Princess party characters: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What princess party characters is

A princess party character sings, tells stories, does crafts and poses for photos with children at a party, in the style of a princess from a storybook or fairytale. People book one for birthdays when the child loves princesses and wants a royal visit with games and a little magic.

Signs you need it

  • Your child loves princesses and would be thrilled to meet one in person
  • You want a party that feels like a royal event with songs, a story and crafts
  • You want a character who can run a short craft or a dance with the kids
  • The party has a wide age range and you want a visit that suits younger and older girls
  • You want photos with the princess for the family to keep
  • You want a themed visit that matches the party decor

What the pro does

  • Asks about the birthday child's favorite princess, the theme and the number of guests
  • Plans a short program of greetings, a story, songs and a craft or dance
  • Arrives in costume and checks the party space with the host
  • Greets each child by name and asks about the child's interests
  • Leads the story, songs and craft at the times agreed
  • Poses for photos and says goodbye before packing up

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the visit and the number of activities in the program
  • Number of guests and the age range of the children
  • Crafts, props or a themed tiara and wand the performer brings
  • Travel distance and arrival time at the party space
  • Whether the performer leads a dance, a story or a craft or all three
  • Whether a second character or helper joins for a larger group
  • Costume detail and any custom greeting for the birthday child

What a written quote should spell out

  • Character, length of the visit and the activities planned
  • Number of kids the program is planned for
  • Crafts, props and what the host needs to provide for them
  • Photo plan and whether a family photo session is included
  • Arrival, setup and departure times
  • What happens if the character cannot attend

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which princess characters do you portray, and can I see a photo in costume?
  • What activities do you lead, and can I choose a story or craft?
  • How many children can you handle in one visit?
  • Do you bring crafts and supplies, or does the host need to provide them?
  • Can I see a video of a visit with children at a party?
  • How do you handle a child who is shy or nervous?
  • Does your insurance cover appearances at private homes and rented party spaces?

Red flags

  • They cannot show a photo of the character in costume
  • They have no plan for the crafts or the supplies they need
  • They do not ask about the number of children or the age range
  • They promise a visit with no description of the program
  • They will not confirm the arrival time or the space needs in writing

What you can do yourself

You can choose the princess, the story you want and the crafts for the party. You can also set up a clear circle for the story and a table for crafts with safe supplies. Hire a princess character for the costume, the voice and the program, since keeping a group of kids engaged in character takes practice.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for a princess party character, so ask for proof of liability insurance and references from children's parties instead. Using a character from a film or book in paid work can raise legal questions, so check the rules with your state or local licensing agency and ask the performer how the costume is sourced.

Princess party characters questions

Does a princess party character need a license?

Usually not a state license. Ask for insurance and references, and ask how the costume and character are presented.

Can the princess do a craft?

Many can. Ask which crafts they run, how long each takes and what supplies the host needs to provide.

How long should the visit be?

Ask the performer for a visit length that suits the number of children. A short story, songs and a craft fill a typical party slot well.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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