Archive for Archive for July, 2008
Bridal Shower Ideas: The NY Weekend Adventure Party
Handling a big group is one of the challenges of a party planner who goes the extra mile and helps a client enjoy an out-of-town trip. One of the most daunting scenarios I can think of is traveling with a group of party goers (e.g. a bridal shower group) around New York City. A party planner who does her homework will get around the potential disasters by simply planning ahead and learning the ropes of NY travel by contacting travel agents and tour guides.
Timely booking and proper logistics knowledge are the keys to a wonderful NY adventure.
So, what’s the worst that could happen? Well, you all could get lost, for starters. Bear in mind that the client’s time in a location is limited and every hour in the strange new place counts. Getting lost in the jungle of buildings trying to find a particular hotel will eat up time, and will give you a bad reputation.
Learn about airport shuttles and how to arrange for group trips early to avoid the rush. One such shuttle service provider is an advertiser, JFK Airport Shuttle. When you got the logistics arranged, the fun will follow. The whole group will soon be comfortable in the hotel, and the only things to think about are the activities for the weekend that you are there; where to eat and where to party.
They say that party planners never get rattled or tense? They do. They just don’t show it.
Have a nice trip!
Sports Fanatics Get-Together Party: Pick and Peak Seasons
Second half of the year means football (football picks) and baseball seasons, and what a showdown it is this year. This is a wonderful time to connect with friends and family members who share the same passion for the games, and the teams! The best times to hold the party are the pick season and the peak season. Pick season is when players from each team get swapped or not. During this time speculation is high and bets are placed. Peak season is when the season is ending and only 2 teams are battling it out for that season’s championship title. The latter is tense and exciting, and will surely result in several hours of shouting and cheering for a favorite team. Visit the free football picks forums at AddictSports.com for more information on these two sports.
For sports fanatics parties, the best party agenda is a BBQ party (while the weather is still warm) and a TV party (when it’s too cold to sit outside and broil some meat). Expect the guests to be mostly men who will need lots of not-too-messy appetizers such as chicken lollipops and beer. For a more filling dish, pasta is recommended, easy to serve and people can eat it standing up.
Food Agenda for a Sports Fanatics’ TV Party
Good for 6-8 people
Penne with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Vegetables (recipe provided)
Deep Fried Breaded Chicken Lollipops
Fruit Jello
Penne with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Vegetables
1 package of penne pasta
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red onion chopped
1 tbs garlic minced
1/4 cup white wine
2 (14.5 ounce) cans tomatoes (diced)
1 pound shrimp, cleaned and deveined
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Basil leaves chopped
Cook penne pasta according to package directions and set aside. Sautee garlic, red onion, wine and tomatoes in olive oil in medium heat for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the shrimp and basil leaves, and continue cooking until the shrimp turns bight red. Toss with pasta and top with cheese.
Kids’ Theme Party: Classic Superhero Costumes
Kids reach the hero worship age when they start discovering comic books. One can almost predict which types of theme parties their parents will organize during that age. One significant quirk among kids that I noticed is: they prefer the ‘classic’ look of super heroes to the newer, more techie looks presented in modern superhero movies.
I think that the comic book influence is greater than that of the mainstream movies when it comes to kids’ costume preference. To them, these comic book characters come to life more while they are reading the comic books than when they are watching the newer films.
After all, these comic books can be collected and read whenever they want, while movies are seasonal and get old pretty fast. Also, the newer superhero costume versions are geared more towards adult viewers than kids: a lot of black components, gadget-ridden and tech savvy.
Batman is a good case study. The old batman costume has the big bat sign across the chest. The same one that is beamed to the heavens when there is a need for the Gotham City hero to save the day. This element in the classic Batman costume has been omitted in the newer versions. The new Batman look in the latest films have more specs for gadgets and technology peripherals.
While kids enjoy the special effects that are cleverly manifested in movies, when it comes to costume play during parties, the Batman-clothed kid will always have the bat sign across his chest. Comic book characters play a big role in planning for kids’ costume parties. Boys, in particular, will want Iron Man, Batman or Superman.
Kids’ costume parties happen all year long, but the peak is undeniably in October, during Halloween time. For more creative party theme ideas and kids’ party resources and costume options, visit this halloween costumes site.
Do You Charge Extra for Favor-Type Requests?
We are party planners, we help people, and our job description isn’t exactly fixed. Having said that, do party planners go out of their way to provide solutions for concerns outside the party or event?
Think favors. Not the party favors we already know so much about, but the other kind. For example, a former client who you planned a bachelorette party with suddenly called you during a very bad time (a present client nagging you, or some other party-related issue that’s about to explode). She needs a quick referral for hotel reservations in Italy. So, you the ultra-busy planner, robotically recite a travel agent’s phone number. A few minutes later, the distressed former client calls again, this time telling you that she couldn’t work with the travel agent and that she’s confused.
You stop in your tracks and realize the obvious: she wants you to handle the problem and simply provide a solution that she can work with. The question is, do you or do you not charge her for your efforts?
My answer is ‘no, you don’t charge anything for a favor’. See, clients could be just clients to us, but to them, we are some of the most dependable people they have ever met. We make things happen, and we just helped them arrange the biggest events of their lives. In our business, that kind of relationship with our prospects and clients is what we aim for.
If you are ever in this type of situation and you need to book a hotel reservation in Italy for a client quickly, here are some useful links: Hotel Venice - Hotel Florence - Hotel Naples
