We Do More Than Just Birthdays

Although we are best known for our commitment to making each and every birthday in NYC absolutely amazing, many people do not realize that we are also a full service events company that is capable of putting together any type of corporate, alumni, community, or school event, ranging from fifty people to five thousand.  Now, don't get me wrong, helping people with New York birthday planning is definitely our first love, but there is still something very satisfying about putting together an event for hundreds of people.

This weekend in New York City, we are planning and sponsoring an event for international law students who are pursuing advanced legal degrees at institutions all across the United States.  Beginning on Friday, these students will be in NYC to network, interview, and job search with a wide variety of international employers.  This event is a very intense two-day affair, and this "job fair" is very competitive.  Due to the sheer number of opportunities for accessing employers, it is likely that the number of students coming into the city this weekend will exceed one thousand.

As you can imagine, these students are not all work and no play, and on Sunday evening (yes, just a few days prior to the job fair) we were approached regarding setting up an event on Saturday evening for all of these students.  This was definitely something we were interested in doing, and we really wanted to help out, but based on the numbers and the short timeframe, it was a tall task.

First and foremost, we had to find a venue that could host such a large number, and that was willing to do so on a Saturday.  This might not seem like that difficult of a task, but when you realize that most New York venues make almost all of their money on Friday and Saturday nights, you then understand that reservations, the normal weekend crowd, and any other events are already taking up space at the venue, and they often do not have the room to randomly add between five hundred and one thousand people to their already packed venue.

Lucky for us, we have lots of experience in working with a variety of venues, and are also very familiar with floor plans and options for spaces, so we were able to come up with a nice plan that involved rearranging a space and creating room for an extra five hundred people.  It required some sketching, several meetings, and some long phone conversations, but we got it done.

Next, we had to plan for the addition of such a large number of people to the normal crowd of Saturday night partygoers.  Planning isn't just a matter of space in the venue, but  also includes such considerations as the number of servers, bartenders, security, other staffing, door people, and entry-control.  The whole point is to ensure that people have a good time, and no one enjoys sitting around all night, hoping desperately that their other friends can get in, or worse, standing around outside waiting to get in.  People also tend to enjoy actually being able to get a drink once they are inside, so as you can imagine, these types of staffing issues are both significant and important.

After taking care of all of those things, then we had to ensure that all of the people coming into the city for the job fair actually knew about the event.  This is one area where social media has really helped ease coordination challenges, and by working with people from each school we were able to get the invitations out, ensure that everyone knew about the event, and also to monitor the number of attendees to ensure that our planning for the event was on target.

Currently, we have almost five hundred confirmed attendees, and the number seems to be growing by the hour, leading us to deal with new challenges.  Some people might find that daunting, but we actually love the incredible amount of work that goes into an event like this.  Not only is it extremely satisfying when the actual event comes together and goes off without a hitch, but more importantly, there is nothing better than seeing the joy on people's faces when they attend a well-planned and well-executed event.  Since this happiness is the whole reason we got started in the event planning business, it makes it easy to work hard dealing with new challenges because we know why we do what we do, and we care about seeing those happy faces during a great event.

Saturday is just a few days away, and we will keep on working to make this event incredible.  As the number keep growing, so does our excitement!  It is going to be a great evening.

Top 10 Places to Celebrate Your New York City Birthday in 2011

New York City is a big place, and one of the more daunting tasks in the city can be choosing where to celebrate your first New York City birthday. Here, we compile a top ten list to help make the process easier for you, in hopes of making your birthday simple, amazing, and affordable.

1. Marquee. Marquee is a NYC birthday hotspot that has been going strong for years, and shows no signs of slowing down. This popular venue on 10th Avenue is renowned for its fantastic nightlife, treatment of birthday guests, great space, and amazing music. The high ceilings, exciting Red Room, and multiple bars are just a few of the myriad of things that this venue has to offer.

2. Slate. Slate, located on 23rd Street, is a favorite among those visiting Chelsea when celebrating their birthday. Slate's main floor boasts a long main bar, a great dance floor, and a semi-private backroom that provides a mix of lounge and dance space that are sure to make your birthday fun.

3. West Third Common. This relative newcomer to the NYC birthday scene offers a nice array of drafts and bottles, lounge space, and good music, but is especially known for its great food. The kitchen provides delicious American fare, and the garlic fries will keep you coming back again and again.

4. Katra. This nightlife hotspot on Bowery is known for its customer service, friendly management, great music, and all-night dancing. The two floors boast separate DJ's on each, allowing for anyone celebrating a birthday in New York City to enjoy moving between floors to mix-and-match dance scenes as they see fit.

5. Sidebar. Sidebar, located at Union Square, is known for its chill nightlife, fun dancing, and delicious cocktails. It's location provides for easy access from anywhere in the city, and the backroom is known as a fun dancespot.

6. Katwalk. Katwalk, located in midtown, had a great bar downstairs with plenty of seating, but is perhaps best known for its semi-private dance space located on the top floor, complete with its own private bar. Dancing on the same floor as the DJ ensures that the music matches the crowd's desires, guaranteeing a night of fun.

7. 310 Lounge. The 310 Lounge, located on Bowery, is a great mix of bar, lounge, and club, providing a laid-back atmosphere to celebrate your birthday in style. Whether you want bottle service, shots, or signature cocktails, the 310 Lounge provides it all.

8. Village Pour House Downtown. The Village Pour House, located on 3rd Avenue, provides a sports bar atmosphere that is great for friends to gather and celebrate birthdays while enjoying sports from around the world. The three bars, friendly staff, and delicious bar fare ensure a fun time for everyone.

9. Bar 13. Bar 13, located close to Union Square, provides multiple levels of fun for all, plus an excellent rooftop space to enjoy the night air while enjoying your favorite beverage. Each floor has its own bar and sound system, allowing a lot of variety when celebrating your birthday.

10. Pranna. Pranna is a delicious restaurant by day, and at night transforms into one of New York City's hottest nightlife venues. There are multiple floors, great DJ's, amazing crowds, and bottle service that ensures that your birthday is unforgettable.

If you celebrate your NYC birthday at any one of these venues, you will not be disappointed!