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Fun, Fun, Fun!

Think interactive to get the bar mitzvah party started.

Lynne Konstantin

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Arts & Life Editor

n the age of YouTube bar
mitzvah invitations going
viral, there's always a next
best thing.
But that doesn't mean that bar
and bat mitzvahs are all about out-
doing your friends and neighbors.
After the seamless chanting of the
haftorah, of course, it's all about
one thing — fun.
And depending on your child's
preferences (and your budget), that
can be as simple or extravagant as
you choose. The good news is that
with the outpouring of technology
and creativity in the events market,
there is a vast range of interactive
options at both ends of the spec-
trum.
"There are activities that fit every
theme," says Geoff Kretchmer,
president and partner, with Brian
Siegel, of Star Trax Events in
Ferndale. "You just have to take
the time to brainstorm with the
family and research the options."
Knowing the options is a large
part of their job, and they take
fun seriously. Together, they travel
the country to trade shows, like
Orlando's International Amusement
Park Show, to vet the latest and
greatest activity trends and win-
now the options down to the
top-three standouts per year that
they believe will impact events the
most.
This year, for example, new addi-
tions include a 16-foot LED foosball
table that fits up to 16 players at a
time and an on-site screen-printing
product that produces screen-
printed T-shirts with customized
logos at the party. "We keep strict
metrics on the amount of times dif-
ferent items are used each year,"
says Kretchmer. "We feel that we
have a strong grasp as to why cer-
tain things are popular, while oth-

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ers fade away."
They also hired Brian Fishman,
director of extra fun, to oversee
the function of mechanical and
technological equipment — mean-
ing partiers don't lose a second of
partying.
In addition to amping up the
party energy with Ws and interac-
tive entertainers, Star Trax provides
more than 70 interactive products
in-house, plus has strong relation-
ships with local vendors.
This is a benefit that Joe Cornell
Entertainment offers as well: Sister-
and-brother team Becca Schlussel
and Steve Jasgur have built on the
company's 60-year reputation with
high-energy DJs, entertainers and
full lighting production — plus a
lot of guided hand-holding.
They offer access to hundreds of
local vendors, many of whom par-
ticipate in the annual Joe Cornell
Event Planning Expo (next sched-
uled for Sept. 20; visit joecornell.
corn for details), while Star Trax will
hold its Event Show April 26 (see
startrax.com for more).
So what's hot in interactive
energy? Some classics are always
popular, plus some new big trends:
* The photo booth is always a
favorite, and Star Trax offers four
different types, including the Firefly,
the Selfie Booth, the iPhoto Kiosk
and the Traditional Green Screen
Picture Station.
The first three have a social
media component to them, which
allows the guest to instantly send
the photo into the cybersphere
via email, text and Facebook and
Twitter post, in addition to bring-
ing home a printed copy. Plus, the
host will receive a copy of all the
pictures with all the backgrounds
after the party. "The key to the
photo booth is the printer and its

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celebrate! I March 2015

For her son Ben's bar mitzvah, Becca Schlussel of Joe Cornell brought in a 20'
x 20' inflatable log jumper (top) and miniature motorways (above).

An LED foosball table allows 16 players at a time.