Kaleidoscope is hiring for character actors, face painters, and balloon twisters in all of CT, MA, NH, and RI! Positions pay a high hourly rate and travel–get paid to be the life of a party!
No experience is required since we train for everything. Just make sure you meet the requirements and want to learn some new fun skills.
Lexi is one of Kaleidoscope’s premier party entertainers, who would love to come to your next event for magic, games, and tons of fun!
December is one of the busiest months in the events industry, and every year our artists entertain at dozens of Hannukah events in synagogues, homes, daycares, and Hebrew / Jewish day schools.
We’ve compiled some of our favorite entertainment ideas that we’ve helped clients dream up for their Hannukah party, and we hope this list can inspire you to come up with a truly unique event this holiday season!
Our normal holiday menus for face painting and balloon twisting have Hanukkah, Christmas, and secular winter designs that they bring to large events all December long–so if you hire any of our artists they’ll have special designs for Hanukkah.
But for parties that are specifically for Jewish families, we love bringing in UV face painting and LED balloon twisting! Our artists can create all sorts of things that kids will love at your event that will literally glow throughout the night! (And you can either provide your own blacklights or rent them from us at a discounted rate whenever you order a UV or LED package.)
If you’re looking for something a little more elegant (and for all ages), glitter looks also add a special sparkle to any nighttime event. We’ve seen these paired with disco ball-like mirror decorations to transform an entire recreational room into a sea of glimmering magic!
And if you want some classic party entertainment, we have plenty of other ideas that are great for any type of family event!
Caricatures are perfect for organizations that want to commemorate an occasion. Our artists can draw any couple or family and include “Hanukkah 2028” (or whichever year) right on the drawing.
If you’re on a budget, temporary tattoos are also really fun! Artists can get through around double the guests than they can with face painting or balloon twisting, so if you’re looking for something special that doesn’t break the bank, it’s a great budget entertainment idea. (Glitter tattoos and flash tattoos are especially fitting for The Holiday of Lights!)
Just ask our office for a quote and check any boxes you want pricing for. We’d love to put together something special for you!
Purim is a joyous holiday celebrated worldwide to commemorate the Jewish people’s salvation from extermination in ancient Persia. It’s a day of celebration, feasting, and merriment, with festivities including costume parties, parades, and carnivals. To add more fun to the celebration, why not consider incorporating face painting and balloon twisting into your Purim activities?
Face painting is a great way to get into the Purim spirit. Children and adults alike can enjoy having their faces painted with bright colors and festive designs.
With our full face painting packages (10-12 kids an hour), you can transform yourself into a favorite character from the Purim story, like Queen Esther or King Ahasuerus, just by adding a festive mask or crown. Want something unexpected? Ask for a hamantaschen!
Balloon twisting is another classic form of entertainment for kids and can be tailored to fit the theme of Purim.
When you order our full balloon twisting package (10-12 kids an hour) balloon artists can create various Purim-themed items such as masks, swords, and crowns!
And of course, with both face painting and balloon twisting, kids who come in their own unique costumes can get something that matches what they’re wearing–whether that’s an animal, superhero, mermaid, or anything else they can dream up.
On a budget for a large event? Our artists also offer Speedy Faces and Simple Balloons, which include simple designs outside of a Purim theme but can entertain 20-25 kids per hour per artist.
Here are some examples of the differences in our full design packages and speedy/simple design packages:
Our face painters and balloon twisters come dressed as regular people to entertain at your Purim. But if you want to add that extra level of excitement, ask our office about pricing to have them dressed as costumed characters. If your Purim has a theme, our artists can dress to match! And if you just want some extra costumes, we have pirates, mermaids, clowns, fairies, and more that can come not only provide your guests with amazing art, but make your event feel more festive!
And finally, we love caricatures for Purim because not only are they great for all ages (including teens who might be too cool to dress up) but our artists can draw everyone in their costumes for the year!
We’d love to come make your next Purim event one to remember!
(And if you’re going to be looking for Hanukkah or Bar/Bat Mitzvah ideas, we have you covered too!)
Princess parties are one of the most popular themes we see year after year. But with a limited amount of actresses trying to fill a massive demand, we can’t always fill all of the requests we get for princess parties.
So, instead of simply sending a costumed character to your party, we’ve put together a super-fun package for any princess party: royal makeover parties!
