Glenn and Auria

Glenn-Auria
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

This past Tuesday I enjoyed a cruise on the Delaware aboard the Liberty Belle II.

I was joined by 500 revelers from the Consumer Educators Convention plus assorted entertainers.

I didn't see much of the Delaware-my head was buried, as usual, in the easel.

Here is a sketch I drew for Glenn and Auria. They were visiting from Hawaii-the North shore of Oahu, to be more precise.

After the convention ends they'll visit Washington D.C. before returning home.

--Ellen Zucker
Faces & Fortunes

Doings in the Sky

As I promised, from time to time, I'll comment on interesting events in the sky.

We've had a few in the past week. as a result you may have experienced a change of energy. People are less frenetic of late. They are slowing down, getting ready to kick back to enjoy in the summer's languid rhythms.

The Sun exited social, flighty Gemini to enter quieter Cancer. The Sun's entrance into Cancer coincides with its alignment to the northernmost point in the earth's orbit orbit around the Sun-namely the Tropic of Cancer. It is the longest day (and shortest night) of the year in the Northern hemisphere. And the day we call the beginning of summer.

Around here, where we are experiencing high humidity and temperatures in the 90's, one doesn't need to see a calendar or consult with an astrologer to know it is, indeed, summer.

We tend to feel more introspective, more sensitive, during the Sun's journey through Cancer.

This is reflected in the pace of parties and special events.
The killer pace of June is easing up. For those of us in the special events business, June is second only to December in the intensity and number of events. But the graduates have graduated, the proms have taken place. Companies that wanted to hold events to take place before the end of the school year (and the exodus of employees taking off for well deserved vacations), have done so.

The company picnic season is well underway and so is the occurrence of outdoor family events.
So, relax, and enjoy.

The BIO Tech Gala

cops
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

The BIOTech convention was in Philadelphia this week. My company, Faces & Fortunes provided 4 caricature artists at the gala hosted at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

It was quite an experience. Thousands of people were in attendance. The gala was a high profile event. The convention itself, as well as this particular event, were the subject of numerous demonstrations. So as you might expect, security was very tight.

Helicopters circled overhead, scores of police ringed the Museum ... I was told that several layers of security ranging from the FBI on down were involved.

In fact, changing security arrangements had everyone frazzled - including our generally unflappable event planner.

The photograph above shows police looking out onto the Parkway as a motorcade makes its way to the Museum steps.

The posts below show other scenes of the Gala preparations.

Despite the complicated arrangements, it was a wonderful event. Once the event began, we were working non-stop. So there was no time to stop and take any photographs of our caricature drawings.

A special thanks goes to Sharon Moore of Moore Events who organized the massive event.

Mime on the Art Museum Steps

Mime-on-Art-Museum-StepsW
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

A mime welcomes guests on the Art Museum steps.

Ballerinas

BallerinasW
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

There was all manner of entertainemnt at the Bio Tech Gala. These are ballerinas getting ready in the 'Green Room' prior to their appearance.

Debbie

DsW
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

One of our artists.

Party Tent

TentW
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

One of the party tents prior to the arrival of guests.

Busy, busy

Why is it that everyone in town is throwing a party on certain days?

This past Saturday was one of those days. By the time I placed entertainers for all of the parties I was handling five events for the day. There were two company picnics, two high school graduation parties, and a Bat Mitzvah celebration. Just the kind of mix you expect to see at this point in June.

Interestingly enough, all but one made their arrangements with me in three weeks or less. In one case, we didn't have things finalized until the day before the event. By the time the week wound up I felt so crazed, I was questioning the wisdom of accepting bookings on very short notice.

I was the Tarot reader at a picnic held in Wilmington for a law firm. The guests were wonderfully open to receiving readings. In fact, I read the children of a couple of the guests (with their parents present - something I encourage).

To me the consulting the Tarot is like sitting down with a wise friend who knows you well. The advice and their prognostications is on-target. Not because your friend possesses any special powers. But because your friend knows you so well.

From there I went to Lindsey Mararchi's high school graduation party. You couldn't miss it. A tent was perched on the lawn, balloons festooned the entrance, and lots of people already enjoying the party by the time I arrived. Music was privided by a wonderful DJ by the name of Ryan. He was both personable and kept the people dancing.

Here it was caricatures. Once I set up, drawings went on non-stop until the bitter end at 10:30.

