I invited a lot of my class from school to the party. Henry: More recently we helped to host the school summer fair and handed out a lot of flyers too… the biggest problem now is turning down gigs when Dad’s not about to help us! Q: How did the launch party go? Henry: Really good.
We were hoping for 30-40 kids, but ended up with 70! George: It was awesome! Henry: Dad also arranged for someone to be there to film it and put together an amazing promo video for us. That really shows people what our parties are like Q: Where did the idea for the ‘The Party Kids’ come from?
Henry: We just got to thinking: if Dad can do parties why can’t we? George: We know Dad doesn’t do kids’ parties anyway, so we’re not stealing any of his jobs! Henry: I used to love watching re-runs of Fun House and we tried to make our parties fun like that. Q: How did you go about launching your business and letting people know that ‘The Party Kids’ were available to hire?
Henry: We started by getting Dad to build us a Facebook page, then we helped design a logo and put Brothers Henry (12) and George (7) are quite possibly the UK’s youngest mobile DJs. Earlier this year they launched ‘The Party Kids’, a business specialising in energetic children’s parties packed with music, games and interactive fun. This has proved extremely popular and the Bradford-based lads’ diary is quickly filling up with bookings. Although their dad – experienced DJ and entertainer Pat Mulligan – helped them get started, this is very much the boys' business and it is they who play the music and entertain the guests at every party.
Pro Mobile’s Editor Eddie Short spoke to Henry and George to find out more about their budding DJ enterprise. THE PARTY KIDS DIALOGUE WITH 'THE PARTY KIDS' in just a couple of minutes. You can check it out on our Facebook page! Q: What age of children do you target with your parties?
George: Between about 5 and 8 works best… Henry: But we do up to Year 5 (10 years old). Q: What makes your parties different? Henry: Most parties are run by adults, but that’s boring! So our parties are run by kids, and it's easier for the kids to interact with other kids.
George: Plus our parties are like a gameshow! Henry: Yeah, we divide the whole party into two teams and then give out points for all the different games and challenges. This adds to the fun and makes our parties unique. Q: How do you work together hosting parties?
Henry: I am the host and run the show… I also work with my dad and my best friend Charlie, they look after each of the two teams. George: And I’m the DJ, I play the music! Q: How do you keep the children engaged for the whole party? George: I have no idea!
Henry: By making the party more fun, we make sure that at the start of the party everyone comes and sits down on the floor and listens, and if it gets too crazy we just get them to sit down again! Q: What do you like most about DJing? George: It makes me feel special and important, it’s great fun. Henry: I’m a host, not a DJ!
But as a host, I love being able to jump around and act like an idiot… whilst getting paid for it! Q: Which songs that you play get the best reaction? Henry: Cha Cha Slide and Gangnam Style. George: And Chu Chu Waa!
Q: Which game do you like hosting the most? George: Hungry Hippos! Henry: Yeah, two kids on skate boards being pushed towards a circle of balls and the one who collects the most wins. I get all the other kids to gather round and cheer on their team – it’s always lots of fun.
Q: I’ve seen a stuffed dog keep popping up in the photos from your parties, who is that? George: That’s our mascot… Henry: … Party Dawg! He has four talking legs!! We use him for pass the parcel, well we call it ‘pass the party dawg’!
When the music stops, the person holding him presses a paw and he tells them how many points they’ve won – between 5 and 100. We’re currently saving up to buy a child-sized mascot costume so that Party Dawg can actually join in with the dancing! Most parties are run by adults, but that’s boring! 67DIALOGUE WITH 'THE PARTY KIDS' Q: What equipment do you use?
George: Lots! Henry: Dad has helped us put together a rig that’s just the right size for kids’ parties and easy for us to use. George mixes the music on a Pioneer DJ DDJ- WeGO4 controlling Algorithm DJay professional on an iPad. Then there’s the most important piece of kit – according to me! – the Alto Professional radio mic that Let's me host from the dancefloor.
This all runs through a pair of dB Technologies Opera powered speakers that are plenty load enough. For lighting we use a JB Systems Party Bar, which is easy to setup as its just one unit with loads of lights built-in, controlled by Chauvet Xpress running on a Windows touchscreen. George: Don’t forget the bubbles and snow! Henry: Oh yes, the kids love those!
We have ADJ smoke, snow and bubble machines that we use at different times to add to the atmosphere. All of the gear is mounted in or on a Gorilla DJ booth, which has our logo on the front. Q: What’s your number one tip for hosting a kids’ party? Henry: Make sure that you have a confident start and have everyone’s attention from the beginning.
Q: What’s next for ‘The Party Kids’? George: We’re doing my school’s end of year party next week! Henry: We’re doing that one for free, partly because it’s for George’s year but mostly because they are the exact target age for a Party Kids party, so we’re hoping to pick up some more party bookings from it. We’ll also be performing at a local village street fete too, again to get more exposure and pick up more gigs.
Q: Would you like to continue with careers as DJs and entertainers when you’re older? George: Yes, definitely. Henry: 100%, defo-dupo [I’m not sure exactly what this means, but I think it’s “yes” – Ed], I would love to be a radio presenter or a TV personality/actor.
