Let's party

The very heart of the home party plan business is dating more parties. Without parties, your business is at a virtual standstill, with no ways to generate substantial sales. With your date book filled with scheduled parties, a world of opportunity opens up for you to grow your business and experience financial rewards.

So how do you generate more parties? Here are my 5 favorite ways to get more parties dated during a home party demonstration.

#5 Offer Incentives

As you go about your demonstration, be sure you point out various dating incentives to your guests. Make sure the guests know that they can receive a gift just for dating a party, and another for holding the party. Go over your party plan companies hostess plans, and when possible, show guests the actual items they can receive.

#4 Stack Your Hostess

Play a game of Show and Tell. You can explain hostess gifts to your guests until you are blue in the face, but until the guests actually see what it is that they can receive, it doesn’t mean much to them.

Towards the end of your presentation, have your hostess sit in a chair at the front of the room. Take this opportunity to thank her for hosting the party. Then begin to stack her.

Starting with the gift of least value, hand all the items to her one by one that she has received for hosting the party. Give her the conversation starter gift, the dating gift, the hosting gift. Make sure you stack her with all the items it is possible to receive, even if the party sales are not totaled yet. Does your company offer half price items in addition to other hostess gifts? Stack her with those as well.

When guests see just how much they can receive, they are more likely to date a party themselves.

#3 The Theme Book

Your party guests want to have fun! What better way to get them excited than by offering a wide array of themed parties? Everything from the traditional Auction Party to a Banana Split Party, Couples Party, Children’s Party or Margarita with the Girls. Get creative and think of fun ways that your guests can come together with their friends.

Print out a simple information page with each of these ideas and put the pages in a 3-ring binder. Leave the binder on the coffee table before and during the party. When your guests find a theme that interests them, they will be happy to date a show with you.

#2 Dating Games

Most home party consultants offer their guests some sort of prize or trinket for coming to a show. Reserve your most sought after trinkets and prizes for a special dating game. At the end of your show, offer the best goodies to your guests for participating in the Dating Game.

Have all the trinkets in a large bowl or decorated box. On each trinket, attach a note. Half the notes should say “Host a Party” while the other half should have a variety of messages ranging from “Draw Again” to “You’ve Won a Free Item”. Tell the guests that participation in this game is optional. Explain to the guests that on each prize is a note, and whatever the note says is what is to be done. If a guest draws a “free item” prize, you will give her a specified free item, but if she draws a “Host a Party” prize, you expect her to date a party tonight.

This really helps to determine which guests are willing to hold a party. Only guests who are willing to consider the idea will draw a prize.

#1 ASK!

This might seem obvious, but the best way to date more parties at your next demonstration is to get into the habit of asking each guest. Do not feel that you are being pushy. The guests expect you to ask them to host a party! One method I have used to force myself to ask each and every guest when they place their order is this.

At the beginning of the party, I make an announcement. I hold out a $20 bill and say “At the end of the show I will be asking each and every one of you to host a party to be eligible to receive all these wonderful hostess gifts! If, however, I forget to ask you to host a show, I will give you $20 worth of product of your choice!”

This forces me to ask each guest, and makes each guest aware, prepared, and even looking forward to my question.

Having a Hawaiian luau party is a great way to celebrate a joyous occasion. Seeing people in different costumes are always exciting and are memorable when pictures are taken. Since luaus are associated with summer, many theme shops are offering items to help in the decorations. Those who wish to have this kind of event can get summer party supplies from different shops around the country. These shops offer Hawaiian luau party supplies to those who have this particular theme in mind. These items are not very expensive and can even be bought at a discounted price if bought in bulk.

The famous luau skirts can be found in shops that sells Hawaiian luau party supplies. It can be donned by both men and women but for the purpose of party costumes, it is best worn by women. Men however will need to wear them for performing the traditional Hawaiian dance. The skirt is originally made from grass but the ones commonly found in shops are usually made from plastic or cotton strings. Children will look very cute in the luau skirt especially when they too are performing the traditional dance during the party.

Hawaiian luau party supply shops also sells customized flowers that makes great accessories for guests. Since men are usually clad in brightly colored shirts, they can add on the flowers to further tune up to the party theme. Although flowers are more suitable to be worn by women, for the sake of Hawaiian party, they make great accessories for men too. The flowers can be attached to the collar of the shirt or pocket. These flowers can be in shades of yellow, blue or red.

