Contest for July

Looking for links to birthday vendors in all 50 states(entertainment, goods, and locations). I will send a copy of My Birthday Memories to the person who sends me the most links in July. Email them to thebirthdaygurumama@gmail.com. The contest will end on July 31st.
***Update I had a few send in single links and some repeats of what I already have. With no clear winner I may try again in the fall.

Craziness

Every time I try and set aside a minute to work on updating the Rhode Island list something happens or comes up. Monday it was shopping and running errands, yesterday a last minute cookout invite, today it's strawberry picking and finishing the husband's anniversary gift, tomorrow is free but if I plan to do it then something will come up, Friday is the Strawberry Festival in Franklin and my 10th anniversary so we're going out to dinner, saturday is reserved for cleaning and shopping for Sunday's cookout.
My new products will be available for sale soon: My Birthday Memories Binder and My Birthday Party Planner Binder.
I have started compiling the info from Birthday Vendors for the MA revise of the book.
Trying to figure out how I can get a table at KidsFest in September.

Reasons to Submit info for the Revised Book

Benefits to being listed in the book version- Each main section is further divided into sub categories, there is a county and town index at the back of the book and in the revise there will also be an age index. This go around I am purchasing the ISBN so I can get listed in Books and Print and get the book into bookstores.

Book Directories for Vendors

If anyone wants to be listed in the book versions just send the answers to the questions that apply to you(Goods, Location or Entertainer) and send them to me thebirthdaygurumama@gmail.com.
Also if you would like to be interviewed (or reviewed- MA and Northern RI only) let me know.
For reviews I like to observe a party in progress(from a distance, you won't even know I'm anything but a mom watching her kids take part in the activity at your location) and have my children, if it's age appropriate, try out your activity.

Questions:
All: please include your basic contact information: website, phone, email, address(at least town and state), fax is optional, and contact person.

For Sub-Categories: I have had some question as to what exactly I am looking for-basically the main category you would fall under(ie: Dance, Sports, Art, Museum, Clown, Facepainter, Magician, Interactive Fun, Gymnastics, Unique, Princess/Beauty, Animals, Rentals, Bakeries, Balloons, Party Goods etc)

Location:

1. Are your packages described on your website and in print(for those who do not have internet access)

2. Do you have any special policies for your packages, such as discounts for excluding certain items or guests who do not show up but were included in the guest count? Extra items or services that can be added to the package?

3. Is food included in the package, if not do you have food available on premises and do you have any policies regarding children with food allergies. If no, do you have a contract or deal set up with a local restaurant?

4. What is your cancelation policy, including “bad weather” related cancellations?

5. Which(can pick more than one) of the following age groups do you recommend your parties for:

• Toddlers to Prekindergarten(1-4) ____

• Early Elementary(5-7) _____
• Youth (8-10) ____
• Preteen (10-12) ___
• Young Teen(13-16) ___
• Young Adult(17 & up) ___

6. How far in advance do you recommend customes contact you to reserve a date?

7. Do you perform background checks and what do you do to ensure your customer’s safety-both in regards to staff and the safety of your location(insurance and procedures at your location)

8. Are your prices competitive?

9. What are your operating hours? Do you have a way to reach you outside of business hours for emergency contact?

Goods Vendors:

1. Do you have a wide selection of product options and are they listed on your website and in print, for those who do not have internet access?
2. Are your prices competitive?
3. What is your cancelation policy?
4. What are your business hours and do you have a way to reach you outside of these hours for emergency contact?
5. How far in advance do you recommend customers contact you to reserve a date for your products and/or services?

Entertainers

1. Do you have a variety of performance options and are they described on your website and in print for those who do not have internet access?

2. Do you have any special policies you would like your customers to know about?

3. What is your cancelation policy, especially weather related.

4. What is your policy if you are unable to make the event?

5. How far in advance do you need to be contacted to reserve a date?

6. What safety measures do you have in place to protect your customers and their children?

7. Are your prices competitive?

8. Which(can pick more than one) of the following age groups do you recommend your parties for:

• Toddlers to Prekindergarten(1-4) ____

• Early Elementary(5-7) _____
• Youth (8-10) ____
• Preteen (10-12) ___
• Young Teen(13-16) ___
• Young Adult(17 & up) ___

9. What are your business hours and do you have a way to reach you outside of these hours for emergency contact?

I am launching two new products (party-related of course) at the festival on Sunday. Should be exciting!
I have to give kudos to One Mom's Review. Besides being an excellent resource for moms looking for fun places to take the kids in New England, her relentless pursuit of reviewing the places in her list is phenomenal. Our services complement each other, but being carless while the DH is at work plus 1 mom and 3 kids, ages 5 and under makes it virtually impossible to review more than 1 or 2 places per month. Maybe this fall when the oldest starts kindergarten-its amazing how easy 2 are when you have 3 to look out for-can't believe I ever thought 2 were tough:)
Hope we can find some way to work together and collaborate in the future.
Thank you for all you do!

Out and About

I will have a table at the All American Family Festival at the Franklin (MA) YMCA from 11-2 on Sunday. Stop by and say hello- admission is $5 pp(under 1 free) with a $20 max per family.
Fundraiser for Franklin's Fourth of July Festivities. Lots of fun activities! I will be selling my books, debuting my party planning services and a couple of party-related products! Those who sign up for my newsletter get a gift bag and try for a chance to win a package of party planning books by Penny Warner with a copy of my interview with her. I will have supplies on hand for making birthday cards for Birthday Wishes(see below)

I will also be at ARTBEAT 9 Summer St Franklin from 3:30-4 Free Activity for the Kiddos! Make a sand-art birthday card for a homeless child receiving a party from Birthday Wishes!

Books

For vendors who are visiting for the first time, take a look around both here and my company website www.thebirthdaygurumama.com. If you would like to be listed here let me know, I also am writing state by state directories of Birthday Vendors as well as offering various free or very inexpensive promotional opps throughout the year which are sent out in my monthly newsletters(Birthday Bash Bulletin). I can be reached with any questions at thebirthdaygurumama@gmail.com

Love it when the vendors get kudos: Princess Sharon got "blogged":)
http://www.theacoughlin.com/blog/?p=347

Franklin Party Rentals

I rented some tables from him for the fundraiser expo. While I found the owner very friendly and the service great, the condition of the tables was not. The company had a very busy weekend and had run out of their usual tables so I was offered a different type of table in stead, which I accepted. The tables, when opened, had dust laden cobwebs on the undersides and had to be thoroughly cleaned before I could use them. I'm sure the rest of his inventory is in better condition as it looked these tables were not used very often but given that, I would have expected the tables to be opened and inspected before delivery. I will use Franklin Party Rentals again but if things are out I will not accept alternatives and go somewhere that can get me what I need.

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I've had a great time outside with family and friends. Off to a graduation shindig today. I will start updating the vendor lists tonight or tomorrow.

Gonna Try this Again

Armed with my new logo and trade-name I'm going to try blogging again. I'm going to post state by state lists of birthday locations, entertainers and goods providers, with the 3 kids this may take some time but it will get done!
I've put up just a few MA locations for now-it's beautiful outside today so the kids and I are headed into the great outdoors.