Hary Potter Magic Birthday Party

Hi Folks...

Today we're going to be talking about one of my favorite topics...Harry Potter!  If you or your kids have read the books or seen the movies chances are you know how popular Harry Potter has become...It's amazing!

I myself have read the books numerous times and I'm really looking forward to the new movies coming out soon!  Plus I have some exciting news for this Halloween season!

For the first time ever, I'm offering my special Wizards School Show to the general public!  This is the same program that I performed for 1000's of Harry Potter fans at event put on by Barnes Nobel Books, Walden Books, Ponderosa Restaurants, Lakewood Mall and many others!

Here is a photo from Barnes and Nobel in Danbury

As you can see it was a huge Success! Standing room only!

Here are a few of the magical effects included in this program!

·         The Gryffindor Sword…The Gryffindor Sword appears suddenly in the Sorting Hat!  This is just like the second book and movie!


·         The Brown Bottle…Clearing the table, the magician suddenly vanishes a Brown Bottle from his table just like the third movie!


·         First Year Potions Class…In a standard #2 Caldron a member of the audience mixes a quick Polyjuice Potion that turns a stuffed animal into a live dove as in several of the books!


·         Transfiguration Class…Members of the audience change a live dove into a live rabbit using a transfiguration spell from the books!


·         Divination Class…One member of the audience reads another audience member’s mind by gazing into a crystal ball!  They won’t believe their eyes when they see this one!


·         Herbology Class…The magician is completely shocked and surprised when a magical flower disobeys his commands.  This is hysterical for the kids who see everything that is going on behind the magicians back!


·         Advanced Charms Class…In this advanced magic class the audience attempts to float one of the audience members in the air on a ancient carpet!  All I can say is that this is a very pretty piece of magic that everyone will remember.

This program will be available for private parties birthday parties and Halloween parties though the month of October!  But you must contact me by Sep. 13th to book your party!  To lock in your date simply send me a email with the date, time and place of your event and I will send you complete instructions How to bring this amazing program home!  Send your email to:   ted@bestpartymagic.com

If your going to do a Harry Potter theme you might as well go all the way with it!  That's why I've included the following article below!  It is filled with great ideas for your turning your home into Hogwarts for an evening!

Plan the Party

    *
      Two to three weeks before the party begins:
          o
            Make Wizard Maps for invitations. Round the edges of parchment paper with scissors. Write the party details to Hogwarts School (AKA your house), using invisible ink felt pens (available at the craft stores). Roll the invitation into cylinders, insert into mailing tube, along with a decoder pen, and mail to Muggles.
          o
            Begin preparing the props, costumes, and decorations (see below).

    *
      Party Set-Up - A few hours before the party:
          o
            Welcome the guests with a sign at the front door that reads "Platform 9 3/4."
          o
            Decorate your party room like the Great Hall at Hogwarts School.
          o
            Make "snitches" by spray painting Styrofoam or rubber balls gold, then glue feathers on each side, and hang them from the ceiling.
          o
            Cover the walls and ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars, moons, and lightning bolts.
          o
            Set out stuffed toy owls, broomsticks, magic wands, and potions (candy-filled bottles).
          o
            Cover the table with a paper cloth featuring stars, moons, and lightning bolts, and add matching paper products.

    *
      Party Time - Welcome the Wizards and Muggles:

          o
            Ask the guests to come dressed as a Harry Potter character from the series, such as Harry, Dudley, Hermione, Ron, Draco Malfoy, or Nearly Headless Nick.
          o
            Have costume parts ready so guests can dress up when they arrive, such as wizards, creatures, ghosts, goblins, owls, and Muggles.
          o
            Provide the guests with wizard caps, cloaks, and magic wands.
          o
            Give everyone Harry glasses and "tattoo" a lightning bolt on their foreheads with felt pen.

    *
      Join Harry Potter in some Games and Activities:

          o
            Play a version of Quidditch, Harry's favorite game, by providing the kids with a ball, some broomsticks, and a large area to play in. Divide the group into two teams, set up two goals on either side of the yard, and have the kids try to brush the ball over their own goal line.

          o
            Have a Harry Potter Trivia Contest and ask questions based on the book - or a 'Who Said What?' game based on Harry Potter quotes.

          o
            Have a Flavor Bean Tasting Contest. Buy a variety of jellybeans and place them in small paper cups covered with foil so they aren't visible. Pass one cup around at a time and have each player taste a jellybean without looking at it. Players must try to identify the flavors.

          o
            Make Potter's Magic Potion by combining 2 cups white glue and 1 1/2 cups water together. Add a few drops of food coloring. In a separate container, dissolve 2 teaspoons borax in 2/3 cup warm water and mix well. Mix the borax and glue solutions together, and let the kids watch what happens to the mixture. Pass out handfuls and let the wizards work their magic. Wear smocks for this activity - it's messy, but fun!

          o
            Let the kids create their own Wizard Capes and Magician Caps. For capes, cut length of inexpensive silky lining fabric and let the kids decorate it with felt-tip pens, glue-on glitter, and decals in the shape of stars, moons, and lightning bolts. For caps, give them lengths of felt, cut into rectangles. Fold the felt into a cone shape, staple it closed, trim off a straight edge, and decorate with glue-on sequins, glitter, puffy paints, and decals.

