Well, well, well... happy February, my good Yelpies. January was a lot for me, so this review is…read moredefinitely for January--I just didn't get a chance to get it done sooner.
This review is for New York City Birthday Clowns. I hired them for my son's birthday after first seeing them at one of his classmate's parties. Watching them in action at that party, I immediately thought, this is such a mom dream. When you're already doing all the heavy lifting--planning, decorating, picking the cake, invites, goodie bags, party favors--the idea of not having to worry about entertainment at all is such a relief.
They offer different packages depending on how long you want them there--an hour, hour and a half, two hours, two and a half, three hours, and so on. What I really liked is that it's very all-inclusive. Two entertainers come out, and they bring everything with them. There's a magic show, cotton candy machine, music, balloon animals (swords and all), face painting, games, and their own speaker. They basically walk in ready to go, which honestly takes a huge load off your plate as a parent.
After seeing them at my son's friend's party, I decided to book them for my son. I chose the 2.5-hour package, which was $549 total with a $100 deposit and the remaining $449 due later. They also recommend a $70 tip, which you can Zelle or give in cash. With everything said and done, I paid about $568 the day of.
Now, this isn't really a complaint, but more of an honest note. The entertainers I saw at my son's friend's party were really engaging. The main guy kept the kids' attention so well, and there were three entertainers total at that party. For my son's party, we had two, and unfortunately the main entertainer we had just didn't engage the kids the same way. My son was turning six, and most of his friends were around four, five, six years old, and it felt like he struggled to really connect with them.
He had them screaming and yelling a lot--which no parent really wants, especially when the kids are already hopped up on sugar--but without really holding their attention. Things also felt rushed. Guests were still arriving, the party had just started, and he jumped straight into cotton candy, then tried to move into games. Once kids get sugar, it's kind of downhill from there. Some of the jokes also went over the kids' heads--these are little kids, they're not getting Friends references or adult humor.
I don't think Kevin was bad, but a few of the parents also mentioned that they didn't really love him. It just felt a bit off, especially compared to what I had seen previously.
That said, overall, I still think New York City Birthday Clowns is a great option if you're looking for all-inclusive entertainment. They accommodate large groups, they come to you, and they truly bring everything, which makes party planning so much easier. Just be sure to read the fine print. For example, if there's no parking provided and they have to park at a meter or on the street, you're responsible for that. There are a few little things in the contract that are good to know ahead of time.
At the end of the day, I think it really comes down to who you get as your entertainer. If you get someone super engaging, it can be an amazing experience. It is a bit costly, but the convenience of not having to worry about entertainment at all definitely makes it appealing.
All in all, solid concept, very convenient, just be mindful of the details--and hope you get someone who really knows how to keep a room full of sugar-fueled kids locked in.
