A show can be fun or it can be boring. Sometimes this depends on the people watching the show and how interactive it is. But there is one kind of show that seems to keep almost any crowd entralled and that is one that involves animals or wildlife. As it happens, it doesn't really matter what the animals are, most people like animals and in a live show setting, they will hold the attention of all but the most difficult of audiences. In Melbourne, the snake man Raymond Hoser invented the concept of a reptile party, which is why he owns the registered trademark for reptile parties. However there are now a range of alternative wildlife entertainment options for kids in Melbourne.
These include birds of prey, octopus, possums, Koalas, spiders, Kangaroos, Wallabies and even penguins. The downside of these non-reptile wildlife shows is that they lack the hands-on aspect of the reptile party shows. While you may be able to pat one or two of the other kinds of animals, you will not be allowed to hold the animals in the same way that you can with a reptile show. At a good reptile party, every child can hold a reptile at the same time. No one gets bored. You will never see 20 kids holding 20 parrots at the same time at a kids party, no matter how tame the birds are. A typical reptile show or kids reptile party lasts for between an hour to an hour and a half, but there are lots of variables which determine the ultimate time frame of the event. No matter how long the party or show takes, you wil generally find the kids will be mesmerized and enthralled throughout. Few other entertainment or show options will keep the children (or adults for that matter) as entertained as a snake or reptile show.
It is also worth noting that not all reptile shows are the same. In Melbourne, only one venomous snake show is guaranteed safe and this is the snake man's. This is because only the snake man has the expertise to have vet certified surgically devenomized snakes, meaning that there is no risk of a venomous snake bite to either handler or spectator. The added advantage is for the snake's welfare. None are attacked with sticks or tongs and instead are handled by hand, which is ultimately the most pleasant way for the snake to be handled. Of course if you see a snake handler free-handling a venomous snake at a display, it is wise to assume that the snake is either devenomized, or the handler is probably an idiot.
Yes, there is a long line of so-called professional snake handlers who have been killed by their pet snakes. Many have died doing public displays or snake shows. However the snake man and his company have an unmatched perfect safety record spanning more than 50 years!
Even if you live in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia and are a long way from Melbourne, chances are you have a large number of choices for reptile shows or other forms of wildlife display.
Besides local snake handlers, there are always entertainers and wildlife handlers who will travel into the bush, even though they may charge you more than their usual rate to do so.
Of course, if a wildlife show is unavailable, you can always go with a staple such as a jumping castle, animal farm or a clown. But these days the choice is far wider and may include bowling, rock climbing, laser tag skirmish, limo rides and other very different themes to parties or shows.