These gigs are usually quite difficult in that the parents sit in the back and talk while the amped-up kids are with me. Lots of running amok actually.
It was a large banquet hall and, thankfully, the dining area was in a different section of the area so the chat noise was at a minimum. The kids were quite good, a mixture of cub scouts, their sisters and a few ‘mature’ boy scouts on the periphery, trying not to have too much fun. We ended up with some instrument playing and dancing on the big dance floor, so it turned out fine.
A mom came up afterwards and thanked me for being able to ‘channel their inner maniac.’ That about says it all. Banquet food and a check at the end.