Our magician James performing a stage show
James: In a magic show, there’s a boundary between the “stage” area and the “audience” area. While volunteers from the audience are often invited up on stage, and the magician frequently makes forays into the audience, there’s a demarcation. The stage (or “platform” or “parlor”) magic show is longer — often half an hour or 45 minutes — with several routines consisting of several tricks, to provide a cohesive whole with a theme. Think of a one-act play.
In strolling magic, the magician approaches individuals or small groups (three to five folks, typically) to present one to three tricks. The magic is more like a conversation than a stage play. Often the members of the audience touch and examine the props, and the magic itself takes place in the spectators’ hands. People sitting a dinner, folks waiting in line for some other event, people standing about — they are the ones who have a bit of magic touch their lives. It’s up close and personal.
Kenny: My personal show is a 50/50 mix of comedy and classic magic with a twist of clown charm. You can expect to see me on a stage while I go through one trick after another with plenty of helpers and laughs. Like most magicians, every show I do is largely the same with some adjustments for the event.
My strolling magic is more clowning around. I do plenty of magic, but can cater each interaction to the event and individuals there. That might be some puppets, juggling, clown gags, balloon twisting, or anything else–all depending on what I think will work best for the audience.
James: For me, it’s often folks above the age of six or seven, though young adults through twenties seem to enjoy it most.
Kenny: My strolling magic is great for all ages, like an animated movie that’s made for kids ages 5-9 but has plenty of jokes and puns for teens and adults.
James the magician performing strolling magic at a public event
James: Would having everyone sit in rows looking in one direction fit in with your plan for the event? Then go with a show. A corporate dinner and awards presentation, for example. If you have more freedom of motion, mingling, and random movement with no fixed schedule for various phases of the day, go with strolling.
Kenny performing a stage show at a school event
James: When there’s a schedule, when you expect folks to be all in one place at one time, then go with a show. If it’s mingling/freeform, then go with strolling.
James: For a show — all of them, all at once. For strolling, probably forty people an hour will be directly involved, with as many more looking on as random chance may provide.
Kenny strolling on a boat for a private summer camp event
James: Folks should expect to see dice, coins, rings, strings, dollar bills. They’ll see classic sleight-of-hand using ordinary objects. They’ll experience the magic in their own hands.
Kenny: Gravity manipulation with water, magic bags they can reach into, a cheeky puppet named Sherbert, ball juggling, and of course plenty of clowning around!
Summer camps looking for unique programming ideas face a few challenges: hundreds of kids needing to be entertained, running a complicated schedule, and having to do it all on a budget!
After a decade of working with YMCAs, town Parks & Recs departments, public schools, and private daycares, we have our summer camp entertainment packages down to a science to make sure all of your campers are thrilled, parents are impressed, and you stay within your budget.
Alternative Theme Ideas: Luau Party, Beach Day
Entertainment Package: We throw a foam party where campers dance to kids bop, take tons of silly photos, and get out all of their energy–all in our amazing foam pit!
Bonus Ideas for Your Staff:
Ages: 2 – Teen
Great For: Outdoor camps, camps without pool access
Don’t Recommend For: Camps with only indoor space; daycares that are only for infants and toddlers.
>>>CLICK HERE FOR A FOAM PARTY QUOTE<<<
Alternative Theme Ideas: Adventure Day, Magic Day
Entertainment Package: We invite a mermaid or pirate of your choice for group shows and individual activities. Gather everyone around for mermaid story time or a pirate magic show, then bring by individual groups for mermaid glitter tattoos or pirate sword balloon twisting.
Bonus Ideas for Your Staff:
Ages: Our mermaid story time is perfect for ages 2-6, and our pirate magic show is perfect for ages 4-9. Invite one or both of them for a mix-and-match day that fits your needs.
Great For: Camps with younger kids (for mermaids); camps looking to keep kids busy on pool days (both mermaids and pirates); camps who love dress-up days (both mermaids and pirates).
Don’t Recommend Mermaid Story Time For: Camps that are primarily elementary and middle school (mermaid story time is best for younger kids)
Don’t Recommend Pirate Magic Show For: Camps that are mostly toddlers or PreK (magic needs more attention span than that)
>>>CLICK HERE FOR A MERMAID OR PIRATE PARTY QUOTE<<<
Alternative Theme Ideas: Magic Camp, Clown School
Entertainment Package: Kenny the Clown comes and entertains the whole group with a 30min magic show, then takes groups for a juggling lesson using easy-to-juggle clown scarves. Bonus: add a second clown for speedy face painting or simple balloon twisting.
