Schools Out - Let's hope it's for Summer & not forever.

Howdy - what a bonkers year. The school year has finished and all the kids are home all day - no big change there then, for most of us who have enjoyed having the kids home since mid mad March.

Pop Star Party is a fantastic service hosted at Born in a Barn Studio and it’s been a quite year. Last year we passed the 10 year mark of running parties at the barn but sadly this year has been literally frozen into submission.

By the end of the Summer I think we are all hoping if not expecting the kids to go back to school full time with far less restrictions and they will be in ‘Bubbles’ so hanging out with the same groups all day/week so helping to minimise the chance of viral spread - and making it far easier to track and trace if there is a local peak.

We all have so much new terminology now don’t we!!

So this brings me to the decision that parties can be planned for now, for kids with birthdays in September and I’m thinking of calling them Bubble parties - not foam parties - they are very different!!
Also not toddlers’ bubble parties as we don’t really cater for kids under 7 and certainly not Bublé parties - no singing like Michael Bublé for us thanks.

So I’m going to be introducing:

B.U.B.B.L.E. Parties

Brilliant & Unbelievable, Born in a Barn’s Light Entertainment Parties!!

See main website for details

Watch this space

Pop Star Party - the ‘original & best’ recording experience parties for kids in a real studio since 2004.

Pandemics & Parties just don't mix!

It’s June now - OMG how time flies when you’re being forced to grow old slowly.

Back in March I wrote my last blog about how things were changing, then the really big change to the world evolved and basically I’ve been a bit project busy/obsessed ever since.

So - the most important thing to know is that Pop Star Party is alive and well - no Coronavirus outbreaks here thankfully but it’s not looking too rosey just yet for future parties. That said, we will get there I’m sure and somehow or other a form of normality will return.
Kids need birthday parties and we will be ready to roll just as soon as allowed.

To that end I have been a bit busy since the terrible global news hit hard in March, and decided to get stuck into a project I have been talking about doing since I made the Cello artwork a few years ago. The piano had to go the same way with lights and glitter and Lego pieces! Then the whole entrance area got a little reworking thrown at it to make the whole thing look like it was designed that way - which it was!!

So here are a few pics of the pandemic piano project!

Parties will absolutely resume just as soon as we get the go ahead from the government.

Parents considering parties can of course get in touch to discuss them or you can book online:
Book Pop Star Party Online

Great New Things Ahead

Welcome to 2020!!

A busy start to the year with lots happening in January but then February was just almost a rolling party for owner Roger, with 2 big gigs in London with his band (and all the behind the scenes rehearsals/recordings that go with it), his own big birthday celebrations, an extended Valentines Weekend fun, hosting the longest Golden Wedding Anniversary celebrations ever and taking up running again. Plus running the studio of course.

But behind the scenes we have been looking at doing things a bit differently and finally found a solution so expect some great parties for your kids very soon.

Booking a party is easy and if you are reading this and thinking about a party, then please visit the main website and click that big red button top right found in the main navigation bar.

Pop Star Party Website

Our YouTube Page

Pop Star Party YouTube Channel

Check out some example videos from over the last 10 years.

Number One Party Specialists 2019 - Winner!!

Well, it’s not every day something like this happens, but we have been awarded the accolade of Editor’s Annual Recommendation for Number One Party Specialists 2019 in the Living in the Shires magazine.

Last month we invited members of the editorial team to bring some kids along to the studio and have a party with us and they loved it!  It was a wonderful sunny day so we got to show off out new outside decking area with swing-seat and new BBQ area too which was cool but mainly they were inside enjoying the vibe and sang a group version of Black Magic which is still one of the most popular song choices at Pop Star Party.

So - what better way to start the academic year and celebrate our 10 year anniversary of running parties for kids at the barn than to be given this award.  Thanks to the editor and her team at Living in the Shires mag - its brilliant to get this kind of recognition.

September has been a full on month and we are booking into November already so if you have kids, that have birthdays popping up soon, just get in touch to arrange a party.  We do the rest - just bring kids!

https://www.PopStarParty.rocks

10 years of running parties for kids

It’s been 10 years since we ran our 1st ever party in July 2009.

Here is a little video to celebrate some of the best moments in July 2019 - every party is party.

Macie from Leamington is 8 and celebrating her birthday in style

What a great party with Macie and her mates.

8 years old on the actual day of the party with 11 friends and able to enjoy the new outside patio area with swing before during and after the party. The group sang Old Town Road to get the party rolling, then happy birthday to Macie (& also to PSP - see next post!) then had a crazy photoshoot with some very gymnastic poses. A quick break for their booster buffet then they were back in the booth to sing Shout Out to my Ex by those wonderful Little Mix girls. A Party favourite for sure. Macie & her group quickly got this song recorded meaning there was tons of time for the disco, viewing their pics on the gallery screen and of course blowing out the candles on the cake - someone had put some top effort into this cake too!

