December 4th, 2009
In this installment, we’ll provide some thoughtful tips for planning a themed holiday party.
Themed Holiday Parties: Fun for All Ages
If you’re planning a party to include folks who don’t know each other particularly well (or you just like to engage people in a party setting), a themed holiday party may be just the ticket. Try these themes on for size:
1 – Holiday Costume Party
No, we’re not talking about dozens of your closest friends all dressed as Santa Claus. Creative costume party themes might include: come dressed as your favorite gift; a “tacky” party where a prize is given for the tackiest attire; come dressed as your favorite holiday food; a pajama party; a red and green party; etc.
2 – Gift Exchange
Instead of hosting a traditional gift exchange where each person brings a gift of a set value and everyone draws names and gifts are assigned accordingly, why not kick it up a notch? Host an ornament exchange, a cookie exchange, a “white elephant” exchange, a liquor exchange, or a handmade item exchange. To make the event even more fun, try a gift swapping game like this one (White Elephant Exchange) or this one (Yankee Swap).
3 – Progressive Dinner
Several couples or families get together to create a progressive dinner. Essentially, it works like this – each family or couple is responsible for one course in the meal. The meal starts at the home responsible for “appetizer” and progresses from house to house for course to course, ending with dessert. Best to skip the alcoholic beverages on this event unless the houses are all within walking distance.
No matter what kind of fun holiday gathering you’re planning this year, spice it up with a projector rental from Projector123.com. Showcase holiday photos, your favorite holiday movies, or a slideshow of past holiday gatherings and events. Click here to rent a projector now.
December 2nd, 2009
In our last installment, we talked about simple ideas to create a fast, easy holiday gathering at home. In this segment, we’ll look at tips to help you plan a successful party outside of your home.
Party On and Party Out – Planning Holiday Gatherings Outside of the Home
There are many reasons to plan a party outside of the home — easy setup and cleanup, availability of a central location, ability to choose a venue that may be more spacious than a private home, etc. Here are some planning points to consider:
1 – What’s your budget?
Are you (or your organization) picking up the tab for the party, or is everyone paying their own way? If it’s the latter, choose a per-person amount that feels reasonable to those who are likely to attend. Be sure to calculate in anyone who won’t be expected to pay (for example, if there is a special guest, speaker, or honoree, the cost of this person’s meal is typically absorbed by the group).
2 – How will you handle the food?
You’ve got plenty of options here — including everything from meeting up at a restaurant where everyone orders off a menu and self-pays, to setting up a fixed-price menu with various options for palates and dietary restrictions, to hosting banquet-style to hiring in a caterer with or without a cash bar. Once you’ve got your budget set, you’ll find it much easier to negotiate with venues and make choices based on what the group can afford.
3 – How many people are likely to attend?
The size of your group is often a determining factor in choosing a location for your event. Some restaurant venues have multiple rooms, suitable for different sized groups, while others have a minimum or maximum party size. Start with the guest list, estimate your attendance, and take into consideration your answers to questions #1 and #2.
You’re party is sure to be a hit – have fun and if you’re planning a trip down memory lane, remember to reserve your projector rental from Projector123.com for the best prices and service available for renting a projector anywhere in the U.S.
November 30th, 2009
Planning a get-together this holiday season? Our 5-part series explores everything from simple, easy to prepare intimate gatherings to gala-style events.
There’s no question — the holidays are a time to celebrate, and what better way than with a gathering of friends and family? Here are some simple ideas for putting together a fast and easy holiday soiree’.
1 – Keep the menu simple.
When planning your menu, remember that less is more. Stick to a few very tasty crowd-pleasers instead of setting out a 20-item buffet. Better yet, consider hosting a potluck — most people are happy to bring a dish or pick up something to contribute en route to the party, and it takes a heap of the pressure off you. You can further minimize your menu by carefully choosing a time for your event — for example, a mid-afternoon party (where folks are likely to have eaten lunch before arriving) or an evening gathering that starts at 8PM or so sends a subtle message: dine or grab a snack before you arrive, as a full dinner won’t be served this late in the evening. When you’re planning for drinks, be sure to include non-alcoholic beverages as well, and you can cut back on expenses by providing beer and/or wine while inviting folks to BYOB.
2 – Ask for help.
One of the biggest stressors in planning a gathering is thinking you’ve got to do it all yourself. Consider hiring a professional cleaning specialist to scrub your home before the party, and don’t feel you must say “no” to guests to offer to assist in picking up at the end of the party. If everyone picked up just a few plates or cups, the cleanup goes a lot smoother and quicker than if you dismiss offers for help and insist on doing it all yourself.
3 – Keep the guest list small.
Intimate gatherings require a lot less planning, preparation, and clean-up than larger parties, and yet they can be just as much fun as a full-scale event. The key is to keep it simple, invite folks who mesh well together (or already know each other), and remember to relax.