    *
      Serve Cauldrons of Snacks and Wash them down with Magic Potions:

          o
            Buy a plastic cauldron or use a black pot for serving the food. Fill it with soup, macaroni and cheese, or beef stew.



 Serve "magic potions" in plastic goblets. Offer multicolored drinks - red, blue, green, orange - for added fun. Called them Rum-Runners.

          o
            Offer the guests a variety of Harry Potter snacks and treats - Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (assorted jelly beans), Fizzing Whizbees Levitating Sherbet Balls (green and orange sherbet balls), Droobles Best Blowing Gum (blue gum), Creepy Chocolates (in the shape of frogs, bats, and rats), and Peppermint Humbugs (peppermint candies.)

          o
            Make Harry Potter cookies using a Harry Potter shaped cookie cutter.

          o
            Provide Harry Potter desserts, such as apple pie, trifle, jam donuts

    *
      Say Good-Byes with Hogwarts Gift Bags:

          o
            Give the kids magic wands, jellybeans, wizard caps and capes, copies of Harry Potter books or tapes, Harry glasses, and press-on tattoos.

          o
            Place them in small fabric bags tied with ribbon or velvet cords.

About the Author
Carol Selva
More free ideas, tips, party planning checklists and advice on http://www.iparty.com!

Don't forget!  The Deadline to bring the Wizard School program to your castle is Sept. 13th!  So send your owl via email to reserve your date!

Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas

Last week we talked about the Five To Party Themes for Girls.  This week were going to talk about a favorite boys theme...The Fun Pirate Birthday Party!

I came across this great article by Mike Dougherty on how to have a super fun and successful Pirate Party of your own!  If you get the chance take a look at some of Mike's other ideas on his website, http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com

Here's the article...

Thar be fun pirate birthday party ideas ahead me buckos...AAARRRH! So haul in the gang plank, trim yer sails and be watchin' for ships flyin' the Jolly Roger.

"Avast and ahoy maties, this here be yer captain speakin to ya... Captain Grandpa Mike says me."

Yer birthday child and all their guests will be havin' a swashbucklin' good time with this here adventure on the fun kid birthday parties high seas!

Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas - Invitations

Yo Ho A Pirate's Treasure Map

Your party guests will really get into your Pirate theme when you send them an invitation that looks like an old Pirate Treasure map...

Cut a brown paper bag into a square.

Then, with a black marker write something like "Captain__________'s (insert your birthday child's name) treasure map"...

"Ye be invited to a swash-buckling good time matey... (then give the party date, time, length of the party and any other details) then close the invitation by saying something like...

"If you dare, you'll be findin the party by followin this here treasure map... And remember this me buckos... "X" marks the spot!"

The map is actually directions to your party location and the "X" is the actual birthday party address...

Then crumble up the paper so your map looks old and mail it to your guest... You can even be creative with the envelope.

Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas - Treasure Map

Have some fun with your Pirate Party Invitation buy constructing another treasure map for a real treasure hidden somewhere at your party location.

Cut this map up into puzzle pieces (one for each child you're inviting).

Include a piece of the treasure map in the envelope and instruct your guests to bring their piece of the treasure map to the party.

When your guests arrive, have them put their puzzle pieces together, then they can all hunt for the treasure you've hidden...

Make sure you keep a copy of the map in case one of your guests doesn't show up.

For treasure, put some chocolate coins (always a big hit with our kids) in a box and hid them somewhere for your guests to find together with their map.  Here is a great source for Party Supplies.
Fun Kid Pirate Costume

Your birthday child will love wearing a special pirate costume at their party.

*A Tip From Grandpa Mike

When I was a boy, one of my favorite Halloween costumes was a pirate costume.

You can find a head bandanna at your local thrift store, a colorful old shirt and grey stripped pants.

Cut the shirt sleeves to 3/4 length and fray the edge of the sleeves so they look worn... Cut the pant legs to 3/4 length and fray the edges so they look worn and "ship wrecked".

You can make an eye patch out of a small piece of black card stock or black cloth... Attach a black string or shoe lace to the eye patch and tie it around your child's head.

A wide black belt with a large buckle (you can make a buckle) can be cut to fit around your child's waist.


Here is a great resource for pirate costumes!

Fun Pirate Make-Up

You can complete your child's pirate look by putting black smudges on their face with an eyebrow pencil. Smear it around to look like a beard on a rough pirate face.

Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas - Decorations

Black, red, yellow, orange, blue and white are great pirate colors.

Use streamers and balloons to decorate your party area.

You can also pick up some pirate flags and make treasure maps and swords to put on the walls.

Fish nets, star fish and sea shells will help give yer party a sea goin' look.

Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas - Pirate Pinata

Imagine the fun when one of yer ship mates breaks open a pirate treasure chest pinata aaarrrh, an all kinds ah "treasures" fill yer pirate ships cabin. You can easily find online stores that feature pinatas for just about any party theme.

Fun Pirate Birthday Party Ideas

With these ideas to get your creative juices flowing, you'll be able to come up with lots more great ideas that will make your child's Pirate birthday party adventure a great success.

"Shiver me timbers, this be Captain Grandpa Mike sayin have a swashbucklin' fun Pirate birthday party, AAARRRH!"

Mike Dougherty has lots more fun pirate birthday party ideas waiting for you at http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com where you'll discover just about everything you'll need for a successful fun kid birthday party.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Dougherty

Don't forget...with Pirates of the Caribean still so popular a pirate party is a great idea for your Halloween theme too.

If you'd like to add some great magic and entertainment for your party click here to see all of the great kids magic programs that are available to you!

See ya next week when I'll be talking about one of my favorite party themes...Harry Potter!

Top 5 Girl Birthday Party Ideas!

Hi Friends...
 

It has been a Hot and crazy summer!  I hope you have been getting out with your family and enjoying the sun!

Tracy and I just got back from taking the kids to see Tom Petty in concert in Hartford!

It was the boys first big concert.  And Tracy has been waiting 20 years to see them so it was really special for all of us!

Have lots to share with you this month so lets jump in!

Here are the Top 5 Girl Birthday Party Ideas!

If you want to throw a wonderful birthday party for your little girl but don't seem to have the perfect fit, this article will give you plenty of options for you to choose from.

1- Make the party an outing.

Instead of having a party at home, why not take the kids where they can have lots of fun? You can make it a day at the zoo, an amusement park or a picnic at a lake. The great advantage of having a party this way is that you won't have to clean or decorate the house. Ask your little girl which of these options she would enjoy the most and then plan for it. If there will be many kids you definitely want to have a few adults help you out. Kids love boats so if you're going to a lake, you might want to find one that offers boat rides.

2- Have a princess party.

What little girl doesn't want to be a princess? If so, this kind of party will be quite the ticket. It's best to make it an all girl party since boys will probably not enjoy this theme too much. However if you want to have boys come, each one can dress up as a prince. Have your guests wear princess costumes or fancy dresses to the party. Hire a "princess" to come to the party and tell her princess stories. The girls can learn a princess dance and wave. They will be in awe with the real life "princess".

3- Have a pony party.

Almost universally, girls love ponies. If you don't have a ranch near by, it might be possible to rent a pony to come to your house or apartment. Everyone gets a ride and parents get a good photo opportunity.

4- A luau party is a great idea - especially if it's warm outside.

Get your birthday girl a grass skirt to wear over her swimsuit. Have some for the guests and their parents. Play seaside games, such as limbo or a ring toss. If you don't have a pool, a fun idea is to get two or three blow-up pools they can splash around in. If you do decide on contests, make sure there is a prize for every participant. Five year olds will cry if someone else wins and they don't get a prize..

5- Have a spa party.

With a smaller group you are able to do something extra special. A spa party is usually well received. The little girls get manicures and pedicures, a mud mask and flip flops to spare their freshly painted toenails. You can do all the work yourself and with other mommies, or hire someone to come in. Contact the beauty school, or if you know a manicurist or a beauty consultant, ask her to plan the activities.

Bonus Idea-Have a Magic Princess Party complete with a interactive magic show!  You know who to contact!

If you would like to have more ideas for kids birthday parties you will love these finding nemo birthday and backyardigans party supplies articles that are filled with resources and pictures.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ginger_Myers

See ya soon!

P.S.  I will be performing on the Green in Prospect CT on Aug. 24 at 11:30 pm...Bring the family and enjoy the show!!!

P.P.S.   Are you ready for Halloween???

Best Ideas For A Successful Scooby Doo Party

Hi Friends...

Do your kids love Scooby-Doo as much as my nieces and nephews!  It is so cool because when I was a kid Scooby-Doo was my favorite cartoon and now I get to experience that love again with them!  Scooby- Doo is a great theme for kids Birthday and Halloween Parties!

Here are 5 of the best ideas you can do for your Scooby Doo party:

1. Set the Theme for Your Party!  You can do this really easily by picking up a few Party Supplies!  One of the best ways to really get the party started are by using brilliant Scooby Doo party supplies. With the use of the Internet you can now have everything delivered for your convenience, straight to your door after you have comfortably and easily chosen everything for your party from you favorite arm chair.  Just Use This Link!

