PrettyPrincessJersey
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Should you have additional questions or need more information to evaluate if we are a good fit for your upcoming event, kindly email us, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
How Far In Advance Do I Need To Contract Your Services?
The earlier in your party planning timeline you reach-out to us, the more flexibility our performers will have in their schedules to be able to meet your needs. It is highly recommended you formally contract our services before sending out invitations, in order to avoid disappointment and to ensure that our performers are in-fact available on the date(s) you have in mind.
We suggest reaching-out to us via email as soon as you have a potential event date in mind.
While it is sometimes possible for our staff to accommodate a last-minute request, we advise booking our services at least 3 months in advance, especially if a certain character or a specific date and time is being requested.
At the discretion of our company, a "rush fee" may be added-on, if your request is not made in advance, and we must spend extra time staffing your event, prepping supplies, gathering together the costuming, etc.
NOTE: An appearance is not considered "booked" until the client has been sent a Contract of Services to review; paying the non-refundable booking fee is the easiest/fastest method to confirm the booking. Simply inquiring about a certain date, time, and entertainment service does not hold the date. PLEASE NOTE: We will need time to check our performers' schedules, to ensure that we have availability for the character(s) and/or service(s) for which you've inquired, before we can send you the Contract... Paying the non-refundable retainer formally secures the date, time, and character(s) of your choice.
How Much Do You Charge?
In an effort to satisfy varying client wants/needs, as well as to be mindful of various event-related budgets, we proudly offer numerous appearance lengths and party package options, as well as add-on services.
Out-of-costume/out-of-character appearances have a slightly lower starting rate than those performed while wearing a costume and/or while portraying a character.
Please review our Packages & Pricing page for a complete description of what is included in our most popular appearance packages.
If you are looking for more, or less, to be part of your appearance or if you have a set event budget with which to work, please email us to discuss your event, as further customization may be available.
How Far Will You Travel? Is There Any Extra Fee?
PrettyPrincessJersey provides high-quality family-friendly entertainment throughout the Greater-Philadelphia area.
This includes such counties as Bucks, MontCo, DelCo, and Lehigh Valley, PA.
In addition, we provide entertainment services to neighboring states, including New Jersey and Delaware.
20 miles (40 miles round trip) from where our performers are traveling (IE - Philadelphia, PA) is included in our base rates, as this is considered to be our "local travel radius."
A small mileage fee will apply for appearances that take place outside of our local travel radius.
Our clients are responsible for covering the travel fees for our performers, when they are asked to appear outside of our local travel radius, per the stipulations outlined within the Contract.
In addition, the event host will be responsible for any tolls that our entertainers must pay in order to get to/from the event location. We use GoogleMaps to determine the total round trip mileage as well as to see if there will be any tolls.
We believe in full disclosure and honest pricing. If there is going to be a travel fee involved, we will disclose the exact rate as soon as we are given the city, state, and zip code associated with your upcoming event.
We will also list the travel fee, if there is one, in your Contract of Services, so that you have a complete breakdown of the charges associated with your appearance. It is our goal to be as upfront with our customers as possible, as we believe that open communication is key to a pleasant experience that meets your expectations, as well as one that meets that of our performers and any support staff (such as Handlers or Photographers) that may be added-on.
Do I Need To Have Anything Set-Up In Advance Of Your Arrival To My Party/Event?
Our entertainers have performed in homes and apartments, restaurants, halls, community rooms, rec centers, country clubs, in-door play facilities, schools, places of worship, parks and playgrounds -- just to name a few.
They will bring along all of the supplies that are necessary to complete the activities that are part of your contracted party package. They will take care of the set-up as well as the clean-up.
If what appears within your contract does not require our providing any supplies (for example if you opt for a package that focuses more-so on meet-and-greet style interactions), it is mutually understood and expected that you -- as the customer contracting our services -- are to provide whatever additional supplies may be necessary for your group to remain entertained and engaged in the event and appearance.
