FACES & FORTUNES Blog-Ventures

Interesting Party Idea

2007-03-19T12:24:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I was asked to provide Astrology mini-readings at a birthday party for a 10 year old girl.

The party was lots of fun. Afterwards, the girls crowded around my laptop wanting to see their charts again and asking me lots of questions.

The party was held at a place called Fill-A-Pillow in Haverford, PA. Fill-A-Pillow hosts parties for both adults and kids. Guests get to create and take home their own pillow. They can choose from a wide array of fabrics and add-ons to make something unique.

And the finished products looked wonderful and professionally done. Their website is www.fillapillow.com

A Simple Planning Trick

2007-02-22T10:54:00.000-05:00

One of the women in my Toastmaster's group gave a talk on the way she went about planning for her wedding.

The heart of her planning resided in a plain loose leaf binder. Here is where she stored magazine articles, brochures and contracts from vendors, fabric samples and all sorts of stuff that can easily get overwhelming.

She used separators to organize the binder into sections. One for venues, one for caterers, etc.

By having everything in one location, she found it much easier to manage a process that can quickly get out of control.

Christmas in January

2007-01-09T16:26:00.000-05:00

For years I have suggested to corporate clients that they schedule their holiday parties in January.

In many industries such as retail and insurance, December is a very busy time for business. On top of that is the normal holiday whirl that employees find themselves in their personal lives. Another December event is the last thing that such people welcome.

Plus, if you plan your holiday festivities in January, you will enjoy lower rates and a greater selection and availability of services.
After all, December is a peak season for those in the special events industry and, at least in the northeastern US, January is much more relaxed.

So I was pleased to see some companies are seeing it the same way. Siemans, Comcast and Villanova University are three that come to mind.

Thus far, the month has been unseasonably warm. This has proved to be a boon to those with the luck and foresight to plan ahead.

Party time!

2006-11-18T20:35:00.000-05:00

Friday, Venus entered Sagittarius, soon to be followed by the Sun, Jupiter, Mars and Mercury, in that order.

The period of the year when the Sun travels through Sagittarius, the last week of November through the 3rd week of December, coincides with the holiday party season. It begins by Thanksgiving on one end and ends with the Winter Solstice.

As planets travel out of somber Scorpio to cheery Sag, our spirits lift. And before we know it we'll be caught up in the holiday marketing madness.

For us at Faces and Fortunes, it is a time full of holiday parties. As the month progresses I look forwrd to telling you about some of my favorites.

Libra: Your Partner and the Sake Cup

2006-10-10T13:26:00.000-04:00

Now that the Sun is traveling through Libra, this bonus article will describe how this energy works and tells you how to use it.

Warm regards,
Ellen Zucker

Libra: Your Partner and the Sake Cup

By Ellen Zucker

I’m told of a Japanese custom that sums up the spirit of Libra.

When you dine with a partner in a Japanese restaurant, you are not to fill your sake cup when it is empty. Instead, your partner fills it for you and you, in turn, fill his.

You work with the cooperation of others to accomplish your goals. And likewise, you cooperate with others to help them accomplish their goals. Libra would tell us if we did that there would be no room for aggression and strife: Utopia!

We use Virgo’s energy to polish and refine our raw creativity. But then our skills must find an application. We need other people to work with and to work for.

The Sun enters Libra at the autumn equinox, a time when daylight and darkness are perfectly balanced. Balance is the purpose of The Scales, Libra’s symbol, and balance is the goal of Libran people. We keep adding and subtracting from both sides until both sides are equally balanced.

The lengthy process of weighing two sides until equally balanced is responsible for Libra's much publicized difficulty in decision making. Libra must remember that making no decision is itself a decision.

Nonetheless, balance is critical in our healthy functioning. We do not function well when our bodies are out of balance. We suffer when our lives are out of balance.

When energy is in balance, there is an easy flow. The Tarot is a big fan of balance. There are many cards that speak to the desirability of balance. Some examples: Temperance, The Lovers, and all of the cards with the numeral two.