You can order everything from balloons, tablecovers, invitations, piñatas and everything in between. You can even have a cake artfully designed to imitate the beloved dog’s face.  You could also play some spookie Halloween music to further set the mood!  Here's the Link Again!

2. Consider a Costume Party or Play Dress Up. Scooby Doo is part of a gang, including his loyal owner Shaggy. You can ask all your guests to dress up as their favorite character. You might want to think about designating characters to make sure everyone does not come dressed as Scooby.

Then you can prepare a special presentation where you will call all the “casts” and have them act out their favorite Scooby Doo memory.

3. Go for a Marathon. Are you a bit strapped for cash at the moment or is your venue on the small side? A good way to still keep up with the theme is to obtain some DVD's and schedule a movie marathon with the kids.

You have a huge choice to pick from as there are lots of movies and endless cartoons for you to choose from. Don’t stress too much about your choice, as long as the kids see Scooby Doo you will be fine.

Get It From Amazon!

4. Invite Scooby Doo To The Party. Try contacting your local entertainment agency and see if they could send a costume character along to the party. You could even get them to perform a song or being extra treats for the party guests.

You may want to look into getting a children's entertainer such as a magician, facepainter or balloon artist to do a live show at your party!  Kids love magic!  And the show will keep the kids entertained and occupied for an hour or so giving you a chance to relax and spend some time with your child on their special day!

For a great magic show contact Ted, Connecticut's Favorite Magician here!




5. Make A Photo Wall. I can’t think of a better way to ensure your child really remembers their Scooby Doo party than starting a photo wall. They can pose with a cardboard version of Scooby Doo for as long as they want to.

That's it for now!  I hope you have a Fantastic Party!  I'll see you again next week!

Ted Peterson
Connecticut's Favorite Kids Magician

Best Party Magic
ted@bestpartymagic.com

P.S.  I had some emails last week asking if I could share the "Learn Easy Magic" program link again!  This is one of the best ways for you or your child to learn some of the most amazing magic and mind reading take a look at the Easy To Learn Magic Ebooks!

Here's the link again: http://dld.bz/k7eC

How People Choose Unique Birthday Party Plans For Kids!

Hi Friends...

Hope your having a Terrific Summer...The last few weeks have been pretty busy for me performing at a number of preschools in Connecticut including Kindercare and others...It's been a lot of fun!  And I still have a number of these shows over the next few weeks...If this type of program interest you, you can find more info at New Preschool Magic...So be sure to check that out or share it with your daycare, preschool or early learning center!

There is still time to save some money with our special Rush Discount Contest!  You can see all the details on that in my previous post below!

I came across the following article on, "Choosing A Unique Birthday Party Plans For Kids" and it is filled with Great ideas!  Here is a short excerpt...

"If you would like to get out of the house for the birthday, there are lots of different places where you can throw a birthday party for groups huge and little. You can bring the whole gang bowling, to an indoor playground, or have a football birthday party any time of the year at an indoor facility with instructors to lead the children thru activities, cake and pizza and the rest."

You can read the whole article by clicking here How People Choose Unique Birthday Party Plans For Kids!

I hope you enjoy the article and have a Great Birthday Party!

See ya soon!

Ted & Best Party Magic

RUSH Discount Contest!

That's Right!  Tonight Tracy and I are going to see the Greatest Band ever!  RUSH!  I can't wait!  Even though I've seen them 16 times over the past 25 years!  I just can't get enough of them...Every show is different!

It has been my dream for many years to open for one of their shows!  You know come out and do some really kick ass magic...Birds appearing!  Floating someone from the audience in the air!  Maybe some fire!  And then RUSH explodes out of no where!  Sweet!

I may never get the chance to open for Rush but that doesn't mean we can't still have alot of Fun!  I still have a few dates left in July and some more in Aug.  So here is what were going to do...

Post your favorite RUSH song in the comments below and you will SAVE $50 off your booking in July or August!  Just for the record mine is Cygnus X-1!

So don't forget to check out all of my great Birthday program at Best Party Magic!  Enter your favorite Rush song in the comments below, and you'll Save $50 on your program in July or August!  Deadline to Save is July 30!

See ya soon!

Ted Peterson
RUSH Fanatic!
http://bestpartymagic.com

P.S.  Want to learn some Kool Magic Tricks and be the life of your next Party?

          Then Click Here!

Explosive 4th of July Issue!

Unbelievable as this may sound, there are still some folks in Connecticut who are not getting our free monthly Newsletter!  SO I thought I would re-post this months issue here on our blog just to give you a free taste of what your missing!

I hope you enjoy and leave me a comment as to what you think!

Thanks for visiting!

Explosive 4th of July Issue!

