Charlotte

Hiya! Im Charlotte, Im 20 and I am the compere, I have worked with Characters since being 10 and started comparing when I was 15.  I like working for Characters4kidz because it doesn't feel like work, all of the staff get on really well and we all like to have a laugh.  My favourite character to work with on stage is Louie, it is important that the shows are unstructured and Louie is such a big character that it is alway fun and unpredictable.  We do lots of games at work and my favourite one to do with the kids is probably the Air Guitar competition, both the children and the adults compete in this and it is always sure to get a laugh!  When working for Characters4kidz we all have to do the party dances at the start of the night these can be very entertaining and each member of staffs personality shines through when we do these.  The dance routines are made up mainly by myself and Kristen, during the winter months we also stage the Christmas shows and have lots of fun making up the new routines and attempting to remember ones from the previous year.  I enjoy doing the Christmas work lots because all of the audience are in great spirits and the kids are even more exitable, its good seeing their faces when Santa and Frosty come out and see them.        

Kristen

Hallloooo!! Im Kristen and Im 23, I am the head dancer and the oldest member of staff, I have worked for Jayne for 8 years, I took a short break when I had my little boy but as Characters4kidz fits with me being a single mum so well, I soon came back and he is now 4!  I really love working with children and this job is ideal for me as my little boy can enjoy it as well, he loves the characters and is fortunate enough to see them and be entertained by them on a regular basis.  My favourite game that we do is probably plate spinning, the child and parent work together in this game and the first pairing to get their plate spinning is the winner, I like this because it is funny to see the adults faces when they are so close to getting the plate spinning but just cant grasp it!  Smudge would be my favourite character as he is so cheeky, he reminds me a lot of my little boy and is very similar.  It is hard to choose my favourite song as I have so many but Blame it on the Boogie is probably my signiture party dance, you often see me singing along and adding my own twist on the routine!    

Jade

Hello! Im Jade or 'Ginger Jade' as Im mostly called and I am 16, I have worked for Characters4kidz for 3 years and really enjoy it.  When Im not at work I spend most of my time dancing and have been doing ballet, modern, gym, singin, drama and tap since I was 3.  I am always on the go and most people at work see me as the hyper one.  I love doing all the party dances and Follow the Leader is my favourite, the other girls hate it because all you basically do for 3 minutes is jump but i love it!  My favourite character is Twink, I like her because she is very girly just like me, she is also the 'dancing' character and I teach her lots of moves!  Out of all the games we do my favourite is the laughing policeman game, it's funny to hear what the kids come up with when they start to laugh and how different they are, the kids all seem to really like this game as well.  I like working with Characters4kidz because it honestly does not feel like a job, you work with your friends, in a great atmosphere, doing something that feels nothing like work.  My favourite venue that we have done was the Lincoln football ground with Kristen, Rezina Charlotte and Jayne, we had an audience of around 4000 people and it was quite scary, once we were up on the stage though it was amazing and something i will never forget, they liked us that much that we got invited to go again and perform in 2009.  

Rezina

Hi guys!! Im rezina and Im 15, Im the youngest out of all of the staff and the shortest!  I have worked for Characters4kidz for 3 years  now and really enjoy it, its fun to do something that normally you would never be able to do and its really not like work.  We dont have to stick to rigid rules and so each shift is different, the people change all the time and so two nights are never the same.  My favourite character would be Tamu, like me she's the youngest and plays up to this when shes on stage.  Out of all the characters shes the more vulnerable one that the others look after, shes clever and likes to show off by making Louie and Smudge look silly.  When doing the party dances the one that I like to do is Tarzan, its a fun tune that the kids can sing along to, the animal impressions they do are always funny as well.  My favourite venue is the same as Jade's, Lincoln football ground was a show that I dont think I will ever forget and it will be hard to top, with an audience of 4000 people, the atmosphere was amazing and it made the show even better.  My favourite party game is Limbo, its a game that the older kids can join in with as well as the younger ones and it always gets people involved.  The winner gets a medal and certificate and the kids seem to try extra hard to win.  This game is also a good one as the kids really will on and encourage the ones that are not quite as good, its nice to see them helping each other.