Harmony is the byproduct of balance. And with harmony comes beauty. A fine sense of style, taste, and design is a gift for those in whom Libra’s energy is strong. And so you find many Libran designers of all types.

Beauty is nothing more than the harmonious placement of shapes, color, and texture. When we call a person’s face beautiful we mean that the face’s shape and its features are classical. They blend together. Features are even, neither too large nor too small. Balanced. Beautiful.

Likewise a beautifully decorated room has a pleasing mix of shape and color.

While balance, or more specifically, inner harmony is important for all of us, it is critical to the proper functioning of Libra. Librans use the refinement of outer harmony as a way to generate inner harmony, their ultimate goal.

Libra is a cardinal sign. It initiates action. Like the partner in the Japanese restaurant it does so working with and through others. And so it excels in areas that require excellent people skills such as counseling, teaching, mediation and diplomacy.

Libra often sees itself as one half of the scales, needing another half to give it completion. People with a great deal of Libran energy put a particular value on one-to-one partnerships. And so Libra is associated with marriage.

Too often, Libra is so concerned about keeping the peace that it doesn’t properly take care of its own needs. The charming Japanese custom doesn’t work unless your guest pours sake into your empty cup as well.

If a Libran has too much difficulty getting his own needs met, he may resort to less than pleasing, indirect means. The term passive-aggression was created to describe frustrated Librans.

Sometimes a beautiful façade masks a rotten interior. And, too often, Librans think appearances are everything. But there is a remedy for this. It is called Scorpio.

© 2006 Ellen M. Zucker

Face-to-face Tarot readings

2006-05-25T23:42:00.000-04:00

Well, those Gemini planets are cooking! It seems,
at least around here, that all kinds of possibilities
have been presenting themselves.

Here is one that I am excited to tell you about.

A rare opportunity presented itself where I can
offer face-to-face Tarot readings outside of a
party environment.

On Sunday, June 4, I will be upstairs in a private
room at the lovely home of Kennerly Clay from
3 to 5pm giving face-to-face Tarot readings.

Up to now, anyone who wanted a face-to-face
Tarot reading from me had to book me to
entertain at their party. Or wangle an invitation
to someone else's party where I was scheduled
to perform.

And then, because of the constraints of the
party environment, readings are short -
no more than 5 to 10 minutes long.

But here, there will be no DJ, no distractions.

Just you and me.

The only activity going on will be downstairs
where Kennerly will introduce her cool
nutritional products. They are designed
to help you decrease the free radicals
in your system that are linked to premature
aging and so many other problems.

But there is absolutely no obligation for you
to buy - or even listen to the demonstration -
unless you want to. All you need do, is go
upstairs at the time of your appointment.

There are a limited number of 20 minute
openings.

Pre-registration is required.

Each slot is $45 each. Kennerly's home is
located at 2332 Catherine Street in Philadelphia
and lots of street parking is available.

To arrange your appointment, call Kennerly
now at 215 732 5704.

I look forward to seeing you on June 4th.

Your Astrological Update

2006-04-25T07:29:00.000-04:00

Going to the beach to take a swim in the ocean is a lovely idea. But wouldn't you want to know what the current is like? Will you face a riptide? Or a gentle flow of water that takes you to the place you want to go?

An experienced ocean swimmer knows not to swim against a strong current. It wastes too much precious energy. Instead, she swims across it until she finds calmer waters.

This is no less true with our celestial currents.

Find out where the celestial currents are and how to navigate them. The Celestial Currents newsletter gives you a weekly heads up, so you can use your time and energy wisely, and find the current that will gently float you to your destination.

Subscribe to the RSS feed or the email newsletter at http://www.celestialcurrents.com

Catching my breath

2005-09-26T14:42:00.000-04:00

What a whirlwind this month has been. I'm feeling like a marathon runner.

This past Thursday, I provided caricature drawings at the B.F. Molz 30th Anniversary Open House. Friday, it was La Salle University to entertain students staying in campus for the weekend.

Saturday, I read Tarot cards at Paige's Sweet 16. Her parents planned it as a surprise. Given that they had inflatables in their back yard, keeping the event quiet was quite an accomplishment.

