Music With Patrick

Expect lots of silly jokes, absurd humor and hand-clapping musical fun that appeals to even very young children. I supply drums, puppets (Dinosaur, Unicorn and Baby Shark, among many others. Parents who suffer from an acute case of Baby Shark Sickness as defined by the DSM-5 may request that the Baby Shark remains hidden away for the duration of the party), guitar and a parachute. Got a party theme or song request? No problem; I can do whatever you need. At the end of the show all of the children get a chance to strum the guitar for as long as they'd like.

Patrick Raftery - aka Mr Patrick - is a songwriter, musician, dad and self-styled "maker of musical mischief" who loves entertaining families with his wacky blend of absurdist comedy and catchy, sing-along-able tunes. (link hidden) called him, "the talented and very funny pied piper of kidsville," with Staten Island Family magazine chiming in that, "you won't be able to sit still listening to this fun music." Can't argue with that, can you?

Patrick began this musical journey as a Music Together teacher and gradually ventured into entertaining at parties, which led to the formation of his group, The Rock-A-Silly Band and live shows both as a solo artist and with the band at countless parties, schools, camps, zoos, libraries, parks and everywhere in between. Along the way he wrote a theme song for The Staten Island Zoo (listen for it on repeat in the front lobby) and played to happy families in Central Park, the Brooklyn and Staten Island Children's Museums, the Staten Island and Turtleback Zoos, and Carl Schurz Park in Manhattan, to name but a few wonderful places.

In both 2011 and 2012 Patrick received grants from Staten Island Arts to record albums and perform concerts for under-served children in the community, and in 2014 Patrick delivered a TEDx talk called "Seriously Silly: The Power of Play." He is a trustee of the Staten Island Children's Museum and has proudly lent his talents to many children and their families through the Staten Island Giving Circle, the Ronald McDonald House and Camp Good Grief, which provides services to children grieving the loss of loved ones.

All I need is a space to sit with the children. Like to keep it simple so there's less for the host to be concerned about.