What to Expect When You Hire a Party Character: A First-Timer's Guide

You've decided to make your child's birthday extra special by hiring a party character. Whether it's a princess, superhero, or beloved mascot, professional character entertainment can transform an ordinary party into an unforgettable experience.

But if you've never booked a character before, you might have questions. What exactly happens? How should you prepare? What do you get for your money?

This guide walks you through every step of the party character experience, from booking to the magical goodbye.

The Booking Process

Booking a party character is straightforward, but here's what to expect:

Step 1: Choose Your Character

Browse available characters on the company's website. At Characters.io, we offer over 100 characters including princesses, superheroes, mascots, and storybook characters. Consider what your child loves most—their face lighting up when their favorite character arrives is priceless.

Step 2: Select Date, Time, and Duration

Most packages start with a 1-hour minimum. For parties with more than 15 children or if you want time for multiple activities, consider 90 minutes or 2 hours. Peak times (Saturday afternoons) book fastest, so have backup dates ready.

Step 3: Provide Party Details

You'll share information like:

• Party address and venue type (home, park, venue)
• Birthday child's name and age
• Number of guests expected
• Any special requests or details about your child

Step 4: Confirmation

After booking, you'll receive confirmation with your character's arrival time, what to expect, and contact information. Reputable companies like ours also send a reminder before your event.

Before the Party

In the days leading up to your party:

A Few Days Before

• Confirm arrival time: The character typically arrives 5-10 minutes before their scheduled appearance time to make a grand entrance
• Plan the entrance: Decide where the character will enter and where children will be gathered
• Prepare a private area: The performer may need a room to change or touch up their costume

Day of the Party

• Clear the entrance path: Make sure the character can enter without navigating obstacles
• Brief other adults: Let grandparents, other parents, and helpers know when to expect the character
• Charge your phone: You'll want to capture every magical moment!

When the Character Arrives

Here's where the magic happens:

The Grand Entrance

Professional performers know how to make an entrance. Typically, the character will:

1. Arrive a few minutes early and wait in a designated area
2. Make a grand entrance when cued (you can signal them via text)
3. Greet the birthday child first by name
4. Acknowledge all the children with excitement and wonder

Watching children's faces transform from curiosity to pure joy is one of the best parts of hiring a character. Many kids truly believe they're meeting the real princess or superhero.

First Few Minutes

The character will introduce themselves, compliment the decorations, and begin building rapport with the children. Experienced performers read the room—if kids are shy, they'll warm them up gradually. If kids are excited and energetic, they'll match that energy.

What Happens During the Party

A professional character visit is structured to maximize engagement and create memories. Here's a typical flow:

Activities and Entertainment (40-50 minutes)

The character leads age-appropriate activities:

• Singing: Princesses sing their signature songs; superheroes might lead chants
• Games: Freeze dance, musical chairs, trivia about the character's movie
• Storytelling: Many characters share a story or adventure
• face painting or tattoos: If included in your package
• Special ceremonies: Princess coronations, superhero training, etc.

Photo Opportunities (10-15 minutes)

Individual photos with each child, group photos, and special shots with the birthday child. This is often where the most treasured memories are captured.

Cake Time

Many families time the cake cutting to coincide with the character's visit. The character can:

• Lead the birthday song
• Help the birthday child make a wish
• Pose for photos during candle blowing

The Farewell

The character will say a magical goodbye, often leaving the children with a special message or mission. This helps children transition smoothly rather than being sad about the departure.

What's Typically Included

Standard party character packages generally include:

• Professional performer in high-quality, screen-accurate costume
• Character-appropriate entertainment (singing, games, activities)
• Photo opportunities with all guests
• Special attention to the birthday child
• Coronation or special ceremony (for princess characters)

Additional services that may be included or available as add-ons:

• face painting
• Balloon twisting
• Temporary tattoos
• Second character (Anna with Elsa, etc.)

At Characters.io, our packages include all standard entertainment plus our on-time guarantee and money-back satisfaction promise.

Preparing Your Child

To Surprise or Not to Surprise?

This is one of the most common questions parents ask. There's no right answer—it depends on your child:

Keep it a surprise if:

• Your child handles excitement well
• They're confident and outgoing
• You want to capture their genuine reaction

Tell them in advance if:

• Your child is shy or anxious around strangers
• They might be overwhelmed by surprise
• They're very young (2-3 years old)

For Shy Children

If your child is on the shy side:

• Let them know a special visitor is coming
• Watch videos of the character beforehand
• Reassure them they don't have to interact immediately
• Have them sit near you when the character arrives
• Let the performer know in advance—they're trained to warm up hesitant children

Tips for a Successful Character Visit

Do:

• Keep the character's identity secret from kids—don't refer to them as "the performer" or talk about costumes
• Have your camera ready—the best photos happen naturally throughout the visit
• Let the character lead—they're professionals and know how to engage kids
• Stay present—enjoy watching the magic happen!
• Tip if exceptional—while not required, tips are appreciated for outstanding service

Don't:

• Ask the character to break character—they stay in role the entire time
• Overwhelm them with adult conversation—their focus is the children
• Schedule the character during meal time—kids can't eat and engage at the same time
• Worry if your child is shy at first—most warm up within minutes

The Bottom Line

Hiring a party character is one of the most impactful things you can do for your child's birthday celebration. The combination of professional costumes, trained performers, and interactive entertainment creates genuine magic that children remember for years.

When you book with a reputable company like Characters.io, you're not just hiring a person in a costume—you're creating a memory. Our performers are professional actors who specialize in children's entertainment, and we stand behind every booking with guarantees for on-time arrival and complete satisfaction.

Ready to create some magic? Browse our 100+ characters and book your party today. We serve families across the country, from Los Angeles to Miami to Chicago and beyond.

Characters.io Party Planning Team

Party Character Experts

Our team has helped over 10,000 families create magical birthday memories. We know what makes character entertainment truly special.