Where the Fun Starts!! - The BobbyK BLOG

Stretch Your Entertainment Budget

Whether you are a non-profit, school, or corporation, everyone is feeling the economic pinch these days and wants to figure out how to get more for less. Entertainment is one area that, when cut, can affect the entire event’s success! However, creative cutting can result in a successful event AND huge savings.

First, think of what the greatest expenses might be for the company providing the entertainment. Most of the time, labor is number one. By reducing the labor costs of the entertainment, you can cut the amount they charge you.

Providing volunteers for the items that are simple to run, such as moderate inflatables, casino tables, Bingo, arts and crafts, fun foods, and carnival games can cut your cost and save the entertainment company a ton of money and give them more flexibility. Volunteers can be your employees, organizational members, or students as long as they are the appropriate age and responsibility. If you can’t use your own volunteers, consider hiring a local service organization (Kiwanis or Rotary Club), football team, or other non-profit and make a donation to the organization for their efforts. You get recognition for helping the group and you save money on your event.

Another method to save money can be in asking your entertainment consultant what deals they may have.  Sometimes prices go up because of the cost of transporting an item.  If everything fits on one truck or trailer, there is definitely a savings.  Some companies might have items that they are overstocked with inventory and will discount the price to move that item.

Weekday work is another way to save money. Everyone wants their event on a weekend, particularly on Saturdays. At Bobby K Entertainment, we usually are sold out every Saturday but can always find availability Sunday through Thursday (other than holidays). By moving your event to a non-prime day, you allow flexibility in pricing.

When looking at price, remember it is always easier to get something thrown in for free or a discount than it is to get a discounted overall price. This way, the entertainment company maintains their pricing structure and both parties feel that they are working together to sweeten the deal! Most times, the item thrown in is a wonderful addition for your event while one of the lower cost items for the company.

By being creative, you can stretch those Entertainment dollars for most any event!

Carnival Games and Inflatables for Elementary Schools

Many times, parent organizations try to create activities and raise money at the same time for their elementary or middle schools.  Usually, accomplishing both goals is very difficult. The most painful fundraisers seem to be those selling wrapping paper or greeting cards or those boxes of candy bars.

Planning a family activity that will generate interest and have large attendance is also a challenge. For years, school carnivals have been a fun way for parents and children to interact, but the work involved is immense and the financial rewards minimal.

A school carnival that is held in partnership with an entertainment company can take a lot of the work out of the event while creating something that will be heavily attended and reap financial rewards for all involved!

Some entertainment companies are willing to create special packages with schools during their off season and partner to create a successful event. Three to four inflatables and a few carnival games can be the base needed to get children and their families to attend a school carnival. Add food, music and some other activities and you have a successful event.

Instead of paying lots of money for inflatables, get a company that will train your volunteers to operate the inflatables while they provide trained supervision. You'll cut the company’s expense considerably. Then work out a split after a fair guarantee so everyone makes money.

By charging an admission fee for unlimited rides, you create an easily tracked income stream that can be used to pay for the main attraction, the inflatables. All other money made from sponsorships, food sales, crafts, or flea markets can be kept by the organization.

With a partnership in place, it is in everyone’s interest to get lots of people to attend - resulting in a successful event... and a profitable one too!

Safety with Inflatables

You can have fun with inflatable slides, moonwalks, bouncehouses, and other games - but be careful not to do it at the expense of your own safety.... like this guy:

Good thing he slid down before flying over the side! Maybe next time, instead of trying to catch him, the viewers can encourage the father and son to race against the clock (at separate times). Blooper tapes don't always end up as harmless as this one...

Customizing your Game Shows

When choosing a TV Style game show for your next corporate or college event, don’t just take an “off the shelf” version. For a little more money, you can customize your game show to represent your company or the theme you are presenting.  

Writing custom questions for any game show does take some time and will require a bit of programming, but it can make the difference when you are presenting the game show to an involved and dedicated audience. As an example, Bobby K Entertainment has created several versions of our Hot Seat game show to incorporate different themes.

The basic concept of Hot Seat is that contestants compete against 24 other players and try not to get eliminated by selecting an incorrect answer from four possible answers for each question. There are four different rounds with a winner in each round.

