Smarty Pants
based on 9 reviews
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 562-6168
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Category: Arts & Entertainment
Tags:
performing arts, event planning & services, balloon twisting entertainment chicago cool guy, kids night restaurant, balloon twisting, balloon show, library show
I am the owner of this business
Accepts Credit Cards: yes
Parking: Street
Wheelchair Accessible: yes
9 reviews for Smarty Pants
An entertainer that children will talk about for weeks even months after the party. He is truly a professional along with Miss Dena
Smarty Pants and Miss Dena are the ones to call for fabulous birthday party entertainment. Highly recommended!
Wow, I am shocked to see the negative review below. We had Smarty Pants and his partner, Miss Dena, at our daughter's 3rd birthday party last year and people are still talking about how it was the best birthday party they and their kids have ever been to. We did have some children under 3 and Smarty Pants enforced the balloon policy---it's for the childrens' safety! I actually was really impressed with the fact that these entertainers were looking out for the children. I felt comfortable leaving my kids and my guests alone with them while I went in and out of the house preparing lunch because I knew that the children were in good hands.
Smarty Pants was funny, entertaining, gentle with the children, creative, lively, and wow---just blew everyone away with his balloon creations. This wasn't your average balloon dog type of thing. He made giant hats, cartoon characters, butterfly wings, etc.
It's too bad that the reviewer below is trying to tarnish a fabulous performer's reputation when he was actually trying to protect her child!! I, for one, highly recommend him. One of a kind, that's for sure.
We have hired Smarty Pants for our company party for the last five years.
Let me tell you the truth - we love Smarty Pants. Everyone does. My 86 year old mother thinks he's sensational. We could not imagine having our company party without him.
He is much more than just a balloon twister. He's a true artist and an entertainer that brings fun and joy to our party every year. We just had him at our party this christmas this month and look forward to having him again for as long as we possibly imagine. He is an A+ guy and a real mensch in our book!!
I had the unfortunate luck of finding these two at the most recent Member's Holiday Party at the Chicago History Museum. There was no line when my daughter (who is 2 and a half) and I walked up to get a balloon. The gentleman "Smarty Pants," asked her age and I replied, "Two and a half." He stated, "We don't give balloons to children under the age of 3." Shocked, I explained that she would be three in a few months. He still refused. At that point, fine, we went to sit down, frankly amazed that there were no signs. If there had been a sign warning parents of their age restriction I would have been fine with it. I was grateful at that point that we were early and there were no other children running around with balloons. Can you imagine standing in line (one that later grew to10-15 kids at a time), to find that no, no you can't have a balloon? How do you explain that to a child? My suggestion: have a simple sign to help parents avoid that issue.
Of course the situation grew worse. Our table was near the balloons and face painting. As we sat there, I realized that very few children were being asked their age. In fact, there were children much younger than my daughter running around with balloons. We never once saw them turn away any other child. When my husband then thought to stand in line and simply ask for a balloon for himself, again the man refused claiming that he doesn't make balloons for adults - after we had just watched him make an amazing, and quite elaborate crown for a woman in her 60s. When I finally complained to the museum staff that their age rule was not being applied to everyone in the same way, Ms. Dena approached me. She was rude, abrasive and pushy, simply telling me it was the rule and I didn't have to like it.
I do not recommend Smarty Pants. I was very put off by Ms. Dena's attitude and demeanor. This duo is unprofessional. While the balloon creations were works of art and the face painting very cute, it's not worth exposing your child to such a negative demeanor.
I have to say it's shocking to me, as the mother to a 4 year old and 18 month old, to see a parent complaining that a children's entertainer is actually looking out for the safety of the children! Perhaps this reviewer doesn't realize 1) balloons can do a lot of damage to small children (choking, suffocating, not to mention popping and scaring the living daylights out of them!) Second, performers have liability policies and perhaps this entertainer's insurance says he legally cannot give balloons to children under 3 or it invalidates his insurance!! (trust me, I'm a lawyer and we protect our clients). Third, he probably just wants to make sure the children at his events are safe and happy. Take a deep breath, lady, and reconsider your damaging reviews. These performers make a living off positive referrals and your sour grapes is inappropriate.
Wow! Wow! Wow! I honestly can't say how much my kids love Smarty Pants because they are STILL talking about seeing his show at the Barlett library this past summer. It was over a month ago and my daughter Lili still asks me when we're seeing Smarty Pants again (or as she says it, "Sammy Pants"). I have to confess that I get dragged to a LOT of kids shows for my three kids, and this was the first time I really enjoyed the show as much as the kiddos. Smarty is funny, innovative and super creative with his balloon show, I've really never seen anything like it. Two thumbs UP!
My children recently enjoyed seeing Smarty Pants at their neighbor's birthday party. I have to admit I was really amazed at how talented and professional he was as well as his lovely face painting wife Dena. After I got home, I did a quick internet search and I have to say that the other reviews I found here and on other sites were very accurate. Bravo Smarty! Kids love ya!
i would agree with the above review. My two boys are both big fans of Smarty Pants and look forward to seeing him at D'Agostino's whenever we can go. I am a 38 year old mother and I have never seen such fantastic balloon work that Mr. Pants does every week for us.
Smarty Pants totally rocks!! If you think you have seen balloon guys before (dogs, swords, cheesy hats) prepare to be totally amazed. We are big fans of Smarty Pants (a little obsessive maybe) and see him almost every week at D'Agostino's in Southport (he holds court there every Tuesday night) and are always totally amazed at the stuff he makes (gold carts, leprecauns, a working ferris wheel). Believe me, he is THE BEST in Chicago or anywhere else. I want him at MY birthday party too and I'm old!!