Bonus Ideas for Your Staff:
Ages: 4-9 for the magic show, 7-teen for juggling class
Great For: Camps with a stage; arts camps; camps that can program different activities for different ages.
Don’t Recommend For: Daycares that are only for infants and toddlers
>>>CLICK HERE FOR A CIRCUS PARTY QUOTE<<<
Alternative Theme Ideas: Clown School, Circus Camp, “Balloons Over [Camp Name]”
Entertainment Package: One of our professional balloon twisters will come with enough supplies for groups of up to 15 kids to learn designs at once. Students will learn between 2-4 designs (depending on age and time alotted) and take home their creations.
Bonus Ideas for Your Staff:
Ages: 7-teen for balloon twisting class, but professional balloon twisting time can be added so younger kids aren’t excluded
Great For: Small-group breakouts, library camps, arts or STEM camps
Don’t Recommend For: Daycares that are only for infants and toddlers
>>>CLICK HERE FOR A BALLOON CLASS QUOTE<<<
Alternative Theme Ideas: Picasso Day, Day at the Museum
Entertainment Package: We throw a kid-friendly paint party where we go step-by-step with a real art teacher to create masterpieces we can take home.
Bonus Ideas for Your Staff:
Ages: 8 – Teen
Great For: Camps that like to schedule seated activities; arts camps; camps with families who value multi-disciplinary activities.
Don’t Recommend For: Camps with limited space; camps that are nervous about kids potentially getting paint on clothing or floors; camps on a tight budget.
>>>CLICK HERE FOR A PAINT PARTY QUOTE<<<
Bianca is one of our newest princess performers, balloon twisters, and party artists. She started as a party entertainer with Kaleidoscope in 2022, and brings an impressive background as an entertainer both through cosplay and as a professional Twitch streamer. Here’s what she has to say about herself:
My name is Bianca, and I am an avid cosplayer, Twitch affiliate, and Disney fanatic. Although I originally adapted my makeup and costume skills as a cosplayer, I was given many opportunities to truly shape my craft while performing at events and immersing myself fully into the characters I love. I understand the difference between cosplay and a professional acting gig and the sheer importance of creating memorable experiences for families and children. I’ve worked with children for many years, having started my adult career as a camp counselor for 4 years. I pay special attention to character details, personality traits, and lore related to the universe they come from. I often hyperfocus on these details because they help the characters come alive.
I am Mexican-American, and I take great pride in my Latina heritage and culture. I’ve always been particularly enamored by Honey Lemon from the 2014 Disney film, Big Hero 6; but, I also deeply connect with Queen Elsa and Rapunzel. It always brings me great joy to portray the latter characters, who are prominently depicted as Caucasian, because it shows others (and especially children of color!) that their favorite Disney princesses can look just like them!
At Kaleidoscope, Bianca will be interpreting a number of princesses, pirates, and fairies that are unique to her.
We’d love to introduce you to Bianca at your next event!
We will be working part-time office hours in June to help you book your late-summer and fall parties.
All deposits from 2020 will be honored for any party thrown in 2021 or 2022, and those clients will be given first priority if booking!
FORMER CLIENTS:
We have your deposits and are excited to finally put them towards an awesome party! Any 2020 deposits lost due to the lockdowns will be honored for any part in 2022. Thanks for your patience–we’re happy to be back!
NEW CLIENTS:
We will now only be accepting deposits 1 week before the start of your party. Last year we were left with literally hundreds of deposits, so this policy is to help make your booking process easier and less stressful. We will be reviewing this policy fall 2022 and again this winter.
ALL CLIENTS:
Here are all of our updated covid-related safety policies, which will be listed in your contract at the time of booking.
The safety of Kaleidoscope’s artists, clients, and party guests is the priority of all of our safety policies. For any questions, please contact our office at the time of booking.
Overview
Kaleidoscope will be following all state and federal guidelines, and operating under the conditions that clients will also be following laws including but not limited to event capacity, mask mandates, and quarantines.