Sunday, there were two events. The first, entertaining charter guests on the Spirit of Philadelphia and, later, Keyspan Inc's Casino Night at a real Atlantic City casino as part of a two day offsite retreat for its staff.

I have more news and tips to share in coming days.

Katrina Survivors - Information pages posted by the Federal Government

2005-09-02T19:46:00.000-04:00

There is a great deal of information on the U.S. Government's General services Administration's Hurricane Katrina Recovery page
(http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml)

It has links to:
Disaster Assistance for Victims
State Disaster Information (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi)
Agencies Accepting Donations for Victims
and additional disaster resources

You can find additional information on Hurricane Katrina in
the Office of Citizen Service's FAQ database (http://answers.firstgov.gov/)

For practical tips on preparing for emergency situations,
refer to the Citizen Guide to Disaster Preparedness,
(http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/family/citizenguide/citizenguide.htm)
produced by the Office of Citizen Services with information
prvided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
For the immediate future, information will also be
available 24/7 in English and Spanish by calling
1 (800) FED-INFO.

It's just party entertainment. So, why a Contract?

2005-08-14T10:09:00.000-04:00

A client, new to the task of planning an event, called me to ask why I required a deposit and a contract to perform for his small at-home event.

The answer? Contracts and deposits not only protect your vendor, but they protect you, too.

The practice of asking for a signed contract secured by a deposit ties both of you to your date.

Vendors like the practice so they are not left holding the bag so that if you back out, he doesn't have a sudden hole in his schedule when he would be otherwise booked. After all, once you give a firm order, the vendor turns away other clients.

By the same token, with a secured contract in place, the vendor is bound to honor your date even if a more attractive opportunity comes in.

A added benefit is that a well drafted contract spells out the terms to which you've both agreed. So you have a written record for ready reference to answer questions and clear possible confusion.

A Caterer's Wedding Cake Secret

2005-08-11T20:11:00.000-04:00

We Special Events professionals have a lot in common.

We want to do everything we can to make your party the best it can be. And doing so can challenge our creativity. After all, we have to operate on-site under conditions that can be unpredictable.

One group that has my admiration are chefs and caterers. Here is a secret used by some caterers to keep that wedding cake looking fresh and tasty during outdoor wedding receptions in hot weather.

The secret? The cake is not real. The wedding cake in display is made of Styrofoam! The part that is sliced by the bride is filled with real cake. The caterer will arrange the cake decoration to subtly signal the proper place to cut.

The styrofoam is covered in icing and decorated as any wedding cake. Meanwhile the real wedding cake is kept behind in the kitchen where it can be sliced and placed on plates to be served at the appropriate time.

Using a styrofoam stand-in is not used universally under these conditions. It is an option offered to the wedding couple when they are planning the festivities. And, a popular one, too, I might add.

No one will ever know but your caterer.

For more information about weddings click here

Heads Up, It's Tick Season

2005-08-09T14:24:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday I performed at a lovely event. It was a garden party given by the head of a department in a local hospital for his staff and families.

My job? Draw caricatures of the children.
Both the host and the guests were delightful and the event went smoothly.

I sat on a beautifully manicured lawn that overlooked a wooded embankment that led to a creek below.

While in my car, driving home, I looked down at my foot. On the big toe of my left foot was something that looked like a small scab. Except that there was no open skin or sore at that location previously.

The scab was deep brown in the shape of a fat tear drop.

Upon arriving home, I promptly removed the tick with tweezers. I scheduled a blood test with my doctor for early next week.

The moral of the story is that it is tick season. And one can get ticks even on the finest of manicured lawns.

If you are outdoors, you know what to do ... keep your skin covered, use insect repellant, and, afterwards, check your skin for ticks.

Sobieski Mgt Annual company picnic

2005-08-06T00:35:00.000-04:00

Sobieski.picnic.1
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

The air was clear and dry. The weather offered us a needed respite from the hazy, hot humid streak we had been enduring.