All our parties are fun and powered by the kids - if you want a party with us just get in touch, thanks.

Pop Star Party is the original & best party service for kids, in a real recording studio & now we are 10 years old!

Birthdays really are Special this month

So - if you are kinda local to Coventry you may know that all this week The Specials are in town - most parents will know this band - they have been around for 40 years after all.
2Tone was founded in Coventry and The Specials are famous for writing Ghost Town (amongst many others) which is a song about Coventry.

Guess what - we were lucky enough to be visited by not 1 but 2 Specials members recently. Mark Adams (ex keyboardist) brought his daughter for a party and she had a blast with her select group of mates. The best part was certainly her solo spot which went down brilliantly.
Mark also brought his mate Lynval Golding (guitarist & singer in The Specials) who is performing this week at the 4 gigs in Coventry in the Catherdal ruins - so we got a picture and had a great chat about his extensive touring - super guy.
2 Pop Stars in 1 day at the studio!! Plus another in the making I think - well done Paige.

Book your party with us and you will have a brilliant party too. Also we have been awarded this - more later.
”We are delighted to be featuring Pop Star Party as The Tried and Tested number 1 party Specialists, featuring in our Editors Annual 2019 Recommendations , publishing in the August-September issue of The Living Magazine.”

Best birthday party ever! Sing, Pose, Feast, Film, Snap, Dance, FUN!!

A few pics which which really capture the moment of what’s on offer at a Pop Star Party.
Just bring a cake - oh and the kids! We do the rest.
Book yours soon - it doesn’t have to be a birthday either!

Happy 80th Birthday Dad!!

It’s a big day in history today as my Dad marks his 80th birthday.

No - he isn’t having a party with us but we will be celebrating it next week with him and nearly all the family.

BB Studio, where all our parties are held, is a busy working studio recording singers and bands when not in party mode. Recently I have been rehearsing hard with my new band and am performing our first gig this weekend. Danny Ansell & co. is the band name and Danny has been performing for over 10 years as a solo artist so this is massive for us all.

Because BB Studio is actively producing tracks for all sorts of projects, occasionally songs arise that could use a group of kids singing on it and there have a been a good few special moments where kids have helped out.

Last week during one of the parties I asked the group to sing Happy Birthday to my Dad (Tim) and shout happy 80th messages at the end - big thanks to the girls who did this.

Bebe was the party girl celebrating her 11th birthday and where better than at BB Studio - well done to everyone tho it was a great party.

Parties for 8 year olds & upwards

Wow it’s May - 1st day of a new Fiscal year bringing the studio into its 16th year and Pop Star Party has almost been around 10 years now - I ran the 1st party in July 2009!

Parties are designed for children aged 8 upwards and the most popular age range is 10 & 11.

There are 4 party packages now which change according to length of party, focus of party (group or solo/duet singing) and whether you want to convert to having a video made as well as the audio recording/CD. All parties now get the photoshoot, free pics and brilliant laser disco at the end. Booster buffet also available.

I don’t write about every party due to time and/or parental request but most weekend there are parties happening at the studio, cake getting eaten and kids having fun.

Booking a party is easy - click red button top right of the website, or call me - or email me to discuss dates etc.

Pop Star Party - your best party idea ever - Sing, Pose, Feast, Film, Snap, Dance, FUN!! Just bring the kids!!

1st quarter summary

It’s been a busy time at BB Studio (where all the parties are hosted) and we have been a bit lazy with Pop Star Party blogs due to writing songs for up and coming pop stars from a wide variety of backgrounds, including a song potentially for Ed Sheeran, a release by one of the studios regular artists and my owns bands debut music video Human Race, possibly inspired by the marathon I recently ran in Cairo which, I’m very pleased to say, I not only completed but actually came 66th overall.

Below are a few pics from recent parties with some of the party pals who chose to celebrate their birthdays in style. Recent songs recorded include:

The Greatest Showman
Shotgun - George Ezra
Rockabye - Clean Bandit
Only You - Little Mix
Sunflower - Post Malone
Happier - Marshmello & Bastille
A Thousand Years - Vanessa Carlton
Sexy & I Know It - LMFAO

Sometimes we get asked what is popular at the parties and this is tricky to answer as kids are into such a variety of music as seen here.
Whatever you want to sing, so long as it’s a recognised pop song, there is always a backing track available - just try to make sure everyone attending the party will know it.
For any party enquiries please call or email.

Happy Christmas

Red and yellow - very mellow.

