What’s the theme?

B’day bashes for children are now complete entertainment events. Innovation is the key and we find out how…

You thought organising your child’s birthday party is as easy as inviting a few friends over for a cake cutting ceremony. Children, and many parents, like it when things are spiced up. There’s no ruling out the regular parties that are qu iet family affairs, but there’s a growing tribe that wants their events to be talked about in social circles.

A host of theme parties are doing the rounds in the city. While the girls prefer Cinderella and Snow White and Seven Dwarfs the boys want Winnie the Pooh or Noddy. Universal favourites are Tom and Jerry and Disney. Harry Potter theme has very few takers, owing to the work that goes into making props that recreate the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft atmosphere.

These parties are either put together painstakingly by parents or outsourced to event managers. Once a theme is chosen and budget drawn up, the props (2D and 3D cut-outs, posters, festoons, table clothes and bags for return gifts pertaining to the theme), the menu and the entertainment are worked out. For entertainment, you rope in mimicry artistes, magicians, face painters, caricature artists and others to keep the little ones amused.

“For children between the ages of two and five who are still to form their own friends, it’s the parents who invite their friends with their families over. The children at the party may not know each other. Here, an emcee helps to break the ice and get the children involved in games,” says event manager Archie Paranji, who’s just coordinated a Tom and Jerry party. “We used 3D images showing different stages of Tom chasing Jerry,” she adds. A handful of stores sell props for birthday parties in the city and some parents source them from Mumbai or Bangalore, their budget permitting. “There’s more demand today; we get at least two bookings per day.

Many artists have taken to designing such props. Many mimicry artistes, magicians and face painters specialise in kids’ birthday parties. Some parties use camel rides and horse rides too,” says Sunil Malchandani of Prakash Party Shop, General Bazaar.

Finally, the menu and the venue are thought over. Mini kathi rolls, baby-sized pastries, burgers and cakes with smileys are popular choices.

And for venues, some drive down to resorts in the outskirts. Others who don’t fancy a tiring drive with young children settle for star hotels and clubs within city limits.

“The Sailing Club, Fateh Maidan Club and others are being tapped by members and their friends. A lot of new clubs have sprung up and they charge Rs. 150 to 200 per plate,” says event organiser Kaniza Garari. Now the big question: how much do you need to spend? There are props that can suit budgets from Rs. 1000 to a lakh.

The budget corresponds to the venue, theme and the number of guests. While many spend between Rs. 30,000 and a lakh, there are unusual cases of families having spent a cool Rs. 18 to 20 lakh! “Some even take pride in overstating the amount. If they’ve worked within Rs. 35-40,000, they tell their peers that the party cost them nothing less than Rs. 75,000,” adds Kaniza.