Hi...CT's Favorite Family Magician here!  I hope you had a Fantastic 4th of July!  Tracy and I went to Uncle Bill's for a family barbarque!  The food was terrific...The weather was hot!  And the company was blown away with Kent's music and of  course some of my mind-numbing magic and mind-reading!  It was a wonderful day to celebrate the birth of our nation!

I have alot of things to share with you in this explosive 4th of July issue so let's dive right in!

As many of you know, my partner of 17 years, "General" the magic bunny pasted away a while back...Tracy and I have been looking for a suitable replacement but as you know Magic Bunnies are not easy to come by!  The search has been very frustrating to say the least.  We decided to try open additions to help find our new star but that turned out tlike a bad version of America's Got Talent!

We had to tun down a very sad looking snake, a dancing poodle, the Trix bunny who over turned a breakfast table as he hopped off stage and Larry the cable guy!  They were not all bad though!  We met a very talent chimp who was a cleaver mind-reader that I plan to colaborate with in the near future!  But still no Magic Bunny!

Then while out celebrating our fourth Anniversary, Tracy and I stopped at a new pet shop that had opened at the Brass Mall!  It was like fate was lending us a hand!  There we soon discovered not one but two very magical Bunnies!  Sisters in fact and we knew that our searching was over!

You can see them here below!

Samantha is still a little shy and is very happy just being cute and adorable!  While Claudia is a born performer and can't wait to get out of her cage and start working on our show!  In fact she is helping to create not 1 but 2 new programs coming the end of Auguest first part of September!  For  more details and sneak previews follow our blog!

Ever made a really Big Mistake?  I made a HUGE mistake back in March!  One that may have effected you!  Let me explain...

Back in March I added yet another website to my existing hosting account but I forgot one crucial tiny step!  That tiny step changed my core website, BestPartyMagic.com  ...As some of you are aware I accidentally overwrote the main folder on my hosting account!

Due to this mistake, many new clients and some of my long term clients ran into problems getting to our Magic website!  Many of your referrals were sent to a completely different site!

I want to apologize if you have had any problems accessing the site recently!

I'm happy to report that the problem is now fixed and BestPartyMagic.com is back up and running smoothly now!

It's Just in time too...As Claudia, Samantha and I are planning a complete over-haul on not just the website but each of our Magic Birthday Shows!  Keep reading new issues of this newsletter for sneak previews and some really cool Free Gifts coming soon!

Wow!  I just realized its already July and half the year has blown by like a hurricane!  The last 2 months of have been a blur for me.

Our eldest son, Stuart, graduated from Warren High School!  My brother Trevor, a 20 year vetran of the army just under went major surgery again from the injuries he sustained Apr 2009.  One of my favorite Aunts passed away.  Tracy and I celebrated our Forth Anniversary!  And this list keeps going and going!

I'm going to have to really hurry because I have alot planned for the coming months and the rest of the year!  Here's what we have coming very soon!

1)  New Magic Video's  I have been promising these for a while now but they are coming!  Check out our site, blog, Facebook or Youtube Channel!

2)  New Birthday Party Website including 2 new Magic Programs!  The kids will love it!

3)   New Walk-Around Magic Package!  Cool intimate magic and mind reading that's perfect for after dinner parties and corporate or formal banquets!

4)  Which Bunny Contest and Free Gifts!

In honor of the 4th of July here's an Explosive Special Offer just for our Newsletter Readers and Back Stage Members!  For a very limited time  (7-23-10) you can get the Super Fun Magic Program for $50 off regular fee!  This offer is limited to the first 10 people who respond by email!  If you are currently not in the market for some Fantastic Birthday Party Entertainment you may forward this crazy offer to a friend or business associate who might be looking for Connecticut's Favorite Kids Magician!

Email:  ted@BestPartyMagic.com  to Save Some Real Money!

"Jackson had a blast!  You put on a great show!  I'm giving out your cards to the elementary school and preschool!  Thanks Again!"

Heather Rodgers

  

Want to Make your 4th of July A Blast

Creative 4th of July 

Celebration Ideas

Even though the the 4th of July is a month away, its still not too early start planning your party, trip to see your local fireworks display or plan that family cook out.  With that in mindbelow are a few creative ideas to make your 4th a Blast!

Patriotic Accessories

1. Patriotic flip flops and toes
2.  Fabric hair clip
3.  Fabric Headband tutorial
4.  Kids T-shirt tote tutorial

4th of July Home Decor

5.  Fourth of July pinwheel centerpiece tutorial
6.  Flag Party Favor
7.  4th of July ring toss
8.  Fourth of July hanging star tutorial made out of a napkin

A Red, White, and Blue Party

13.  Pretzel place cards
14.  Red, White, and Blue cupcakes
15. Outdoor party table decor
16.  Casual fourth of July dinner party

As you know, if your looking for an Amzingly Fun Magic show to entertainer the kids and your guest, please check out Best Party Magic online!  Now is the perfect time to book your entertainment early!

