NYE 2013, Hard Rock Cafe and Times Square, through the Times Square Alliance

Click the photo to see more!

It was incredible. I wasn’t with friends or family for the first time ever, which I thought would be weird, but the staff I volunteered with was wonderful and we had a lot of fun. Plus, everyone who was there was sharing this really special place and celebration, which just felt awesome. Everyone singing New York, New York together after the ball dropped while the confetti was flying was one of my favorite experiences since living here.

Oh, also, it was an interesting party to attend after the ball-drop:

and

are only clips, but maybe paint a little picture…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Interview with Liz Haag, Lipstick Reader

I met Liz Haag through the improv comedy world, and now know her to be a woman of many talents, including lipstick reading. I interviewed her about this unique skill to learn more:

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Jen Bokoff: I’ve heard of lip reading (tough enough!), but how does one become a lipstick reader?

Liz Haag: It’s a good question. When I was just out of college and studying acting, I got a job hand painting temporary tattoos and henna tattoos at parties, like kids at Bar Mitzvahs and stuff. It was a great job. I loved to draw, got to go to fun events, and meet interesting people every weekend. My boss told me that she liked me and would hire me more if I could learn to do the psychic stuff, like lipstick reading, palm reading, and hand writing analysis. So, I learned. I studied a bit on my own, and they trained me some more. It turned out I had a real knack and intuition for lipstick reading that really caught on with clients.

JB: What are some traits or circumstances you can discover about a person through their lipstick?

LH: Lipstick Reading is derived from the ancient art of Chinese Face Reading. The lips only tell part of the story but it tends to be a juicy part. That’s why it’s so great for parties. 

JB: At the risk of exposing myself too much, I put my lipstick print on paper (see left). I tried multiple times to “get it right”, and realized that each try looks very different. Do you have a suggested technique for getting the perfect print? 

LH: People usually want to “kiss” the page. But I usually tell them not to pucker. Actually, it helps if they stay still and I blot the paper on their lips for them. And don’t worry about exposing too much. I always keep it light. No one wants bad news at a bachelorette party. 

JB: Interesting! Can you give me a teaser about what we can learn about me from my lipstick? 

LH: Let’s see. First of all, right off the bat it’s clear you’re talkative. This is usually one of the first things I can tell about a person based on their lips. It also says you’re a bit sensitive, but can be tough too. You’re very excitable, you like to try new things, and have a need to express yourself. How’d I do? [Editor’s Note: WOW! Yes. That’s me!]

JB: What is one of the more memorable lipsticks you’ve read? 

LH: There was a woman whose reading said she was intuitive and very giving. She dragged her husband over to have me tell him, so she could prove he was wrong about an argument they had earlier that day. It was a little intense.

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Liz is available for hire for parties through her company Bash Party Entertainment for lipreading and other event services. Start off the process with a complementary consultation today. I honestly can’t think of a more uniquely fun twist to a party!

DIY: Host a MASSIVE GAME NIGHT

I recently hosted a game night like I’ve never hosted before. Why? More than 1 game at a time! It was very exciting for me that people came early and stayed late, and I’d like to chalk it up as a success. Here’s how it all went down in case you want to host your own!

Before The Party

Invite People - I made a facebook invite with starting time of 7:30pm (anticipating arrivals beginning at 8:30pm) and asking that people bring something (beer wine or snack) but stating that I’d have some snacks and drinks to get it started. A follow-up message was sent to non-replies the day before. 

Budget and Shop - I have a habit of being an overboard host (thanks, family tradition) and overbuying food, drink, and decorations. For this, I decided to stick to a strictly $60 budget and only went $3 over! I cut decorations - this wasn’t a party that needed it - and polled friends via facebook on cheap but delicious drink ideas. From the many ideas, I went with a tea-flavored vodka mixed with lemonade. Powdered lemonade mix is inexpensive and goes a long way, and is perfect for a summer party. The Absolut Wild Tea mixed in (sometimes with a splash of seltzer) did the trick. I also bought gin, which was unnecessary, because I didn’t buy tonic and it simply wasn’t a big hit. Oh well. For snacks, baby carrots, pretzels, Sun Chips, and one set of chips-and-salsa more than sufficed. I was fortunate to already have extra plastic cups and napkins; however, I would recommend purchasing some if you don’t have them on hand, as it will make cleanup infinitely easier.

Know your games - I have a large stockpile of board games and had a few select friends bringing some other cool ones. It’s important to think about all ranges people who will be attending, and make sure that you have a few games in mind for each of the styles. Remember, people have varied attention spans and skills, so pick games that balance each other.

During the Party

Get the party started - There were 25 people in attendance throughout the night. Most came within the first half hour (!!!!), and we “warmed up” with two games that anyone can learn by just jumping in and playing. The sooner you start playing, the better (especially when people don’t know each other) because it gets people talking and working together over a shared new experience. A little music is good at a soft volume… too loud and it can detract from the game. Let people dive right in by offering to grab them food and drink while they learn rules and play.

Allow different games and types of players to emerge organically….but catalyze when needed - When people are bored (ha!) of a game and you have a decent selection, they’ll self direct when it’s time to move on to the next. But, if you see certain people not engaging, try to subtly suggest a game, strategy, or explanation that might resonate more strongly with them. It’s also great to connect people who may have similar interests or styles of play, because those commonalities can build a stronger foundation for an enjoyable shared game experience. At my party, some of the more seasoned gamers took to playing more complicated games while the more casual voyeurs took to games with simple rules and low competition level. A few folks went back and forth, but it naturally worked.

Multitask: play host AND games - It’s ok (and necessary!) to sit down and play a game or two or three, but you’re still host. A good tip is to partner up with someone in each game so that you don’t disrupt the flow when, say, more guests arrive and you go to great them, or a watermelon needs cutting, or a spill needs cleaning. Periodically make sure that everyone is set on drinks and snacks, check that there’s enough toilet paper and paper towels, and that any messes are contained. Also, make sure you talk with everybody…. it can be easy to get distracted!

When It’s Over

Cleanup time - If you can enlist a friend’s help, that’s ideal, because you want to take care of as much as you can that night. Any open bottles should be finished or dumped and recycled; trash collected and taken out, and used dishes washed. You’ll also probably have a few lost and found items, which you can take care of through a Facebook message to attendees.

Reflect - What went well and what didn’t? If you ever want to host something similar again, there are always lessons to be learned so that you can do it that little bit better next time. Take a few minutes the next morning and jot some notes wherever is most helpful to you.

Whew!!! I’d love to hear if you are hosting one, and how it goes! (and, if I can come!)

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