need to check.

Ships are equipped with passenger laundrys where you can do your own washing.

However be warned ... they can be dangerous. Many comedians joke about going to

the laundry room and seeing fights and arguments as passengers try to get hold of

a washing machine or dryer. Depending on the ship you might be allowed to use the

officers or crew laundry room which will not be so bad, but always check to make

sure it is okay. If you wish you send your laundry out for cleaning, then Guest

Entertainers are charge at the crew rate for their laundry and dry cleaning, again

check the regulations for the cruise line you are to be working for.

Medical

In most cases the company does not provide medical coverage and I strongly

recommend for you to arrange your own medical and health insurance plan. In my

contract it states that in the event of illness or injury during the term of the

contract, guest entertainers agree to look exclusively to their medical and health

insurers for payment of medical benefits and not to, in any way, hold the company

liable for such payments.

Visits to the ships doctor can be very expensive which is why medical insurance is

important, especially when traveling overseas.

If on the crew list then more often that not a visit to the doctor will not cost

anything, and if they want you to get an injection such as Yellow Fever of the Flu

Injection then they will not charge. It all depends on the doctor and ships policy.

To see Paul Romhany on stage is to witness a magical transformation. While his skills and artistry as an illusionist are unsurpassed, Paul takes his performance to another dimension when he applies makeup as the audience watches, suddenly leaving behind Paul Romhany and becoming Charlie Chaplin. It is a mesmerizing spectacle as ?The Little Tramp?, Chaplin?s most famous character, emerges to complete the illusion.

Paul Romhany got his start in his native New Zealand, earning his degree in music from Auckland University. A piano certificate from London?s Royal College of Music followed, but Paul?s passion remained in theatre. Soon he was travelling the globe performing to universal acclaim and recognition with such awards as Entertainer of the Year in his home country and International Gold Medal Magic Champion in 2003. He has performed in over 50 countries and 17 national television appearances including two years on New Zealand Television with a double magic act. visit:http://www.chaplinmagic.com

How to Hire a Children's Entertainer

You are looking for someone to entertain children for a very special event (e.g Weddings, Parties etc) and making the right choice is very important. Do not focus on price, the cheapest is not always the best. Find out what they offer then judge whether it is good value for money.

* Look for Professionalism

Any good entertainer will look and behave in a professional manner. They will want their business to look smart and professional as well. If little or no effort has gone into their advert or website, how much effort do you think they put into their shows? Search for the adverts or websites that look professional and indeed check to see whether the performer is a full-time pro. You should also beware of agencies; they have numerous entertainers on their books and you may not be booking the person shown on their website. Also costs are often higher as the agent adds commission to the entertainer's fee.

* Knowing What Services to Book

Having found an entertainer that looks the part you need to dig a bit deeper to find out what types of services they provide and any party formats they may have. If you are looking for a 2 hour party, will the entertainer entertain all the children for the whole period (food break excepted)? This is very important, if the entertainer advertises games and the children are "out" as the game progresses, the child that is out is now free to cause all sorts of trouble! This type of game is not recommended and neither is face painting. If the entertainer has come on their own they can only paint one child at a time, so what do all the rest of the children do? You need to find an entertainer that engages the children for the duration of the party, keeps them involved and most of all has lots of fun with them. Prizes are a great way to grab children's attention and good entertainers will use these to good effect.

* What To Look For in Your Entertainer

Having established what the entertainer can offer, ask how they are qualified. Questions to ask:

Are you a member of any magic societies or organisations for professional entertainers?

Do you have public liability insurance?

Are you CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) police checked?

The CRB check is becoming more a standard amongst entertainers, although many will argue it is out of date the day after it is issued, an enhanced check will show all criminal convictions the person may have. There is no reason why an entertainer should not have a CRB certificate they can show unless they have something to hide.

* Discussing Your Requirements

A good entertainer will communicate in a professional, manner and always provide a written or email confirmation of the event, what is to be performed and the cost, this way all parties understand what will happen on the day. Try to imagine the way the party will go and is the entertainer providing a range of entertainment for the duration of the party? This is very important as the magician may perform a 1 hour magic show, which initially may sound fine, but 1 hour is a long time for the children to stay sat down however good the show! Children's magicians are actually starting to understand this and some are starting to offer discos, games and even balloon modelling to compliment the magic, which gives a whole host of activities for the children at the party which keeps their interest high.

Finally, how does enthusiastic does the entertainer sound? If they don't seem excited about the show when you speak to them, this may reflect in the quality of their work. I hope you found this article helpful and will hopefully ensure you choose the right Children's Entertainer and have a great day.