By the way, if you are planning an event for July 16, know that it is another one of those days where it seems that everyone in town seems to be throwing a party. Hopefully you already know. Because you have an invite.

Selfemployment101.com

Making the transition from being a corporate employee to being self-employed was huge.

Like most people making a major life change, I made stumbled, made mistakes, and made it up as I went along. But Faces & Fortunes celebrates its 10th year of existence this year. So I'd like to think I did something right.

I learned a great deal through this experience and want to pass the benefit of my knowledge to others.

I am doing it in the form of a new website called, appropriately enough, selfemployment101.com. After all, I hardly presume to "know it all." It is designed to help the creative sole-proprietor make a living and create a life; two things not generally taught at Art School.

The site is up and running and developing rapidly. Take a look and post your feedback if you wish.

Two Recipes for the Old Fashioned Cocktail

In my travels, I come across interesting tid-bits of information. Here are two recipes of a drink that was one of my Mom's old favorites, the Old-Fashioned.

Try them out and see what you think.

After getting home from Saturday late nights' Glamour/Revlon event at 3 am, I was none too eager to rouse myself out of bed for yet another event on Sunday.

But I do enjoy the casual atmosphere of company picnics and so once I was up and functioning, I looked forward to the day.

The Kenyons, hosting the Arlington Mortgage Company picnic on their ample lawn, were set along with their guests, to have a good time.

My assignment? Tarot readings, yet another tool in my entertainment bag of tricks.

I was a bit concerned when the Kenyons asked me to set up at a table on their patio, some distance away from the main tent where most activities were taking place.

But I needn't have worried. One guest found me in short order. Our solitude ended a few minutes later another made her way to the patio and asked to be next. To make a long story short, I worked steadily until the picnic came to a close.

It never fails to amaze and gratify me that I can sit with total strangers, and through the use of Tarot cards, give guests information that is useful and fun.

I enjoyed the fact that I used different entertainment skills this weekend, caricature drawing, astrology and Tarot reading.

Well, this first weekend of June started out the June party season in grand style-and left me ... tired and happy.

Saturday began with the Bat Mitzvah celebration of Olivia Weiner on the lawn of her home in Yardley. The afternoon event was held in the open air while I drew caricatures of the Bat Mitzvah kids from my location under the spacious and airy kids tent.

As usual, once the kids spied me in the corner, I worked non-stop. At least until Mrs. Weiner graciously insisted that I take a short break and have something to eat before caterers cleaned up the food.

The weather that afternoon, typical of June, perfect, with temperatures in the low 70's, is the reason that many people can't resist holding their events outdoors.

Next stop was World Fusion, a club down in Old City. This event was arranged by Glamour magazine who partnered with Revlon on a nation-wide product promotional tour to roll out and promote Fabulash mascara.

It is unusual to work at an event that begins at 10 pm (and goes on until 2 in the morning). But it's been many years since I've been part of the club scene.

Glamour/Revlon had rented a private room in the back of the club where they set up a computerized camera that furnished you with a digitized make-over. It took your picture, analyzed your skin and hair colors, and printed out a photo showing you before and after applying their recommendations.

What was I doing there? I had my own computer, too. I was performing Astrology Mini-readings. The computer did the mathematical heavy lifting, calculating the natal charts of willing volunteers who had supplied their birth data. My job was to interpret their charts.

The idea was to add a bit of fun (and glamour?) to the evening.

Being as out of it as I am, now that my early twenties have long faded into the past, I was amazed to see Chestnut Street filled with crowds of people at the 2 am closing time.

Kids Theme Parties

In my travels I see a certian amount of kids' (and adults') theme parties.

Theme parties are fun and they make planning easier. You just center the elements of the party such as decorations, activities, and refreshments around the theme.

Themes can be created around just about anything. Theme parties are created around hot movies like Star Wars, favortie cartoon characters, holidays, favorite places, hobbies, etc.

As you might expect, numerous enterprises have sprung up to supply your needs. There is the local Party stores, but online sources have a much more comprehensive selection.

Two of my favorite are Birthday in a Box and ShindigZ.

What I like is that they both offer all-in-one packages that include everything from paper plates, cups, utensils, table cloths, balloons, etc. It makes it easy and convenient and much cheaper than buying the individual items separately.

I write more about kid's theme parties here.