Birthday Party Basics
By Adrian Cavlan
Uh…… happy birthday?
!!!
??
Well, I just took a wild guess because you are reading this : )
OK - so - you’re having a birthday party. And maybe it’s a bigger one than usual.
Maybe you are doing it at your house for 15 people, or maybe renting a local hall or restaurant banquet room for 100 people?
Maybe you are hiring a DJ, getting a photo booth, doing some fun decor and lighting?
Well, if you are doing anything that starts going up the scale in size, it’s a good idea to start thinking of the night’s entertainment itinerary in advance, because trying to “wing it” for a great party almost never works!
The good news is that you don’t have to go crazy here. Just be thoughtful of what you and your guests might enjoy, perhaps even expect, at a birthday party, and then maybe add a few little things that will make this one stand out in an appropriate and good way.
May YOU live to be 100 too!
Let’s take a look -
Your entrance: Contemplating this in advance is very important because the how and when of it determines how and when your party will start, what time to put on the invitations, etc.
Some people want to roll full diva mode here, and that’s TOTALLY OK if that’s your bag : ) You would of course plan to be fashionably late, but note: don’t be unfashionably late and make your guests wait circling the airport for an hour wondering when you’ll get there. Remember: they are all there to be with you. Some mingling for a bit before you arrive is appropriate, but plan to be there maybe after a half-hour or so at the most.
Maybe instead you would like to take a more low-key, humble approach? That’s fine too. In that case, maybe you are there greeting your guests as they arrive and making them feel welcome as you get a chance for a nice chat with each. It’s a good vibe, so if you are feeling it, do it.
OR - how about the “surprise” party? Those are SO FUN! Of course, it is likely if you are reading this that you are not the honoree, but rather the person throwing the party for the honoree. Good for you! The big thing here is for you to be in cahoots with your DJ or ringleader via cell phone/texting so you can let him/her know when you are en route, what your ETA is, and then when “the eagle has landed.” You will want to advise your DJ or ringleader to let people know when this process has started, and have them instruct people as to what to do as the arrival gets to be imminent (i.e. “ok - time to be quiet now… time to find your hiding places now… time to turn off the lights now… they’re in the parking lot now!!” etc.)
Timing: So yes, depending on the how of #1 above, you may decide to have your guests arrive and entertainment start maybe 30 min or so before the entrance. If you have a DJ, playing some fun, upbeat but not dance-y stuff here works well to set the mood. Again, he/she or the ringleader of your group can instruct people if necessary re. your entrance.
Duration & Itinerary: Typical birthday parties last around 4-5 hours, especially depending on meal service. Itineraries may look something like: 5:30pm start; 6pm arrival; 6:15pm meal service; 7pm dancing starts; 7:30-45 break for singing happy birthday, birthday cake and then people taking turns on the mic sharing toasts/stories, etc about the birthday honoree (*this is highly suggested and really makes for some of the best moments of the party); 8:15pm dancing starts again and goes until about 9:30 or…??
Spotlight Dance: Sometimes it can be a very nice thing to have the honoree get to have a nice dedication dance with their spouse or significant other. If this feels right for you or the person you are having the party for, do it! It can be a romantic song for just the two, or you could make it a fun dance song as a special dedication from the birthday boy/girl to all the guests and use it to invite them all up and get the party started right after meal service. Or - heck - do both! Do the spotlight dance for the two to start the open dancing after dinner, and then do the whole party dedication to start the dancing again after cake and toasts!
Open Mic / Toasts: As mentioned above, it’s a really, really nice way to celebrate the individual in whose honor the party is being given. Hopefully, they will have a room filled with people who love them and will share what they think makes the honoree such a special person, or perhaps a story that shines light on their character or just makes the audience laugh a little. It’s all good as long as no jerks get the mic! Really, hopefully, no jerks were invited in the first place LOL!
Other fun stuff to consider: Know your group and what they will enjoy. Birthday parties are probably the most informal parties you can have. Just have fun! All the “overplayed” stuff is ok too - Celebration, We Are Family, Love Shack, The Macarena, Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide, Cupid Shuffle, YMCA… it’s all good. No one judges. Do what you think is fun.
And if you wouldn’t be caught dead doing any of the things just listed, GOOD. YOU BE YOU!
Well, I could probably go on, but I think some of the big stuff has been covered, so here’s to having an amazing party, and - CALL US! We’ve got all the good stuff and we’ll help you every step of the way : )