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Black Tie Optional
Party Time with Kids
Insider Secrets For Throwing A Successful Kid Friendly Adult Party!
By Marley Majcher 1. Set the Tone Early! Start off with the perfect invitation that tells your guests your party will be entertaining both children and adults. This gets the kids excited and gives the adults a "heads up" on the games and activities ahead. This is also a great place to make notes on anything your guests might have to wear (like sneakers if they'll be playing outside) or bring.
2. Hire an extra hand. Give those parents a break from their kids by hiring a babysitter or "host" to entertain and watch the children during the party. This way, parents can enjoy some time mingling with other adults without worrying about where their children are and what they're doing.
3. Create a "Kids Only" area. This can be a room in the house or a tented area for the kids to play. Make sure you've got lots of toys and activities for the kids to do that will keep them entertained and having fun. This should also be an area that adults can supervise from without being intrusive.
4. Bring out the kid in you! Select games that bring children and adults together. If your party is outdoors, consider team games like softball, kickball, or badminton. If your party is indoors or your yard just isn't big enough, have some interactive videogames (Wii Bowling or Tennis games are super fun!) or board games like Jenga or (my personal favorite) Taboo. handy. Pair up kids and adults so everyone feels involved.
5. Food, glorious food. We all know that given the choice, kids of all ages, which includes most adults will opt for pizza and candy over more nutritious choices. Being that we are all responsible and want our kids and partners in life to eat well, but be healthy while doing so, means that a little thought should go into the menu. Turkey and chicken hotdogs and burgers are always a big hit (think gourmet sliders with fun toppings to make it more stylish) as are desserts of low fat and low sugar frozen yogurts and sorbets, yes they are out there. Obviously the list is quite long, so don't think you don't have much to choose from. Depending on what the theme of the party is, where it is to be held and whether it is formal or not, will be your guide. You can always have a kid's menu as well as more intriguing adult nibbles, but hey, who doesn't love a grill cheese sandwich with four different cheeses on freshly baked bread with vine ripened tomatoes.
By Marley Majcher 1. Set the Tone Early! Start off with the perfect invitation that tells your guests your party will be entertaining both children and adults. This gets the kids excited and gives the adults a "heads up" on the games and activities ahead. This is also a great place to make notes on anything your guests might have to wear (like sneakers if they'll be playing outside) or bring.
2. Hire an extra hand. Give those parents a break from their kids by hiring a babysitter or "host" to entertain and watch the children during the party. This way, parents can enjoy some time mingling with other adults without worrying about where their children are and what they're doing.
3. Create a "Kids Only" area. This can be a room in the house or a tented area for the kids to play. Make sure you've got lots of toys and activities for the kids to do that will keep them entertained and having fun. This should also be an area that adults can supervise from without being intrusive.
4. Bring out the kid in you! Select games that bring children and adults together. If your party is outdoors, consider team games like softball, kickball, or badminton. If your party is indoors or your yard just isn't big enough, have some interactive videogames (Wii Bowling or Tennis games are super fun!) or board games like Jenga or (my personal favorite) Taboo. handy. Pair up kids and adults so everyone feels involved.
5. Food, glorious food. We all know that given the choice, kids of all ages, which includes most adults will opt for pizza and candy over more nutritious choices. Being that we are all responsible and want our kids and partners in life to eat well, but be healthy while doing so, means that a little thought should go into the menu. Turkey and chicken hotdogs and burgers are always a big hit (think gourmet sliders with fun toppings to make it more stylish) as are desserts of low fat and low sugar frozen yogurts and sorbets, yes they are out there. Obviously the list is quite long, so don't think you don't have much to choose from. Depending on what the theme of the party is, where it is to be held and whether it is formal or not, will be your guide. You can always have a kid's menu as well as more intriguing adult nibbles, but hey, who doesn't love a grill cheese sandwich with four different cheeses on freshly baked bread with vine ripened tomatoes.
