BLOGS Secrets From a Party Planner: Top 10 Tips for a Stress-Free Party

March 28, 2018
Secrets From a Party Planner: Top 10 Tips for a Stress-Free Party

By Camille Styles

Source: HGTV

Learn how to host like a pro without breaking a sweat. Camille Styles, event planner and party blog editor, shares her top tips and “rules to live by” when hosting your next big party or get-together.

Simple Planning

Planning a party or event shouldn’t be stressful or intimidating. By staying organized and starting early, you can plan, create and host a memorable affair with ease. Download and print our detailed party planning checklist to make the process even easier, from one month before the party to an hour before your guests arrive.

Get Organized

I always keep several lists that I continually update through the planning process: a master to-do list where I highlight every task that must be accomplished, a shopping list that ensures I won’t forget any supplies, and an all-important guest list where I track contact information, dietary restrictions and RSVPs.

Create a Theme

Milestones like birthdays and holidays can be even more festive when a creative theme is chosen to set the tone. Transform your space into a south-of-the-border fiesta by serving margaritas and hiring a mariachi band, or throw a Great Gatsby-inspired brunch with croquet on the lawn. The possibilities are endless!

Send Out Invites

Although online invitations are perfectly acceptable for last-minute get-togethers, there’s nothing quite like a mailed invitation to set the tone for a party and build anticipation for the fun in store. There are plenty of online stationery companies offering chic well-designed invitation designs, or you can get creative and make your own. A brightly colored square of card stock embellished with finds from local craft stores is every bit as special as custom invitations (and for a fraction of the cost, too).

Offer a Self-Serve Bar

The key to a simple drink service? Set up a self-serve bar so guests can be their own mixologists. Set up a pretty tray with a decanter, two or three kinds of liquor and a few festive mixers. Let everyone have fun creating their own concoctions. Welcome guests with a drink upon arrival by placing a tray of champagne and sparkling water near the door so they can grab some bubbly and start mingling as soon as they arrive.

Create a Specialty Concoction

It’s fun to include at least one specialty cocktail that leaves a lasting impression with your guests. Serve it in a chic glass or incorporate creative garnishes to make it extra festive. Tip: As a general rule of thumb, plan on one alcoholic drink per hour per guest.

Keep Appetizers Simple

Consider serving dinner-by-the-bite with trays of mouthwatering hors d’oeuvres in lieu of a sit-down meal. This less-formal approach allows guests to sample lots of different flavors and provides more opportunities to mingle with other guests. The key to whipping up appetizers in a snap is to assemble ready-made ingredients from the market — instead of making everything from scratch. A few of my favorites are toasted pita wedges with hummus and eggplant dip, bruschetta with buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil, and warm Marcona almonds sprinkled with sea salt.

Set Up a Kids’ Table

For a family-friendly gathering, it’s often smart to set up a separate area for little ones to have their own fun. Try covering a table in butcher paper, and place bundles of colored pencils in Mason jars at each seat so kids can channel their artistic side right on the table. Bamboo plates make cute (and disposable) place settings, and a cupcake centerpiece is sure to be met with delight. Just don’t expect them to save dessert for last!

Keep Settings Simple

A perfectly set table doesn’t have to be complicated; feel free to give place settings a modern twist. Tie flatware with pretty ribbon or fabric, handwrite names on a piece of kraft paper and tie to the stem of seasonal fruit, or add a vibrant napkin for a pop of color. Try incorporating natural
elements that mesh with the concept, like bare branches with snowy white votives for a wintry setting or glass vases full of seashells for a beach party.

Stay Relaxed

Leave yourself an hour before guests arrive to freshen up, slip into something party-ready and light some candles for added ambiance. This creates a welcoming atmosphere from the moment you open the door with a big smile and cocktail in hand, of course. Don’t forget that, as the host, you set the tone, so a relaxed attitude will bring out the same in your guests.

Don’t Forget the Favors

A small token of affection is an unforgettable way to end a celebration. Pretty boxes with candies or homemade baked goods are personal and sure to be much appreciated by your guests. Small terra-cotta pots with herbs and flowers are super affordable and even double as a table centerpiece during the party.

BLOGS 33 Tips for a Bride Planning Her Own Wedding

March 22, 2018
33 Tips for a Bride Planning Her Own Wedding

By Mindy Weiss

Source: Brides

Consider this your DIY wedding planning checklist!

