Party Tips: How Many Kids Do I Invite To My Child's Party?
I don't limit the number of children you can invite when I perform magic shows perform at kid's parties. Five children or fifty, it’s all the same to me.
After all, I always pack a PA system to save my voice and I love jumping in and performing for a massive crowd of screaming children. As far as I am concerned, the more the merrier.
Even so, I was surprised to arrive at a party last weekend to find sixty children packed into a two bedroom house in North Fitzroy.
Like I said, I don't mind bigger parties. I've performed for two thousands boy scouts in a circus tent before. But, when I spoke to the mother the day before, she'd assured me that there would only be a dozen. And judging by the look on her face, she'd been expecting about the same.
It turns out her son, who was just seven, had figured out how to print out extra invitations on the printer and had invited the rest of the class...and all his friends from soccer...and his cousins…and every kid in the neighbourhood. Half of Melbourne was packed into that single fronted weatherboard house.
Apparently, he didn't like the idea of anyone feeling left out.
In the end, the party was a success. Despite the lack of room we pushed backed the couches, moved the dining table out on the back veranda and I put on the show with the front row just a few centimetres from my feet.
So what’s the secret? How do you figure out who to invite and who to leave out? Here’s a few ideas.
Get to know your child’s classmates. Unless you’re inviting the whole class, make sure you know exactly who the guests are going to be. If you child insists on inviting a new friend, chat to his teacher to find out how the he or she fits into the friendship group.
Always cater for a few extras. Siblings of your guests sometimes stay for the party, especially if parents are invited to hang around too.
Don’t be afraid to put your foot down. Pick a number your happy with and stick to it.
Always ask for RSVPS. At the very least, you’ll have a ballpark figure to work with.
Don't use facebook. It is tempting to invite the parents of your guests via a facebook event. It's easy to miss a facebook invite and a facebook RSVP list is seldom accurate.
If you do get stuck on your invite list, you’re always welcome to email me for advice at laugh@funnybones.com.au .