This article is brought to with permission from the leading Entertainment Expert, Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Coach, Author and Sought After Speaker, Marley Majcher, CEO of The Party Goddess! and publisher of the ezine, "How To Be A Party Goddess". If you are ready to take your career or business to the next level, make more money and just be happier with your work life, then get your free tips on how to be a rockin' event planner at www.howtobeapartygoddess.com
To further add to Marley's article, I attended a wonderful party in the morning called City Breakfast in Waco, TX. Since many of the attendees had young children, it was sometimes hard to go out in the evening and have a night out with music and beverages without getting a babysitter and then worrying about not staying out too late. Ten creative couples came up with this wonderful idea to flip the evening, find a nightclub, hire a band, and have a party. One host happened to be a judge, so he had all of his law interns arrange in part of the downstairs area a kid-friendly party of their own. There were plenty of things for the kids to do, lots of people watching after them, and if they needed mom or dad, they were just a few steps away. It was Fabulous! Everyone had a great time.
Go Party!
HeadsUP
Tips for Platinum Sponsorships
5 Insider Secrets For Finding Platinum Level Sponsors
For Your Next Event!
by Marley Majcher
For Your Next Event!
by Marley Majcher
3. Talk about your business as it relates to your sponsor's business. Remember,for now this is not just about you. Having wisely done your research on your sponsor, you will be aware of and prepared to describe to them in detail how they can benefit from your proposal.Sponsors may not care so much about your business as much as what's init for them. Knowing their business nearly as well as your own, be clear about your goals and commitments. Describe what attracted you to them in particular and readily acknowledge their accomplishments. Map out for them specifically how and why you will be a strong asset to their growth and success.
4. Request a realistic amount of funding. Keepyour business hat on! You are seeking sponsorship, not an unendinggift. A sponsor is not your rich Aunt Tillie. If you've created anexcellent business plan, here's where it will really do its job. Asmart business person will only give you what they feel the deal isworth to them. Showing attainable goals in meeting the bottom line,generating new business and an established clientele provides a strong case for ample sponsorship.
5. Put the spotlight on your sponsor. Once yoursponsorship is secured, alert the media! Put out a press releaseannouncing your new partnership with a shout out to your sponsors.After all, they gave you the cash to be able to put on a stupendousevent. Your sponsor's presence can only benefit you, in the media andotherwise. Keep the media informed with alerts and newsletters. Writestories about your business and it's success, and include your sponsorin these announcements. If you participate in local events, rememberadvertising in program books, community newsletters, and media isnearly free.
need to tell them why they should sponsor yourevent and if they don't they are losing out because they will gainbusiness. Do not take this lightly - it is your audition. Before youeven set a meeting with a potential sponsor, solicit a group ofadvisors and professionals you trust to review your work and offertheir advice. Leading Entertainment Expert, Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Coach,Author and Sought After Speaker, Marley Majcher is CEO of The PartyGoddess! and publisher of the ezine, "How To Be A Party Goddess". Ifyou are ready to take your career or business to the next level, makemore money and just be happier with your work life, then get your freetips on how to be a rockin' event planner at www.howtobeapartygoddess.com
Happy Planning
HeadsUP
Event Tips-Getting Your Event Noticed
Getting your event noticed can sometimes be a challenge when you are tending to other details. Recruit an event committee to help you with all those little details. Media coverage is so essential. Early on, put together your press packet describing your event and how and why it is important as a newsworthy event. Just announcing you are having a gala is not enough for newspaper writers to pick it up. Write with who, what, when, where and why format. Put your most compelling story into the event notice. A story might be your cause, celebration, those in attendance that would be news worthy (say, the Governor of your state for example). Other angles might be an unusual theme, setting, auction item, or raffle. One theme I have used that got lots of press because it was different was the "Breakfast Boogie" at a night club in the morning hours with a band and a breakfast to raise awareness about the non-profit. Other tips, try sending photographs with your press release and always follow-up with a call. And the most important tip of all, MAKE FRIENDS with the newspaper, TV, and radio people throughout the year. Get to know them, it always helps to have friends! HeadsUP.
