The Ultimate Birthday Party Planner Blog
by Paul Mordoff, owner of Party Talent, LLC
Paul Mordoff performs over 300 shows a year in the Northeast as Mr. Bungles, a comic clown character without makeup, whose act includes a comedy show, juggling, magic, and huge bubbles. For more information, visit PartyTalent.com or call (203) 846-2000. (This blog may be copied or reproduced in its entirety as long as this byline is posted.)
One of the most important things to consider when planning a special event like a birthday party is your budget. Oftentimes when people think about planning a party, they have wonderful ideas; but they tend to forget the most important thing: their budget. Before you pick the number of guests, the venue, the activities, the food you want to serve, goody bag choices, theme, birthday entertainment and every other detail of the party, you need to put a number on how much you can afford to spend. Pick an amount first, then plan accordingly. Backyard parties can be just as much fun as a huge event in a catering hall if you are willing to do a little more legwork on your own. You can have a great birthday party with any budget if you just plan it right.
This blog will discuss ideas for planning parties, creating fun games and activities that you can do on your own, and how to choose professional birthday party entertainers. Once you have an idea in mind, you can select from this guide what works for you. Take a moment to discuss it with your spouse or family and come up with a realistic number. Backyard parties can be just as much fun as a huge event at a catering hall if you are willing to do a little more legwork on your own.
Location: How to Pick the Place for Your Birthday Party
Many people call my company, Party Talent, LLC, every week asking for ideas of where to have their birthday party when they don’t want it in their backyard or family room. I always start with asking them some basic questions. How many people are you expecting? Do you plan to serve food that will be catered or prepared by you? What kind of budget do you have for the location? Are you thinking of a restaurant, hall, park, children’s party places?
Home Birthday Parties – Bubbles, Activities and More
Let’s first consider the birthday party at your house and whether you want to have it outdoors or indoors. Most of my clients prefer an outside party because it avoids having children running all over the house and possibly damaging that favorite vase that your grandma gave you! If you are having your event in the backyard, consider the hot sun, wind or a sudden downpour. Can you afford to rent a tent? Does your backyard have a lot of shade at the time of your party? Consider that if you’re hiring a children’s birthday entertainer, it may be harder for children to focus on the show because of distractions like the sun in their eyes, swing sets, pools, outdoor toys, flying and crawling insects, or the sound of an approaching ice cream truck. One time, when I was performing as Mr. Bungles and I was right in the middle of a magic trick, the ice cream truck arrived a half hour early, and all the kids ran to get on line for a cold treat. Another time when I was performing, there was a snake crawling right where I was performing, which obviously took “center stage.” Outside distractions can be an issue even for the professional performer.
Bubble Fun
One of the nice things about an outside party is that you can add bubbles for a really fun activity. I make my own bubble formula and set up a bubble station with a huge bubble machine that allows the kids to make bubbles bigger than they are. Bubble parties are really popular with kids, and many people hire my company, Party Talent LLC, just for bubbles alone. Besides the bubble station that can be set up for huge crowds, I also have a bubble hoop where several kids can get inside a bubble at the same time. This option works wonderfully indoors for a rainy day and is popular in the winter months for a fun indoor activity. If you don’t have the budget to hire an entertainer who specializes in knowing what bubble formula and bubble wands work, toy stores have many bubble toys. The problem with store-bought toys is that when the kids run around with battery operated items, the liquid bubble formula gets foamy, causing the toy to not work very well. Another problem is that bubbles are very sensitive to the humidity and heat of the day. Store bought formulas may work under certain conditions, but oftentimes children are discouraged because they can’t make the large bubbles that they want to make. As my character, Mr. Bungles, I often do a birthday comedy show first to get the kids laughing and having fun, and then I move on to activities like parachute games and bubbles. When I am hired to set up a bubble station as part of a party package, I use three different formulas based on the bubbles I am creating, and I change the formula depending on the weather and how the bubbles are floating.
Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas
Besides fun bubble activities, many of my clients love to have a carnival themed party. You can set up all kinds of simple games like ring, ping pong or dime toss, knock down the bottles, potato sack races, frisbee golf, bobbing for apples, or eating doughnuts on a string without hands.
If you choose to hire a professional entertainer for your outside party, it is important to consider where the shade will be at the time of the party. A shady backyard during your party will make it easier for your guests to eat, relax, watch the show and shield themselves from the burning rays of the sun. Spray the yard before the guests arrive with insect repellant to cut down on the wasps, bees, mosquitos, ticks and other uninvited guests. Also, have a plan B: Can you move everyone indoors in case of rain? Or should you rent a tent?
Bringing Your Birthday Party Inside
Indoor home parties can work well depending on the layout of your space and the number of children and guests you are expecting. You will loose control of the children unless you have planned activities like crafts, creative projects, games and more. As the children arrive, you should encourage them to stay in the party rooms and to avoid private areas. Let them know in the beginning where they can play, and you will have a more controlled environment. If you are hiring a children’s performer for your birthday party, it is always best to remove any distractions, which I will talk about later. As an entertainer performing over 300 shows a year as my comic character, Mr. Bungles, I have found it is always best for the kids to sit on the floor and for me to set up my show against a wall or in a corner. When the kids are on the floor, they are more focused and are not climbing on the furniture.
Other Types of Birthday Party Locations
An outdoor picnic party at a beach or park can be inexpensive and lots of fun, with barbecue food and simple games like frisbee, kickball, football, volley ball, badminton, and others, which everyone could play. Many times my clients have a party at a beach or park and rent a pavilion that gives protection from the sun or rain. Other options include various types of hall rentals that either have kitchen facilities or catered food, restaurants with party rooms, or kid places that specialize in children’s activities.
