Are you insured / CRB / DBS checked?

Yes. Damian Jay holds £10 million Public Liability Insurance.

The CRB (Criminal Records Bureau no longer exists, it’s replacement is the DBS (Disclosure and Baring Service)

The rules surrounding the use of DBS checks have recently changed. Children's entertainers DO NOT require a DBS check as they are not in a regulated activity and should never be left alone with the children. Indeed, it is now a criminal offence for these checks to be carried out for non regulated activities. If you would like some more information on this please feel free to visit the official Government website on DBS.  Specifically Part 2 on page 6.

A much simpler way to navigate the confusing role of DBS  and entertainers is to view (and download if required) our DBS Guide & childrens entertainers.

Is your electrical equipment safe to use?

Yes.

You can be confident that every single piece of our electrical equipment is regularly tested to ensure it's safe to use.

Not only are visual inspections carried out on all cables every six weeks ALL items are fully PAT tested and will display a visible PASS sticker.

Certificates and paperwork are available upon request.

PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing.

What age range do you cater for?

For childrens birthday parties, Damian's ideal age group is between 4 and 8 yrs, however a few 'extras' either side of this range are more than welcome.

For Disco packages up to 14 years of age. Again a few over 14’s at the event won’t make that much difference.

All our party packages are tailored to the age range and attention span of the children at the event.

For more details about our various party and entertainment packages please see our Children's Parties page.

How far do you travel?

For birthday parties and disco parties Damian Jay covers the whole of Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and beyond, bringing his party entertainment to thousands of delighted children every year.

With his family friendly touring shows - ‘The Magic of Christmas’ and the ‘Magic & Mayhem’ show; Damian can be seen in smaller theatres around the south coast. Keep an eye out on our Events page for details of forthcoming tours.

Throughout the School holiday periods Damian is in demand for some of the best known Holiday companies across the UK. Appearing at Bunn Leisure, Haven Parks, Parkdean Holidays, Hoburne Parks and Sandy Balls Holiday Village to name but a few. So if you’re on holiday you may well see Damian Jay in his manic ‘Comedy Cabaret for Kids’ show. If you do - come and say HI.

How far in advance should I book?

The earlier the better!

Damian can get extremely busy especially during the Festive season and school holidays. To be sure of booking Damian Jay for your event the following timescale's are a good guideline:

Term time - 4 weeks or longer

December - 6 weeks or longer

Having said that, there is always the possibility last minute bookings or cancellations (they do happen from time to time) may be available.

What is the best time to hold my party?

The ideal times for a children's party would cover a natural food break.

So for two hour parties best times would be:

 11.00am - 1.00pm and 3.00pm - 5.00pm

For toddlers, it’s best to plan your party times around their nap time. You don’t want the children to be sleepy for their party.

Can you do Weekday shows?

Yes we can.

Damian is a full time children's entertainer and is available every single day of the year.

Weekends are of course the prime dates for a party, often being booked up well in advance.

Weekday parties after school and during school holidays are becoming increasingly popular. With a weekday party, often venues will be cheaper and an added bonus being it will be very rare that your party will clash with another.

Ask about a midweek booking as discounts are available.

Do you supply party bags?

No we don’t.

To us it just seems like an added expense for you, the organisers. Just one more thing to spend money on for what is usually a load of old tat that the kids look at for five minutes and then discard.

We’ve found that the children are much happier taking home one of our pre-made balloon models, which is included FREE with every children’s birthday package.

If you really want to provide the children with a ‘party bag’ why not go for something they will truly enjoy. Ask us about our fantastic Balloon Twisting Kits. A gift the the children will take great delight in twisting their very own balloon creations. Included in the kit is 10 modelling balloons, 1 hand pump and instructions for four easy to make models. And at only £2.00 each - cheaper than you average party bag. Plus you only pay for those you use.

How long do you need to set up / down?

At the time of booking or making your enquiry you will be advised on how long it will take to both set up and pack down the show, taking into account what kind of show you require.

We aim to give you all the information you need so as to make your decisions as easy and as stress free as possible.

For the average 2 hour children's party, a good rule of thumb is to allow 30 minutes for your entertainer to set up and pack down at the end.

Is there a limit to the No. of children?

Generally the more the merrier!

Between 20 - 30 guests makes for a fantastic party. However there may be times when you wish to invite more guests (maybe a joint Birthday). No problem.

A great bit of advice when inviting  more than 10 children is to ensure a fairly even mix of boys and girls. An even mix will curtail most of the boisterous behaviour that can occur.

Please do make sure that you have a suitable number of adult helpers on hand to help curb any 'over excitement' that can sometimes happen. For health & safety there must be a minimum of TWO adults in the room at all times, this DOES NOT include your entertainer

See our Party Hints & Tips guide for more helpful advice

Do you need parking?

Yes please, as close to the venue as possible.

This helps to minimise set up and pack down times, leaving as much time as possible to set up and be ready to start on time.

If your event is at your home, please ask your guests to leave a suitable space for your entertainer.

Should you happen to live where there are parking restrictions / permits let us know at the time of booking, and please be sure to have a parking permit ready for when Damian arrives.

How much space do you require?

Depending where your event is to be held, your entertainer will make the most out of whatever space they have available to them.

We can perform in any size hall, even in your front room as we tailor every show to your requirements and to fit the venue.

If there is a lot of space we'll make use of it. If there isn't then we won't. Your guests will still have a fantastic time regardless. For  all our party packages we require a single 13A power supply.

The only exception to this is our disco packages as we require about 3 metres x  1.5 metres for the lighting rig.

We also require 2 x 13A power sockets to run the disco.

Do you dress as a clown?

No. In our experience clown attire can frighten some younger children and even a few adults can be wary of clowns.

Damian Jay’s attire is smart black shoes & socks, black trousers, either a white or coloured polo shirt and a jacket filled with stars.

If you’re booking one of the themed shows - Pirates & Princesses or the Circus Show - then Damian will be dressed as a Pirate or a Ringmaster.

Do you use a real rabbit?

No.

Damian Jay does not use any livestock in any of his performances. Animals need a great deal of care and looking after and with all of his performing commitments onboard various cruise lines it isn’t fair on the animals.

However - Charlie, Damian's loveable Dog puppet, is a huge hit in the show both with the children and adults. He causes his own brand of magical mayhem ending up putting a very large custard pie in Damians face.

After your event, you may just believe that Charlie is in fact real.

Can I request any songs for my event?

Of course you can.

Damian Jay entertainment has an extensive catalogue of songs with many styles and genres of music, including all the latest chart music as well as older favourites.

If you wish to guarantee specific songs to be played at your event, visit our downloads area for a song request sheet.

Please be sure to have your requests back to Damian Jay Entertainment at least 7 DAYS PRIOR to your event in the unlikely event we have to source any of your requests.

Although requests are welcome on the day of your event we cannot guarantee to have every song requested.

As Damian Jay Entertainment main audiences are School disco’s, children ‘s parties and family events, unsuitable songs (with questionable or offensive lyrics) will not be played.

Do you use Smoke machines?

We don't use a smoke machine as it will set of most fire detection equipment, not to mention making things a little unpleasant for any asthmatics in your guest list.

We can bring along a range of special fx machines to your event if you wish us to, including: Haze machine, Bubble machine and of course Snow and Foam machines.

The bubble machine is included free with most children's parties. (Not suitable for use in your home)