What you need to know
FAQs, Terms and Conditions
How do I book?
Select the package you are interested in, select the date and time you are most interested in then fill in and submit the booking enquiry form. From there I will answer any questions you have and once you confirm you would like to go ahead with the booking an invoice will be sent to you which contains the banking details for the non-refundable deposit. The booking is not secured until the deposit is received.
How do I pay you?
Deposits are generally paid via bank transfer.
Once the deposit is paid, the final balance must be received before I set up at your event or function. You can do this via bank transfer at least 4 days prior so it clears before the start of your event or via cash or EFTPOS when I arrive at your event.
Do you come dressed up?
Generally, we will arrive professional but colourful.
Upon request, myself or one of the other contractors may be able to dress up. Please inform us of this request ASAP so we may have adequate time to provide an entertainer that already has the requested outfit or acquire said outfit. The cost of this is $20 as to cover any new outlay, dry cleaning, etc. This price is already included in Santa appearances.
Please note: we do not have any licenced characters, so all costumes will be generic, such as fairy, pirate, ice queen, etc.
What are your rates?
As of January 1st, 2018, the rates on each package is correct.
For ones not listed, it is because they aren't one size fits all as many different factors come in to play
To get a quote based on your needs, please fill out the enquiry/booking form and add any relevant information you have. Consultations and quotes are of no charge and are obligation free.
We also have trainees that come at reduced prices.
Can I book more than one entertainer and/or type of entertainment?
Yes! We have a team of professional entertainers, some of us skilled in multiple areas. Please book in early so we can ensure enough of us with the skill/s you desire are available for your event.
How early should I book my Entertainment?
I would recommend booking in as early as possible to avoid disappointment, preferably no closer than 3-4 weeks before your event during off peak seasons, 6-8 weeks for high demand times such as around Easter, Halloween, December as these go quickly. For special requests, long events and/or multiple entertainers, we again stress the importance of booking in as early as possible.
When are you available? The date/time I want is unavailable, can I still book?
Our general availability is shown in the calendar but if the time you desire is not shown as available, please select a date/time close to what you prefer on the calendar and let us know the dates/times you desire on the booking enquiry form as myself or another member of our team may be available.
How long have you been an entertainer?
Personally, I have been professionally face painting since 2011, balloon twisting since 2012/13.
Some of our entertainers have more or less years of experience but all meet a quality standard, the exception being our trainees and our pricing for our trainees reflect as such.
What do I need to provide?
Painting/balloons- Generally, close parking and a sufficient covered space for us to work is all that is required, we bring our own table and chairs as needed. Trees are not sufficient as they do not adequately protect us from the elements.
Santa- Any presents/candy/books you wish Santa to deliver, a chair for Santa to sit on as required, a fan where possible, a bell if wanted, a larger sack if wanted, a room with a mirror if you would like Santa to transform at your event and a sufficient covered space. Santa comes with just his suit and if requested, his sack. To make your event extra special, please provide Santa with a “nice” list with the children’s names, ages and interests or other information you think may be useful to create a magical atmosphere 😊
General- If the event is in the evening, appropriate lighting will be required.
If holding an event at a park, please ensure that you have the correct permits, these can be acquired at the local council that owns the park. They may need a copy of our public liability insurance(s) which we are happy to provide.
If holding your event at a ticketed place (such as zoos, inside playgrounds, etc), please let them know your intentions and check for any requirements. They may need a copy of our insurance(s) and WWCC(s), which again, we are happy to provide.
Please note: If you have not made the necessary arrangements with the council/paid premises and we either cannot get in or are asked to pack up, the full amount is still required to be paid.
Additionally, some places do not allow certain forms of entertainment, such as Perth Zoo and Kings Park with balloon twisting which is another reason why it is important to check with the council/private premises before confirming your booking.
Are you and your team Insured? Do your entertainers have Working With Childrens Checks?
Yes! In Australia, these are legal requirements, please ensure whomever you decide to go with have both PLI and WWCC as it is for your safety. The exception being those under 18 do not yet need or are able to get a WWCC. Most of our entertainers have $20m Public Liability Insurance, the minimum most places require is $10m PLI. We carry our WWCC on us always when working, as is legally required. If requested, we will send you through a copy of each.
Do you have a registered business?
Yes, my ABN is 95 259 134 398 and my registered business name is Amber’s Party Entertainment.
How far do you travel?
Generally, myself and Santa service within a 40km radius from Kwinana Adventure Park, Walgreen Cres, Calista WA 6167. After the 40km limit is reached, it is $1 per additional kilometre.
However, if you are out of mine and Santa’s free travel area, we may have a team member(s) that are closer to you and so may not require a travel fee.