First thing’s first: planning a wedding can feel pretty overwhelming at first (trust me, I do it for a living). While recruiting a professionals to help out can be pretty ideal, maybe you’re working under a tight budget, or maybe you simply love going the DIY route. It may be a lot of work, but it is possible to plan your own dream wedding!

It just takes a bit of organization to keep everything on track when you’re faced with endless decisions, lists, deadlines and, you know, your own life to deal with. The trick is taking things one step at a time and recruiting friends and family (including that future spouse of yours!) to help. And give yourself plenty of time to plan. You’ll make things so much harder on yourself if you try to plan and oversee every detail and try to do it all at the last minute. A longer timeline is your friend here—aim for around a year if possible. Now, where do you begin?

Once you’ve spent some time spreading the news of your engagement and actually enjoying that special time, the budget will need to be the very first thing you finalize to get the wedding planning train going. And that can involve some uncomfortable conversations if you have any family members who are planning to chip in for the big day. So don’t delay! Have those conversations early and determine the amount everyone is comfortable spending, and then build in a 10% “splurge cushion” for any unexpected costs or urges you’ll inevitably succumb to. Be prepared for a reality check when it comes to budgeting for this big day. Many couples don’t realize the costs involved and may find that their dream wedding is a bit out of reach. In that case, be prepared to prioritize. You really can have your ideal wedding on almost any budget if you iron out what exactly is important to you and focus on those few things.

With the budget in place, it’s time to start getting inspired and delving into the nitty gritty details! Have some fun with this part; now’s the time to indulge in all those bridal magazines (ahem, BRIDES!) and blogs to get a sense of the style of wedding you want. Think about weddings you recently attended. What did you like? What would you do differently? Real life experience is always the best form of inspiration. Don’t forget to involve your fiancé in this step as well! Your wedding should represent both of you as a couple.

Organization is key when planning your own wedding. You’ll have so many balls up in the air at once, you’ll need a way to keep track of everything. You can use spreadsheets or one of the many wedding planning management apps or programs out there. Just find what works best for you and stick with it. Just remember that even with the most meticulous planning and organization system, there is bound to be some chaos from time to time. Try your best to plan ahead and don’t be too hard on yourself.

See more: The 25 Best Wedding Planning Websites and Apps for Every Kind of Bride

The most important thing to keep in mind: Try to have some fun! This is your wedding after all! Don’t get too hung up on those tiny details and focus on what’s truly important: a happy marriage with the person of your dreams.

Now that you’re armed and ready to begin the planning process, here are some of my top tips for planning an unforgettable wedding.

(And for more specific info on what to do the week before your wedding, check out our guide here!)

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BLOGS How To Begin DJing When You’re Broke as a Joke

March 14, 2018
How To Begin DJing When You’re Broke as a Joke

By David Michael

Source: Passionate DJ

We often receive questions like, “What’s a good budget DJ setup” or “How do I start DJing if I don’t have any money?”

The modern DJ is presented with a plethora of options. Once upon a time, your choice was simple: you needed two turntables and a mixer. If you were on a budget, you got the cheapest setup you felt like you could get away with. If you had the money, you got a pair of Technics and a DJM-something.

It’s not just turntables anymore. There’s standalone controllers, modular controllers, FX units, mixers with sound cards, sound cards, software… the list goes on and on.

What does one actually need?

Tip #1: Get Focused

As an aspiring DJ, the question you should ask yourself is, “What kind of DJ do I want to be?”

There are a number of reasons for DJs to exist, and there are different things that inspire and motivate them.

Do you want to create mixes for your own listening pleasure? Do you want to start your own radio show or podcast? Do you want to focus on scratching and turntablism? Do you want to just want to play house parties with your buddies? Or do you want to start your own mobile DJ business, specializing in weddings and corporate events? The choice is yours.

If you are struggling with this, an alternative question might be:

“Who will my audience be?”

This is important, because it is a crucial step in determining what kind of gear to buy. If you want to be a turntablist, you may have no need for a standalone Traktor controller. Some options are more portable than others, which may be better for mobile DJs… and so-on.

Putting in a little thought and research now can save you wasted money, in the long run.

Tip #2: Use What You’ve Got

We all have a few noise-making gadgets laying around.

