00:00I'm Stuart, commonly known to the children as Magic Stuart, and I'm a children's entertainer.
00:07I do all the magic shows, the balloon models, balloon animals, and entertain children of all ages.
00:14I've been a full-time entertainer for about 20 years now, but I've been doing it as a hobby since I was a teenager.
00:23This is Snowy, little white Netherland dwarf, and he's brought it on to the shows for the children to pet at the end of the show,
00:33and is loved by children of all ages and adults as well.
00:38Initially the birthday boy or birthday girl comes up and sits next to them so that the mum or dad can take a little photo
00:45of their son or daughter on their special birthday with Snowy.
00:49Then afterwards, at the end of the show, the other children, those that want to, get in a line just to pet him,
00:57have a photo taken by the mum or dad, and that's it.
01:00He doesn't do any tricks, he's not trained to do anything, he doesn't walk on his back legs,
01:06he doesn't jump through hoops of fire or anything, he's just put on the table for the children to see.
01:13They love him. As soon as they see that there's a live animal there, their eyes light up.
01:19I do many different parties and that, for children of all ages and abilities,
01:26and every single time the children's eyes light up and they're ever so pleased to see a live animal.
01:34Because a lot of children don't get to see a live animal nowadays, they've not got any pets and that.
01:39And to see a little white bunny like he is, makes their day.
01:46I got a phone call off Derby City Council and they asked me if I was using a live animal in my magic show.
01:57And I said that I take my pet, Snowy, along with me to the magic shows,
02:04so that the children at the end of the magic show can meet a live animal and maybe give them a pet at the end of the performance.
02:13And that's why it's taken along. But they got in touch and it says, you need a licence now.
02:20And I said, fair enough, if that's the law now, I've got nothing against a licence because the health and welfare of the animal comes first.
02:29And I said to them, how much is it? And they told me it was £429.
02:35After nearly dropping the phone, I said, why is it that much?
02:40They said, well, it doesn't matter if you've got just one animal or a menagerie of animals or even a little pet shop.
02:48You all come under the same licence and there's one licence for everybody and it's £429.
02:55So you either pay it and you can still take him along or you don't pay it and you shouldn't be taking him with you.
03:05I've appealed the actual fee, not the fact of the licence, but appealed the high charge for the fee and see where it goes from there.
03:16So I'm waiting to hear back from them.
03:18In a way, OK, you have to have a licence, fair enough, but disappointed that they've not even come out to see how it's kept.
03:25Not even been to any of my parties where Snowy would be.
03:30So they've not visually seen what goes off or what happens so they can comment on how it's used or not used.
03:41But as I say, I've sent in an appeal and we'll see how it goes from there.
03:46But I'm disappointed that they've not initially actually come out to see the animal in question.
03:52You know, he's not a wild animal, he's never caused any hassle, he's never jumped off the table, he's never bit any child, well looked after.
04:02He'll sit there until I put him back in his normal pet carrier box to bring him home.
04:09So he'll just sit there, not move much at all.
04:14So I'm going toilit I think, weathered.
04:17So we're getting through here.
04:18So back then...
04:19So here is myelsius.
Comments