So yes, hello. Time for more pictures but ALSO I'm trying to make an actual start on planning something for my birthday.
I have made a couple of surveys just to get a general feel.
The first:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JX66CVB
Covers a few aspects, although may not be especially useful as I didn't realise it wouldn't let people select multiple options.
The second focuses on the location for the party:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5YQDRMP
I would really appreciate if as many people as possible could try to complete these.
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| Also gone way too long without posting a ferret picture |
As far as the location goes, I understand not many people would want to be dragged to Seaham, that makes sense. My focus is trying to pick somewhere as many people as possible (who want to) can attend.
As for the actual venue, I'm looking for some sort of hall/ community centre/ sports club type place. A pub is a possibility, but I'm aware that as it'll probably be on a Saturday most pubs have their own things on and I don't want to be packed into a tiny upstairs function room.
As for outdoor venues (bonfire at the beach, picnic etc) I think as my birthday is in October that will have to be left for another event. I want somewhere indoors and with proper toilets :)
Entertainment: so this is where it gets interesting. What I don't want is a a DJ who ignores my suggestions and just plays the usual party stuff (and maybe puts a little extra 'rock' on because we look weird), plays music too loud for anyone to talk and constantly tells people to get up and dance. I want to do something a bit more varied and different, and honestly I think with some of the people I know we should be able to put something together.
Ideas:
- First of all I'm considering having this start earlier in the afternoon, I want people with kids etc to have an option of coming along in the daytime even if they can't stay late, or just coming for the evening if they choose, but without it being too long a day for anyone who stays for the whole thing (ie me).
- earlier (and kid-friendly) activities could include arts and crafts, storytelling, magic, face painting etc (I am entirely relying on knowing people who do these sort of fun acts and activities. If you do something like this for your living/ professionally then YES obviously I will pay you like any other client, I'm not looking for freebies here. I have had someone mention running a murder mystery, and someone even mentioned LEMON JOUSTING. Which sounds amazing. Tempted to include some sort of ferret racing/roulette if the venue is animal friendly, but it does mean there would be a need for suitable space for the ferrets to rest, be quiet etc. If anyone wants to read poetry then I would probably have that as more of a daytime thing even though it's not a 'kid' thing, but I'm not setting any strict lines here. If you do anything entertaining/ creative that won't leave me answering some very awkward questions from my family, I'd like to hear about it (*slightly* awkward questions are at least expected)
- Evening/music. The basic idea is to have it as a sort of open mic, anyone who wants to get up and sing etc, and a playlist on in between acts. Depending on how keen people are to do this, we could try and have a set running order, or just a 'get up if you feel like it'. If anyone wants to do like, burlesque or rude comedy or anything, this would probably be the time so people with kids are warned 😄 again, if it's the sort of thing you'd usually charge for, I will pay you.
-Backdrop: I'm considering having a corner set up where people can display some art if they want (as a counterpoint to, I assume, a corner full of baby pictures set up by my mam).
-Food: I do love the idea of pot luck/buffet food, I plan on making some stuff but I don't know if anyone else would actually want to bake/ cook stuff, or if many people trust food cooked by other people so... let me know. Should i just buy lots of packets of cakes, biscuits, crisps etc? I will of course make sure there are plenty of veggie options but let me know if you have any other dietary requirements to be included.
- Drink: I don't drink anymore but I have nothing against other people doing it, so the question is do I have this somewhere with a bar or somewhere that let's you bring your own drink?
So I would like to hear from ANYONE who has ideas, thoughts, suggestions, concerns as a potential attendee but also in particular:
- anyone good at planning stuff who would like to help me
- performers and arty people of all types who want to be involved
- anyone who does any sort of catering/baking
- anyone with a particular venue they think might be good for this (Newcastle/ Gateshead area i think, judging from the survey so far).
- anyone who thinks there's something glaringly obvious I'm not including here.
Contact me via wherever you usually contact me. Let me know if you want to be added to a WhatsApp group chat or fb group.
I think I'll leave it there for now but I really want to hear from all of you about what you think, what your preferences are. I'll reiterate I am NOT doing the whole 'oh come do your thing for free, it'll be GREAT EXPOSURE (unless great exposure IS your thing, in which case let's keep it for later on). I just know I am friends with a lot of weird, wonderful and creative people so I just want to include a bit of that variety and weirdness in this.
