Frequently Asked Questions

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When should I book my party?

As soon as you can! We recommend booking at least 6-8 weeks in advance as all parties are booked on a first come first served basis, however we are often able to accommodate last minute requests. Our most popular party times are Saturday and Sunday from 11am -3pm. Some parents book 3 months in advance to guarantee their #1 choice of time and character. Flexibility with your party date and time is ideal.

A completed contract and a non-refundable $100 deposit ($200 for larger scale events with balances over $500) are required to reserve a date and character for your party.

Parties booked 7 days or less before the party date are subject to additional $50 Last Minute booking fee per character, or $35 per artist for Face Painting or Glitter Tattoos.

Please contact us to check our availability before you send out invitations!

What geographical areas do you cover?

Parties and Paint by Kate is happy to service the Central and Southern California area, including but not limited to San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County and Ventura County.

If you do not know if your area is covered, or you are interested in booking a character outside of the covered areas, please contact us and ask!

Please be aware that some areas are subject to additional travel fees. You can see all of our travel stipends here.

What do you do at a party?

The activities that our characters will perform depends on the length of your party, the number of children in attendance, and whether or not you want to add extra activities. Our performers are trained to be attentive to the needs of your child and their guests; if they need to get up and moving they'll perform more energetic activities like dancing, parachute play, or games. If kids are feeling overwhelmed or need to take a quick break, the character can provide activities like coloring pages or story time.

To see what is included in each party packages please visit our packages page here.

We have boys attending, will they enjoy the princesses too?

Our performers are trained to keep all little ones engaged! While we do specialize in princess characters, our parties are inclusive of all ages and genders, and all of our games and activities are not gender specific. We often find the little boys are just as excited about meeting the characters as the girls!

Do I have to provide anything for the performer/ artist?

Our Entertainer will bring everything that they need for their performance! The only thing that we ask you to provide is an open area to play games, and a chair or blanket for the performer to sit down on during story time. For Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos we ask that you provide a table and 2 Chairs (preferably not bar stools) per artist in an indoor or shaded area.

Do I need to supervise the event?

Yes. Parties and Paint by Kate characters are entertainers, and although they are skilled at interacting with children, they are not responsible for the behavior of the children or adults present.

We kindly ask that you monitor disruptive behavior and attend to any child who does not want to participate.

Are the pictures shown on your website actual photos of your costumes and performers?

All of the photos shown on our website and social media accounts are pictures of our actual performers, costumes, and activities! We take pride in providing beautiful detailed costumes and quality performers to help create authentic fairy tale characters and a magical experience for you and your family. You can also view our Facebook Account or Instagram Account to see more of our performers in action.

What is your cancellation policy?

We understand that sometimes things happen and parties need to be canceled or rescheduled. We are happy to help you reschedule your party within one year of the original party date, but this is subject to availability. You may also choose to use your deposit payment towards any of our ticketed events in the future. If you would like to completely cancel your event, then you will forfeit your deposit as they are nonrefundable. Cancellation within 5 Hours of the event start time will result in no refund whatsoever, as our Performer(s)/Artist(s) have already started getting ready for your event. Events can only be rescheduled one time and are subject to a $45 rescheduling fee.

What if it rains/is too hot?

If you're planning to hold your event outdoors, we advise you to have a backup plan at an indoor location in case of bad weather. We do have some requirements for outdoor parties in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our performers/artists as well as your guests. Outdoor events will be evaluated based on the forecasted temperature. Events may be subject to modification or rescheduling if the temperature is expected to dip below 60°F (15°C), exceed 90°F (32°C), or if there are rain or air quality issues.

Rain: Performers/artists will not perform outdoors if it is raining. During rain, events must either 1.) be moved indoors, or 2.) a tent with full ceiling, and preferably sides, must be provided.

Hot Weather: For outdoor events proceeding under temperatures over 75°F (24°C), an ample shaded area must be provided for the performance. The shaded area should be large enough to accommodate both the performer/artist and the attending children. This can be under a tree, canopy, tent, or any other structure that provides ample shade. Water must be available for Performers/Artists during hot weather. Outdoor events with temperatures expected to exceed 90°F (32°C) will be handled on a case by case basis.

Air Quality: Performers will not perform outdoors if the Air Quality index measures between 101-300+ as this is considered to be within the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (including children) to "Hazardous" range.

*Please be aware that costumes may be modified slightly to accommodate extreme temperatures.

Should I tip the performer/ artist?

If you loved the performer and/or artist and thought they were especially magical, then you are welcome to tip. Our packages do not include gratuity for the performer, but tips let them know that you had a wonderful time! Should you decide to tip we recommend 20% or more of the total price. We do require 20% gratuity for any event with 3 or more Artist(s)/Performer(s).

What if I want a character or activity you do not currently offer?

Don't see the character, time frame, or activities that you're looking for? We are often more than happy to work with you to build a party that caters to your needs. If you are interested in a character that we do not offer let us know. Many of our current character offerings were made a reality because of a request, and we are always expanding! Additional fees may apply.

Do you work with special events, charities, and with sick children?

We do! Parties and Paint by Kate is proud to donate our time and talents to help give back to the community! Please contact us through our email and we will do our best to accommodate you depending on our availability. Please understand that all of these matters are settled on a case by case basis, but feel free to contact us for more information.

Can you provide proof of insurance?

Yes, we can provide proof of insurance for your event, for an additional $15 fee. Some venues and parks require a "certificate of insurance" or "COI" from vendors. The turnaround time for a "additional insured" document from our insurance company takes 2-3 business days.

Can I read reviews about your services?

Of course! You can go to our Yelp page here or our Facebook Page here to read reviews left by our happy customers.

How can I apply to be part of the magic?

We are always accepting applications to join our cast. A reliable vehicle, weekend availability, and clean background required. You can go to our Auditions page here to fill out an application!

Parties and Paint

by Kate