‘Let’s all celebrate our birthdays with responsible parties’
Scott: Covid-secure parties would keep my business going
AWARD-WINNING children’s entertainer Silly Scott is calling on parents to mark their children’s birthdays with Covid secure parties, in a bid to keep his business going.
Scott Thatcher, also known as Silly Scott, started performing his routine 26 years ago. He said that times have been tough this year due to coronavirus restrictions and he has been hit hard by the new rule of six.
Scott, from Fareham, said: ‘It was difficult in March, it has been for all of us, but I had just started to rebuild my business and as things were starting to get back to normal then we were hit by this rule of six and now I am back to square one.
‘I want to get the message out there to support entertainers. We can still do children's parties in community venues under performance allowances. You can still mark your children's milestones safely. They don’t have to miss out. We have had to adapt, like all businesses, but we have changed the way we work and we can still hold parties for groups of six in a safe and secure way.’
Scott said that he has been working to secure venues that people can hire to hold their parties, and that the parties can accommodate the birthday child plus a parent and four others as he counts as a visiting worker.
The 46-year-old said: ‘To have five children at a party creates a small personal environment which is so nice. It is much more relaxed and everyone enjoys it more. It allows the parent to create those special memories with their child rather than running around after lots of children and their parents.’
Scott said he has also taken extra measures with his show, which includes having a performance area clearly marked out, sanitiser stations and no physical interaction with the audience.
‘I want to get the message across that we are still here,’ he said.
‘The government has totally forgotten about us. It has given huge grants to save arts venues but we do not fit under that category, even though we still pay taxes on our business. We are one of the worst-affected businesses by the rule. It is totally souldestroying.
‘Children are so low risk, our performance can be done in a safe manner in a Covid safe venue. The halls are so big that there is plenty of room for everybody, and it’s especially safe if it's a class bubble attending. It is really important for our children’s well being that we don’t forget about them and that we continue to create memories for them.'
Scott, who is dad to sevenyear-old Riley, has has won numerous awards such as being voted Netmums’ Best Children's Entertainer Hampshire.
He is planning small scale events to mark Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve to replace his usual big events. His first – Silly Scott’s Spooky Magic Tricks & Gross Out Stunts Workshop – takes place on Thursday, October 29 at Portchester Community Centre for children aged five to 12. Tickets cost £16.50, to book go to facebook.com/ sillyscottmagic