With summer soon coming to a close, you may feel the need to spend as much time outdoors as possible – by the beach, by the lake, or just your backyard.  Even if you live in a city, finding spots of greenery can be relaxing and rejuvenating. 

The atmosphere of the outdoors works wonders when throwing all types of parties – weddings, birthday celebrations, company picnics, and other corporate events.  When the main décor is your landscape, your event becomes whimsical.    

This is why we are spotlighting Botanical Gardens as a great idea for a party venue.  For one thing, you can find them located in and outside of cities across the country.  They also provide gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces available all year round to visit, and to host your next event. 

The New York Botanical Garden advertises their seasonal exhibits, and also features a Children’s Adventure Garden.  This is a perfectly unique idea for your child’s next birthday party.  Hire a face painter or a magician to make this adventureland complete.

Many Botanical Gardens also boast banquet halls and patios ideal for wedding and anniversary celebrations.  At a special request, you can even have your ceremony take place in the garden landscape of your choice.  A solo guitarist, violinist, or a classical singer, would fit elegantly into this type of ceremony.

By hosting an event at a Botanical Garden, you are also supporting community greening projects, as well as laboratory research.  By becoming a member, you too can be involved in efforts to improve surrounding communities, and to better our environment.

Take some time to stop, have fun, get involved, and smell the flowers…           

Visit the American Public Gardens Association website and use their Public Garden Search to find a garden in your area.

Nothing makes a theme party more exciting than bringing that theme to life.  And for most kids, nothing is more surprising than seeing their favorite fictional character walk into a party - just for them.  Hiring a costumed character for a birthday party or a community event is a surefire way to make some memories.

If you’re searching for Costumed Characters, keep these ideas in mind:

There are a lot of companies out there with a lot to offer.  Some companies list every character they are able to provide.  Some do not.  If you know exactly what, or whom, you want, don’t be afraid to ask.  Most companies stay up to date on kids’ favorites, from Walt Disney movie characters, to Dora the Explorer, to The Backyardigans.

If you are planning a more seasonal event and are in need of a Santa Claus or Easter Bunny, you’ll be happy to discover that most companies feature these characters as well. 

It’s important to remember that these companies entertain for all types of parties.  So even if you’re not sure about what would work best for your event, be sure to contact them and provide as many details as you can – what your child likes, where the party will take place, and how long you would need them to entertain. 

You should also try searching for Singing Telegrams, as these companies can provide a variety of characters, and specialize in stopping by for a humorous rendition of the Happy Birthday song. 

I’ll leave you with some advice from fellow GigMasters Customer Support Representative, Sara:

“Who wouldn't want a gorilla in a tutu to arrive with a handful of balloons just in time to sing 'Happy birthday to you?  The answer, my eight pound puppy who had the you-know-what scared out of her when a gorilla showed up to sing Happy Birthday to my sister!"

For the latest party and entertainment news, tips and ideas, please subscribe to this blog. For daily updates, follow GigMasters every day on Twitter.

It’s not too soon to start thinking about your child’s next birthday party (even if the birthday is next December!)  If you’re a busy parent like me, birthdays spring up quickly, creating a rush to get the details secured and the invitations out. This year, I’m resolving to give my son a memorable party that is as unique as he is.

Of course, there are always the “turn-key” birthday places that churn out 8 parties a day. The kids love them and there’s no mess to clean up at home.  But last year, I took my son to the same indoor play gym four different times for four different parties. With a little extra thought and effort, you can avoid doing the same birthday party as every other kid in the class.

First, think about what your child loves to do the most, then see if you can come up with a way to share his passion with a group of kids. Almost anything can be turned into a party: sports, trains, music, magic, crafts, favorite movies… (watching TV doesn’t count)

Next, decide on the number of kids, and a venue that will accommodate everyone. Aside from your house, you could have the party at a park, community center, restaurant, museum, or destination unique to your town.

Now, comes the most important decision – determining how you’re going to entertain 5, 15, 30 kids (and possibly their parents) for a few hours. Here’s where the real creativity comes in…and hopefully, here’s where my experience at GigMasters can help:

If your child loves magic, bring in a magician. Be sure to work with the magician ahead of time to make the birthday boy or girl a part of the act.

If your child loves to be on stage, bring in karaoke. Before selecting a karaoke service, find out if they have your child’s favorite songs.

If your child loves art, you could have a caricaturist do portraits of all the guests. Make certain that the caricaturist you select is accustomed to doing children’s parties. And, of course, look at his or her portfolio.

If your child loves the circus, there are lots of options…jugglers, face painters, stilt-walkers, and clowns.

These ideas aren’t reserved for the likes of Suri Cruise.  In fact, you can find some very affordable options, priced comparably or less than many of the turn-key birthday places I mentioned above. Children’s birthday parties don’t need to be over-the-top to be memorable.

Join me, this year, in resolving to make your child’s birthday party the best one yet.

Marissa