Meet Ashley Larson: Children’s Party Character Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Larson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I believe the most important factor in knowing weather to keep going or give up is asking yourself: does what you are doing bring you joy? I can’t count the number of times I have wanted to give up on my princess party company, knowing there are other companies similar to mine that have been established longer and are more successful than mine ever may be. But in spite of all the stress, in spite of working multiple jobs to make ends meet, I have never been able to walk away because there is nothing else I can think of that I would rather be doing! The infinite hours of work behind the scenes (and the tears too!) are made worth it by the smiles, hugs and excitement of the kids I get to interact with each weekend. Entrepreneurship is a long, hard road filled with challenges so you really have to have the passion for your work. If you don’t, life is too short to be unhappy. The moment your business becomes more burden than than fulfilling is when I would say it would be time to move on.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started off performing princess parties for other companies about 9 years ago and immediately fell in love with how magical the job was (if you could even call it a job). The moment you enter a party as a character you can see kids’ eyes glow and feel the pure joy they have believing in something bigger than anything the real world has to offer. After a few years of “princess-ing” (as us party performers have deemed it), I decided I loved it so much that I wanted to take it on more full time. So I began the journey of moving from Orange County to LA and opening my own company.

Starting it up was anything but easy. Hours of research went into where to start. How do I get a business license? What other documentation did I need to make it legitimate? How do I begin advertising? Then there was purchasing the supplies and scouring the internet to find the most authentic and detailed costumes available. When I finally got things off the ground, it was a true hustle. I had to sneak out of the back room Build-A-Bear after a shift in full princess get-up on more than one occasion, and I was nannying too. My website was completely DIY and a bit cheesy, I only had 3 characters for clients to choose from, and inquiries were very few and far in between. Every moment I wasn’t making money was spent improving any and all aspects of my business. I was tired and uncertain, but I knew without a doubt this was my why, and what it means to the kids really kept me going.

I feel my passion is what sets me apart from other in the industry. I love working with kids. Almost every job I have ever had involves working with children, and I am an expert on how to engage them because I have so much experience with them and am a kid-at-heart myself. I happen to also be a theatre major and cosplay enthusiast, so this job allows me to combine all these interests into one. I pour endless effort into researching the characters to get to know them backwards and forwards and making sure our costumes and wigs are the real deal because while kids’ imaginations allow them to suspend all disbelief easier than adults, they are also still very observant and quick to question you. It’s sad to say but there are a lot of companies that I think believe this type of business is just easy money and put the very minimum into their costumes and performances. They think you’re just putting on a costume and play with the kids for an hour or 2, what’s so hard about that? But it really is so much more. Kids notice literally everything and won’t believe you are real if you don’t invest in higher quality costumes and wigs (which is not cheap, mind you), and know how to speak their language and be able to engage them in play. You need to be able to walk, talk and sing like the character. You also have to be prepared for all questions that come your way, anything from “How did you get here?” to “Is that a wig” and, yes, even the more morbid “How did your mom die?” without breaking character integrity. And finally, you have to have LOTS of energy the whole event through to keep up with the kids and command their attention for games and activities, sometimes wrangling as many as 20 kids at one event. Every detail so important, because if the more kids believe you are real the more they believe in these characters messages of kindness, confidence, and persistence, and the more engaged they are the more fun they will have and the more they will remember the experience! All these elements are a lot to juggle, but being aware of them and excelling at these things is what puts my company ahead of the competition!

All-in-all, Crystal Castle Entertainment’s mission is to inspire imagination in a world that is making kids grow up faster than ever. We strive to make each child feel seen and valued with the knowledge that we are portraying their idols, and even one brief encounter can have a life-long impact. I have parents all the time tell me that their little one still talks about how Cinderella came for their party even a year later! I feel so blessed to have a job where I can have such a positive, lasting influence on young ones in such a fun and creative way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It may be cliché for a party princess to say her favorite hang out spot is Disneyland, but I would be lying if I said anywhere else! It’s so easy to get lost in their stories, and I find inspiration every time I go. There is always something new to do or discover. Plus, the food is fantastic! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without my family, more specifically my mom and my grandparents! They have supported me 100% in my business journey from the very beginning, contributing where they can and just giving me loads of encouragement, I also want to give a huge shout out to my boyfriend, Brandon, for all the help he has offered to my business whether it’s driving a forgotten item to me, cleaning up the office, or even performing at a party or two himself!

Website: www.crystalcastleentertainment.com

Instagram: @crystalcastleentertainment

Facebook: www.facebook.com/crystalcastleentertainment

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/crystal-castle-entertainment-los-angeles-2?osq=crystal+castle+entertainment

Image Credits
Cinderella Face Painting – Amy Waters Cinderella, Ariel, Aurora, Belle – Amy Waters