Planning for Playthrough on Inflatables
Posted by Sean Lukasik on Mon, Aug 02, 2010 @ 09:51 AM
One of the most frustrating aspects of planning a party is when you get the most exciting items you can find only to have your guests complain about long wait times. Think of how many times you have gone to a theme park and been frustrated with a 1-2 hour wait for the most popular rides and attractions!
By asking a provider about “playthrough," you can avoid these issues. While a large climbing wall may be what you dreamed of having at your event, be aware that the time required for safely attaching harnesses and then belaying the participant is a lot more than for other fun attractions.
When dealing with a client, the first question is, “How many people are you going to have at the event and of what age groups?" This helps us determine the correct mix of items. But while a Climbing Wall only handles about 24 people per hour, a similarly priced Obstacle Course will allow 240 people through in an hour.
Any attraction that requires special equipment will slow down the process of play! Many items like bungee runs and climbing walls require harnesses. Sticky Walls and Sumo wrestling require getting in and out of special suits and contact sports such as joust and boxing require helmets and special equipment. Getting in and out of these items adds to the time. Check with your provider to make sure they have extra equipment so one group can be “gearing up” while the other group is playing.
Another area of consideration is the number of play areas on an inflatable, particularly with smaller children. If a participant is encouraged to move through an inflatable rather than play in one place, more people can be moved through quickly. A Moonbounce has 4-6 children bouncing at one time for a set period, usually about 5 minutes. A Moonbounce with a slide attached has 4-6 children bouncing for a shorter time so they can go down the slide. This creates greater play-through!
Experienced entertainment companies can guide you through the questions you should be asking and make the appropriate suggestions for a mix of items that should keep your waiting lines small and smiles on the faces of everyone at your event!