What will be the theme of your kid’s birthday party this year?
Year in, year out, you choose a different theme for your child’s party, trying to outdo what you did in the previous years. But, right now, your choices are fast dwindling. It doesn’t help that your child’s tastes and interests have changed over the last few years.
Why not hold a cinema party for your kid and their friends and your loved ones this year?
Advantages of a cinema birthday party
One of the chief benefits of holding a party in a cinema is that you do not have to worry about the weather. Whether it is raining or sunny outside, you and your guests can choose from any of the movies in demand today.
Because cinemas know well ahead of time which movies are coming out, you can easily choose which movie to watch in advance. This takes out the guesswork and you are assured that you can choose a film that is age-appropriate for your child and their friends.
Celebrating your kid’s party in a movie theater also eliminates a few of the hassles associated with holding it in your home or any other venue.
For one, you do not have to plan the menu carefully. Movie theaters serve snacks that are known to be crowd favorites. Plus, you do not have to clean up after. Once the party’s over, you and your guests can simply head home. Some movie theaters offer package deals along with block screenings, making your party almost entirely headache-free.
Finally, watching a movie is a communal experience. This ensures that your guests will appreciate the concept of your child’s birthday party.
Tips for hosting a cinema party
Just like any type of party, a cinema party entails ample planning and organization. To ensure a seamless experience for you and your guests, here are a few things to consider.
Choose the right venue
For a cinema party, not just any movie theater will do. For starters, you’d want exclusive use of the place, at least for the whole duration of the movie that you want to be screened plus a few minutes more, so that guests can greet the birthday celebrant and have some refreshments.
Look for a cinema that offers birthday and similar event packages. There might be a handful in the area where you live. This ensures a few things. For one, they are experienced in handling events like these, and they are more likely to accommodate your special requests. Second, they should offer reasonably priced party packages.
At the very least, you should look for a movie theater that can accommodate the number of guests you are planning to invite. It certainly helps if the cinema boasts plush and comfy seats and the best audio and video systems.
Set a schedule
Kids have a lot on their plate — from their studies to soccer or guitar practice. This is why it is critical to set a schedule that does not conflict with your guests’ schedule.
And the earlier you can set your event date, the sooner you can book the venue for the party. This will also give you ample time to choose which film to screen during the party.
Be sure to make an allowance for the arrival of your guests at the party venue. The last thing that you want is to make your guests feel hurried and harried. Set the agreed party time several minutes before the movie screening to accommodate the arrival of party attendees along with the other activities you are planning for the event.
As for the actual movie itself, you can check with the movie theater regarding their slate of upcoming films and then choose the one that would appeal best to your audience. Ideally, it would be good if you screened a movie that hasn’t been seen by most of your guests. So, consider films that have been recently released.
After that, you can make the necessary arrangements for the venue and make your reservation.
Send out your invites
Once you have chosen a venue and booked a reservation for it, the next order of business is to send out the invitations.
The invitations should contain a few key details, including the date, venue, and the time guests are expected to arrive. You might also want to include other pertinent information for the other birthday-related activities you are planning for that day.
Be sure to follow up with your invited guests a few days before the scheduled date to confirm their attendance. You may also want to ask the guests’ parents if they are planning to watch the movie with their kids. This will let you know whether you need to enlist more adults to watch over your young guests.
Be ready to answer questions from your guests, from the exact location of the venue to the availability of parking space.
Plan your menu
For the duration of the movie, your young guests will be engrossed with what’s on the screen. This is why you would want to serve refreshments that are convenient to eat. Fortunately, you do not have to make things too complicated. You can settle for popcorn and other familiar movie theater favorites.
If the venue you choose offers a food package along with the rental, then you have one less thing to worry about. Otherwise, you will need to make the necessary arrangements, from buying items from the grocery to working with the theater staff to help you serve your party food.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Planning and organizing any type of event, whether it’s a personal or corporate affair, can be challenging.
Fortunately, you do not have to go it alone.
Early on, enlist the help of loved ones and friends to help you tick off tasks from your to-do list. This will allow you to work on each task faster and ensure that you do not miss any critical detail, especially in the days leading up to the party.
If the cinema offers a birthday package, you can leverage the experience of the staff members to ensure the success of your affair. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance when you need it.
AUTHOR BIO
Paul Fox is the Director of Roxy Cinemas under Meraas Group/DXB Entertainments. Roxy Cinemas currently has five Dubai locations: The Beach, La Mer, City Walk, Box Park, and Bollywood Parks.