To go with the shirts, floral shorts are best for bottom attire. You can also find them at Hawaiian luau party supplies shops. They are very comfortable too considering that the party will most likely be held during the hot summer time. Ladies too can don these floral shorts underneath their luau skirt should they feel uncomfortable with wearing swimsuits or bikinis. For men though, they can also wear slacks should it be allowed for the party.

Flip-flops are the best footwear to be worn with the attires mentioned for this party. However, just because flip-flops are fairly simple looking footwear, you should also make sure that you choose one that compliments your outfit. You have a choice between designer flip-flops or the common ones that can be bought from stores. Even the Hawaiian luau party supply sells them for a pretty cheap price. Designers are more expensive and they would have their company or designer logo on the flip-flops. You can also find flip-flops that are drawn and designed by popular artist.

One last accessories to complete the look for Hawaiian luau party. Leis are absolute must haves because without it, the party just doesn’t look Hawaiian enough. Choose from the many colors available but some popular choices are blue, red and violet. You can buy leis at summer party or Hawaiian luau party supply stores and they must be worn for both men and women. You should also take note of the material the leis as they can develop irritations for your guests that have sensitive skin for they will be worn on the neck throughout the event.

Hawaiian themed parties should be an exciting one filled with fun events for the guests. Therefore, to make it work, you should be encouraging your guests to join in the fun. There are also souvenirs in which can be bought from the Hawaiian luau party supplies that can be given to the guests. Don’t forget to have tropical food and drinks to further make the theme come to life.

Jordan Francis: “Start The Party” song Scene in Camp Rock. FULL and HQ. Copyright 2008 Disney Records/Disney Channel. Thank you to: TheSawRemix for uploading the full video (from which this song was taken from). LYRICS: Yeah First stop, hit the groove let the music play …

A boy who was severely brain damaged while playing on a bouncy castle was today awarded almost £1 million in compensation.

The incident happened in September 2005 when Sam Harris, then aged 11 was playing at a neighbours party. He was playing on the bouncy castle on the permission of Mrs Perry who was holding the party. An older boy, Sammy Pring, 15 was also playing on the bouncy castle and accidentally kicked Sam in the head while attempting a somersault.

Sam Harris suffered a fractured skull and ‘extensive brain injury’ as a result of the accident.

Sam’s parents, Janet and David Harris, who are separated decided to take legal action on behalf of Sam against the Perry’s over the incident and today won their case.

Mr and Mrs Perry had tried to counter-sue Mr Harris as he was present at the party, saying that he should have been looking after his son while he was there. The judge dismissed this claim.

The judge ruled that the Perry’s should pay compensation to Sam, saying “I find that the shortfall in supervision was causative of the accident.”

He went on to say that “Sammy Pring should not have been allowed to use the bouncy castle at the same time as the younger and smaller children, as the risks of a damaging collision are manifestly enhanced by mixing children of different sizes on a bouncy castle.”

Mr and Mrs Harris welcomed the ruling, saying that it came as a huge relief and would enable them to get the specialist care that Sam needs as a result of the injury.

They added that they do not wish to stop children having fun at parties such as this, they simply feel that supervision is vital:

“We appreciate that thousands of children enjoy playing on bouncy castles every year and we would not wish to stop that happening,” they said.

“But it is vital that those hiring them supervise them properly if accidents like Sam’s are to be avoided”

Some legal experts are worried that the ruling will prompt other parents to bring legal action in a whole host of minor cases where children are hurt while under the care of others.

Lawyer Ian Caplin said that “The concern is that at a children’s party where one child whacks another one over the head with a lollipop and causes mild scarring, a parent will want to take legal action”. He admitted that “this particular case is very serious” but is concerned that other “people might consider litigation when they never would before because it gets into the popular mindset” as a result of this ruling.

Kim Daniels, a personal injury lawyer agrees, adding that she could see the ruling making people “thinking twice before they organise parties and that might be a shame.”

Despite her line of work relying on cases such as these, Ms Daniels found the ruling surprising and commented that “It is alarming that you do your best for your visitors and find yourself liable.”