Posts Tagged ‘mitzvah’

Before the recent financial crisis there seemed to be no limit on what parents were spending on their sons or daughter’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah.   It seemed to be a “can you top this” situation where one party was more extravagant then the next.   The decorations were over the top, larger and more elaborate venues were being used, bands with 10, 11 12 members, food from the top chefs, and party favors that were unforgettable all without a budget in mind. We went to a Bat Mitzvah held in an airplane hanger.   This venue obviously started out as an empty space, they had to lay flooring throughout the hanger, bring in tables and chairs, ovens for the chefs, lighting for the whole area, build walls around the area being used, a sound system, set up parking areas and god knows what else to make this a usable place to hold a party.   They had an elaborate video made, that included a trip on a private plane and numerous other settings.   They had a huge band and then to close the night they really had the original or what is left of the original “Village People” perform.   They all kinds of things for the kids to win, electronic items, clothing, etc. , etc.   They gave out several party favors when the whole affair was over.   Was the party unbelievable, absolutely!  Was it over the top, absolutely!  Did everyone have a fantastic time, absolutely!  Was it necessary to do all this, how can anyone count anyone else’s money or tell them how to spend it, but I can guarantee since the latest financial hit there are a lot less of these kinds of parties going on across the country then there used to be. With parents cutting back on how huge and how elaborate of a pary to give, they are alos cutting back on what they spend on their party favors.   Even though supplying party favors is our business and of course we make more when people are able to spend more, we know and appreciate what is going on in the country.   We also know it is not how much you spend on your party but what you give and you imprint it (to be covered in another article). Your budget is your budge, spend what you are comfortable spending.   Take beach towels as an example, this is a fantastic gift, but depending on how you decorate the towel it can get a small pricey.   In this case reckon about imprinting with a one color imprint versus embroidering them.   Another example is a drawstring bag, you can get one for $7. 00 or $8. 00 or one for less then half that cost.   Does the more expensive one maybe have an extra pocket or a sharper looking design to it, probably, but in these financial times you have to reckon is it worth the the extra money?  In some cases it will be, in most the less expensive item will work just fine.   Your child has their set on a sweatshirt, reckon a crewneck one versus a hoodie with pockets, less expensive but very desirable as a party favor. But don’t make the mistake of choosing your end of the night giveaway solely on cost.   We have so many parents contact us and the first thing they say is “this is my third bar mitzvah, I just want something cheap, so I can be done with this”.   You can get something less expensive but still have some usefulness to your child’s friends.   Why even buy something cheap just for the sake of giving something out at the end of the night that will be thrown out the next morning.   A excellent online party favor company should have a large selection of bags and other items that are less expensive, bu with the proper decoration would still be appreciated by your child’s friends.   Of course if you really are on a tight budget, reckon about doing a white t-shirt with a one color imprint, inexpensive and who can’t use another t-shirt, whether it is to sleep in or play sports in. Just remember these are 13 year ancient kids, do they want to receive a party favor at the end of the night, most certainly.   Do they really care how much it costs, absolutely not.   They just want something they can use.        

Bar Mitzvah Favors or Bat Mitzvah Favors What to Imprint!   BarMitzvahFavors. com has done thousands of parties over the years and from our experience most bar/bat mitzvah age kids will go to so many parties and will receive so many party favors it is really hard to make yours stand out and be used.   If you want the favor to be kept and used the first thing you must do is keep it simple when you choose what to imprint on the item.   An imprint like this   “I HAD A BLAST AT DAVID GOLDSTEIN’S BAR MITZVAH”  Sept. 10, 2009   A excellent alternative would be   “DG’s Party Rocked” 9. 10. 09   It is always a excellent thought to use a numeral date like we show above versus writing it out.   There is nothing incorrect with adding some art work to the image, but once again, remember these are very status conscious 13 year ancient kids, who won’t use anything that makes them look anything but cool.   A reliable party favor specialist should be able to have their graphic artist make something that is subtle, yet fascinating enough to appeal to the 13 year ancient mind.   The absolute worst thing you can do is place a picture of your child on a party favor.   No one will use it and the chances are that if anyone does use it, it will be because they have drawn a mustache or beard on the picture and they reckon it is amusing.   Not exactly how you want you child’s special day to be remembered.   Another thing to keep in mind when imprinting is the more colors you use the more expensive the item will be.   The image may look really cool in 5 colors but the cost could get prohibitive.   Again a reliable party favor specialist should be able to make something using only one color, some halftones plus incorporating the color of the item into the design that will make it feel like more then one color but not add to your bottom line.   The imprint is just as vital as what the item you select is.   We recently had someone order beach towels, which is a fantastic party favor especially where they were located and especially since summer was right around the corner.   They then imprinted “I (image of a heart) Mark” on the towel.   They took a fantastic item that certainly would have been used and made it in to something that will hardly ever be used.   Can you imagine a boy lying on the beach with a towel with that design imprinted on it.   Before you choose what to imprint, question your 13 year ancient, if they received this as a party favor with someone else’s name in the imprint would they use it, if they say no, don’t do it.   Size also matters when doing your imprint.   On some items it is always better to go for the subtle look rather then the maximized imprint.   For example if you were doing a mug there is nothing incorrect with making the imprint as huge as possible, of course you are limited by the size of the mug, but this is an item where I would maximize the imprint.   But on the other hand there are some bags with 8” x 8’ imprint areas if not larger, if you were to maximize the size on the imprint we suggested above, it would be overkill and probably once again would be something that a 13 year wouldn’t use.   Once you finally chose on what to imprint on your party favor, take it to the next level and utilize that imprint on your cocktail napkins as well.   It’s a nice touch that will make your cocktail hour even more special and is relatively inexpensive.   So to summarize: 1 – Be subtle. 2 – Don’t ever imprint you child’s first and last name. 3 – Always try to use numbers for the date, don’t write it out. 4 – Never use your child’s picture on your imprint. 5 – Try to keep the number of colors you use in any art work down to save money. 6 – Don’t imprint something because you reckon it is cute, in most cases the kids won’t reckon so and your item won’t be used. 7 – Larger is not always better when deciding on the size of your imprint. 8 – Utilize your imprint on your cocktail napkins. 9 – Remember these are 13 year ancient kids and not looking like a nerd is very vital to them.  