Holiday gatherings don’t have to be complex! What matters is the quality of the conversation — not the quantity of guests or the elaborateness of the food. Keep it simple, have fun, and everyone is sure to have a wonderful time. And be sure to include a projector rental for a photo montage slideshow from Projector123.com.
November 27th, 2009
If you’re like most folks, you’re probably expecting company to come and visit at some point this holiday season. If you’re scrambling to find ideas to entertain your guests during their visit, look no further than Projector123.com. Projector rentals from Projector123.com provide easy, accessible, affordable ways for you to make your guests feel welcome without having to drive all over town in holiday traffic or battle the winter elements to seek out fun activities. Here are some ideas for entertaining your relatives right at home with an easy DVD projector rental:
1 – At-home night at the movies
House your very own film fest when the weather is far too nasty to go out to the movies. Projector123.com will ship a professional grade projector rental right to your front door, complete with easy setup instructions. Just return the projector to a FedEx drop-off box (included in rental cost) when you’re finished with the projector — it’s really that simple! In the meantime, enjoy all your favorite movies projected on any blank wall in your home. Your guests will love you for it.
2 – Host a gaming competition
 There’s nothing quite as fun as some healthy competition among family and friends. Hook up any gaming system to a rental projector from Projector123.com, pop in your favorite games and let the fun begin, projected on a larger than life wall or screen as family members battle it out for the title of Best in the Family. Loser gets stuck with the dishes, perhaps? Make up your own rules, just make it fun!
3 – Nostalgic family photo slide show
Bring the family together with memories from days gone by with a photo montage or digital slide show projected onto a wall, white sheet, or large screen in your home. Everyone will appreciate reminiscing over old times with this top-quality showcase of the family’s most treasured moments and much-loved relatives.
Whatever you do to entertain your family this year, make things exciting and fun with an affordable projector rental from Projector123.com. Click here to rent a projector now!
September 18th, 2009
Have you captured funny moments like these in real life? If so, maybe it’s time to create a family slide show DVD. Share your memories at the next family gathering, reunion or milestone celebration with a family photo/video montage and a DVD projector rental from Projector123.com. Weekend rental rates start at just $99 — get started today and rent a projector.
September 2nd, 2009
Labor Day: it’s perhaps one of the least understood holidays of our culture. Sure, nobody minds getting a paid day off on the first Monday of every September, but did you ever stop to wonder WHY?
The holiday dates back to 1882, when the New York City Central Labor Union decided to create a day off “for working citizens.” A dozen years later, Congress designated Labor Day an official U.S. holiday, just two months after the May Day riots of 1894.
Many Americans consider Labor Day to be the official “end” of summer (even though many parts of the country continue to experience warmer weather well into September and in some parts of the U.S., children return to school as soon as early August).
Currently, many cities and towns celebrate Labor Day with a local parade, and in other areas, Americans enjoy barbecues, relaxation and oudoor gatherings with friends and family.
Looking for something special to do this Labor Day? September 7th is coming up quickly…why not order a projector rental online from Projector123.com? You could create a family movie fest, an outdoor block party, a swimming pool drive-in theater, a gaming tournament, etc. The possibilities are virtually endless — and with weekend rentals starting at just $99, DVD projector rentals provide affordable fun for most anyone.
Click here to reserve your projector rental from Projector123.com today.
August 28th, 2009
If you’re planning a slumber party for your child and some friends, here are some great tips for keeping the group entertained — and out of trouble — while keeping things easy for mom and dad.
1. Keep the guest list small. By limiting the number of kids who are invited, you’ll be more likely to keep your sanity and less likely to have arguments and tears from the attendees. And with fewer kids present, it becomes much easier to keep an eye on the whole group.
2. Create a list of possible games and activities. Boredom is the #1 cause of mischief and while it’s not necessary to keep the kids busy with planned activities during the entire sleep-over (since sleep is not likely to be a high priority on their “to-do” list), it helps to have a few games, crafts or other ideas prepared in case of boredom. Let your child participate in planning the list and leave plenty of space –when kids get together, they tend to invent their own kinds of fun. A rental projector from Projector123.com is perfect for watching big-screen movies, cartoons, gaming, and anything the kids want to watch. Weekend rentals start at just $99.
3. Keep the food simple. Odds are, you won’t be getting a whole lot of sleep either, and the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time cooking and preparing food. Grab a few frozen pizzas (or order in) and put out some basic snacks and beverages and the kids will be ready to roll. Consider offering some healthier alternatives in addition to kid food favorites. A couple of packages of pre-washed lettuce are a great start for salad to accompany that pizza, and bite-size raw veggies will go just as well with dip as regular chips. Fresh fruit is always a hit for dessert, as are popsicles made with real fruit. Providing a good balance of foods will help stave off any upset tummies later in the evening.
