Planning

Karaoke is coming back as the next big thing – who’d a thought?  But kids LOVE it!  Whether it’s Guitar Hero, Rock Star or American Idol – not to mention the plethora of TV shows specifically highlighting young tween/teen rock stars, you will definitely have a hit on your hands with this party.  This general Rock Star Karaoke theme captures them all.  Let your guests perform - sing and dance - get a little silly and pretend to be their favorite star.  Good or bad, it's all fun!  

Planning – Setting the Rock Star Stage  

Unlike the American Idol theme, you don't have to have your guests plan ahead for this party - just have a lot of songs available.  However, giving your guests the opportunity to prepare something doesn't hurt either and half the fun will be creating and practicing the performance!  Have a list of songs that will be available (or let them add their own) so that your guests can make sure they are ready to be a rock star.  Before the party, use your computer to make certificates designated for winners in different categories. Best stage presence, great vocals, super choreography, awesome costume, funniest act etc. Allow the kids to work in duets or groups to accommodate the shy performers. Lip syncing should be allowed.  This theme is good for a slightly smaller party.  Too many guests will result in not enough time for everyone to participate and have fun.  If everyone averages a couple of songs and you have to include conversation, set up, singing, “judging” and other events, plan your guest list accordingly.   This theme is all about the music.  If you have neighbors that can hear your stereo, give them a heads up!  This party is going to get loud!  But don’t forget the other senses as well.  The goal here is to create the feel of a Hollywood set – the glitz, the glamour, and rock star treatment need to hit all of the senses!

• This is a participation party – ask guests to come in style – decked out in their most glamorous outfit.  Note, you may have some wallflowers, so make it reaaaaaalllly clear that guests can lip-synch or just watch if they’d like.  If you want, allow group performances with back up singers and dancers for those that don’t like the limelight.
  • Create a "dressing room" with everything the guests need to deck themselves out!  After everyone gets their audition number send them to the dressing room for touch ups and fun costume additions.
    • If guests haven't arrived "in style" having everything they need to get that way! 
      • Hair gel/Hairspray
      • Make-up
      • Body/face glitter
      • Brushes
      • Combs
      • Hair accessories
      • Fake tattoos
      • Nail polish and Nail art
    • Feather boas
    • Sparkly glitter make-up
    • Fantastic sunglasses
    • Hair Accoutrements
    • Bangly, sparkly, jingly jewelry
  • Have a space for guests to practice their performance, or, for guests haven't prepared a performance have some time to  let them peruse your Karaoke tunes and prepare something.
  •  You’re going to need a few things for this party:
  • Karaoke Machine and Karaoke CD's, or, if you have a video game system, try the American Idol game that tracks how well you sing your song or Rock Star video game that allows everyone to join in!
  • CD Player with lots of age appropriate CDs (you can ask guests to bring their favorites!)
  • Cameras – video and still.  If this party is for older kids, toss around a few disposable for the kids to take their own candid shots.
  • Trophies and prizes

• Rock Star Party tips:
• Be sure you are comfortable with the electronics BEFORE the party - otherwise you'll end up with some cranky kids as you fiddle with the equipment.
• If you have wallflowers, have things prepared for them to do so they aren't left out.  They can assist with costumes, stage help, lighting, etc.
• Have video/picture plan set up.  This is definitely a party worth video footage!

 

Invitations

Communicating with your Guests

The invitations for this party should not only build excitement for your party, but also let your guests know what they need to do to prepare for the party.  Also, it should be clear that, for the wall flowers in your group, guests aren't required to participate, but rather, can help with "set" and "music" etc. so that no one is concerned that they may have to do something that they aren't comfortable with. 

Invitations: 

• Musical Invitation:  You can get a little creative with this Theme, consider some of the following ideas:
  • Create a CD of fun contemporary hits and burn it.  Create labels for the CD and the case - the CD should announce the party, and the inside case label can give party details.
  •  Create a press pass or backstage pass with string for everyone.
•  Party Reminder:  Since this may be a plan ahead party a party reminder is really important!  Remind your guests of the date, time, and anything they need to do or have - songs prepared, songs selected from the Karaoke list, how they will dress, etc.

Thank You Notes: 

• Encore!  Take a picture of all the performers on stage for their encore - select a song that everyone liked.  While everyone is dancing, singing and having the best time, snap a shot.  The Thank You note with this picture on it will remind everyone what a great time they had and be the perfect way to say "Thank You" for sharing my day.

Invitations	Thank You Notes
Title Name State	Title Name State

 

Dress It Up

This party is all about the action - you are creating a set.   The decorations are the back drop for the entertainment, instead of being the centerpiece of the party.  Your purpose is to create a stage that pops and sizzles!  Create an area of the performances and they frame it with fabric and sparkly Christmas lights (the white twinklers).  Continue your sparkle throughout the rest of your party space and you're set. 

Decorate Your Party Space:

• Colors:  Work with your guest of honor's favorite colors here - but just make sure it's vivid and bright!  Select two or three colors as your primary colors then add a dash of contrast to make your colors stand out.   
• The Stage:  Create a stage backdrop on the wall with materials (you can use sheets or yardage from your fabric store!).  Create a logo for your party out of posterboard and center it on your stage back drop.  You can establish the scope of your stage with lights or stars, etc., or you can let the scope be limitless so your performers can walk among their friends and mix it up.
• Lighting:  Lighting is everything – dim the lights, sparkle some Christmas lights behind the “stage” and pop up a disco ball for sparkle!
• Star Power:   Stars, stars, stars!  Hang them from the ceiling on fishing line and hang them on the walls.
• Music as Decoration:  Take CDs and loop fishing wire through the center hole.  Hang them from the ceiling to catch the light and create the ambience of a hit-making party!
• Making an Entrance:  could anything be more appropriate than the red carpet???  You can use red butcher paper leading up to the door or find inexpensive red material – have balloons on each side in periodic bunches and then add cut out stars with each guests name on the red carpet itself! 

