How do you get a GREAT party no matter what?

picture courtesy of Steve Moore

Every one deserves a great day to celebrate being alive... if just for making it through the day to day of family life.  It is good for the soul to matter. Parties and celebrations remind us that.  No matter what is going on, it enables us feel all the best parts of being alive and appreciate this thing we have anew.

 I've never met a family who has had a smooth and easy journey through years of raising a child or children.  Even loving them to pieces they sometimes bring us to pieces.  And then we regroup and find a new piece of joy, until they take the next peace, and we learn patience and new found understanding for our own parents.  It's the cycle.  It reminds us we can handle more than we think.

 

I can appreciate this more now that I have two little ones. Each day holds a different adventure.  So when it comes to a bar or bat mitzvah or wedding, a birthday or anniversary party, I fully appreciate and want nothing less than to create the GREATEST day or night that they can remember or will ever remember. 

photo courtesy of Steve Moore

With this as our sole and focused intention and attention, there is nothing and I mean nothing that is going to get in the way of our making this happen. And that is the 1st part of how you get a great party no matter what. The second part is having a team of people who can make the 1st part happen.

As our hostess would attest to at our last mitzvah there were many, many issues and obstacles in the way.  As these issues intensified and spilled over into every aspect of their party, from venue, catering, decor, and of course entertainment, everyone got wet from the overflow.  Behind the scenes the tension was frustrating for the professionals who knew that if the hostess could somehow just take care of the basics, everything else would be well taken care of. 

In the movie "Shakespeare in Love" Geoffrey Rush's played Philip Henslowe the theater manager when everything conspired to stop the show from going forward, nervously but with a strange conviction said,

Philip Henslowe: "Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.

Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?

Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.

Hugh Fennyman: How?

Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.

It can often feels like when looking at the number of things that have to come together for an event to happen feels like we don't know how it will happen.  But the conviction of highly talented, caring and determined individuals always triumphs.  The answer to the question posed is trust your gut, hire a company that will treat your event like it was their own and are positively committed to your joy, and you will have it.

Birthday Parties and Having Fun at your Kids

I recently celebrated my own daughter's 4 year birthday party. Our summer seems to be a non-stop carnival of one birthday party after another.  I appreciate even more our clients process when you begin doing that annual party.

My niece's face painting results

Each year since my daughter was 1 year old, I wanted to have activities for adults to enjoy as well.  This year it was centered around lawn throwing games like ladder ball, and bean bag tosses. The adults get into it quite a bit. And as you can see below the little ones like to get in on the action.

Last year we had bocci out but with little kids it gets tough.  This year out in the field behind our place I set up a badmitten net and while it was slow for people to warm up by the later part of the party it was getting a bit of play.

And you can never go wrong with bubbles for kid's parties.  We played a game last year where the adults blew the bubbles and kids would see how many bubbles they could catch on their wands.  Bouncy houses aside that was a fun game.

This year I brought in one of my airbrush tattoo artist and face painters and she was the big hit of this birthday party.  So much so that at least four parents asked me about getting her for their party.  Here you can see the little ones waiting patiently and watching magic take place.

It's quite possible to have a really lovely afternoon for 40 to 60 people for under a grand including great food and an awesome cake for under a thousand dollars.

This year the cake was in the theme of the INCREDIBLES, one of her favorite movies.

I have to say I happen to love that movie myself.  For tips on how to make a really fun, lively party for adults and kids at your next birthday party give me a call.  201 457-5769.  Enjoy the rest of your summer.

LSNY Featured at The BEST BLOCK PARTY in America

Michael Sage Schindler of LSNY at Radburn Family Day 2010

Radburn, New Jersey was selected by Reader's Digest in 2006 as the Best Block Party in America. Many Radburn residents, even citizen association people who throw the party, were not aware of the fact. Well congratulations if you didn't know - you have had the best town party in America.  And the tradition continues.

Best Block Party in America.

 

With anywhere from 250 to 650 people at any one time, last year LSNY played the Radburn Family Day (Block Party) and the reviews were "the best Family Day party they ever had" across the board. So we were brought back this year and  DJ Joey and I had to brainstorm how we could recreate this phenomenon and even do it one better.  It was not going to be easy. 

Last year we introduced Coke and Pepsi and unfortunately it was too dark to record, plus we didn't have a video cam on us, but with adults and kids the numbers totalled approximately 220 to 280 people which may for us was the largest Coke and Pepsi ever attempted, and quite possibly the largest ever done with more than 4 calls, we imagined potentially Guiness material. 

2010 we brought in Stuff it, and the Lap Sit Dance to the introduce to Radburn along with some of the favorites. We brought back the Hoola Pass because that went over so well. We had one more trick up our sleeve but we didn't get to it because dancing was going too strong.  Enjoy the video and I hope you see yourself. 

Post script:  Next year I'll try to shoot without moving the camera so much.  I get so excited during the night I have trouble holding still.

Thank you to Radburn for being such a great town to live in and have a party with!  I think you definitely upheld the tradition and you are still the Best Block Party in Amreica.  Enjoy the video and pictures.

Pictures curtesy of Steve Moore

What is the #1 difference that could make or break any event or party?

I was asked this the other day:

Question – If you had to pick one thing - What is the #1 difference that could make or break any event or party?

I have an anwer for this but I like to ask my clients the same question to get their response. Their overwheliming response:


Answer - The Master of Ceremonies.

I tend to agree.  Not just because I am one, but because on further consideration it makes a whole lot of sense.