Sobieski Management Company holds its annual picnic at Bellevue State Park, a green oasis off of I-95 just outside of Wilmington, DE.

Some of our state parks are treasures. And they can serve as a reasonably priced and attractive setting for a company or family picnic.

The photograph shows an inflatable rented for the children. Inflatables are very popular at company picnics. They come in all kinds of shapes and colors.

For tips about planning your company's picnic click here.

Outdoor Entertaining at Home

2005-08-01T23:30:00.000-04:00

If my experience serves as any indication, hands down the most popular venue for entertaining is ... home.

There are lots of advantages to entertaining at home. No fees to rent space, no worries about availability are two for starters.

Plus you can bring almost any service you want. Caterers can provide nearly any kind of food you can imagine. And they'll clean up when they finish. Or you can prepare your own.

Tents can sprout in the back yard to provide shelter and elegance for outdoor events. I've even seen port-a-potties at the summer home of a CEO who didn't want hords of guests traipsing indoors at a large bash.

As for entertainment, you can bring in anything that you'd have at a banquet hall including bands, DJs, clowns, caricaturists, Tarot readers ... you name it.

If the event is outdoors, and your yard is large enough, bring in inflatables and pony rides for the kids.

And manufacturers are eager to indulge you with all manner of stylish and functional outdoor furnishings and accessories.

So, if you are at home with entertaining at home, you have an endless variety of resources to customize the experience to your liking.

For more party entertaining ideas, visit my sister site, Faces-and-fortunes-partytips.com.

Planning your Party: How Organization can prevent Disasters

2005-07-29T00:57:00.000-04:00

Most good event planners are a bit on the anal side. That is because "the devil" really is in the details.

And if the details are not well managed, it is very easy for all kinds of problems to occur.

An example occurred just this week. Continued

The next Mercury retrograde period begins on Saturday

2005-07-19T10:55:00.000-04:00

When Mercury goes retrograde, it is time to slow down, re-think, re-do, but not to make major commitments.

Mercury Retrograde periods are also a great time to hook up with old friends and people from the past. Party anyone?

Knowing this is a great aid to planning.

Mercury goes retrograde approximately 3 times a year for approximately 3 weeks. The next Mercury Retrograde period begins this Saturday, July 23, and lasts until August 16. Read more:

Ellen Zucker
Faces & Fortunes

The Twining Picnic

2005-07-15T12:38:00.000-04:00

The weather was hot and steamy. Thunderstorms threatened. But the raindrops stayed away and Twining employees enjoyed their company picnic.
(Hint: for outdoor events have a Plan B for rain).

Bill looks a lot more gruff than he really is. Like many people, Bill prefers not to 'smile for the camera.' But he knows how to rib his co-workers-who are quick to return the favor.

He sees to it that he poses at each picnic. He has a collection of my caricature drawings at home. He frames them and hangs them on the wall by the stairs. There are close to half a dozen.

Ashley and Mari were the last two people in line. As usual, I worked non-stop during my three hour stint. I was busy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

--Ellen Zucker
Faces & fortunes

Neat TableTop Design Ideas

2005-07-08T19:37:00.000-04:00

I was cleaning out my never-ending collection of clutter when I came upon an flyer put out by an old friend and client, Joanne Hulme, CSEP.

Joanne is both an award winning designer and event planner and producer. She is also a walking encyclopedia when it comes to event planning and the special events industry. I've seen some of her work and it is outstanding.

She writes, "In the past 3 or 4 years I have started to give all my tables a 3 dimensional look through the use of glass and plexiglass to create depth. This is a great place to create texture and have fun! If your centerpiece is tropical in design, put sand, shells and orchid blossoms under a "floating" glass tabletop. Paint one of your own tables with blackboard paint so you can display the day's menu on the table surface."

She is publishing several 'how to' booklets and will be offering design and display classes.

Contact her: Joanne Hulme 215 332 2864 or 610 476 9114 for more information.

Happy 4th

2005-07-03T20:59:00.000-04:00

The 4th of July is here and it's time to take a deep breath after a busy June.