In customizing the show, we have created themes for Black History Month, Green (environmental), Latino History, and Pop Culture. The possibilities are endless as you can create questions around a corporate philosophy, sales and product information, or employee information  One could even create a special show for Class or Family Reunions.

For more information on customization or the types of game shows available, go to www.bobbykgameshows.com.

 

Game Shows as Fundraisers

Everyone loves a good TV style game show!  There is even a cable TV channel that plays nothing but game shows.  In recent years, among the top rated network shows has been Deal, No Deal, Are you Smarter than A Fifth Grader? And now the resurgence of The Price is Right with Drew Carey.

While everyone loves to watch, they would all love an opportunity to play.  Unfortunately, seldom do we have a chance to play a TV game show much less win exciting prizes.  By combining the excitement of a professional TV Style Game show and the chance to win great prizes, you have just created a wonderful Fundraising Idea!

Sponsorships and Ticket Sales are the key to raising significant money.  You should search out an overall sponsor at a higher dollar figure and then sponsors for individual rounds AND the prizes you hope to give away.  Tickets should be affordable and the admission should include some snacks, background music (which can be provided by the game show hosts), and a cash bar.

There are many games to choose from including versions of popular TV shows as well as customized game shows created especially for the group seeking funds or the corporation sponsoring the event.  Take a game that asks several questions and you can sponsor the entire night, the prizes that are given away, each round of questions, the categories of questions, the game podiums, the ticket printing, the snacks, the emcee and even the location of the party!  Tie in a media sponsor (usually radio) and your advertising can be free as well.

Bobby K Entertainment has experienced event consultants ready to help you create a successful game show fundraising event!

Party Fun - Creative Spin Art Ideas

If you’ve been to any company picnic, fundraiser, or party, odds are you have seen a spin art machine where kids or adults can splatter bright colors of paint or ink on cards or Frisbees and take home their newest creation. 

While Frisbees remain the most popular of all spin art items, there are some new ideas that put a new “spin” on the artwork!

Blank puzzle pieces that can be decorated at high speeds with unique splatters of color are now available.  When dry, just break the puzzle pieces apart and you have both an art piece and a puzzle to play with – and no two are alike!

Unique T-shirt designs are nothing new, many have brought tie-dyed shirts to their events for years.  Now there are T-shirt spin art machines that allow you to bring the splatter design to a format you can wear every day!  Although you can’t use a standard spin art machine, the new machine accommodates different sized shirts in any color.  The only issue with the spin art T-shirts is that they take longer to dry than plastic or cardboard items, so everyone has to wait about an hour for the drying process and must return to get their shirts.

One final item that can be created with the new spin art machines fits right into the hot “Green” Theme.  Eco-bags to replace plastic and paper grocery bags can be custom decorated and then used everyday to cut down on environmental footprint.

All of these items are available through Bobby K Entertainment.

Inflatables: Fun Fundraiser for your School

There are many ways to raise money for your college, university, high school, PTA / PTO, club, and organization. You could sell candy bars and magazines, but why not try something that is unique and fun for everyone? Host a 'Stay & Play Party' with Bobby K!

You can make lots of money and lots of smiles – here’s how:
 
Bobby K Provides:
• Giant Dual Lane Slide
• Obstacle Course
• Moonbounce
• Kid’s Maze
• One Adult/Teen Interactive (ie. Bungee Run, Joust)
• 2 staff to setup, train, supervise and remove equipment
• All insurances
• All wristbands and indemnification forms
• Event is for up to three hours on a weeknight or vacation day!
 

 
You Provide:
• The location
• Volunteers to operate the inflatables (total ten)
• Electric for the blowers
• All Promotion for Event
• Ticket Sales & Advertising Sales if applicable (organization can sell sponsors for
entire event or individual items and place placards around to show which business
participated – potential of about $750)
• Concessions
• $500 deposit on event
 
How we both make money:
• Bobby K is guaranteed $500
• Tickets are sold for $6 in advance, $8 at door for anyone who is participating (will
get a wrist band).  Parents are not charged unless they wish to participate.
• After first $500 in ticket sales, remainder of ticket sales are split 50/50
• Organization makes ALL money on concessions and advertising/sponsorships.
 