Mark Traversoni is a full-time Magician and Children's Entertainer operating in Warwickshire, The Midlands and surrounding areas in the UK.
Visit Mark's Official website: http://www.themagiczone.co.uk

Wedding Entertainer - Interesting Ideas

A complete wedding ceremony should comprise of some entertainment besides the common band or simply a DJ. You can opt for a more unique wedding celebration that will definitely leave great impressions in the minds of your guests - having wedding entertainers. They should play the role of the host or the Master of Ceremonies (MC).

Wedding entertainers are great, especially for marriage with many guests. There is a great variety of entertainers to pick from. Here are the few examples. You can have hula dancers to blend with your beach wedding or a magician to create some magic to your marriage. To stimulate some sentimental touch, you can have quartets, pianists, harpists or pipers. Music entertainment for wedding is usually the classical and jazz music. But always ensure that the music blends along with your wedding.

Photos and video shows to reminisce the memories are quite common, while lawn games are one great entertainment for a lovely afternoon wedding. Or you may want some celebrity impersonator; perhaps inviting your favorite actor, famous athlete or a musician. If you find it uncomfortable you may seek help from your friends or family to host the wedding besides being the entertainer for the day. Including wedding entertainment during your wedding will certainly make your guests remember your special day.

It is better to pick up few entertainments, especially those that allow the involvement of your guests. Having dance instructors can help to get your relatives and friends to get into the dance floor. Or perhaps a hula dancing show can be followed by the fireworks entertainment. Another type of wedding entertainment is the conversation during the cocktail moments. You can have your loved ones to write down wishes on paper and drop them into a jar at the reception. Or any other possible ideas you might come up with.

Most of the wedding entertainers can be employed from specialized companies that offer entertainment for events, parties or weddings. Although these entertainers can lift up with celebration mood, the primary focus of the event should always be the bride and groom.

Stuart is writing for many websites, He enjoys writing on wide range of topics such as Corporate Entertainment and Wedding Bands. You may visit for more details.

Choosing The Right Birthday Party Entertainer for Children Aged 4 - 8 Years Old

Engaging a good professional entertainer for your child's birthday party is almost a sure-fire way of making the party an enjoyable and successful one. But what type of entertainer fits the bill?

The most important consideration is the age of your birthday child. If he/she is between 1- 3 years old, you may want to keep things simple. Children of this age are generally unpredictable and there is no cookie-cutter formula on choosing the right entertainer for children of this age. Children of this age tend to have shorter attention spans and varied temperaments.

On the other hand, kids aged 9 -12 consider themselves all grown up and usually scoff at what they consider "kiddy" forms of entertainment. But if your kid is between the ages of 4 - 8, then he/she is at an age where they are old enough to understand jokes and enjoy fun-filled interactive games or activities with lots of movement. This makes hiring an entertainer for kids in this age group easier and more worthwhile for all.

When it comes to hiring the entertainer, the many people think of hiring a clown. Clowns are bright, colourful and perform weird tricks that make people laugh right? Well, be careful before deciding to hire a clown for your kid. Coulrophobia or fear of clowns is not uncommon in some kids (and even grown-ups). To them the bright colours and weird clown makeup just add up to a really scary experience.

We recommend that instead of a clown, there are some other popular choices of entertainers to consider for your kid's birthday party.

Magicians

Magicians, specifically those specializing in children audiences, are common choices as kid's party entertainers. Good kids' magicians perform bright and colourful magic such as producing a huge bouquet of flowers from an empty vase or making colourful handkerchiefs appear and disappear in the blink of an eye.

Magic is a popular choice of entertainment for children because it gives the children a sense of wonder where they can suspend their disbelief. When a magician makes an object appear, disappear or float in front of their eyes, it lets them believe that such things are possible and that they may one day be able to do such things as well. It inspires creativity and wonder that is only lacking in today's modern world.

Children within the 4 - 8 year range are generally the most appreciative and participative audience. 1 - 3 year olds are too young to really comprehend magic while the 9 - 12 year olds are more interested to find out how a trick is done than enjoy the show. This is not to say that these kids will not enjoy a magic show, but rather the kid's magician will have to tailor his show accordingly to suit children from these age groups. If you looking for a magician, check his experience and ask how he intends to tailor his show to cater to your young audience.

Jugglers

Jugglers are fast becoming a popular entertainment choice at birthday parties. Their sublime juggling skills combined with entertaining routines make them a hit not just with the kids but the whole family.

Jugglers who perform at kid's parties are usually prepared to demonstrate different kinds of juggling skills. They may also juggle with different items such as balls, clubs, rings and more. Their props are usually brightly coloured to give them more visual appeal as there is nothing more eye-catching than seeing a juggler keep 3 or 4 different coloured balls in the air at the same time.