It is appropriate to think a little about our country's origins. Today, WHYY aired a very interesting documentary on the American Revolution.

Most of us give it little thought, but the victory of the American Colonial rebels over the British was far from a foregone conclusion. The war was a very long, difficult affair.

Outnumbered, outgunned, and outequipped, the Colonials had to use their wits to survive. It's hard to imagine, but George Washington and his troops were perceived as terrorists. Had the Brits won, no doubt, he and the Colonialists would have been described as such in the history books - and we'd be carrying British passports.

Have a Happy 4th.

Glenn and Auria

2005-06-30T19:50:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-26T23:09:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-23T14:36:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-23T14:13:00.000-04:00

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

A mime welcomes guests on the Art Museum steps.

Ballerinas

2005-06-23T14:11:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-23T14:09:00.000-04:00

DsW
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

One of our artists.

Party Tent

2005-06-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

TentW
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

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

Busy, busy

2005-06-20T18:57:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-17T06:07:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-09T02:57:00.000-04:00

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.

2005-06-06T03:34:00.000-04:00

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.

2005-06-06T03:13:00.000-04:00

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

2005-06-01T08:07:00.000-04:00

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.

Second Thoughts about Sun and Sunscreen

2005-05-28T09:01:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day weekend is the customary kickoff to the summer season. And so in keeping with the theme of sun and fun, chew on this:

Dr. Edward Giovannucci, a Harvard University professor of medicine and nutrition thinks that some of us are not getting enough Vitamin D.

And so ... he recommends that we get some sun.

The vitamin is D, nicknamed the "sunshine vitamin" because the skin makes it from ultraviolet rays. Because sunscreen blocks vitamin D's production, some scientists are questioning the long-standing advice to always use it.

The reason is that vitamin D increasingly seems important for preventing and even treating many types of cancer. In the last three months alone, four separate studies found it helped protect against lymphoma and cancers of the prostate, lung and, ironically, the skin. The strongest evidence is for colon cancer.

Apparently, it's difficult to get Vitamin D from food and fortified milk; supplements are problematic.

So the thinking is this: Even if too much sun leads to skin cancer, which is rarely deadly, too little sun may be worse.

No one is suggesting that people fry on a beach, but many scientists believe that "safe sun" — 15 minutes a few times a week without sunscreen — is a healthy thing to do. Read more.

Outdoor Events and Rain

2005-05-25T12:06:00.000-04:00

The summer is a wonderful time for outdoor events.

But what happens if it rains? Unfortunately, rain and thunderstorms do happen.

So ... what is your Plan B?

In most cases, the best option is to have a dry place in reserve. It could be a nearby building or even a tent.

Plus you'll be protected if the weather changes quickly.

Another option is to have a raindate.
Raindates give you the option of holding the event in the outdoor setting for which you planned.

But raindates bring complications and those complications may come at a price.

For example:
• Can you get the use of your site for the raindate? If it is an outside venue, you will probably have to pay additional to rent it for the second day. And during peak times it may not even be available.
• Same with entertainment and attractions such as inflatables and the like.
• Will you need to replace your food?

The reason is that vendors are reserving the extra day for you-and turning away other clients during the peak summer season.

Also consider:
• Your guest count may decrease if the event actually takes place on the raindate. Some will have made other commitments for the raindate.
• And you will have to notify your guests and vendors if you make the call to postpone.

If a raindate is absolutely necessary and it will result in a greater financial outlay, consider buying event insurance.

For more tips, visit my site, Faces-and-Fortunes-Partytips.com.

Gemini!

2005-05-21T11:54:00.000-04:00

I have been a long-time student of Astrology. Which is why I offer my Faces & Fortunes' clients Astrology mini-Readings aas one way to liven up their parties and events.

So, from time to time, I will comment about the goings-on in the sky.

Yesterday the Sun entered Gemini at 6:37 pm EDT. It will stay there until June 21. Perhaps you noticed the emergy feel lighter than it's been for awhile.

Gemini is an air sign and people are curious, very open to mental stimuli...