Tablescapes

• Table Placement:  The table in this party is secondary, which is unusual.  Here, the focus will be on your stage and the action, and chances are your table will be buffet style snacks for everyone to graze on throughout the party.  You probably want to minimize the food and drinks near the electronics.  So place your refreshments table away from the stage, but near enough for everyone to snack.   The table is a side attraction that is more functional than decorative.  Make it pop, but put more effort in your performance space.
• Kraft Service Table:  Think of your refreshments table as the "Kraft Service" table.  Sitting down to eat isn't really something that will work with this interactive party.  Buffet meal/snacks is much better. 
• Food Placement:  Layer your buffet so that everything is immediately reachable and intersperse your theme where you can.  Have a bunch of American Idol balloons attached to the American Idol logo as your centerpiece then have Idol themed food and microphones throughout the table.

Decorations	Tablescapes
Title Name State	Title Name State

 

Food/Drink

For this party, buffet is the key.  Keep it light, keep it yummy, and keep it finger friendly.  The guests are probably going to graze, and will not want to miss the action, so will probably grab their grazing items and wander. 

Food: 

• Fruit "kabobs" with wooden skewers
• Chicken nuggets (add some fun, "grown up" dipping sauces so it doesn't feel like "kid" food)
• Star pizza - take a small regular pizza then add large slices facing OUTward so that the pizza looks like a star!

Beverages: 

• Grown-up Feeling:  Have fun with beverages - make the kids feel grown up.  The key here is star power, so your guests should feel spoiled and pampered, like they were new stars, and all grown up.
• Champagne (Kind of):  Plastic champagne glasses so that each guest feels like a star!  Add fizzy punch (7-up with your favorite juice).
• Mixed Drinks (Kind of):  Virgin versions of your favorite mixed drinks.  Pina Coladas, Strawberry margaritas, etc.
• Power smoothies:  Have fruit smoothies ready - they are tasty and give the guests the energy they need to get their groove on!

Desert: 

• Sunday Bar:  For something sweet, consider a Sundae Bar or Gourmet Floats (cherry/orange or grape soda with vanilla ice cream).
• Sweet Shishkabob:  If the thought of a gaggle of girls loaded on sugar doesn't terrify you, have a little fun with gumdrops, licorice, marshmellows and other tasty treats.  Use wooden skewers and alternate a fruity candy (gumdrop, swedish fish, gummy bears) with marshmellows (miniature or regular).  This treat looks so cool and is a lot of fun!

Food	Beverages
Title Name State	Title Name State

 

Cake

The Cake:  The cake for this party should reflect the show, singing, or simply the quest to be a STAR.   Consider some of the following:

• Microphone:  A cake shaped like a microphone
• Stars:  A cake covered in stars of every shape and size
• Star Cupcakes:  Cupcakes that have a silver star (about 3 inches) tucked into the top of each one.  Have each guests name on a star!

Title Name State

 

Entertainment

The Party Fun for this party is pretty obvious - because this is an activity based theme.  Dress up, practice, performance - that's what you're doing during this party.  However, have a few activities ready for breaks in the schedule.  Set changes, a quiet catch your breath moment, etc.  Plus, you may want to toss in a few traditional elements as well.

 Entertainment:

• Professional Singer/Dancer:  Have a professional entertainer work with the kids on their performance.  Teach them dance steps, how to hold a microphone, how to have "stage presence".  This gives the party an element of credibility that makes it special and HOT.
• Karaoke:  Hire a professional Karaoke emcee.  They have their own equipment and will know how to keep the party moving.

 Music:

• Let the guests set the stage with the music.  They select their performances and bring music along with them.  This ensures that everyone will have something they LOVE.  For between the performance spaces play contemporary fun music (that you have screened for age appropriate content!)

Activities

• Microphone Pinata:  Close your party with a Microphone pinata!
• Crafty Ideas: 
• Star Studded T-shirts:  have fabric paints, markers, glitter, and decorations to make T-shirts performance ready!
• Idolized Pictures:  Have pictures of performers taken before everyone starts, then print them and have a frame station.  Have simple wooden frames with everything your guests could need to make them sparkly and fitting of their glamorous costumes!

• Lip Sync Contest:  Have a song everyone is familiar with (and you want to hear a LOT of times…) and let everyone lip sync to the music.  Have prizes for best performance, wildest performance, most outrageous performance...
• Limbo!  If you've got kids, if you've got music, if you've got…. A broom….  Do the LIMBO!  This zany party activity is fun for adults and kids alike!
• Open Mic Night:  Close your party with a free for all with the Karaoke machine.  Sometimes the unplanned/unrehearsed performances are the best!  Let the kids take turns.  If you want to end on a humorous note, try making the closing performances different by asking the kids to be as silly as they can be.  Have corresponding awards to the "good" performances with awards for wildest performance, silliest dancing, flattest notes, etc.

Title Name State

 

Prizes / Favors

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