See ya soon!

Ted Peterson
Connecticut Magician
ted@bestpartymagic.com

Is Your Company or Firm Planning a Company Picnic?

Is Your Company or Firm Planning a Company Picnic?

Here's how to make your Company Picnic a Huge Success!

Is your company or firm planning a company picnic for this summer?  If not, maybe they should!  In this tough ecconomy with more and more companies cutting back a company picnic can really show appreciation for hard working mom and dad's who are now pulling double duty trying to get everything done with fewer people.  Many employees while happy about still having a job feel they are being taken advantage of, under-appreciated and overwhelmed with seemingly impossible work loads.

A company picnic is a great way of showing appreciation for all your employee's extra efforts.  It can also help to build better relationships between management and your company teams!  A fun and exciting event like a company picnic can also help rejuvienate the people that work for you, boosting moral and productivity.

With that in mind I came across this artical on planning a successful company picnic.  I hope that you or your company find it useful in planning your next company picnic!

The company picnic is a beloved tradition at many firms.
It's an opportunity for employees to mingle and "let down their hair."
A well organized company picnic with planned activities can help integrate employees with each other. This is particularly important if the company has undergone recent reorganization. As such it functions as a "team bonding" mechanism.
A company picnic can be held for an entire firm of thousands or for a single department of 30.
In my role of party entertainer (and prior to that corporate employee), I have attended countless such events. Here are some observations, tips, and ideas I picked up along the way.
General Considerations
Like any other type of event, you need to decide what you want your picnic to be like and how much you want to spend.
As with any event, it is important to keep the needs and tastes of your attendees paramount.
Allow yourself sufficient time to book your venue if the picnic is offsite. Demand for some venues is at a premium during peak periods. It is not uncommon to make reservations several months or more in advance of a given date.
You'll need to plan food and beverages, and activities and entertainment and, in some cases, transportation to the picnic site.
Allow enough time so you can give your employees sufficient advance notice to include the picnic into their plans. This is especially important if you'll be inviting family members or if it is held on a weekend.
Company picnics and company picnic ideas can range from the very simple to a pull-out-all-stops extravaganza. My observation is that people have a good time at both.
Do you want to have a theme? A theme is fun! Plus it makes it easier to organize food and activities.
WHEN do you want to hold you company's picnic?
Here, in the Philadelphia area, companies hold their picnics beginning in June through early October.
Considerations such as your company's workflow, availability of a desired venue, etc., will help you determine the date. Employees are less apt to be away on vacation in June or September, but they will really enjoy the chance to kick back in July or August.
There are pros and cons to weekday picnics versus weekend picnics.
Company picnics held during a workday will ensure a greater attendance for employees when they would normally be in the office. And, they don't cut into precious personal time.
But spouses and children are generally more available for a weekend date.
WHOM do you want to invite?
Staff only? Members of the employee's immediate family? What about significant others, friends? Decide where to draw the line.
Family picnics are a great way for employees to meet co-workers' families. It humanizes co-workers by allowing them to relax their at-work personas.
On the other hand, single or divorced employees can feel like the odd wheel at a very family oriented event. That can be overcome by planning activities suitable for people of all ages.
Activities that require participants to form groups can help integrate the attendees. And it keeps your guests occupied.
WHERE do you want to have your company picnic?
While many picnics take place under a tent in the company's parking lot, offsite venues can make people feel more relaxed. If you're on a strict budget, one option is a nearby state park. Many have large pavilions ideally suited for such events.
I've also been to company picnics given at the home of the firm's CEO or owner. This kind of setting adds a homey touch to the festivities. In some instances, facilities were set up so that the guests attend to their needs without entering the host's private home.
An excellent option to consider is a venue that is set up especially for hosting the company picnic. Generally these picnic parks come complete with in-house catering and lots of games and activities for kids both big and small. Some day camps rent out their facilities on weekends when they are otherwise not in use.
Amusement parks and river cruises are other options.
Tip: Have a Plan B in the case of rain.
Some Plan B options include:
o A tent with walls or access to an on-site building
o Event insurance
o A rain date
Keep in mind that if you opt for a rain date, your vendors and entertainers may require additional payment to reserve the second date. That is because they have to turn down other clients during the busy summer season to keep that time open for you.
Food and Beverages
If you choose to have the food catered, you don't have to worry about preparation or cleanup. Many venues such as picnic parks have in-house catering. And many caterers specialize in handling company picnics.
The best part of picnic fare is that it is simple and satisfying. Hot dogs and hamburgers are extremely popular at picnics. But they are not compulsory and caterers will cater to your every whim.
Keep the menu flexible enough to accommodate those with special needs and preferences. These days you'll find many meat eaters and vegans, not to mention devotees of Atkins, South Beach, and other diets. Muslims and Jews may not wish to eat pork.
So having at least one non-pork and non-meat option is an excellent idea. If your picnic has a theme, your menu can reflect that.
Decide whether you want to permit alcoholic beverages. If so, make sure there is a way to ensure that anyone who drinks a bit too much makes it home safely.
Have age appropriate activities and games
Some venues such as picnic parks make it a point to supply many activities. Nonetheless, you may want to supplement them. Entertainers such as DJs, caricature artists, Tarot card readers, Magicians, Mind Readers, face painters, clowns are some popular additions.
Door prizes are a cherished company picnic idea at many firms. Door prizes work both as employee appreciation and an incentive for the employees to linger.
Examples of some prizes I've seen include certificate good for a dinner for two at a local restaurant, gift certificate at a local department store, a day off with pay, even a free vacation complete with round trip airline tickets.
These are some company picnic ideas and planning tips to get you started.
But the most important tip is the one I save for last. After you've worked so hard to organize and plan your event, be sure to go and enjoy the festivities yourself!