A common myth about DJing is that you need all sorts of specialist gear in order to do it. But guess what? DJing is simply playing pre-recorded music to an audience. Everything else is just gravy.

So what do you have that you can utilize now?

Put those expensive DJ monitors on hold, and use that old set of 2.1 PC speakers in your closet. Instead of spending $500 on a pair of powered monitors, spend a dollar or two for a simple adapter.

While it’s true that you probably don’t want to throw any parties with under-powered speakers (unless you want to blow them up), it may be worth scouring your closet, garage, and shed to find out what you can use as a temporary solution.

Bonus Tip: One of the first problems for a gear-less DJ is, “how do I cue/monitor my mixes?” In other words, how can you “pre-listen” in your headphones so that you can properly mix?

If you can’t afford a proper audio interface or mixer, a simple splitter may be just the solution. Essentially, this combines your left/right channels into one mono signal, and leaves the other channel available for monitoring in your headphones.

Some (such as the cable to the right) even let you accomplish this with your iPad or iPhone using software like Traktor DJ.

Tip #3: Utilize Free and Cheap Music

Filling up your shopping cart at Beatport, with a bunch of new tracks that cost up to $2.49 a piece, can cause a bit of sticker shock when hitting “checkout”.

There are plenty of ways to save on your music budget, without resorting to piracy. Many artists use sites like Bandcamp to allow the buyer to choose their own price, or give away free tracks to their most dedicated followers.

Depending on the type of music, you can also purchase digital music the “standard” way, but from a different store. Sometimes the same track for sale on Beatport might be up to a dollar cheaper on WhatPeoplePlay.com or some other digital store. iTunes is often cheaper as well.

A DJ on a budget may decide to not pay the upcharge for WAV files. 320kbps sounds fine, and lossless music can be prohibitively expensive.

Tip #4: Become a Keyboard Shortcut Ninja

Today’s DJ software will function surprisingly well on its own, even without using dedicated hardware (like a controller).

Sure, there are limits. There are things you can’t easily do, like slowly filter out the bass of track A while you bring up the channel volume of track B.

But. a DJ can learn a lot about mixing by operating under limitations like this. And the methods you develop can be added to your DJ “toolbox” for the rest of time.

Let’s take the above example. There are no knobs on your laptop keyboard to turn, in order to smoothly remove the bass. But you do have a lot of buttons. Learn (or map) the keyboard shortcut for a bass kill (which would simulate instantly turning the low EQ all the way down).

Not only have you worked around your problem, but you’ve inherently learned a new style of mixing. And you’ve learned that the sudden impact from track B’s kick drum can be very effective, rather than slowly blending it in.

A lot of DJ software is available for free… so if you already have a computer, you can easily have basic DJ functionality with a little clever thinking.

Hint: without any special hardware, your experience with DJ software will be greatly enhanced by doing some track prep. Proper beat grids prevent tracks from drifting out of time, predetermined cue points save you from mousing around, etc.

keyboard

Tip #5: Buy Used

Don’t be afraid of buying used or refurbished DJ gear. Many companies are releasing hardware at a fairly high refresh rate, which means that older models quickly become available as early adopters buy the latest-and-greatest.

If it was used to mix music at any point in history, it can probably be used to mix music now.

For example, at the time of this article, the Kontrol S2 sells for $399 brand new… but I was able to find them on eBay hovering around and below the $200 mark in mint condition.

If you have the option to buy locally, it might be the preferred option. There are a lot of little knobs and buttons and lights on DJ gear, which means a lot of points of failure. It’s nice to be able to see and hear everything in action.

When buying online, try to do your homework. When possible, investigate the feedback and history of your seller.

Tip #6: Avoid Snobbery

Many people seem to think that “pro-level” gear is required to become a DJ, or that real DJs only play vinyl, or that it’s not worth it to play on anything other than industry standard Pioneer hardware.

If it sounds good, it is good.

Impressing your DJ buddies is less important than serving your own needs, and operating within the confines of your budget.

Let the squeaky wheels squeak, while you learn how to express yourself through music instead of hardware.

Bang-For-Buck Hardware

We often get questions from listeners of The Passionate DJ Podcast, asking for recommendations on beginner DJ hardware which is high-quality, sturdy, but also affordable. We address this question in Episode 68, titled Baller on a Budget.

