Partying
Would you like to attend party after
party and get paid for it? If not, then you might be an introvert. But if that
sounds like a dream come true then you haven’t been a children’s party planner
and hostess. Let me tell you why.
A children’s party planner and
hostess is a person who performs every aspect of a party. Our job is to be everywhere at once as fast as possible. We spend
our time setting up, conducting the party, cleaning, and setting up the next
party. There’s no time to relax. So don’t confuse attending the party with
working at one. Our main duty is to ensure that the children- and more
importantly their parents- are always happy.
There are three roles that encompass
the duties of a party planner and hostess:
- Babysitter
- Personal Assistant
- Actor
Babysitter
Taking care of people’s children is
stressful; taking care of them while their parents watch is exasperating. As a
babysitter, my job is to:
- Host activities like bubble time, face
painting, and anything the parents pays for
- Ensure that the birthday kid is always
safe and happy
- Discipline children for breaking the rules
without upsetting them
Balancing fun with safety is like
walking a tightrope. For example, supplying 40 children with sugar while not
allowing them to eat on the carpet is never easy... or fun. If I want to earn a
tip, it is my job to maintain order, so parents can have fun at the party too.
As a result, I’ve become a master of redirection. Like an eagle, I’m always
surveying and waiting for a rule violation
I spot a 7-year-old heading straight
for the carpet with a slice of chocolate cake. One mistake and a mysterious
brown spot on the carpet will raise a few eyebrows later on. I drop what I’m
doing and say “hi! Do you want me to put that on the table, so you can go play
in the bouncy castle? We don’t want to bring cake in there.” I nod my head and
smile encouragingly, and he complies without hesitation. “I’ll take it,” his
smiling mother says from behind me. I hand it off and continue working. Crisis
averted.
Personal Assistant
When the person paying for the
party, needs- or more often wants- something, it’s my obligation to make it
happen. With varying degrees of neediness, it’s my job as their personal
assistant to:
- Create the ideal party space
- Complete their every wish
- Ensure they leave feeling proud of the
event
In party hosting, fulfilling whims
is like icing on top of a birthday cake. The families that I work with are
extremely wealthy, so they like to getting what they want. A few months ago,
seventy people were about to arrive to celebrate a baby girl turning 1. Her extravagant
parents approached me. They wanted to switch the kids room and the adult room
so the adults could have a quiet space. That meant moving the $1,000 cake, 45
small chairs, 45 large chairs, 30 food trays, and all the decorations.
“Of course!” I smiled and ran to
grab all my coworkers and bosses. We scrambled as if we were in an Olympic
competition. Thankfully, we finished before everyone finished their arrivals
and greetings. Exhausted, we all breathed a sigh of relief. Then we realized
that we had to make sure the next four hours go well too. And the two parties
after that. It was a long day.
Actor
The last role I have is like putting
on a mask and becoming a perfect person. No matter my mood, I must:
- Pretend I’m having a great time
- Look busy at all times
- Do everything with a confident smile
Here’s an example. Disney’s movie Frozen
had been out for a few months. I had done almost thirty Frozen birthday
parties averaging at least two a weekend. As I watched the birthday girl walk
into the building, I saw her themed outfit and a small part of my soul died.
Shockingly, she loves Frozen! “I love your Elsa dress,” I say with a
huge grin as I greet her and her family. “Can you play the Frozen soundtrack?”
her naive parents ask.
The remaining chunk of my soul goes
black. For the next 4 hours, the same 10 songs repeat. As an actor, it’s my job
to smile, host sing-a-longs, and almost transform into the characters. After an
eternity, everybody leaves feeling fully satisfied. Right as I’m about to
decompress, another family arrives. Guess who is having a Frozen birthday
party?
Hi Campbell, I would like to party and get paid for it :-). That sounds like an incredible time! Event planning is a tough job because you have to prepare a party in a timely manner while simultaneously ensuring the whole operation runs in a smooth manner. How did you manage to discipline children effectively without them getting upset? Personally, I would like to develop the same crisis management skills that you have developed. I admire the fact that you ensure the delivery of results at your job regardless of the obstacles you face.
ReplyDeleteHi Campbell! This sounds both super fun an torturous all in one! While I love kids I usually try to avoid the ones on a sugar high so major props to you for dealing with this every weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi, Campbell! You and I had very similar, yet such different jobs. I was an English teacher and also used babysitter and actor to describe my duties. I'm thinking you had a it a little harder though; my kids were expected to be behaved in a school setting, but yours probably came into these parties without such limitations. Sounds like a really fun job though!
ReplyDeleteI loved your enthusiasm explaining your job as a children’s party planner and a hostess. It sure seems like you have passion for it. I thought it was helpful of you to bring some useful examples during your article for a reader to better understand certain aspects of your position.
ReplyDeleteCampbell! I loved your amusing description of your experience as a party-planner. The job seems exhausting and it takes a person with a high pain threshold to maintain high energy and a happy face in times of difficulties. I'm so sure everyone at your parties had the best time. :)
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