Party On!—

Children’s’ Party Business Thumbs Its Nose At Bad Economy

By Nancy K. Crevier

It is nicer in Newtown — especially if you are a child. According to several area businesses that cater to children’s parties, the economic slump has not hurt business. In some cases, the children’s party business has increased in the last several months.

Stephen Lewis, owner of the Amazing Fun Bus, an all-weather 30-foot converted RV packed full of high tech games, a slide going down to a karaoke room with a dance floor, and the latest video and arcade games, said that in the one year he has been in business the Amazing Fun Bus has seen a steady flow of business.

“Despite the economy, our business is going strong,” said Mr Lewis. “In this battered economy, some parents try to cut every corner, but they won’t cancel parties.”

The Amazing Fun Bus offers three different packages to fit different budgets, he said. Renting the Fun Bus on a weekday is $275. The weekend package, the most popular time to have a party, is $375, and a deluxe package is available for $475. His company has started offering coupons to build a cushion into the cost of the weekend package, said Mr Lewis, but other than that, he has really not had to accommodate the poor economy.

The Amazing Fun Bus is doing well enough right now, and the need is great enough, that he has begun retrofitting a second vehicle. The second Amazing Fun Bus, “a bit more edgy version,” is scheduled to hit the road this spring, allowing Mr Lewis to expand his business into Westchester County. “We have definitely had times when we really needed a second bus. If you’ve got something different, people are still looking for it.”

It has also been a very active year for Creative Music in Monroe, where owner and director Liz Reisman and her staff are finding party business on the rise. “Our party bookings are up, up, up,” said Ms Reisman. “People are still spending their money, but changing how they spend. Parents are not spending on themselves, but they are not cutting back on their kids — yet,” she added.

Creative Music is very conscious about the pricing of the parties, said Ms Riesman. “We are keeping prices reasonable in this economy.” For $200, 12 children can enjoy a 90-minute music-themed party, such as Rock Band for older children or the popular “Hybrid” party, a combination of time for karaoke and instrument instruction and play time. Creative Music supplies the setup to allow parents to bring in cake and food, as well.

“I do think if people didn’t have hope for the economy improving that they would cut back,” said Ms Reisman, “but people have hope.”

At Tumble Jungle on South Main Street, Jedd Morin is very happy with the number of party bookings this year. “We’ve actually added slots for parties Friday through Sunday,” said Mr Morin.

Tumble Jungle has offered parties for two years. “I hear parents talk about the bad economy every day, but we have had the highest retention rate ever this past year,” Mr Morin said.

Thirteen youngsters can jump, roll, and tumble under the direction of at least three staff members during a 90-minute party that includes invitations and balloons for everyone, for $290. Parents provide the cake, but Tumble Jungle provides the fun and worry-free party atmosphere, said Mr Morin, and in this economy, that is still a big draw for parents.

Since January, when the Newtown Youth Academy at Fairfield Hills began offering children’s parties, business has been steady, according to Robert “Coach” Frangione, director. “It’s going well,” said Mr Frangione, and the price has not deterred any customers. “You get two instructors and the party room, plus play time on the turf field for soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, or dodge ball, or the basketball court for $249,” Mr Frangione said. Parents provide the goodies, but invitations and cleanup are included in the cost.

For younger children, NYA has an inflatable obstacle course that can be rented for $75, and huge colorful parachutes for games.

“In the past, people were spending the big bucks to have parties at home. It was a mess and a lot of work. Here, kids have a great time, parents have a great time, and the kids sleep well at night,” said Mr Frangione. “We try to keep it reasonably priced and the kids have a party they never forget.”

Another local gymnastics business, Vasi’s International Gymnastics, on Peck’s Lane, is also find children’s birthday parties a bonus to doing business.

“When parents factor the details of having a party at their house, trying to entertain a group of energetic children, along with the price of themed paper goods and everything else, they find that the service we provide is not only cost effective, but a stress free way to give their children a wonderful birthday,” said owner Trisha Waller.

Vasi’s added parties to their repertoire just this past January, but has had no problem booking the hour and a half of structured gymnastics and snack time. The price is competitive, said Ms Waller, at $240 for up to 12 children, including invitations, paper goods, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and set-up and cleanup, too.