We gave ourselves a (soft) $500 budget and put together 4 unique setups that would allow someone to get started DJing, learn the craft, and even play out some gigs. The only assumption we make, is that you will have some external audio source to hook up to.

You’ll have to listen to the episode for the explanations behind each setup, but you can see the full list of hardware on the show notes page.

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BLOGS 4 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your Next Event

March 7, 2018
4 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your Next Event

By Rebecca Andruszka

Source: The Muse

For the past few months, I’ve been trying to put together my organization’s schedule for 2015. The most important thing I had to do was to make sure that I knew when all of our events were happening. But before I could pencil them into my calendar, I first had to get a sense of what events I really needed to plan.

For nonprofits, the events you host are the primary ways that your community will interact with your organization. And so, it’s vital that they represent you well. A hastily thrown together event will look it—and make it seem like your organization is incompetent. To make sure you host the best events possible , it’s important that you prioritize your events and plan them to be as effective as possible.

Over the past 10-plus years I’ve spent working for nonprofits, I’ve developed four crucial questions to ask myself before I decide to plan an event.

1. What Does Our Organization Need From This Event?

Basically, why are you considering hosting this event in the first place? Are you trying to raise money ? If so, how much? Are you trying to meet new supporters or forge new connections? If it’s not a fundraiser, maybe you’re trying to attract new clients or educate the folks who are already part of your organization about a new initiative.

If this event isn’t doing anything for you, why are you doing it? You need to establish what stake your organization has in the outcomes of the event before you commit time and resources to it. This will also help you prioritize the event within the context all of your other activities.

2. What Do Your Guests Need From This Event?

Although you should consider your needs first, the event is actually about your guests.In order for you to reach your goals (which you outlined using the question above), you need to entice attendees to interact with you in the right way.

Talk to past and potential guests about what they like about your events and what they’d like in the future. Do they like feeling like an “insider” or being publicly recognized for their generosity? Some might say that they like loud, lively events; others may prefer a more mellow night. A bonus benefit of this strategy is that the people you interview will definitely want to see how you took their advice at your next event.

3. How Are We Going to Do This?

Now that you have a sense of what your guests will need, you have to think about how to give them what they want. For example, if your guests need to have a better understanding of your program, maybe you decide to have a client speak at the eventabout his or her experience with that particular program, or you show a video and distribute reading materials about your model. Or, if you have a major fundraising goal and a fun-loving audience, maybe a live auction is the way to go.

Since this is just an outline, you don’t need to dive too deep into the details or fully commit to anything yet. However, if you realize that you don’t have the capacity to do an event that will meet the needs of your organization and guests, now is the time to figure that out. You don’t necessarily have to scrap the idea , but this question will help you figure out if you need to downsize or recruit extra help.

4. How is This Event Different From Other Events?

There is nothing worse than going to the same event twice in one year—and nothing could be more costly for the host. If you find yourself planning a lunch, dinner, and golf outing for the same group of donors in the same year, you can expect donor fatigue and diminishing returns on investment. Instead, consider planning one major blowout event for those donors, and then a smaller event for your prospects or best volunteers.

In Action

To help you get started, here’s a sample strategy for an event I recently put together using these four questions:

What Do We Need?

  • Raise $50,000
  • Upgrade five donors
  • Attract 10 new donors, three at $5K or higher
  • Introduce new capital campaign

What Do the Guests Need?

  • To feel confident that their money is being wisely invested
  • A chance to see the program first-hand
  • Justification to give more—beyond the ticket price

How Are We Going to Do This?

  • Engage board of directors to invite new donors
  • Set up pre-event lunches with current donors to upgrade
  • Invite a program participant to speak
  • Hire new designer for invite and program
  • Feed them well—consider asking local chefs
  • Set up text-to-give capability
  • Hire a band
  • Increase press coverage

How is This Event Different?

  • Our only sit-down dinner
  • Only event targeted at our major donors (60s-70s, mostly retired, mostly past or current volunteers)
  • Only event that all board members usually attend
  • Usually scheduled for the spring, at the same time as client graduation

Event planning can be an exhausting, time-consuming task—even more so if your events are actually meeting your goals. Ask yourself these four questions, however, and you’ll be able to better strategize for your events and determine which ones are really necessary and worthwhile for your organization.

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