If securing a mascot-style character, and you opt not to book a Handler / Party Ambassador from our company to assist the mascot performer, for the safety of our entertainer(s) and your guests, it is mutually understood and expected that you as the customer contracting our services will take-on the responsibilities and tasks associated with that role.
The main thing that is needed is a space that is large enough for the entertainer to move around comfortably with the children and guests who will be in attendance at your event. For example, it is helpful to have a space large enough for the entertainer to sit with the children in a circle for the story-telling portion of the program, if that is included in your package. That same space can usually be used for the dancing and games.
Aside from the space, access to an outlet may be needed for the performer(s) to plug in a stereo system, so that there can be background music during the duration of their appearance. We are increasingly moving towards using Bluetooth speakers, however they are only loud enough to be used in certain-sized areas; if using a large or loud venue (such as a trampoline park sort of facility), the client may wish to use their own speaker/sound system. If your package does not include our providing the background music, and you wish for there to be something playing while the performer is with your group, it is mutually understood and expected that you as the customer contracting our services will provide this.
For party appearances that are over 1-hour long, you may wish to have the arts-and-crafts project take place at a table. Alternatively, the entertainer(s) may sit with the children on the floor to complete this activity.
For party appearances that are over 1-hour and 30-minutes long, 1 table and 2 chairs will be needed during the "choice" activity (IE - face painting, mini-makeovers, mini-manicures, temporary tattoos, glitter tattoos, or simple balloon twists).
If you are booking a non-character service, such as face/body painting, tattoos, or a bubble show, a table will be necessary. If we need to provide the table, additional fees may apply. We encourage you as the customer to provide the table, so as to avoid any extra fees, on top of the base rate and travel fees.
If your event is taking place outdoors and a tent is necessary to provide some sort of shelter, it is mutually understood and expected that you as the customer contracting our services will provide this, or any related items -- such as heat lamps.
Do You Offer Characters/Entertainment For Boys?
All of our activities are geared for both male and female children...
All children will actively be included in our interactive story time, non-competitive games, and choice activities.
Our arts-and-crafts projects are appropriate for both genders and we offer face painting and balloon twisting designs that are appropriate for both genders.
If you choose either mini-manicures or mini-makeovers for your event, and there will be boys present, we can always supplement that particular activity with temporary tattoos; that way, both the girls and the boys at your party can remain actively engaged in all of the fun that is going on.
If you opt for an appearance that includes dress-up clothes, we can bring both male and female costumes along for the children to wear.
In addition to the entertainment itself, we also offer male characters. For example, we offer Pirates, Princes, and several different Super Heroes; several of our mascot-style costumes appeal to both genders as well.
What's more, our male characters can be added-on to appearances with our female characters, if you'd like for there to be one entertainer of each gender present at your event. (We have found this to be a very popular option for those who are planning sibling birthday parties!)
I'm Ready to Book... Now What?
In order for us to prepare a Contract of Services, we will need to know [A] the date of the appearance, [B] the start time of the appearance, [C] which character(s) / entertainment service(s) you are requesting, [D] which party package you are requesting or how long of an appearance you seek, [E] the full street address associated with the appearance, [F] your child's first name and age that is being celebrated, and [G] the best day-of contact person's name and phone number.
We will only send you a Contract of Services to review if we have performers available on the date, and at the time, that you are requesting their presence. We do not book things unless and until we know with certainty that we can provide the requested character(s) and/or entertainment service(s).
Once you review the Contract, in order to provide us with your approval of the terms and conditions found within, and to retain our services, you will submit a non-refundable booking fee.
Paying the non-refundable retainer is what formally secures the date, time, and character(s) of your choice. Once submitted, unless you adhere to the policies on page 2 of the Contract, to either post-pone or cancel your appearance, the remainder of your payment will be due on the date that you retained our character(s) / entertainment service(s). We take this very seriously, and urge you to as well, for this is a legally-binding agreement that can be upheld in a court of law.
I've Paid the Retainer... When is my next payment due?