Mitzvah - Photo courtesy of Owen Phtotography

If you are having DJ entertainment or a band, the single most noticeable impression and impact on your party is the tone, feel and spirit that is created. This is created by of course many things, the look of the venue, the sound of the band or DJ, to a much lesser extent the food.

But one thing has more impact than any other on your event: The person who hosts your event. That’s either the Master of Ceremonies (MC) or the Band Leader. This is the person who is most crucial to the overall experience of your guests and the success of your event. He is the voice and soul of your party.

The MC is the heart and soul of your affair. You can have great music, great food, and an awesome stage and light show. The MC is the one who either brings it all together in harmony or detracts from the occasion. And it’s very difficult to get that back once the wrong tone is established. Many clients seem to already know this concept when they contact us, but it’s important for new event planners and makers to understand this point.

Like Eddie Murphy’s character in Dreamgirls singing you can “Fake Your Way to the Top”, that’s how many MCs in this industry work your parties.

Of the thousands of calls we get from clients, you may be surprised to learn that nearly 90% describe the DJs or MCs they’ve seen or as “loud and obnoxious.” And they’re calling us because they had a different experience seeing us or someone told them about how we do it differently.

They go on to describe how the MC “yells” through the microphone at Mitzvahs and Weddings. It’s not surprising because many MCs have learned their craft by using the microphone as a “yell-stick”. The “yell stick” refers to a style of “if I raise my voice and energy enough you will have to go where I want you” kind of approach. They hype and over hype and ultimately overpower the party where they want it to go.

It’s not surprising its sort of the skill set needed for the job, and companies have interpreted that as success. So many companies train their people to bring the “Big Energy!” Either they have the old radio announcer’s hyped talk-at-you style, or a more street approach, which is often a yelling, hyping, cajoling their information and motivation into the mike.

While it does raise the level of energy and even excitement, the vocally manufactured version can be tiring and exhausting to hear. If the guests don’t believe the MC at some point they begin to tune out. Some guests may participate but others want to retreat.

I believe subconsciously everyone always feels the difference, even if they can’t tell the difference. Ultimately if it’s a forced or manufactured energy and it has the effect of potentially turning people off rather than connecting them to the event and feeling really good.

5-10% of the MCs go the other way and are lower key on the microphone. They are inoffensive but they also make very little impact on the overall heightening of an event.

This leaves 10% that are what I would describe as the great MCs. These guys/gals are present, attractive, responsive and know how to create clean and seamless segues from moment to moment or course-to-course which is the real telltale sign of a great MC.

Just as it takes a martial artist many years sometimes decades to be considered a master, it takes a true experienced artist practice, time, training, feedback and direction to be an excellent Master of Ceremonies.

Toast to the Coast - Cesars Atlantic City

It takes a big level of commitment from MCs to get to that mastery. For most guys it’s a fun job to do there’s a lot of power and control. They get to work on the weekends have fun and pick up a paycheck.

But if they their commitment goes only that far they will always use what’s worked for them. For instance many MCs who may be presented with a difficult crowd may have no qualms about saying something negative on the microphone to get a better result, “You can do better than that!” if guests are not clapping hard enough or “If you’re not on the dance floor right now you’re doing the wrong thing!”

A gifted MC will always make your guests feel wonderful and never put anyone down. He may have fun with humor but only if it can create laughter and entertain the guests making them feel more at ease at your affair.

He sounds like a real human being and you believe him. He talks to your guests. He can lift the energy of the party with his voice and body when it feels right and let you feel the touching moments as it happens.

He shares real moments in honest ways. He can go out and dance with your guests; he can create a full room of dancing without even speaking.

He can get great shots for your photographer and videographer. He inspires the best in your guests without it being about him.

He coordinates with perfect ease with your caterer and produces seamless segues from one point to another.

Having a great MC is like getting a great massage.

A great masseuse connects with you exactly the way you want. He covers your whole body and you never really know how he got from one part to the other; its continual movement. He’s loosening you up and helping you to feel great. You wonder if they have 6 hands working at the same time it’s so good. At the end you’re in such great hands you completely and willingly give over. Your body feels amazing and your spirit is freed to relax and enjoy. That’s exactly what a great MC does for an event: Frees your guests to have the best experience possible.

If this is the kind of experience that you would like to have for your event, please give us a call here and if we aren’t available we’ll be sure to direct you to someone who can give you that kind of experience.

Celebrate your life every day.

Michael Sage Schindler

REVEIW: Bacigalupi Family

One of the sayings that a very highly regarded party planner is known to tell her clients is "You don't know what you don't know."  As many of our clients know from our very first meetings we strive to make the unknown in planning parties known to you.  My feeling is if I educate you, you'll be better able to make decisions that are closer to your true desires.  It also makes it easier.  My latest clients letter touches on this issue.  Every one of our clients gets this comprehensive assistance.

To Michael Sage Schindler

Owner, Director & Master of Celebrations
Lightning Shakes New York Entertainment

New York, July 2010

Dear Michael,

We would like to thank you for the excellent animation you and your team provided at Alexia’s Bat Mitzvah party.

In planning this event, you provided thoughtful and helpful advice in what was for us a first time process, making it a lot less stressful than it might have been otherwise. We appreciate all the suggestions you made and your responsiveness to our own ideas.

During the party itself, you and your team kept Alexia and the other children happily occupied and energized while engaging with the adult guests as well.

We received excellent feedback from our guests and would like to pass it along to you.

We would be happy to recommend your services to anyone interested. We look forward ourselves to collaborating with you again in a couple of years when it is Alexia’s sister’s turn.

All the best,

Muriel, Guy & Alexia Bacigalupi