Archive for Archive for June, 2008
Party Planning Setbacks: Worst Case Money Scenarios
When a party entrepreneur is involved in a party, so many ‘worst case scenarios’ come up: deliveries are not on time, food isn’t halfway ready and it’s hours before the party, the bride isn’t made up yet, the groom’s mom keeps following you around with a calculator, etc. So many little things that add to the stress of smiling all the time and making sure the guests feel welcome. With things this bad, it couldn’t get much worse right?
From an objective point of view, these aren’t bad situations at all. While you want to rip your hair out with all the frustration of people not following your directions faithfully, the fact is you ARE having a party, and cash will soon follow. My view of the worst things that could happen to a party planner includes…
Not having clients. Bills need to get paid, as you are just human, not a party planning genius robot who walks around all day doing preparations for others’ parties. Having one client each week pays for the bills for next month. This is how we live.
A party planner’s lifestyle is high maintenance (i.e. new clothes, new working capital each time, funds for further education on how to create a better party… etc), but a steady flow of clients and good word of mouth about you will pay for everything and more. But what if there’s drought in the party biz, and everyone’s hustling to get a slice of the pie that is your community’s social scene? How do you get the money during drought season?
There are more than a few party entrepreneurs who get trapped in the debt scene. Besides the high end lifestyle that is mandatory for success (”look like one to be one”), entrepreneurs rely on loans to get their businesses off the ground. It is recommended, though, that a party planner who managed to get over the cash trap explore the option to hire a debt consolidator to manage her debt while she work her butt off getting those parties done.
One other option is do-it-yourself credit consolidation. Sit down with your finances, and just sort through everything that is related to money in your home office. Which expenses need to go? Which luxuries can be pushed down the list? What are your spending priorities? When you have all these checked, you can start assessing how you can practice debt consolidation on your own. Being realistic about your debt:income ratio is the best way to start obtaining your financial goals.
Gift Suggestions for the Armchair Sports Fan
Happy Father’s Day!
“Sports is a man’s thing.” That’s what i thought at first when I got involved with someone who’s into it so much. Then later on I realized, that it’s not just a male preference, but female’s too. Getting into your man’s hobby and interests is important in growing with him within a marriage or a love relationship
Is your partner in love with sports? Gift giving for a sports fan is easier than I thought. He’ll like that you understand him and put some real thought into his gift. Try these gifts the next time your sports buff has a party. There are sports fanatics that watch all season long even if their team is losing. Only the best gifts are to be given for such passionate individuals.
Sports paraphernalia. A real sports fan is never without his accessories? Even an armchair sports fan needs a beer helmet. If he doesn’t drink alcohol, he can use soda, water or any other drink he enjoys. I wonder though if you can put coffee in a beer helmet. 
Also consider the “number one” rubber fingers in his favorite team colors. For the extreme fan, give them body paint to show their true colors in the living room or at a game.
Sports logos. A huge logo on the wall in his TV place will be the first thing they see when they enter. Life-sized posters of their favorite players or a cardboard cutout by Fathead would thrill him. Another great idea is a flag for the yard sporting his favorite team’s insignia.
Sports package on cable television. No sports fan can see every game on regular television. Surprise him with a subscription to satellite or cable television’s sports package. He can watch every game played by his favorite sports team all season long.
A scrapbook where he can put all of his ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, and other souvenirs that he’s picked up at the games during the season. Collect these and add dates and places so he will spend his time looking at these with his buddies and reminiscing each play.
A year’s subscription to Sports Illustrated or another favorite sporting magazine. Each month he can keep up with what’s new in his favorite sport or with his team.
Advertising Your Party Business: Consider Genuinely Quirky Photos
I just came across a new entertainment portal site, PicVi, that features photos and videos of celebrities. They have quirky images that are simultaneously funny and artistic. I marvel at how unique and witty the photos are, and how much a photo can convey messages, such as in advertisements and billboards lining the highways. Photos and videos are powerful media that a business can use to get the word out.
Art has its way of communicating your message more than words. The human mind interprets art subjectively, basing on previous experiences. If you can secure a really good spot in a popular website, or a reasonably priced lease on a billboard by the main thoroughfare, a striking photo or an exciting video about your party planning business will turn that ad spot into a goldmine.
Consider this Levi’s Jeans poster featured on PicVi :
This could have been done via photoshop or with real models all made up to look like robots in those sexy jeans, but the point is, it is effective! My experience with advertising a party planning business taught me that the best spokesperson is you. Regardless if it’s a print ad or a short video commercial, the model has to be you… acting the roles, getting involved.
Need I say that one requirement in this party business is to look striking all the time? People who will avail of our services are picky, but they will more likely pick a fashionista to administer their events than someone who doesn’t model the whole glam of the party planning biz. Look good, party planners (especially for the camera). =)
Your Specialized Employees: Table Skirter and Ice Carver
Party planning is not as tedious when there are helpers to do the multitude of tasks required for a party to be perfect. Cooks, decorators, linen washers, messengers, delivery people and etc. Most of the tasks can be done by the party planner without hiring anyone else, but investing on some key individuals for tasks that are labor and time intensive can be helpful.
Some specialized tasks in weddings are Ice Carving and Table Skirting. While these two aren’t necessary parts of a wedding party agenda, they could help your image as a wedding coordinator. A wedding reception with a professionally decorated table and/or an elegant ice carving will turn ordinary wedding guests into future clients!
The table skirter must be in the reception place earlier than the rest of the crew, even way ahead of you. A long table takes hours of skirting, as skirting involves creating pleats white linen and pinning these on the main table cover. I realize how it’s much easier to buy a ready-made pleated long table cover, but a custom pleated table adds a personalized touch. For this task, you need someone who has an eye for detail and the patience to pleat each portion of the linen perfectly.
An ice carver’s task is also tedious, but he’s allowed to come in later than everyone else. You should hire someone who works fast and has enough creative instinct to sculpt delicately designed ice statues.
Good coordination with these hired ‘talents’ is one of the best ways to make your wedding events memorable. They can complete tasks that seem daunting to an ordinary person.