Want to learn more? Visit my blog, http://coolpartyhost.com where you can find cool party tips and tricks and observations of author, Ellen Zucker, who has entertained at hundreds of parties and special events of all kinds for over 15 years.
mailto:Ellen@facesandfortunes.com or (215) 722 2453

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Zucker

If you or you company is planning  a company picnic this summer and want to make it fun and exciting for all who attend one of my Magic or Mind-Reading entertainment packages might be right for you!  Check out our website at:  http://BestPartyMagic.com or http://yourminwaves.blogspot.com/  
and we can discus your event!

Should You Hire a Professional Event Planner for Your Kids Party

I came across this great article on Hiring a Professional Event Planner for your Kids Party!  It is chock full of great ideas, tips and information for throwing the perfect kiddie party!  If you are looking for ways to make your child's party Fun, Exciting, and of course Stress Free, this article is for you!

And if you are looking for a professional magician for that Guaranteed WOW factor please Click Here to find out about all of our Funny and Interactive magic programs for kids Birthday Parties, First Communions, Family Reunions and Special Family Gatherings!

Here's the article! 

Any parent would hope and want to have their kids remember their parties as fun and exciting. Unfortunately, not all parents would have the luxury of time and perfect skills to plan and execute the perfect kiddie party they envision. If you have been grueling yourself to find out ways in making your child's birthday bash memorable or you just have a very little time off from work then hiring an professional event planner who specializes in children's parties may just help you make your child's party one event to remember.

A lot of things have to be considered in the process of event planning for your kid's party. From food, entertainment, games, activities, invitee list to the overall theme of the event. The ages and genders of guests are also important for you to be able to finalize the games and activities. If you are looking at inviting a bigger group, then tasks may get too overwhelming. This is the time when you have to consider of getting the right event planner that can give you advices on all the details and assist you on the day of your kid's dream party with that suitable themes, activities, games and entertainment for the kids' age group.

Hiring an event planner for children's parties would basically provide you a professional service for the big day of your child. Entertainment is also included usually in their packages so you can choose from the different of types of entertainment and themes such as costumed characters, princesses, superheroes, clowns, magicians and a lot more. The good thing about the top performers they make sure to give the children a good show. Some cheap entertainers will just do a fast show and then leave. But if you hire an events planner, you are guaranteed that the entertainers will be the life of the entire party from start to finish.

In reality, there are parents who still feel a bit apprehensive in getting a professional entertainer since this person may be tough to manage. On the other hand, the right performer may just truly lessen the stress that usually goes along with throwing a party. The experienced entertainers are attuned to dealing with big groups of kids. Moreover, they can manage varying types of character and personality. They are skilled in handling the attention span of young kids. Apart from these, they are experts in handling children activities to run smoothly, on time and keep the kids happy. Parents will just have to enjoy the party while seeing the children having a great time and keeps them from being too busy and stressed out with the other details of the party
.
The services of an event planner do not end with entertainment. They also cover other important details in making the day even more exceptional. A variety options include magic shows, pony rides, costumed mascots and inflatable bouncers. In addition, they can provide catering services as well, releasing you from all the hassles of cooking in the kitchen.

It is very important to do your homework too when finding a party planner. The best way is for you to ask your network of friends and colleagues who may have hired event planners in the past for references and recommendations. It is important to choose a service that specializes in events for kids. Anything unexpected may happen when it comes to having kids around. This will be the primary reason why the entertainers and event planners you have to hire must be capable of handling kids while having fun and excitement.

