The Ultimate Games Master Team visits the Bronx

We often get asked what can you do for a 1st birthday parties to make it fun for everyone? That's a good question because here you have such a diverse age range and entertainment challenge. It's not easy. That's why we came up with the Ultmitate Games Master Team Party.



With the UGM Team Party you have all the elements together in one place that can handle entertainming from 1 year old to 70 year old.

On this occassion the Ultimate Games Master Team helped the Weiner family do just that.

Their party was held at the NY Botanical Gardens on a Sunday afternoon. Their beautiful daughter was already running around, laughing and very present for a 1 year old. The majority of kids were 3-5 and 6 to 9.

What's great about the Team UGM is that we bring one of our world class DJs with us so that the adults have some entertainment geared just for them. He can create the exact background desired and then step it up a notch when everyone is ready to dance.

Meanwhile the team with our atmospheric entertainers who can face paint, do hair braiding and origami, can engage the kids in skills and games throughout the party. Often times as you can see in the video the parents like to engage with the kids.

Big hit at this party balloon volleyball, face painting, Simon Says, Hula Hoop marathon and bubbles.

LSNY Video Montage

This is a short piece that gives you a feel for what we do and the kind of parties we make. Enjoy.

Lightning Shakes New York Events Montage.

More from the Pisano party

Working out the boys at the Pisano's mitzvah party



The boys were in fuego!

And then there were the girls...



The girls work the stage with Meghan and Rebecca.

Sam and his Original Dance

Sam was at the Pisano Party and was very proud of his original dance.  Often we ask party goers to come up with something they haven't done before...to surprise themselves. Sometimes we get some incredible moments.

Sam was very proud of his contribution and won a prize for the most original steps of the evening.

Reviews: Our Staff Talks about their LSNY Experience

I've asked some of our staff to describe what being a part of Lightning Shakes New York means to them.  Here's what they said.

This is from one incredible man and amazing MC - Yarnell

"I believe that the best way to describe the experience that encompasses an LSNY party is a simple word JOY. Maybe an acronym if you will.

Jubilation (a happy celebration)- when you think about how special it is to be selected to be a part of such an experience, one starts to appreciate each moment that’s celebrated during an LSNY party. I believe that this is at the heart jubilation and becomes infectious to others when you bring this energy to each and every party. This is what’s great about LSNY- all of the performers from MC, DJ to dancer have this quality.

Overjoy- this sense of elation creates a level of energy among one another that can fuel each others passion and enthusiasm. I know that I’ve had experiences that have been euphoric at LSNY parties because of how we’ve interacted with guests on the dance floor- smiled at a shyer than most kid at a party- or danced like you’ve just won the lottery (lol). All of these things culminate into a level of joy that’s unique and special.

Yes factor- Simply put- positivity. At every LSNY party that I’ve done, I’ve had the most positive of experiences as it relates to guests having their needs fulfilled and guests seem to feel as though they are all a part of the excitement. This unique way of celebrating that is personal- and attracts guests to what is going on.

All of these elements together bring forth, what I believe to be the recipe of uniqueness that is LSNY."

~MC Yarnell
___________________________________________

This is from Rebecca one of our beautiful "home grown" LSNY Interactive Superstar Performers













"When I think of what it means to be a part of LSNY....

What brings us together is that we share a passion for what we do.
We strive to be the best we can be each and every time.
Each of us brings a different but positive energy to the party- we compliment each other because of our differences.

Important point is that we take what we do seriously.
We LOVE what we do.

Just going back to when I first met you and was starting out for the first time...

From our first meeting, I knew you worked from heart and soul. This was confirmed after working with you at gigs because of your professionalism, organization, and what you put out. Also, your high expectations of the staff- you demand greatness and the same professionalism from us. I have the utmost respect for what you have made LSNY into.

my last thought...for now at least...
LSNY is a family =)"

~Rebecca

Magic Happens when Preparation meets Inspiration

We get moments in mitzvah parties when everything is happening in sync and the energy is flourishing. And that's GREAT. But everything has to keep moving in order to keep the party fresh.



Sometimes we look to what's happening in the moment to inspire us how to take the next movement. At Preston and Maxwell's party this last Saturday, we were surprised to find most if not all the kids dancing early on. We were expecting more of a skills and games party.

Maxwell himself suggested to me in a phone call that they "needed more games" so I was preparing for that.

However, as you can see in the above video, which was very early on in the party, everyone was rocking. This was 15 minutes into the set. We hadn't really had Preston or Maxwell up there and so I brought them up.

I turned to Preston and said give me a dance move. He said, "I don't have anything." I said anything at all. Any movement at all. He said I got nothing. So in a moment of inspriation I went Kreskin meets Anthony Robbins and it surprised everyone not the least me. That's how true magic happens. It takes a risk to be willing to fail and recover...but when it works it creates an explosion of energy that you can't fake.