Good conversation, socializing, reading, gathering information, trying on new things and people... Playing with ideas for the sake of ideas... all of these activities thrive under the sign of Gemini.

Gemini is like a butterfly that flits from flower to flower, never staying too long. And we, too, have a tendency to flit from one idea to the next, one person to the next, as each delights us for just a moment.

Gemini energy is light, quick, and sparkly. And, regardless of our individual charts, all of us sparkle under its influence.

It is a great time for parties. In fact, the Sun's entrance into Gemini kicks off one of the two peak party times of the year (the other from late November into December when the Sun traverses through Sagittarius).

In Philadelphia where I live, the weather is usually delightful this time of year... sunny and comfortable. Not too hot or humid. And so outdoor events are very popular.

And because June is the last hurrah before people disappear on vacations and slow down to the summer's lazier rhythms, many trade shows and hospitality events are held as well.

June, of course, is the traditional month for graduations and the attendant events around them – graduation parties, proms, school picnics, project graduations, etc.

In fact last night, I was part of a group of caricature artists arranged last minute to draw at Lenape High School's Prom. Our event was one of 4, count'em, 4 proms being celebrated at the Wyndham Franklin Hotel in center city.

Tickets to Hot Concerts, Theatre and Sporting Events

2005-05-18T07:45:00.000-04:00

Sometimes in my wanderings around the web, I stumble upon some really cool sites. As I find them, I'll post them here.

Check out TicketsNow where you can buy tickets to everything from U2 concerts, NBA playoffs, Broadway shows and Nascar races.

They have the largest countrywide database of tickets and you can sometimes find tickets to sold out events as well.

Wedding Statistics and Trivia

2005-05-13T20:25:00.000-04:00

Here are some interesting statistics about American weddings. Source: Fairchild Bridal Infobank American Wedding Study, 2005:

Average age of marriage for the bride: 27, for the groom: 29. Compare this to 1960 when the average bride's age was 21 and the groom's, 23.5.

The likelihood that the bride's parents will pay for the wedding decreased 13% since 1999. In 2005, bride's parents paid for the wedding 27% of the time, the bride and groom paid the entire cost 25% of the time, both sets of parents plus the bride and groom, 16% of the time.

12% of couples plan their weddings with the help of wedding consultants.

Average length of an engagement is 17 months.

The average cost of a wedding is now $26,327, up 18% in just three years. And 45% of wedding couples spend more than they intend. The most expensive region for wedding cost: New York metro ($38,361). Least expensive: the South and Southeast ($22,662).

For more articles about weddings and wedding planning, visit: Faces-and-Fortunes-partytips.com/wedding-resources.html.

A Tale of Two Beagles

2005-05-12T01:17:00.000-04:00

Zoey&Cooper
Originally uploaded by emzucker.

This past Saturday I was invited to draw caricatures at Mindy's Bachlorette party. My host, Kim Basile has two wonderful beagles who received their own portrait.

I photographed the finished drawing with my cell phone and a less than steady hand. Hence the poor picture quality.

Nonetheless, you get the idea ...

Last Minute Bookings

2005-05-07T16:07:00.000-04:00

Sometimes last minute bookings are unavoidable.

I performed at a family party held at a lovely restaurant. The purpose was to honor an ill family member. He had just received a poor diagnosis from his physician. His family prepared the bash as a way to say good-bye in style.

Entertainment included several Philadelphia Mummers. The guest of honor was a big fan of Mummers' pageantry and music.

And I was recruited to draw caricatures.

An agent contacted me on a Friday for this event to be held on the following Sunday afternoon.

As is typical for many events arranged by agents, I wasn't told about the reason behind the family's decision to have the party nor their hasty arrangements. But when I arrived and met the family, I was very happy that I found a way to rearrange my plns to accommodate the event.

Last night I entertained at a happier occasion. I read Tarot cards for the guest of honor at her Sweet 16 party and her friends.

The original contact was made two days in advance. We didn't finalize arrangements until the afternoon before the event. The event went flawlessly and a good time was had by all.