We are additionally requiring that our artists take a base level of personal precautions (see below) but encourage them to take additional precautions if they deem them necessary. Artists may also warn a client about unsafe working conditions if needed or leave an event in the case of an extremely unsafe situation, with no refund to the client.
Outdoor vs indoor events
All clients must specify whether their party will be indoors or outdoors before the party is booked so artists can prepare accordingly. If an outdoor event moves indoors between the time of booking and event start, we may not be able to guarantee an artist who is able to work indoors but will try our best to accommodate. In that case, we would refer to our rain date policy and hold the clients’ deposit ($100/artist) to be used on any future event within 365 days.)
All indoors must comply to state and federal capacity guidelines. If an artist arrives at an indoor event that is over capacity, the artist may leave without a return on the client’s deposit if the client cannot find outdoor accommodations for the artists.
On-site party safety
All of our artists must comply with the following safety protocol:
- All artists must follow masking and social distancing guidelines set by local, state, or federal guidelines.
- All artists must wear a mask and/or face shield. Some artists may opt to wear both. The client may not ask the artist to remove their mask or face shield.
- Some artists may have a “safety hoop” around their work station, indicating the proper distance for guests and children. Clients are expected to make sure party guests comply with this distancing tool.
- Some artists may have hand sanitizer or baby wipes at their stations for guests to use before coming into contact with the artist. Clients are expected to make sure party guests comply with this safety tool.
Clients must comply with the following safety protocol:
- Ensure all guests are following masking and social distancing guidelines set by local, state, or federal guidelines.
- Not asking any artists to disregard Kaleidoscope’s safety policies (masking, distacing, etc), as they exist for the artist’s safety as well as guest safety.
- Making sure the event’s capacity and location are in compliance with all local, state, or federal guidelines.
- Monitoring inappropriate or unsafe guest behavior.
Failure to comply with safety
If an artist is placed in unsafe working conditions (either judged by the artist themselves or local, state, or federal guidelines) the artist may speak with the client to improve party safety. However, if the client does not or cannot adhere to safe working conditions, the artist may leave an event and forfeit any deposits or payments made to Kaleidoscope.
Cancelations
If a party is canceled or rescheduled because anyone from the booking party (guest of honor, booking client, family member, office team, etc) has tested positive for covid, we will accommodate a change of date with no loss of deposit, artist availability pending. The client will have up to 365 days to use their deposit for any event during that time period.
If an artist tests positive for covid before the party, Kaleidoscope will do their best to find a substitute artist or alternative entertainment. If none are available, the client’s deposit will be entirely refunded.
For any covid questions or concerns, please contact our office.
DEPOSITS
All deposits are nonrefundable FOR ANY REASON and will hold your party date/time. Deposits are paid per artist booked. If the client cancels their booking of artists, the deposit will be held as a cancelation fee. If you have had a partial or full deposit waived (special cases only) you will be assessed a $100 cancelation fee per artist.
Your party date is not officially reserved until the deposit is received. If your deposit is waived, a cancelation fee of the same amount will apply.
Deposits may be made via your Intuit invoice only. (Business, corporate, or non-profit clients may request accommodations provided we have sufficient notice.)
Covid-19 and Deposits: A canceled party will result in the loss of a deposit. However, if a party is canceled or rescheduled because anyone from the booking party (guest of honor, booking client, family member, office team, etc) has tested positive for covid, we will accommodate a change of date with no loss of deposit, artist availability pending. The client will have up to 365 days to use their deposit for any event during that time period.
Rain Dates and Deposits: Kaleidoscope cannot hold rain dates but will do their best to accommodate with the same or similar package. In case of any event date being moved the deposit will transfer to the new event within 365 days. (This includes rain dates or extreme weather.) In the case of extreme weather (blizzards, floods, hurricanes) and Kaleidoscope has to cancel due to artists’ driving safety, the deposit will be refunded.
Why is face painting so expensive? Why do you have to pay so much to have a princess come to your party? Why can’t you just have a 30min mascot visit?
Because almost all of our clients are party parents on a budget (although most of our income is actually from corporate clients on an even tighter budget) we’ve always put a lot of effort into keeping our prices down and our packages flexible enough for everyone to afford.
But we also understand it can be frustrating when you don’t see a package or price you had hoped for. So in the spirit of transparency in our business and respect for our clients, we published a breakdown of why, exactly, party entertainment can be so pricey.