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. Learn more here.
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 CAMP 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. Learn more here.
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.Â
We’d love to introduce you to Bianca at your next event!
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.
Have you ever seen a celebrity magician read someone’s mind on TV? Or guess something about a total stranger they could have never known? Consider bringing those larger-than-life moments to your next event!
Kaleidoscope now offers jaw-dropping, impossible-for-you-to-know, and get out of my head! psychic encounters with our resident mentalist, Marissa.
Mascots + face painting and balloon twisting are HUGE of 2-5 year old parties in CT, MA, RI, and NH! Check out what we expect to be trending in 2017 for some great party ideas.
Remember: because mascots are picture-perfect, check on these differences between mascots and face characters so you pick the best package for your party.
Alexandra the Mermaid is one of Kaleidoscope’s specialty characters who would love to entertain at your party!
Here are some of the options for booking Alexandra.
If you’re looking for mermaid entertainment at your kids party, Alexandra offers bubble play packages!
Every Alexandra bubble party comes with:
Most of our kids parties with Alexandra include her in a walking fin dress to make party activities more doable.
However, if you’d like her to come in her realistic silicone fin, Alexandra is available for meet-and-greets and corporate modeling. Ask our office about meet-and-greet pricing!
When living on land, Alexandra is a fashion student at Savana College of Art & Design and works at Kaleidoscope on her summer and winter breaks. Her hobbies include cosplay, everything Disney, and of course mermaid conventions!
Kaleidoscope is hiring character actors 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. Now Hiring:
Ever wonder what’s in face paint? (Is it really paint? Does it have any peanuts, soy, milk, or animal products? What about latex? Heavy metals?) What about perfumes? Is it okay for sensitive skin?
We use only 2 supplies for 2 brands of face paint–“face paint” being a misnomer since what we really put on children’s faces is kid-friendly makeup. Face paint should never be done with actual paints! Our makeup is free of cancer-causing metals, unlike actual paint, all safe for skin, and cruelty-free.
Below is a full list of all of our face paint brands and their ingredient lists. If you have any additional questions, please contact our office during the booking process and we’d be happy to answer them!