You may the remaining balance off in-advance, in-part or in-full, so that less is due the day-of the appearance.
If not paid in-full, in-advance, the remaining balance will be due BEFORE THE PERFORMER(S) DEPART FROM THE APPEARANCE. If performer(s) stay later than the Contracted end-time, even if this time is spent waiting-on the final payment from you, overtime charges may apply, per the overtime policies that appear on the Contract you are sent in advance to read, review, question, modify, and ultimately accept; we ask that you please have the remaining balance prepped in-advance, preferably in an envelope (so as to help preserve the magic for little ones and your guests) or that you are ready to submit it electronically, while the appearance is in-progress, so that way the performer(s) can depart your gathering promptly and efficiently, in order to get to their next commitment in a timely manner.
Gratuity is not already included in our base rates; tipping is at your discretion, but highly recommended, so as to provide the entertainer(s) with immediate feedback, if they met the expectations outlined with the Contract. Similar to other helping professions, such as waiters/waitresses, hairdressers, etc. this may be based upon your own level of satisfaction. Regardless of if you to choose to tip or not, it is mutually understood and expected that your balance due will be paid by the day-of the completion of services rendered.
We understand that some of our corporate-level and/or business partners may need to pay at an adjusted timeline; we will make exceptions to our policies on a case-by-case basis, but you must let us know in advance about your payment schedule, so that we are on the same page about the expectations/timeline.
"Unacceptable Behavior" and Legal Notice -
While we wish this didn't need to be stated: If you have agreed to the Contract, and pay the non-refundable Booking Fee, this means that you have retained our character actor(s), our costuming, and/or our entertainment service(s). It means that someone else is unable to have the performer(s), character(s), entertainment service(s) appear at their party instead.
If you have been provided with a service by our entertainment company, you are responsible for paying the balance due -- as agreed upon, in advance, during the Contract phase of our engagement with one another.
We are a professional, family-friendly, entertainment services provider. We treat our clients/customers and our team of performers with respect; in return, we expect fair treatment from you, as our client.
We take non-payment (aka - theft of services) very seriously.
We reserve the right to collect any/all balances due -- including overtime fees, if you hold the performer(s) beyond the Contracted appearance end-time -- in whatever manner we see fit.
If your balance due is not paid the same day as services were rendered to you, we will add daily compounding interest to your bill and add-on whatever penalties and added fees are legally allowed by either the state for which we are based or the state in which the services were provided -- whichever is HIGHER.
If we must pursue legal action to collect the balance due, the client will be responsible for any/all fees (EX - legal aid, court fees, admin fees, etc.) related to said collection.
By paying the retainer, and agreeing to the Contract, is mutually understood that Zazu, Inc (and, by extension our team of independently contracted performers and members of our Admin team) are not responsible for any (legal, court, etc.) fees of our customers / clients, should we in fact need to pursue collection.
In addition, should we need to pursue meeting in court, you will be expected to travel to the city/state where the paperwork has been filed - this may be different than the city/state in which the services were rendered, as we are a mobile business that services several different states and many different cities within each state.
We are not liable for any fees associated with legal proceedings (EX - transportation fees, lost wages, etc.), but rather this will fall onto the shoulders of the client, if they fail to uphold their end of the legally-binding agreement, for which they knowingly and willingly have entered.
If performer(s) experience a harsh working environment (EX - children who are pushing/kicking/hitting; inappropriate comments and threats - implied or otherwise; illicit drug use; fighting amongst adults; being asked to perform in extreme temperatures or in conditions without proper covering overhead and/or steady grounding underneath) and the client does not take immediate steps to correct this, performer(s) have the right to leave -- with full payment due for the their time/talent.
Paying the non-refundable retainer to secure our entertainment services indicates that you agree to the terms outlined within our Contract as well as the information outlined on our website; we treat our Contracts as legally-binding agreements and expect the same from our customers; we will do our best to uphold our end of the pledge to provide the services described within the Party Package for which you select / reserve and we expect that you as our customer will do the same.