Planning a Spring Party

Throwing a Spring Birthday Party

Do you have a party to plan for April or May?  You may be itching to get outside, but check out these tips before you make your plans.

1.   Plan on being inside.

You may not want to hear this after being inside for five months but the reality is that the weather will likely not be that great.  It is far easier to plan your party to be inside and adjust if weather happens to be nice.

2.   Bring the inside out.

Using umbrellas or tents you can create a sitting area outside that anyone can use throughout the party.  If the weather is chilly, use a fire pit to create warmth and ambiance.  Just be sure someone watches the little ones around the fire.

3.   Bring the outside in.

Even on rainy days having windows and doors open can lighten the air and make your home feel less cluttered.  Go ahead and turn up the heat and let the fresh air in.  Having fresh cut flowers in vases will also help set a light mood and relax you at the same time.

4.   Let them go outside anyway.

Encourage parents to send the kids in old clothes and send them outside in the rain anyway.   Kids love an excuse to get wet and dirty. And it will keep your freshly cleaned house clean.  Just be sure they have some clean clothes and shoes to change into.

Have fun with your spring party!

5 Things You Need To Know

5 Things you need to know

(That the other guys won’t tell you.)

1.)   Price Matters – Just not in the way you think.

Many entertainers tout themselves as “The Best” or “The Premier” entertainer in the area.  The reality is that more often than not they are just creating hype.   That hype costs you money.  Advertising, photo shoots, and loads of flashy websites equals money out of your pocket.  The reality is you do not need to spend $300 or more to be sure your child has the best birthday ever, no matter what they say.  Value is what you need! Find an experienced middle ground, an entertainer that has great testimonials and offers the services you need at a price you feel is reasonable. You won’t be giving up quality; you’re just not paying for the ego.

2.)   “Full-Time” vs. “Part Time”

“Full-Time” entertainers will always tell you that they are the best choice.  They claim more experience simply because they do nothing else.  Sometimes this is true, many times it is not.  Your best bet is to choose the entertainer that is going to provide you a great show, be flexible to your needs, and can fit your budget.  A great professional entertainer, “Full Time” or “Part Time”, is going to make your event successful because it is what they love to do.

3.)   Not Everyone “Gets” Kids

Kids are tough.  You know this because you’re a parent.  Working with children is a delicate task.  It requires patience, understanding, flexibility, and versatility.  Performing for kids is no different.  But not all entertainers get this.  They think just because they do kid shows, they are experts.  When looking for a performer, find someone that is going to listen to your needs and work with you.  After all you’re the expert because you’re the parent.  

4.)   You Need an Entertainer NOT a Magician (or clown)

Don’t get me wrong, I love magic but when it comes to your event, you need something more.  A magician shows tricks, an entertainer uses the magic to entertain an audience.  Fact is, some people don’t like magic and kids are no different.   However, everybody likes to have a good time and a skilled entertainer can make that happen.

5.)   You Deserve Choices

McDonalds did not become a multi-billion dollar international company by selling just hamburgers.  Over time they refined and expanded their menu to meet the growing demands of their customers.  You clearly have choices for entertainers in Albany, but do they offer you choices?  A great entertainer will offer many packages to choose from with a variety of services to meet the diverse needs of your audience.  In other words, they offer more than just a show and some give-aways.  You should be able to choose from packages that will suit your needs and your budget.  Don’t see what you want?  A performer that is truly interested in pleasing you will offer custom solutions.

Chris "Magicman" LaBarge

MagicmanEntertainment.webs.com

Throwing a Birthday Party in Albany, NY

It's time to start planning your child's birthday and you don't know what to do. You know you want it to be fun for the kids, easy for you, and not cost a lot of money. Now what do you do? First you need to ask yourself a few questions:

• How much money do I want to spend?
• How many kids should I invite?
• Should I do a party for family and another for their friends?

Let's look at each question and some options to help guide you.

How Much Money to Spend

This is probably the most important and the most personal decision you have to make. How much money you can spend will determine the best answers for the rest of your questions. Generally you can expect to spend anywhere from $50 for chips, pizza, beverages, and cake to over $1000 for catering, hall rental, entertainment, and decorations. Most families can expect to spend around $300-$400 dollars for a nice party at home with food and entertainment. When considering you options remember that quality children's entertainment will run you anywhere from $125 to $300 and up.

How Many Kids to Invite

How much Tylenol do you have? How many kids to invite will depend on two main factors; how much you want to spend and where you are having the party. The average party usually has 8-12 children.

If you decide to have the party at your house you need to consider how big your home is and what activities you have planned. A small home will obviously limit your guest list while a large home allows you to invite more. No matter the size of your home a well structured party will allow you to have more children and they will be easier to manage. Consider having a professional children's entertainer come and entertain the children. A good entertainer can take control of a group of kids and keep them captivated for 45 minutes or more.

Having the party at another location is a good alternative to opening up your home. There are many places in the Albany NY area that have package options for birthdays. Some good ideas to consider would be; bowling centers, laser tag, museums, or play centers. Firehouses and church hall are great places to have parties with big guest lists.

One Party or Two?

This comes back to where you are having the birthday party and how much you have budgeted. A good rule of thumb is to have a combined party up until they reach school age then have a kids party and a small family party after that. If you have a small family, you can continue to to have a combined party.

Congratulations! You should now have a general idea of what your party is going to look like. You can start planning the details and purchasing supplies. Good Luck!

Chris "Magicman" LaBarge

MagicmanEntertainment.webs.com