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C40 celebrate! • 2017 jn "I also make sure the music mix is catered to the preferences set by the family," he adds. "Our goal is to ensure each event is as perfect as you envisioned from beginning to end. We only have one opportunity to get everything right and we do it right the first time." To keep the kids engaged, Cone mixes up the evening with dancing and winnable games with giveaways and prizes provided by the hosts. Specialty group dances also create a more welcoming and inclusive feeling on the dance floor. If a family is on a tight budget, Cone advises not to skimp on floor lighting, because it helps enhance the party atmosphere. If your guests are on the shy side, a motivational dancer may be the right place to spend, but only one per night is necessary. "Motivational dancers do an amaz- ing job at interacting with the shy guests to increase their confidence and self-esteem to become more com- fortable on the dance floor and with others," he says. Cone's rates are $230/hour and an "essential mitzvah party" includes: one DJ and MC; a sound system, including speakers and microphones; a custom- izable music library and LED dance floor lights; plus a haze machine. Star Trax (startrax.com). Owner Geoff Kretchmer admits that his company has gained the reputation for being the highest-priced DJ outfit in town. Even so, Kretchmer and his dedi- cated staff of 20 full-time employees can customize a party, help a client prioritize a budget and expenses, and still come out with a Star Trax event for under $3K. "I don't ever want a potential client not to call us because they think we may not be in their ballpark, budget- wise," Kretchmer says. He understands that, like renovat- ing a home, the budget for a mitzvah party can get "out of control." That is why he prides himself on Star Trax's reputation for working a client's entire budget. "Families need to sit down and pri- oritize what is No. 1 on a list of about 30 essential budget items," Kretchmer says, including everything from venue to decorations to photography to food and alcohol. "Everything cannot be No. 1 on that list. "No matter who you are, there will always be parties and people who are way out of our leagues, and it is really tough to face this at age 13," he says. "What matters most at a mitzvah cel- ebration is the love in the room with all your family and friends." Star Trax works up to eight parties a weekend and top MCs are booked 40 weekends per year — and each has his own price tag. However, Star Trax clients can save money by not choos- ing a specific MC, and instead choose the "any MC" package. This allows cli- ents to reserve their date, then choose from whomever is available a month prior to the party. Either way, all Star Trax DJs and MCs are highly trained, according to Kretchmer. "I would not send out an unquali- fied MC," he says. "I'd be hurting my own business." Cloud 9 Special Events (cloud9spe- cialevents.com). Owner "Jamez" ( JAH- mez) Fredrick began entertaining kids for the bar/bat mitzvah circuit in 2001 and works 40-50 parties per year. If you want him at your child's party, he recommends booking out up to two years, as he already has parties booked for 2019. Jamez's base package includes a DJ, an MC and one dancer with lighting and sound, and is customized with hand-picked music along with games and contests. His staff consists of highly qualified professional entertainers who under- stand the importance of seizing the moment and making lasting memo- ries for events that happen once in a lifetime. "You are inviting us to your special event and putting your trust in our staff," Jamez says, "and we are hon- ored and very grateful." Jamez says his strongest trait is sincerity in keeping clients happy. He meets clients at their homes and takes the time to understand their expectations and the type of crowd they expect (are guests going to be high-energy dancers or more on the mellow side?). "I only have one chance and one night to get it right," he says. His for- mula includes engaging games and his own acrobatic dancing that invites dancers of all abilities to get on the dance floor. But he says the best ingredient is the guests. He advises that when thinking about a budget, invite the people who will truly be honored to attend. "If your party is filled with people who care about you, love you and want to help you create lasting memories, and the entertainment is good, you don't need much more than that." * continued from page 38 Our Bar Mitzvah was executed professionally and with the utmost attention to detail. Everybody had a blast! - e Weinsteins, Farmington Hills Create your perfect celebration contact Crystal at (248) 352-8000, ext. 298 Your Celebration DESTINATION FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB 2161660