Event tips: using creative people
You can have a smashing event by using the creative friends you have. Think about the artists you know, the interior or exterior designers, or even your hair dresser. Some people just have a knack for creativity. Many graphic artists and advertising people just have a natural flair to create just the right look. Start by selecting your theme, then what mood you would like to create, and follow-up with color and style. Use your creative friends to help you brainstorm and then use them to help you create. Also, think about all those folks that are in theater. I even think about elementary teachers to assist me with ideas. Some of the best set ideas can come from a small child. Small children use their imaginations, whereas us adults, seem to get bogged down in the creativity part. Think of design as free form brainstorming. One thought can lead to another and another and so on. Inspiration can come from just about anything. I keep a binder with all kinds of things, colors, styles, images, decor, scenery, thoughts, you name it, I keep it. You never know what inspiration you will need. I have a binder for food, one for landscaping, one for decorating, and one for party ideas. Get creative.
HeadsUP
HeadsUP
Invitations
Invitations don't need to be boring when you host an event. Be creative. If you are having a small wine tasting event, why not send your guests a small bottle of wine with your customized "vineyard" label promoting the event. You can find these bottles at most wine, spirits, or liquor stores available in 6-packs. Buy the cheapest brand, as you are really just decorating these bottles. You can place these bottles in bags and hand deliver, or find small boxes to mail the invite to your guests. What a fun way to receive an invitations! Think out of the box.
Cheers, HeadsUP!
Cheers, HeadsUP!
Party Goddess-Eight secrets your competitors don't want you to know!
The Party Goddess is an awesome resource for those event planners just starting out.
If you want to hear about some real tips, listen to her audio message about tips of being an event planner. Go tohttp://thepartygoddess.com/BeAGoddess/revealed_mp3.html and check her out!
FREE Weekly Tips & Tricks!
Get celebrity event planner Marley Majcher's fun, hip ezine and discover...
- Easy ways to glam up your next event
- Simple, cool ideas to be rockstar fabulous
- Inside party trends and dish at your fingertips!
Happy Events, HeadsUP
Coffee Bars for Events
How about a coffee bar for your
next event or after-event? Coffee is always a great way to start or end
the night, especially if it is a dessert
coffee drink. There are really cool recipes that incorporate things
like ice cream, Kahlua or other liquors, whipped cream, or syrups. You
can start with a coffee bar and have different kinds of dessert coffees
to choose from, as well as some bite-sized desserts, or desserts on a
spoon. Think about the decorations. Coffee beans scattered around,
antique silver serving sets, interesting mug collections, oversized
coffee mugs,or cool looking packages of coffee from around the world
could be incorporated. Go on a treasure hunt! Or perhaps use coffee
quotes. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Chocolate, men, coffee - some things are better rich. ~Author Unknown
He was my cream, and I was his coffee -
And when you poured us together, it was something.
~Josephine Baker
Chocolate, men, coffee - some things are better rich. ~Author Unknown
He was my cream, and I was his coffee -
And when you poured us together, it was something.
~Josephine Baker
Enjoy! HeadsUP
Corporate Survey
The Special Events Magazine is conducting a corporate survey to benchmark how corporate planning is faring during this economic downturn. The findings will be reported in the July/August issue. If you would like to participate, please go to this link:
http://insidepenton.com/research/kl/secorp09.htm
Happy Planning,
HeadsUP
http://insidepenton.com/research/kl/secorp09.htm
Happy Planning,
HeadsUP
Theme Development
I love themes! Using a theme in your party planning can really make your event stand out. You don't have to think of just using themes like "casino night" or word themes. Think about using color, or food, the decor, or perhaps the invitation can be source for inspiration.
One of my favorite themes was using the color blue and chocolate for one of my kid's parties. I used chocolate bars for the invitation information to give guests an idea of what was to come. Get creative! If you have a great theme idea you would like to share, bring it on!
Happy Themes, HeadsUP.
One of my favorite themes was using the color blue and chocolate for one of my kid's parties. I used chocolate bars for the invitation information to give guests an idea of what was to come. Get creative! If you have a great theme idea you would like to share, bring it on!
Happy Themes, HeadsUP.
Event checklists
Do you have a great checklist for planning your next event? When planning an event, there are so many things you need to be doing that it can be overwhelming at times. Having a checklist is a way to keep you on track and to help you remember things. It is especially good to have the closer to your event, as you all know, your brain goes into overload trying to get it all done. I am searching for the perfect checklist to provide to you. If you have one you think is great, please share it. Go Planners, HeadsUP.