What kind of paint do you use?
All our entertainers use professional quality face and body paints, such as TAG, Wolfe FX, DFX, Superstar, Chameleon, etc. These dry quickly, produce beautiful colouring and are far less likely to cause a reaction compared to the usual store brought face paints. We recommend to only ever use paints specially designed for the face and body.
Can other parts of the body be painted instead of the face?
Yes! We often offer a choice of an arm or a face paint at our painty parties and painty events as we know how much some children love looking at their artwork 😉
Are there some people you won't paint? Do you have an age limit?
As per our OH&S requirements, we cannot paint:
-People under 2yrs
-On the face of people under 3yrs
-On the face of people who have or are prone to eczema or other rash that may be agitated by paint
-People that look like they may have a contagion
-An area where there is a wound or rash
-A child without a parent/guardian or other adult
There is no upper limit for getting face or body art, adults of all ages are welcome.
We cannot be held liable for false information given to us, ie: child is over 2 or 3yrs old.
We recommend if there has been a possible reaction to quality face and body paints that either a patch test is done 20mins prior to being painted or to avoid being painted
What do I do if my child has a reaction?
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, the advice given is general only.
The paints can sometimes cause a slight itch as they dry and being professional grade products, it is rare that they cause a reaction BUT if you suspect a reaction, remove the paint immediately. If any swelling or difficulty breathing, I recommend seeking medical attention ASAP.
I take all reactions seriously and am happy to provide the name of the products used, it really helps if you have a photo of the painting to go along with the feedback so I know exactly which products were used.
It is also a good idea to patch test any new or older sunscreens, moisturisers and soaps that may have been used.
I would also recommend that future face paints (and related products that may be used) to be patch tested 20mins prior to being painted.
How do I wash the paint off?
Warm water and a mild soap does the trick in most cases. If any residue is left behind, baby oil or other moisturiser will help if not fully remove any residue. It is not recommended to remove with wet wipes as they can be inefficient and may cause a reaction.
How do I remove the paint from clothing?
Generally, a cold wash through the washing machine should be sufficient. On occasion a spot clean is required (ash can work wonders). Some colours may stain though so if you are concerned about paint getting on the clothes, it may be best to either wear something you don’t mind getting a little paint on or avoid being painted.
How long does the Face Paint stay on?
We recommend leaving face paint on for no longer than 4hrs.
Can I leave my child with you?
Whilst we do have WWCCs, many of us do not have child care qualifications or are insured to mind children and it is not part of our job description. We are coming to you as entertainers only so please ensure there is always a parent/guardian or other adult present that is able to be responsible for the child/ren in our seats and lines.
Is glitter safe?
Yes, we use cosmetic grade glitter so if any does come in contact with the eyes, it will not harm them. The exception being “chunky glitter” which we take great care not to put too close to the eyes
How often do you clean your kit?
Whilst we cannot guarantee our kits are cleaned between every job as we often need to pack, drive to our next job and set back up again, we do ensure to keep our kits hygienic at all times and are cleaned as often as feasible.
Do your balloons contain latex?
Yes, we use quality latex balloons. If a small event, please check if anyone attending has a latex allergy or a genuine balloon phobia.
How long does a Balloon last?
Balloons can be kept for a few days if they are stored in a cool environment and not played with. Generally, balloons are for fun and love to be played with so as long as they aren’t handled too roughly, untwisted/twisted, put in mouths (we strongly recommend not to allow balloons near the mouth as there is a risk of choking), or placed on dirt, grass or other sharp object, they should last a few hours.
Is the Santa in the photos the one I’m hiring?
Yes! There is only one Santa 😉
Will Santa be OK in our Aussie heat?
Santa is used to the North Pole and our Aussie heat can be quite overwhelming at times so please do your best to keep him cool whilst attending your event. Even if you have air conditioning, we strongly recommend to also have a fan for Santa. For outside events, we recommend keeping the visit short (30-60mins) and/or provide breaks in a cooled area.
Can we have professional photos taken with Santa?
Of course! If you haven’t got your own photographer, we have a Santa’s helper who is a professional photographer that is able to discuss her rates with you. You can find her over at Puddle Duck Photography if you would like to check out her work 😊
Will your entertainers need breaks?
Depending on the type and length of entertainment, we may need breaks. Short toilet breaks and trips to refresh our water are sometimes required and included in our hire times but we will attempt to avoid any interruptions. Santa will need the most small, frequent breaks, especially when working out in the heat, these are also included in hire times. If any of our entertainers are booked for longer than 4.5hrs, we require a 30min unpaid break per each 4.5hrs. Where possible, we will take turns so that there is still an entertainer performing.
Why hire a Santa’s helper(s)?