Ahhh 1st Rehearsals...the smell of the studio

Wednesday night we conducted our 1st rehearsal with our upcoming bat mitzvah honoreee Casey (first video in the next piece). Mom and dad were there to watch the action.

It brought back some great memories, with the piano playing in the adjascent studio, right though our walls, and in this particular studio we had glass doors so little pint size dancers would press their noses up against it watching our dancers run through this "really cool routine".



This has the potential to be a standout moment for Casey and her family. I will post the video from the actual day once we have it. Enjoy.

Honoree Dance Performance Makes a Comeback

In the mid 90s mitzvahs were in a renaissance period (not exactly Italian architecturally speaking) seeking creative ways to do innovative things for more added excitement.  Lightning Shakes New York actually started as an interactive dancer company for events in 1991, getting hired out by other companies to connect the event to the guests.

In the mid 90s, since I was pursuing my musical talents as well, we began writing songs and creating dance choreography specifically for live events and parties.  This was at the forefront of a hot new trend then, which was doing choreography for mitzvah kids with our professional dancers. 

We would set up rehearsal schedules have myself or one of my dancers create some choreography to a song.  It was a blast for kids to come into the city and rehearse like a professional dance group would do or a top musical act would rehearse for a video.  Depending on the ability of the child the choreography would be easier or pretty elaborate.  The night of the party was a heightened experience for everyone.  As anyone who has ever performed knows it's a very big high.

Some of the most memorable parties we've done have had this performance element as part of the party.  It just took the honoree, the family and the guests to another level of thrill, enjoyment and relaxation.  The kids come running into the honoree after the performance with high fives and hugs and everyone WANTS to be on the floor.

Our last party with choreography was a few years back and it was a completely different scenario. There was only 1/2 hour during cocktails for the child to get the choreogaphy and be prepared.  This method is not recommended for anyone, as even my dancers need time to learn routines.  But this particular child held her own and carried it off to an explosion of cheers and applause.

Cut to 2010.  We have a new performance upcoming in May and our dancers are busy with the choreograpphy and preparing for a great day.  See the video below.  Everyone is very excited. So maybe the dance choreographed performance will be making a comeback to mitzvahs.  If you are interested in learning more please give me a call.  Here's to nailing that move!

One of a Kind Moments for Events without One of a Kind Spending

Clients often ask how can you create something new for parties and events that have been going on for decades without spending a mint to do it?

Many times the magic happens in the moment and cannot be planned for.  Other times it can be planned and be able to be implemented as we imagined if not better.

The mitzvah (picture above) was in Florida.  There were plenty of New Yorkers in for it so it had the usual good energy that we're all used to. 

For this party Sammi and Pam (mitzvah honoree and mom) did not want to do a traditional candlelighting.  We got creative and had Sammi do a song in place of candles.  She rapped out all the names of her relatives and friends over "We Didn't Stop the Fire" by Billy Joel.  Now Sammi is a born performer so this matched perfectly with her personality. 

With just a few tweaks to be able to navigate the chorus and how to negotiate not being able to get every single person in the song, it was a HUGE success.  This part was planned for and succeeded better than we imagined.  The crowd went bananas and each person she sang in the song showed up on the video screen in time.

We had planned to do a candle blowout but the energy was so wildly delighted in the room I made a spontaneous call.  I invited everyone out to the floor with their candles.  See below:

Now in the moment as you can see this was an incredible, goose bump raising moment with every single person out on the floor holding up their candles.  And this is not something that has been before or since.

I've thought about it, but it takes just the right mix of enthusiasm, energy and connection to pull off.  This party had it and fortunately I was there to pick up on it. 

The Hora that followed was one of the most boisterous and festive I've experienced and you can see it on my website at www.LSNY.net/video.html - yes this was the video where mom and dad said it was the best night of my life.
 

These moments happen when there is a high level of enthusiasm and investment into what can be.  You can spend a little or a lot, but the best moments happen BECAUSE there was EXCITEMENT going into the imagining of the party.  THAT's what makes moments like this possible. 

There were actually numerous moments like that at this party.  Sammi was lifted lying back prone in our dancers arms and lifted at 9 feet high around the room during a circle of appreciation.  Instead of it being schmaltzy it felt (no pun intended) uplifting and magical.  Mom actually started to well up in tears at the image of her child being sweetly raised up as if on a clowd, with the elegance of a Cirque du Soliel artist. 

With the right group, the right master of ceremonies capitalizing on moments and the right energy in the room - one of a kind moments to savor forever can happen and whether your budget is a million dollars or a thousand, these kind of memories are priceless.

Photos curtesy of Owen Photography