Borders entertainer Pooee doing her bit to keep kids amused indoors during lockdown

Children's entertainer Pooee Pitman in the Blue Brick Bothy at her home in St Boswells.

Pooee Pitman, has taken her business online and is now holding children’s sing-a-longs and story time sessions on online video chat forum Zoom and through YouTube in a bid to keep in touch with her young fans.

The 52-year-old usually hosts up to six story time sessions a week from the Blue Brick Bothy, a shed at her St Boswells home, but since the self-isolation measures came into force she’s been getting behind the camera instead.

“I record my story time and puppet show live on Zoom then re-record them to share on YouTube afterwards,” she said. “I’m not computer savvy at all and the first time I was upside down and everything. Thankfully my kids are quite good at it.”

Pooee is relying on daughters Mimi 18, and Ruby, 16, to keep her right and help grow her online following.

She added: “It’s difficult to tell how many folk are watching live but we usually get around 25 children with their parents and we all enjoy a ten minute chit chat after.

“I get a complete buzz from doing it. It’s really nice to see the kids still.

“We have had big brothers and sisters who wouldn’t normally come to the Blue Brick Bothy joining in online with their younger siblings which is lovely to watch.”

The sessions focus on encouraging kids to use their imagination, make some noise, engage their senses and generally have fun.

But with all of Pooee’s sessions and birthday parties cancelled for the foreseeable, she’s now hoping people will subscribe to her YouTube channel so she can broadcast live there for free, once she has 1,000 followers.

“I’ve only got 86 just now so there’s a way to go, but the last video had 3,000 views, so if people subscribe I will hopefully be able to perform straight to YouTube, making things easier.”

For details of Pooee’s next show search ‘Music Time with Pooee and her Puppets’ on Facebook.

More about Borders entertainers taking their talents online here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/people/borders-singers-turn-facebook-fundraise-and-entertain-region-lockdown-2533518