4. Get parents’ contact information (even if you already have it). When each child is dropped off, ask for the best number to reach their parents between now and morning. That way, should there be any kind of emergency in the household (or even just if one of the kids is too homesick), you’ll have a handy reference and can quickly reach the parents.
Click here to reserve your projector rental from Projector123.com today.
July 15th, 2009
Many parents agree that the party favors at kids’ parties can tend to get out of hand. A bucket full of candy is not a welcome addition to any parents’ home (especially after the child has just loaded up on cake, sodas and ice cream), and the tears can really start flowing when inexpensive prize toys quickly break or get lost.
So what’s a parent to do? It’s customary to present a small token of appreciation to the children who attended the party and supplied gifts, yet everyone’s got a budget to maintain….besides which, as a society we are becoming more earth-conscious and many parents simply don’t want to add more cheap plastic toys to our rapidly expanding landfills.
Here are some inexpensive, earth-friendly party favor ideas you (and the kids) are sure to love:
1) book exchange
Instead of favors (or even instead of gifts), why not create a book exchange? Books are perhaps one of the most durable items to survive childhood — they last a long while before kids outgrow them, they can easily be recycled, and nobody likes to throw away a book so they don’t contribute to the ever-growing trash problem. Ask each child to bring a gently-used book wrapped in recyclable material (newspaper, colored paper bag).
2) eco favors
Wooden birdhouses or birdfeeder crafts allow children to interact with our delicate ecosystem in a positive way by supporting the environment and creating something they can admire and be proud of.
3) craft projects
Many educational stores and party supply stores offer inexpensive, all-inclusive craft projects made from wooden sticks, cardboard, and other biodegradable resources. If you can’t find these near you, check out Oriental Trading Company to order online.
And during the party, remember to use paper plates and cups (forks are often unnecessary), paper tablecloths and decorations, and paper goody bags to keep your party even greener.
July 6th, 2009
In the Audiovisual Tips for Beginner post, we gave an overview of general guidelines for using audiovisuals at any event. But today, we’re bringing you the sequel: advanced AV tips.
There’s no need to be afraid of adding audiovisual to an upcoming  gathering, and these simple steps can help ensure that your A/V enhancements add value and impact to your event.
1. Less is more. Generally speaking, you don’t need more than 1 kind of A/V support at a time. For example, if you decide to rent a projector to showcase a video montage at an upcoming party, wedding or shower, be sure to turn off the party music before you start the video so the music isn’t competing with the show. And to maximize your value, you could create a simple photo montage that loops, and run that loop throughout the party.
2. Know your audience. Always try to plan your event from your guests’/participants’ perspective. What are people seeking? How can A/V enhance their overall experience, without detracting from the event or creating sensory overload? Consider that older audiences will have different needs than younger demographics.
3. Plan ahead. Do as much as you can ahead of time, so that all you have to do during the party or meeting is “press play.” During your event, you’ll have plenty of details to manage, and there’s no need to add A/V mishaps to the list. Set up early and test everything (sound, lighting, function, focus, remote, etc.) before guests/participants begin to arrive.
4. Push the envelope. Don’t settle for “simple” or what’s been done before — to truly wow your audience, push the limits of your capabilities (or better yet, ask a techie cohort for assistance). Add drama, effects, and more — but don’t go over the top or you’ll lose your audience.
5. Get a second opinion. Whether it’s your PowerPoint presentation, your handouts, your signage or your slide show/montage, it always pays to have a second set of eyes review your creation.
Got a great A/V tip we can use? Post it here as a comment or email us! And when you need to reserve a projector rental, be sure to visit us online at Projector123.com.
July 2nd, 2009
This summer, why not upgrade your family backyard bar-b-que with a new twist on classic flavors and big screen movies at home?
More and more families are looking into “stay-cations” this summer, finding ways to enjoy fun times in each other’s company without the costly expenses of airfare, lodging and fuel.
For significantly less than the price of a single plane ticket, you can plan a fun-filled weekend for the family that is sure to create memories to last a lifetime.
Instead of tossing some store-bought burgers and dogs on the grill, get the whole family involved in making a weekend’s worth of affordable gourmet grilling meals right at home.
The Food Network has a slew of exciting recipes, and Iron Chef Bobby Flay is a grill master in his own right.
Consider some of these delectable Bobby Flay dishes you can easily create and grill in your own backyard (without breaking the bank):
Big screen movies are another welcome addition to BBQ 2.0 — hang a sheet or choose a blank wall inside or outside to enjoy a summer movie fest where YOU get to pick the flicks. Invite some friends if you like and call it a party — it’s up to you!
Projector123.com rents projectors in the most easy, affordable, hassle-free manner imaginable. Weekend rentals start at just $99 and we’ll ship the projector straight to your front door with just a few clicks of your mouse. When the weekend fun comes to an end, just pack it back in it’s shipping/carrying carton and call FedEx for easy prepaid pickup and return delivery.
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