For kids (and kids at heart), there’s perhaps nothing so enchanting as interacting with their favorite characters in person. What could be more exciting than a fairy-tale afternoon with Elsa, Tiana, and Rapunzel? Full of magical makeovers, spellbinding story times, and plenty of other fun and games, princess parties are extraordinary opportunities for performers to make extra money while pursuing other roles. Not only is the party princess gig a rewarding one, it also can help an actor improve their improv, singing, and dancing skills while creating a wonderful, one-of-a-kind experience for a kid.
A party princess’ primary job is to entertain guests at birthday parties while dressed as—you guessed it—fictional princesses, usually from Disney films. They lead fun activities like crafts, face paint, games, posing for photos, singing and dancing, or reading to the kids, all while staying in character. What matters most is that young party attendees are entertained and able to live out their fairy-tale fantasies.
Where does a party princess perform?
The most typical party princess gig is children’s birthday parties, but they’re also often hired for other events like parades and festivals. The most rewarding experience, though, is bringing a little magic to those in need. Children’s entertainment groups regularly bring characters to hospitals to brighten up pediatric patients’ days and remind them of the power of their dreams and imaginations.
How much do party princesses make?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate for a party princess is $72. Since most parties are between 90 minutes and three hours long, a princess can expect to take home $144 to $216 for one gig. This doesn’t include tips, which might bump up an exceptional performer’s pay by $50 or more.
Professional party princess Jenna Bell told Business Insider that this is about the rate she makes when “booking through a company,” while her rate when booking solo is closer to “$115 to $130 an hour.” On the subject of tips, Bell said she’s been tipped as much as $200.
Pay is dependent on whether the performer is going it solo or working for a company. Independent party princesses have to pay for transportation, costumes, makeup, props, and any other supplies, but they get to set their own schedules and rates. Princesses who are contracted out are typically covered when it comes to those additional costs, but take-home pay tends to be lower as the companies take a sizable cut as a booking fee. If you’re considering signing with an entertainment company, make sure you’re reading the terms of the contract extremely carefully.
What to consider before becoming a party princess
Princess parties aren’t all rainbows and sunshine, so it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into.
- Copyrights: Perhaps the biggest thing to keep in mind—especially if you’re looking to start your own company—is copyright. You may have noticed that most party princesses have names like “Ice Queen” or “Sleeping Princess” (rather than Elsa or Sleeping Beauty) despite looking just like their Disney counterparts. The famously litigious studio has previously tried—and failed—to sue princess party companies for these characters. While courts have ruled against the media giant in the past, entertainers should be careful to follow the precedent set by past cases to avoid a copyright disaster.
- Training: Singing is a basic requirement of a party princess; improving and maintaining your vocal cords is a requirement of the job.
- Time: In addition to the time spent honing your craft, parties are almost always weekend affairs. Depending on the area, you may be required to travel an hour or more in each direction, and transportation may or may not be provided or reimbursed.
- Illness: Like teachers and other professionals who work with children, party princesses are at higher risk of contracting seasonal illnesses.
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Ready to don your best ballgown and tiara? Here’s what you need to do to become a party princess.
- Brush up on your singing and dancing. Make sure you’re able to embody the magical characters you plan to play by rehearsing their signature songs, dances, and other traits that will convince audiences that you’ve danced straight off the screen and into their living room.
- Interact with and get comfortable around kids. Arguably the most critical skill of a great party princess is being able to naturally interact with children. Sure, you know how to talk to other adults, but kids are a whole different ball game—especially when you factor in the general excitement and sugar that comes with a birthday party.
- Practice your improv skills. Party princesses don’t have strict scripts to follow, so up-and-coming royalty should be comfortable improvising. Know the movies you’re representing inside and out; your audience will likely know even the tiniest detail. You’ll need to stay in character the entire time regardless of what your audience throws at you.
- Build your social media presence. Once you’ve mastered your persona, it’s time to show it off! Post photos and videos in character to dedicated social media pages to boost your local profile and excite prospective partiers and entertainment groups. Not only does this grow your potential clientele for solo bookings, it also serves as a public portfolio you can use to get gigs with party companies.
- Audition. Keep an eye out for open roles from party entertainer companies in your area. Use sources like the Backstage casting notices to find openings from event companies, then submit your headshot and reel for a chance to make every child’s birthday an enchanted one.