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Quick Start |
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Most of your
questions can be answered by reading the web site, but I realize that
sometimes you just need some quick answers. I hope this page provides
that. For more detailed answers please tour the web site or feel free
to contact us
and ask.
How much?
$550 for a half-day. $900 for a full day. The Game Show is $900 for a half-day
and $1,500 for a full day. Public Libraries booking
Summer Reading Club events pay $250 for the first program and $150 for
a second presentation at the same location on the same date. During the
school year, evening and after school programs are usually $300, but
there are requirements for booking these events. Contact us if you are
interested.
Mileage is charged as a flat rate based on which "zone" you are
located in and mileage fees can be totally waived with enough
consecutive full-day bookings. Public Libraries booking Summer Reading
Club (Texas SRC) events have never been assessed mileage or travel
fees, but don't be calling me from El Paso unless you are planning an
entire week of work!
What is "Full-Day" and "Half-Day"?
Full-Day starts as early as you want and ends when the school day ends.
This can be divided however you want, but usually it consists of 3-5
programs. If you need a 6th program AND can work it into the schedule,
it can be added for just $175. It is also possible to split the
full-day between two or more schools with no additional charge, so that
each school pays only a portion of a full-day fee. In other words, it
is much cheaper to have two schools coordinate and split a full-day
than for each of them to pay a half day fee. (Note that due to set up
requirements the Game Show can NOT be split between two
schools unless students are brought in to a single location)
Half-Day runs either from the start of the school day until lunch time,
or from just after lunch until the end of the school day. This allows
for 1 or 2 programs per half-day. If you need a third program during a
half-day, AND it can be worked into the schedule it can be added for an
extra $175.
How Many Different Programs Can You Do in a Visit?
There are two factors that limit us: How many shows the presenter can
fit in his or her vehicle and the length of time it takes to strike one
set, reset another, and change costumes.
If you are planning a multi-day author visit it is quite possible and
rather easy to have a different program for each day, with a limit of
the number of educational assembly programs
we can transport. This usually limits us to 2-3 different titles
depending on which shows you want (some have larger props and stage
sets than others).
If you want multiple school assembly programs
during the same day realize that we will need at least an hour to
strike one set, reset another, and change costumes. If you can plan a
90 minute lunch time for this to happen it shouldn't be a problem. If a
full-day is split between two schools then this is pretty easy since
the set will be broken down and reset anyway.
What Age/Grade Levels are the Programs Designed for?
PK-5th. There are very slight variations in the presentations if you
break them out by grade level but not much at all. We have done
programs for 6th graders at the beginning of the school year, but after
Spring Break, they are generally "too cool."
We have other programs specifically designed for secondary students
from 5th-12th grades, and you can split a day with a Middle School or
High School just as easily as with another elementary school.The Game Show is
designed to be presented from PK level all the way through
the 12th grade level. The Game Show is a very popular show
among the sometimes "difficult to please" crowd of middle
school and high school students. If you work with secondary
students we highly recommend the Game Show option.
Are Your Programs Better for Younger or Older Students?
The school assembly programs and SRC shows really have been designed by
a team of professional educators with over
75 years of combined classroom teaching experience. It may seem
impossible, particularly if you've had bad experiences in the past, to
believe that one program can be just as entertaining to the older
students as it is with the younger ones, or as educationally
significant for the younger ones as it is for the older ones. But that
is exactly what we offer.
I've had schools tell me "Since your team uses puppets, we are going to
let you present only to the younger children" and then I've been to
others who said "Since your assembly programs are so educational we are
going to let you present only to the older students." Without fail they
later tell me "Well I think the whole school would have benefited from
that program. We'll have to have you back!"
While we love to be invited back, it seems silly not to let everyone
enjoy the program each time we visit, particularly since we don't
charge by the number of programs we present, or by the number of
students in attendance.
How Long are the Programs?
45-55 minutes. Personally I prefer the 55 minute versions since we are
able to cover more material, but we can work within your
scheduling needs.
The shows reset very quickly. Our professional presenters can be ready
to go for another program before you can get one group of kids out and
the next group in, but please plan for this time. If you schedule the start
times 45 minutes apart (with no additional time for transitions), it
actually means the programs will run about 30 minutes each. Usually
10-15 minutes is adequate time to change groups.
When is Payment Due?
This company was founded and continues to be run exclusively
by former school teachers and librarians/Media Specialists. We are NOT
prima donna performers who need the green M&Ms removed from our
candy dish (Wait a minute! What candy dish?!). We understand how
to work with POs. We like to get paid on the day of the performance,
but we understand that processing paperwork through payroll can be time
consuming and frustrating. We know you don't need an uptight performer
whining about how he needs to be paid TODAY or his car
will be repossessed.
YOU focus on getting approval and scheduling the
program.
WE will focus on entertaining and educating your
students.
We'll BOTH relax while your payroll department and our
accounting
department work out the money.
What about programs for Secondary Students?
Math-A-Magic, Arctic Express, and Work Smarter are all designed with a
version for secondary students as well as elementary students. Obviously the
Game Show is a great production for secondary students.
We also have a brand new program for Drama, Business, Music, Choir,
Vocational, and other select high school groups. Call and ask about
this as it is a revolutionary idea that brings everything your high
school students do together for a single, eye-opening program they will
remember forever.
Splitting a full-day between a secondary campus and an elementary
campus works the same way as between two elementary campuses.
What about Staff Development programs?
Yes, we have them.
Contact us about details on these programs.
"I've seen your programs and
LOVE them! I've read your blogs - LOVE them. I've been swept off my
feet by the charm of Julian and his family - LOVE them!"
-Ricci Steber; Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary; Librarian
Ricci,
Thanks for the nice things you say, and thanks for the idea for this
page on our site! We love you too!
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© 1999-2009 Library Rat Productions, Inc. All rights reserved
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