The all-time record goes to a Comcast Call Center who hired me to perform mini-
Astrology readings for an employee appreciation event. Arrangements weren't finalized until 2 hours prior to my start-time.

I don't recommend cutting it that close.

Nonetheless, things happen and openings sometimes come up. And more importantly, part of our business is booking additional artists and readers for larger events. I frequently book other entertainers for dates for which I'm unavailable.

Nonetheless, I can't guarantee availability for parties and events with very short notice. There are dates where, for no discernible reason, it seems that the whole world is having parties. And when that happens, I will have to turn you down.

So for maximum choice and availability I encourage you to reserve as soon as you have finalized your decision to have entertainment at your event.

But if unusual circumstances cause your plans to come together at the last moment, give me a call.

Ellen Zucker
Faces & Fortunes
Face-and-Fortunes-Partytips.com

Catering on a Budget

2005-05-02T21:05:00.000-04:00

Christine Bib offers this tip to hold down catering costs in Special Events Magazine's current issue.

Cut the amount of hors d'oeuvre in half and opt for chicken and pasta for your entrees.

Reason? Hors d'oeuvre are labor intensive. This drives up costs. Chicken and pasta are relatively inexpensive and they can be prepared elegantly.

Read the full article here.

--Ellen Zucker
Back to: Faces-and-Fortunes-Partytips.com
Back to: Faces & Fortunes

Reading Tea Leaves

2005-05-01T11:30:00.000-04:00

The 'Fortunes' in Faces & Fortunes refers to our ability to supply your event with psychic entertainment - currently we offer Tarot, Astrology, Palm, and Psychic readings.

Last night I provided three readers to entertain at a dinner for hospital executives. The theme? 'Back to the Future'.

It was the first time Faces & Fortunes offered the reading of tea leaves at an event.

Simply put, the reading of tea leaves is the interpretation of the pattern of loose tea leaves left on the bottom of a cup of tea after the subject has drunk the tea. (This can be performed with coffee grounds as well).

Supplies needed:

The subject puts a small amount of tea into an empty tea cup, fills it with water, and drinks the tea. S/he hands the cup containing the residue to the reader who then performs the reading.

Barbara, our highly experienced reader, estimates she can perform as many as 7 to 8 readings per hour.

By the way, the readings were popular, as were the Tarot and the Astrology readings performed that evening.

As a result, Faces & Fortunes will now make the reading of tea leaves available to our clients.

For more information, contact me through our website www.facesandfortunes.com
Or call me (weekdays after 10 am) at 215 722 2453.

Back to Faces and Fortunes.
Back to Partytips.com.

"Are you the Designer?"

2005-04-28T21:30:00.000-04:00

When your business has an online presence, you receive all kinds of visitors.

The man on the other end of the phone had a faint Texas drawl.

"Are you the designer?" he asked. "I found you on PartyPop".

Faces & Fortunes is an advertiser on PartyPop, a site set up to help people find entertainment and vendors for parties and weddings.

Not sure of what he was looking for I asked him a general question I ask of most people who inquire about our services.

"What kind of event are you planning?"

"Uh, no, I'm not planning an event. I'm looking for someone to design caricatures for mugs."

I explained that that we are not an illustration or graphics studio. Our business is providing party entertainment.

Most people looking for illustration and design services seek out artists who market themselves in those areas. But, occasionally, people unfamiliar with those markets will stumble into caricature artists who specialize in live party entertainment.

That seemed to be the case here.

I had made the decision some time ago to focus on the spontaneity of live party work because I much prefer it to the solitude of the studio. And I didn't want to stretch the resources of Faces & Fortunes too thin.

But from time to time we get requests for sign-in boards and stand-alone individual caricature drawings to be used, primarily, for gifts.

And, so, as a courtesy for people like this gentleman and others looking for gift caricatures, sign-in boards, or other caricature commissions, I built in a referral mechanism on our facesandfortunes.com website.

I asked talented Chicago based humorous illustrator, Marlene Goodman to take on this work for us. View samples of her gift caricatures.