SO Xmas is coming faster than we can all cope with so here at Pop Star Party I thought it best to get a quick festive greeting in to all our fans and followers.
It’s been a great year with all the party pals who partied with us this year and the marathon challenge was a superb success and is now taking me to Cairo in February!! Whoop!

Next year in 2019 we will be doing some new stuff with the parties as always and hope to see you and your friends again soon - please pass this post on to other parents, thanks.

13 year olds from Stratford work it with Little Mix Gold Party

Teenagers from Stratford had a brilliant Pop Star Party at Born in a Barn Studio over the weekend choosing to sing ‘Move’ by Little Mix for their Gold party.

Izzy has just turned 13 and what better way to celebrate than having a party at BB Studio with her friends. Gold parties focus on getting a great song recorded and filmed so after the party I can create a very cool video for them all. With more time to focus on the song it is nice to help the girls sing all the parts and get what we need for a great sound - Move is not the easiest song to sing but this group did a great effort at replicating the song in the time we had so well done all of you. There were some great characters in this group and plenty of interaction making the filming easy to capture cool moments for the video.

Well done everyone.

Parties at the barn are all unique and powered by the kids - if you know any kids who have a birthday popping up in the next year then why not let them know about Pop Star Party!!

https://www.PopStarParty.rocks

9 year old from Leicestershire have brilliant party

Szonja who is of Hungarian descent, had a wonderful party with her mates from Leicestershire recently.

She chose the Gold Party which meant we were filming for 1 of the songs and possibly singing 2 depending on time. Fortunately things went very smoothly and we did get 2 songs in the time. Szonja had chosen to sing One Kiss by Calvin Harris/Dua Lipa for her video and Attention by Charlie Puth to start the party - both great choices.

Nothing was gonna stop these kids from having fun and they sang their hearts out and gave it everything for the video filming too. Well done everyone including Mum & Dad who clearly enjoyed themselves too. See you next year!

9 year olds have an absolute blast

Amy and her friends had a wicked time at the barn for Amy’s 9th birthday over the weekend.

Amy had opted for the Silver Party and chosen Girls by Rita Ora along with This is Me from the Greatest Showman soundtrack. A very spirited gang this lot but they focussed well on the singing when the record light was on and we got great versions of both songs. Amy’s Mum had brought an amazing cake that despite being slightly damaged en route was definitely a hit with the kids. Top marks on the cake.

We sometimes try to make a band name out of the 1st letters of all the kids’ names and today we came up with ‘Eg Samosa’ for this group!!

Vegetarians catered for

Just a quick post about veggies - a question we get asked quite regularly is about whether the buffet that we put on good for vegetarians. The answer is it can be - normally we make a big platter of ham sandwiches and add easy to eat finger food to the purple tiered display stand like mini sausage rolls and egg bites, but when asked to cater for vegetarians (which is all part of the checklist sent to you 1 week in advance of your party) then we simply change things accordingly.

The other option is that parents provide their own food and we amend the party cost accordingly - it’s your party and we want you to be happy. Just ask.

Message from a Paralympic Gold medalist Richard Whitehead

What a week - after being injured and all the panic that brings to the table I’ve been magically repaired with electricity and proving that it worked I’ve run 4 runs this week 8k, 10k, 12k & 12k late last night.
What a surprise I got when I received a personal message from Richard Whitehead about next Sunday’s Half Marathon in Nottingham - amazing.

Free Damson Jam with every Pop Star Party!

Just outside the studio where Pop Star Party is held is a very special tree - a Damson tree - every year it’s both the biggest nuisance and the best thing you could wish for - when the damsons drop it’s madness outside on the decking - if I catch it right and collect them I get an enormous amount of free fruit but if I don’t the decking gets kinda splashed and spattered with purple juice! This year has gone really well and every other night I’m busy making jam! So if you want some free damson jam just book a party and collect it when you’re having the pop star party.

Parties - everywhere I go there's parties

So it's been a month since the last blog about running - and its been a very busy time for me.

Generally the summer is a quiet time for parties and this year we have absolutely packed our summer out with family trips to make the running training interesting and varied, but also to keep life interesting for my daughter who is studying for her 11+ exam in September - a lot of work is going into this!

But this blog is a short one to mention a very special party for a very special Mum - my mother in law turned 70 this year and we had a bit of a 'do' for her in America whilst visiting earlier this month.  Here is her cake - we do like cake at Pop Star Party - a lot.

Tiny reminder about the marathon relevance to Pop Star Party news:
In October this year I will be running the Dublin marathon so am currently training 4 days a week to build strength & passion for running - I will be running for a charity also and that charity is ChildLine Ireland.
https://sse-airtricity-dublin-marathon-2018.everydayhero.com/ie/roger
I'm taking a food supplement for extra energy & all round organic support to diet:
PopStarFood
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