“We are committed to keeping our prices low and providing a quality service,” Ms Waller said, which is what families are seeking in a weak economy.

“Booked Solid”

Edmond Town Hall gymnasium is “booked solid,” said manager Marcy Becker. In this economy, the town hall facility continues to attract plenty of families. “It’s a good price, and it’s reasonable,” she said. Families can book the gymnasium for a party for $30 an hour, with no limit to the number of guests. “We provide the tables and chairs, and the parents are responsible for anything else they want to bring in, whether it’s basket balls, soccer balls, clowns, waffle ball, magic shows, whatever.”

When an age-appropriate movie is showing, said Ms Becker, parents will sometimes rent one of the meeting rooms for an hour, at a rate of $30, hold a pizza party or have cake, and then go to the movie. Edmond Town Hall also hosts private showings of the current movie for parties of 50 or more guests, she said, at the usual bargain rate of $2 a head.

Bethel Cinema on Greenwood Avenue in Bethel is also a popular party place for Newtown children celebrating a birthday or special occasion, said Ken Carlin, who owns the small theater with his partner Pam Karpen. He has noticed a “very slight” decline in bookings for children’s parties, he said, but overall, parents are still looking to provide a special event for their kids.

“Parents will sacrifice other things before throwing a party the child may not want. Kids love [coming to the theater]. They think it’s so cool to be in their own private theater,” he said.

Each party at Bethel Cinema includes a private showing of a movie, popcorn, drinks, a party host, balloons, and paper goods for ten children. The cost is $245 and is a party that makes both the parents and the children happy, he said.

Newtown parents are also willing to travel a little beyond the borders to provide their children with a good time.

Laura Brown of the Jewelry Café, an artisan cooperative jewelry business on Main Street in Southbury, said that the make-your-own jewelry parties she hosts are not succumbing to the poor economy. “We were bracing for the worst in February. It is a store of indulgences, after all. But now, more than ever, we are holding parties,” she said. “Parents don’t cut back for their kids.”

Her parties generally attract girls between the ages of 10 and 12, said Ms Brown, and a party is reasonably priced. “It’s $100 for 10 girls to make a necklace. The kids walk away with something really pretty and the feel really connected to each other working together on the necklaces. People are doing it because they have something lasting,” she said.

The hour-and-a-half party includes hot chocolate and snacks, as well, said Ms Brown, who also helps parents put together inexpensive party favor bags for home parties.

“Women tell me how much they hate the cheap stuff that usually goes into a favor bag. Parents are getting crafty, buying the elements here for the bags for around $3 a child. The child takes home a little something to make and it looks great,” Ms Brown said.

There is a desire by parents to do the right thing by their children, even if they are feeling the pinch of bad times, she added. “They want to give to their children. Kids really rule.”

A Business Adapts

Koenig Art Emporium of Southbury Plaza just started hosting children’s parties in early March, said owner Karen Kensek, but she feels quite positive about the response so far. “People are very into it. They like the idea of doing art, but not at home, where it can be very messy,” said Ms Kensek.

With business down, she needed to think outside the box, businesswise, she said, and children’s parties and art classes seemed like a good area to explore. “Bringing in parties to boost us is working, so far,” said Ms Kensek.

Parents can select from a number of art activities for the party, such as painting on canvas, making clay pots, or other crafts, and the store provides paper products and juice and chips for the young artists. Depending on the project chosen, the cost is between $12.95 and $14.95 per child, said Ms Kensek.

“We have only just started this, so it’s hard to compare, but I do know that with children, there is no more sitting around the picnic table with cake and ice cream. Children’s parties are very competitive,” she said.

Inspired Revelry is also a Southbury business, but owner Lauren Kuzara brings the party to the celebrant’s home. Her all-inclusive basic party for 11 children is $275, and includes the invitations, theme props, a craft, games, cake, snacks, and thank-you notes.

“We are definitely still getting bookings, but people are doing less elaborate parties. The parties are on a smaller scale with fewer children that makes it more affordable,” she said.

 Busy households, where both parents may work, still continue to count on Inspired Revelry to put together a special event for the birthday child, though, said Ms Kuzara.

The economy may be putting the “OW” in life, but as Amazing Fun Bus’ Mr Lewis said, “Parents still want a ‘WOW’ factor for their parties.”

It is good to be young.