If you have done all the details right, then you are set to have an extra special party for your child and will surely be remembered in the next years to come. Parents may initially feel that they are up to handle all the tasks needed to be done by themselves, but not until they realize that they can completely benefit from all the possible resources and expertise of a professional event planner. Only if you have hired the right event planner to address your needs, then you can relax and have a good time while planning and during the party. You can trust that your kid's special day is being taken care of by a professional which is considered to be the greatest gift to your child.

For more information on where to find a good event planner refer to this site: http://www.bidmyservices.com/. We have a variety of different services that will match your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Kurt_Tyler 

 See you next week!  And I hope you have a Fantastic Party!

  

Kindest Thoughts,

Ted & Best Party Magic

Connecticut's Favorite Kids and Family Magician

 ted@bestpartymagic.com

BestPartyMagic.com

Save Money on Your Kids next Birthday Party

Hi,

Connecticut's Favorite Family Magician here with some exciting things to share with you!  We have several new projects in the works and our best sale ever on my magic services!

Ok, first up...I'm in the process of putting together a new instructional magic dvd.  This will include most of the magic tricks from my Magic School Workshop program.  There will be footage taken from a live program and studio versions of the magic tricks making it even easier for your kids to learn some really FUN magic!

Most of you reading these newsletters know that I almost never run sales but I had some personal things came up over the last couple of weeks that required some extra money to deal with and Feb. has been a bit of a slow month.  So for that reason I've decided to run a one-time only Slowest Month of the Year Sale!

Here's the details and how this event can benefit you or someone you know!

 When you call by March 7, 2010 to book your party, you can save $100 off  my regular low prices on the Fun Magic Program or the Super Fun Magic Program!

What's the catch? 

Because I'm trying to raise some additional cash right now,   I'm going to ask you to pay for 50% of your program upfront at the time of your booking (as opposed to the normal 20% deposit).  That's it!  You can book your magic program for next week or next year and still Save $100 off either magic program!

As an added Bonus I'll send your child a free copy of my new Magic DVD as soon as it is released!

Just remember that it is $100 off the regular price (no other discounts apply for Back Stage Pass Members as this is the biggest discount I've ever offered for my services).
If you are not planning a party or event at this time you may want to forward this Special Offer to a friend or co-worker! Just be sure to have your friends mention your name, and I'll take good care of them!

You can click here to book your magic show online or call me direct at:  

203-723-7295. 

Just remember to enter the words "slow month" into the Other Comments section of the form or tell me what a slow month Feb. is when we speak to each other on the phone.


Remember...  The Deadline to book your program is March 7th, 2010!  March 8th we go back to my regular fees!  Now is the perfect time to save money if you're planning a party in the near future.  Contact me TODAY to get your child's party on the calendar and get your $100 discount!

Next month we will be updating our website with some new content and pages!  There will be a new client page, new video and a cool contest!  I'll also be posting another Secrets of Magic video for the kids and launching a new live broadcast "Magic Show" on Ustream!  Its going to be alot of FUN!

To make sure you don't miss anything, I encourage you to follow me on Facebook or Twitter!  The links are listed below!
                           


   
So that's it for now.  I hope the rest of your February is a magical one!  I have been spending some extra time with the kids thanks to winter vacation!  We have a cool game of Magic the Gathering planned for later this afternoon!  Hopefully I will last longer than 10 minutes in this game!  My kids can be very brutal but its a lot of FUN!

With kindest thoughts,

Ted




Connecticut's Favorite Kids and Family Magician!
203-723-7295
Ted@BestPartyMagic.com 

Super Party Tips 5-How Much Should I Spend?

Click to Play

Hi Everyone,

One of the things I'm constantly asked about is pricing.  This has been a consistent question even before the economy took a turn for the worst.  This is a difficult question as there is no real black and white answer. If you were to contact 10 doctors in your area and said, I have a broken arm how much will it be to fix it, you will get 10 different answers!  Same applies here!  But you can make an informed decision!

In this video I try to give some solid guidelines for pricing your children magician for your Birthday Party!  These are thing that you need to consider to avoid having a bad experience with your birthday party entertainer!

I hope that you find the video informative and that you use it when the next time your planning a party or event!  You can find more fun and informative videos here on or blog or on my youtube channel.  

Or if your kids would like to learn some great easy to do magic tricks that will blow their friends away! I have 5 different magic tricks they can learn on my website!

Please feel free to leave your comments or suggestions below!  I love to hear from our viewers and readers!

And don't forget to follow me on Facebook!

Ted Peterson

Connecticut's Favorite Family Magician

203-723-7295

ted@bestpartymagic.com

http://bestpartymagic.com

P.S.  Be on the look out for Super Party Tips 6!!!  Coming Soon!

http://bestpartymagic.com Master Connecticut magician and entertainer Ted Peterson shares some guidelines for pricing a children' entertainer. Are you paying too much? Find affordable professional Kids entertainment for your birthday party or family event! Distributed by Tubemogul.