Some jugglers also involve the audience in their routines, making the show audience participative and fun for the whole family. It is also not uncommon to see jugglers who combine elements of magic into their show as well.

As with magic shows, juggling shows require the audience to appreciate the skill that the performer is exhibiting. Younger children may not fully understand or realise a juggler's skill while older kids may tend to get bored after a while seeing the same performer attempt to juggle different things. However a good performer will be able to make his/ her routines entertaining enough and engaging enough to suit most kids of different ages.

Puppeteers/ Ventriloquists

Puppets add an extra dimension of fun to any party. Kids love to see a funny looking puppet animal telling stories and cracking jokes. Puppets also make the entire show look bigger as it appears that there is a cast of performers rather than just one performer doing the show. This is one of the main reasons ventriloquist shows are a hit at parties.

The classic image of a ventriloquist is usually of a performer sitting on a stool with a wooden dummy on his or her lap, performing with that character throughout the show. However, many ventriloquists these days perform with brightly coloured foam or latex puppets instead and they usually have more than one puppet character in the show. This adds an element of variety to the show, which is crucial for keeping kids engaged. Some performers also add more interactivity to the show by getting the puppets to interact directly with the kids and crack impromptu jokes with them.

A ventriloquism puppet show is versatile enough to entertain almost all kids and even adults. Younger kids will be captivated by brightly coloured talking puppets while older kids will be able to appreciate the jokes and interact with the puppets. A ventriloquism puppet show is something that can be a fun for the whole family.

The good news is that these days you don't just have to settle for one or the other. There are professional birthday party entertainers who provide multi-dimensional performers. So the next time your kid has a party, consider looking for a magician who is also a ventriloquist or a ventriloquist who is also an expert juggler.

The choice is yours!

Shawn Chua AKA Captain Amazing is a professional birthday party host with Singapore Birthday Party entertainment provider Mighty Magic Factory. He is a Master Ventriloquist and award-winning magician. As Captain Amazing, Shawn heads a team of dynamic performers and has 6 years of live performing experience. Find out more about him at Singapore Birthday Party Company. Visit Singapore Birthday Party experts: Mighty Magic Factory Read his blog at Singapore Birthday Party Blog

Buying an Easy Life With a Kids Entertainer

Children love parties. The poor adults who have to arrange them, run them, try and rescue them when everything goes wrong, and finally collapse in a little ball after everyone has gone home, don't. And little wonder. Running a children's party ought to be a full time occupation - not something done part time by unwilling volunteers. Fortunately for those volunteers, there are some people out there who actually make their living from running and entertaining at kid's parties: party organisers like the wonderfully named UK outfit Froggle, whose kids entertainer packages alone have probably saved half the nation's parents from a party-induced breakdown.

Here's how Froggle, and the other unsung heroes that do the same job up and down the country, save so many poor harassed parents from mental rack and ruin. They come in, they take over as much or as little of the party organisation and running as the parents require, and they let the parents themselves take a back seat. That means there's more time for the parents to do the really useful stuff, like keeping an eye out for skinned knees and incipient tantrums, while the kids' entertainer and his or her colleagues concentrate on all the things that usually distract Mum and Dad from doing the necessary. As a result, that necessary becomes far less stressful than it used to be - because Mum and Dad are no longer trying to keep their eyes peeled whilst also entertaining everyone, they find the actual keeping their eyes peeled part a lot less of a strain than it used to be.

There's a very specific advantage to hiring an entertainer for a children's party. Unlike Mum, or Dad, or even an older sibling or family friend, no part attendee is likely to know the kids entertainer in question. And that means two things. One, the entertainer never suffers from that loss of illusion that Mum or Dad will inevitably feel when one of the guests shouts out "hey - that's Johnny's mum!" And two, the entertainer is usually afforded more respect than Mum or Dad would have been. He or she is treated with the better behaved reserve children always put on for strangers - because, with strangers, they don't know where the boundaries are. The result? A kids' entertainer actually entertains more, because the children don't recognise him, or her, and so the illusion isn't spoiled - and, again because the guy or gal under the makeup is a stranger, the kids behave better too. Which means everyone goes home happy for a change.

A decent kids' entertainer knows exactly how to keep children interested, when and how to excite them and, most importantly of all, when to calm them down. In the hands of an expert, all the guests at the party will have safely expended the fury of all their pent up excitement long before the end of the party - meaning that they're easy to get home and relatively tantrum free.

There may, possibly, be other ways of controlling a kid's party - but why bother? Simply hire a decent kids' entertainer, sit back, relax, and prepare to actually enjoy a child's birthday for a change. You never know - you might like it.

Froggle Parties provides first class party entertainment to children of all ages. A decent kids' entertainers knows exactly how to keep children interested, when and how to excite them and, most importantly of all, when to calm them down.