Santa’s helpers can manage lines or crowds, bring out fresh sacks of what is being given to the children, take photos, provide Santa with refreshments, let Santa know if any part of him needs “fixing” and help him get “fixed”, let Santa know of any information you wish him to know and just generally take the stress off you a bit.
Why hire a line manager?
At busy events the lines can get quite long and disorganised. If our entertainers are managing the line, they are cutting into time better spent creating. We are ok for you to provide your own line manager, but history has shown that those not familiar with our work often struggle to keep the line organised well enough and struggle to know when and how to end the line nearing break times and finish times.
Why hire a money handler?
At busy events, handling the finances or tickets can again eat into the time your entertainer could be spending creating. When handling finances, we need to use someone from our team as only our team members are authorised to take card payments and only they have access to the keys for our lock boxes. If using a ticketed system, we are happy for you to provide your own or use one of ours.
Do you do charity work or pay-per-design (PPD) bookings?
Yes! We each have chosen charities and fundraisers we donate our products, time and skills to each year. If you are a charity, fundraiser, market organiser, etc, we do have multiple options that may work for you. Good advertising and having entertainers able to attend your event are great ways to bring in more people to your event.
Do you have any more examples of your work?
Yes! Additional examples of mine and my husband’s work can currently be found at instagram.com/amberspartyentertainment and even more at facebook.com/amberspartyentertainment
What sort of designs do you do? What if I have a special request?
Our entertainers have some designs they excel at and others that are still a work in progress. We do have designs that we recommend but may also be able to do special requests. If there is a theme or want only a small selection of designs, please let us know in the booking/inquiry form.
Why do you charge more than some entertainers?
We do all we can to ensure you have wonderful, safe, quality entertainment at your event. Naturally, with what we put into our businesses, we will have higher business expenditure than someone who isn’t at the same level yet. For more information about why quality face painters in particular charge what we do, please check out the blog post below by Paintertainment. Much of it can also be transferred across to the other entertainment we provide. http://paintertainment.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/you-charge-how-much-per-hour-why-its.html
When do you arrive?
To ensure we are ready to start work at the booking time, we will generally arrive 10-45mins early depending on the type of entertainment you have booked and what we need to do to be prepared to begin creating magic at your booking time. Please do not expect us to begin work before your booking time. If we are required by a certain time, please let us know on the booking/inquiry form so we can make appropriate arrangements.
What if our guests are late? What if we want to extend our booking?
We recommend booking us to start 30mins after your party begins. Most parties run for a minimum of 2hrs and with a 1hr booking, this gives time for most guests to arrive before we start and to leave as the cake is being brought out. This means we can have a higher participation level in the time we have together 😊
If you wish to extend the booking on the day, depending on availability, we may be able to accommodate this. Extra time will be charged per the half hour, which will be half the price of a full hour, this is to provide the best flexibility possible.
What if I need to cancel, reschedule or reduce time?
If less than 72hrs is given, we will require full payment.
If cancelled/rescheduled with more than 72hrs given, only the non-refundable deposit will be kept.
Some leniency may be given to events that are rescheduling.
If reducing time with more than 72hrs given, each hour will be charged at the rate I usually charge for the amount of hours you require.
Please note: If your numbers have not reduced to the recommended number of participants for the corresponding hours, we will not be able to ensure everyone will be able to participate. Additionally, if your numbers have reduced by enough, we may be able to add in an extra service instead of reducing hours if you would prefer.
What if my performer has to cancel?
If your entertainer is unwell or otherwise unable to attend your event, we will do our best to replace them with someone else from our team.
If we are unsuccessful in finding a replacement, we will let you know and all monies received will be returned to you.
Can we use photos of your entertainers for our company advertising and marketing?
If you contact us BEFORE using photos of us or our images, it is likely that we will be able to provide you with images to use and give you permission to use photos of us and the images we provide (happy for you to request certain images also), provided that it is in some way relevant to our work.
For events you have booked us for, we actually prefer our images used rather than random ones off the internet as they are usually low quality or actually belong to someone else. It is also a better draw card if the people you are advertising to can see the quality of the designs that will actually be at your event.
Is there anything else I need to know?
The information provided on this page includes our terms and conditions. Via feedback, we found it best to combine them with our FAQs to make it more user friendly for our potential clientele.
Before submitting your booking/inquiry form, you need to first acknowledge that you have read and understood everything on this page even possibly relevant to your potential booking. There is a section on the booking/inquiry form for you to acknowledge this. If you ask a question that has already been answered here, I will let you know where on this page to find that information. If it is unclear or you require further assistance on that or any other matter, I will happily reply the best I can.
We hope you have a good day and look forwards to hearing from you 😊