Revenue Projections (based on 300 participants):
• Tickets - $900 advance, $1200 at door, $2100 total
• Concessions - $400
• Advertising – $500 individual sponsors, $250 event sponsor, $750 total
• Bobby K receives $1300
• Organization receives $1950

It sounds simple... and it is! Contact us today to find out how to customize an event like this for your school.

Outdoor Fun with Bobby K

We've had an early Spring in Upstate New York and Summer is not far behind. With all the nice weather, who wants to play indoors anymore? Bobby K offers a variety of inflatables and games that are great for company picnics, graduation parties, and outdoor fundraisers. Check out this list of our Top 5 Outdoor Activities:

1. Water Balloon Wars
   From an inflatable fort, you and your teammate launch water balloons across an open field at your opponents. Built-in slingshots make it fun to spread out across long distances!
2. Human Foosball
   Five people per team are strapped to poles that allow them to move side-to-side but NOT forward or backward. Play ten minute games with a soft soccer ball and see who scores the highest!
3. Tiki Wall Climb
   We have several wall-climbing (or sticky wall) challenges, but none that represent 'fun in the sun' like our Tiki Wall Climb. Check it out!
4. Drive In Movies
   Our giant inflated drive in movie screen comes with rear projection and a great quality sound system. It measures 24 feet wide, 12 feet deep, and 20 feet high - and the actual screen is 18 feet in diameter. Invite your friends to set up blankets and lawn chairs to add enjoyment to a warm summer evening.
5. Tiki Bar and Mocktails
   Our Tiki Bar, complete with umbrella, is the perfect place to walk up and order a non-alcoholic Pina Colada or Strawberry Daiquiri Mocktail garnished with fruit and a tiny umbrella. It's also the perfect addition to your summer-themed party!

Photo Booths are for every party

As a kid visiting the five and dime store or any amusement park, you always grabbed your best friend and a couple of quarters and entered the photo booth for a strip of four goofy poses.  We’ve all still got copies of these pictures somewhere in our photo albums.

Photo booths have become the rage of wedding receptions. Not only can participants take their photos with their dates, family and friends, but they can also have a copy to give to the bride and groom as a keepsake. Some brides set out “wedding memory” books with pages for guests to glue their pictures in and write special messages to the wedding couple. The second set of pictures is taken home as a memento of the reception.

But weddings aren’t the only place for photo booths!  Since the pictures can be “branded” with logos and dates and sayings, the list of events goes on and on.  Photo Booths are perfect for Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, company picnics or holiday parties, Grand Openings, Fundraisers, School Proms, College events and more! The combination of the number of pictures, the number of copies and the speed at which pictures are produced makes the Photo Booth a perfect choice for any party!

Get photo booths at www.southerntierphotobooth.com.

Black Light Parties

The late 60's and early 70's brought us a psychedelic era that was exemplified by incense, felt posters, and black lights! While the posters may be out of favor, the black lights have never lost their popularity - and in recent years have gotten even more popular!

By being creative with the use of black lights and with the advent of LED black lights, more entertainment options are now available. However, just throwing up a black light does not make a party.

Bobby K Entertainment has found numerous ways to use this new technology to make black lights even more entertaining by integrating their use into traditional games:

• Cosmic Golf is a nine hole miniature golf course with the putters, balls, and every hole UV reactive. By adding 3-D glasses, the balls seem to float in mid-air when trying to putt due to the special surfaces.
• Midnight Volleyball is a darkened room illuminated only with black lights and with the net, ball, and court lines all UV reactive. Players use special makeup and glow necklaces to be seen.
• Glow Racing is the newest rage where four-wheeled, UV reactive pedal racers head down a similarly-lit race course. This creates a special “night time” event.
• Blacklight Dance Parties pull it all together with great music and a full array of black lights. The party is special because each piece of clothing reacts differently and our makeup and glow items allow partiers to stand out.

For more ideas on how to incorporate black lights into your fundraisers, corporate events, parties, weddings, and more, visit www.bobbyk.com today!