The page contains an online form so you can contact Marlene directly. She will email you or call you to discuss your project and give you a quote.

And she responds quickly!

If you want an individual caricature drawing for, say, a birthday or retirement gift. Or you have a full blown design or illustration project, consider Marlene.

See our Caricature Gifts page.

What is all of that Stuff We Carry?

2005-04-26T00:29:00.000-04:00

Many people, especially kids and artists are curious about our set up and materials.

We have to be mobile. We travel to all kinds of party sites ranging from outdoor parks and fields to host's living rooms to ornate hotel banquet rooms. We have to be able to get in and out quickly-sometimes we work at more than one event in a day and the schedule can be tight.

But most important, we have to work quickly when we draw. Party caricatures should take no more than 5 to 10 minutes per person drawn.

So economy of speed, economy of motion and a set up that facilitates this is important.

So, how do caricature artists set up and work at a party? Although there are individual and regional differences, the arrangements look something like this.

The artist's set up begins with a portable drawing surface. Some artists rest a drawing board on their lap. But most artists in the Philadelphia area use easels of some sort. French easels are popular among artists because they are portable and have neat fold out drawer to store pens, markers, chalks, etc.

Some artists may have a small box or table to rest their drawing paraphernalia while they work.

Then they use some sort of bag or satchel to cart in the drawing paper, clip-on lights, bags, etc. I use a roll-aboard suitcase for this purpose. It keeps me very mobile. I can just carry my easel over my shoulder with its shoulder strap and roll my suitcase from my car to the party-site.

Most of us carry clip on lights we use when we are indoors. They are a lifesaver when working in dim banquet halls and restaurants. Because we can provide our own light, the party host can keep light levels anywhere they want for purposes of setting a desired atmosphere. We just ask to be placed near a location by an electrical outlet.

You can read more about how caricature artists work here.

RIMS Reception: Part One

2005-04-22T23:34:00.000-04:00

The weather this past Sunday was so perfect, you just wanted to pour it into a bottle for safekeeping. Then you'd wait for a dreary day to take it out and pour it all over you. The sky was crystal clear, the temperature in the low 70's, low humidity... Perfect.

The RIMS convention, a gathering of risk management professionals, was opening the next day. Today's gig was an insurance company's pre-convention cocktail reception for staff and prized clients.

As a result of the many discussions with the event planner, I recruited 12 performers; 3 Tarot readers, 3 palm readers and 6 caricature artists, to be part of the entertainment for the 400+ people expected to attend.

Recruiting the performers was easy; the gig was on a Sunday evening on a day when few other events were happening. And so my first choice artists and readers were available.

Had the date been even a week later in the month, I would have had to compete against scores of Delaware Valley area Communion parties for the availability of my performers.

Sometimes it is easy to know when a given date will be busy. Certain times of the year are predictable. For example, December with its holiday parties, June with its graduations and other functions are, without fail, periods of high demand.

And sometimes it seems, for no discernible reason, that everyone in town is throwing a party on the same date.

But, the sun was smiling on us.

I arrived an hour-and-a-half early for set up. I didn't need all of that time to physically set up. The event planner had already arranged for the layout and placement of tables, chairs, etc. But it was important to be there to scope out the 'lay of the land,' greet my performers, hand out their checks, show them their stations, and give them last minute instructions. To ask for changes if necessary, and equally as important, to let the event planner and coordinators know I was on-site and prepared.

I had already had a number of discussions with each performer so they understood what was expected of them. Each was a veteran of many years of performing in a special events setting, so, if necessary, she could roll with the punches.

A smooth running event is the result of lots of preparation and organization. That is why many event planners and other events professionals are on the anal side. Small details can trip you up and throw things out of kilter. Lack of sufficient communication will do that, too.

Like the time an agent booked me to draw caricatures at a family event in a restaurant.

I was booked at the very last minute and, in the flurry of activity, no one thought to notify the restaurant.

I broke the news myself when I called the restaurant the morning of the event for driving directions. My late announced arrival called for a hurried revamping of the room's layout to accommodate me.

But that event went well and so did this one.