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Let the kvelling start! Coming of age is a major milestone in your child’s life-and yours, and it’s terrific reason to celebrate. Believe it or not, plotting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah party can be nearly as stressful and complicated as plotting a wedding, because many of the same elements (invitations, a venue, a menu, etc. ) require your time and attention. To help you go through the process calmly and thoroughly, here are eight steps designed to keep you on track and unstressed: Pick a date. Establish a day for the service itself with your rabbi, but remember to give yourself plenty of time to plot, as much as a year or two. The service at which your child reads the haftorah might be a Friday evening, Saturday morning or Saturday evening. The party itself can be the same evening or the following evening. You might even want to wait until Sunday. Question your child what kind of party he or she would like. After all, it is all about the celebrant, and the party is going to be full of tweens and teens! Some kids just want a dinner and dance, some prefer a pool party or a roller-skating party, and others might want to party at an amusement park. My friends’ daughter was into rock-wall climbing, so her Bat Mitzvah celebration was held at a local indoor rock-climbing gym. A caterer brought the food in, there was a DJ on staff, and the kids had a ball! The parents had fun, too, watching their kids courageous the wall while schmoozing and noshing. Set a budget. Your budget should be based on the kind of party you’re having and the estimated number of people to be invited. If the bar mitzvah boy wants his party at an amusement park, call the park or go online to find out about group rates and facilities. Most amusement parks have areas you can rent for a picnic or barbecue. Your budget should cover invitations, entry or rental charges, food, decorations, favors, a DJ or a band. Again, it depends on the type of party. Choose a venue. If your child simply wants a dinner and dance, you’ll need to find a location. It may be a banquet room in a hotel, a restaurant with a private room for parties or a special-event facility. Call around to see what the different venues have to offer, and don’t be worried to negotiate for a excellent price on the rental and the catering. Let the different venues know you’re shopping for the best deal. Don’t act nervous, or they’ll be less inclined to offer specials, throw in freebies, or aggressively pursue your business. Plot the menu. Whether it’s professionally catered or self-catered, you need to make the menu. What kind of appetizers, salad, entrée, drinks and dessert will you serve? Since your guest list is mostly kids, gear your menu toward them. Work within your budget. Make the guest list. Start with the family and friends you want to invite. Question your child to make up a guest list, too. Don’t forget to include the rabbi and spouse, as well as other teachers or coaches who helped your child reach this milestone. Place the two lists together and make cuts, if necessary, to stay within budget. Hire a Disc Jockey. Look for DJs who have experience with Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Find out where they’re appearing and go listen. When you sign the contract, be clear on the date, time, location, etc. , and include a list of the songs you and your child want played during the evening. Call to confirm a week or two before the event. Decorations and Favors. Table decorations should be plenty for most Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties. You might have a main table or buffet table with a centerpiece, a cake and photos of your child and your family through the years. You can always add meaningful elements, like Stars of David or a chai. Favors for the adults might be a gourmet treat-filled, blue-and-white favor box that features a laser-cut Star of David. Favors for the kids can be nearly anything kids delight in, like glow sticks, glow necklaces, light-up pens, t-shirts and nearly anything that blinks. Lots of these can be personalized for a special touch. Remember-this is a pleased time, so don’t let Bar or Bat Mitzvah plotting make you meshugah. Have fun-and Mazel Tov!

The theme of my bar mitzvah, was magical. Somewhere along the plotting stages of my mother thought it would be a fantastic party favor, so I gave everyone a CD of video (DVD were not there) gives me a lot. . .