Coventry Half Marathon

OK so who was as disappointed as me about the cancelled race this weekend?

I was upset but the weather was the major factor and I think the organisers got it all right.  Stewards and spectators don't want to stand in freezing conditions for hours and the icy roads make running dangerous - even for pro-runners.  So good decision in the end.  But this wasn't gonna stop me from running it - I did it today (Monday) in the afternoon when most of the ice and snow had melted away.  

Being self-employed has its advantages and Mondays are generally quiet, unless I have parties to finalise work for from the weekend - but double bonus cos over the weekend I ran my daughter's party, so I was able to put finishing the video on hold for a day and get this route run!  I'm really pleased to get this done today and chuffed I did it in 2.02 hrs which is 13 minutes faster than the last one in Nottingham (not an official time obviously). Maybe if they reschedule then I will get a second chance.  Pace analysis below.

Roger - Pop Star Party Organiser
Running Parties for Kids - all year round
Running my 1st Marathon in Dublin, October 2018
https://sse-airtricity-dublin-marathon-2018.everydayhero.com/ie/roger
 

Running for Child Line in Ireland

Just a very quick few words about the marathon in October which I am running and the charity I have chosen to help raise a few quid for - or Euros even.  It is not a requirement of the race to represent a charity like London is, but I have opted to since it is so relevant.  The kids who have a party with us are fortunate to be given a party and not all kids are - but they should be.

My chosen charity is ChildLine in Ireland or the Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children ISPCC. Why the Irish ChildLine you may ask? Well the race is of course in Ireland but my wife and all her family are Irish and my daughter half Irish, so that hopefully is enough.  That aside, I think that it really doesn't matter which country since the point is that if a child is being bullied or worse, it's vital they have knowledge of how to call for help and ChildLine charities in general, in any country, all need support.

So here is the link which will be built into all blogs from now (hopefully!):

https://sse-airtricity-dublin-marathon-2018.everydayhero.com/ie/roger

2 Castles Run - with an international twist

My return from Ireland was as bonkers as the drive there.  The snow had melted and the weather was foul and we drove in a storm most of the way back.  

The wedding reception had taken place at the ultra posh Cabra Castle in County Cavan, Ireland, and we needed to get back to a presentation at Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, UK, about food supplements - something I have started to take as part of the whole get fit/be healthy thing. So effectively we were doing our own 2 Castles Run - albeit in a car, in a storm! We left Cabra Castle at 12.00 midday and reached Warwick Castle at 8.30pm - long drive.  If you live in Warwickshire you will know the 2 Castles Run which is 10k between Warwick Castle and Kenilworth Castle and usually happens around June time.  I've entered again this year and it was my first ever official run last year.

I've been taking the food supplement since October last year, with only good results and no side effects.  I would normally be skeptical of supplements but this one is different in every way possible and along the way I have got to know the director of the company - who is a really nice guy.  More about all this later.

Whilst we were at Cabra Castle we were encouraged to go see the castle dog - an Irish Wolfhound called Oscar - he was taller than my daughter - he really was enormous! 
The castle itself was stunning inside and out.

The Beast from the East Buried us Deep!

Things that make you go hmmmm?

We all suffered the mad storm Emma last week but I had to drive to Ireland in it. We had to go a day early due to the (fast) ferry being cancelled because of the weather being too bad and catch a different (slow) ferry which took longer on the sea - bonkers.

When we got to Ireland the storm was at its peek and we parked the car on solid snow - couldnt really see any road whatsoever and in the morning the cars had almost disappeared.  The 'wedding got postponed 2 days (an unbelievable amount of organisation went into that!) so we ended staying an extra day as well. So 3 nights turned in to 5 but fortunately the wedding went really well.  Running plans were obviously abandoned due to the whole of Ireland being on a red alert meaning nobody is allowed to go out/travel unless emergency.  So plan B had to be used - go to the hotel gym and use a treadmill - i hate treadmills.

The view was kind of OK and i could watch some of the people outside getting stuck and digging cars out, but running like a hamster on a treadmill is definitely not my thing. And it squeaked like crazy and then the one next to it squeaked but differently making a very silly noise.  So some training happened but it was under duress and i didn't get to run in Phoenix Park on the official route - that will now have to wait till October.

Fortunately the hotel had plenty of Guinness and didn't run out of food or wine - result.

My half marathon challenge(s)

So I decided when I started training this year that I would do 3 things. Follow a training plan (obviously) but also do the marathon distance every month and do a half marathon every month also - clearly the last 2 can be combined but don't have to be.

Today I completed the half marathon for Feb and the marathon distance for Feb - cos I ran 8.5k on Thursday eve, then 11.5k Saturday and 21k today on Sunday.

'So what?' you may be thinking!!

Well indeed so what, but the thing with running is there is so much too it - it's not just stamina or strength but there's the psychological side to it all as well as the physique and nutrition. And clothes - don't forget them and accessories but that's all another blog.

Whenever you run there is always the temptation to stop, after-all nobody is telling me to run - so what drives me? I guess many things do but possibly the main thing is my daughter.  

Just incase you don't know me I'm Roger, 47 years old and run a recording studio and part of the business involves running Pop Star Party. I'm married to Rachel and have 1 daughter Grace, who I spend a lot of time with and ever since she was born I have encouraged her to do things well and be successful.  She has been taught to swim by me and last year won her schools gala which I was very happy with.  Since the age of 4 she has learned to ice-skate and last year she competed nationally in an ice skating competition which was an enormous challenge.  Part of that required her to be able to do the splits and be very very supple and fit for pulling the moves on the ice and I spent a year helping her (encouraging her cough cough) to do all the exercises and stuff to be able to do the splits - none of us enjoyed this! But she got there and I think her determination impressed me enough to think I should do something to really challenge myself - which is where running fitted in nicely.

A lot of my family run too - there's heaps of runners in my family and we all have our reasons to run.  The things that go through your head when running are hilarious but whenever I'm feeling like I'm knackered I remind myself of how I push my daughter to 'try harder' or 'do it differently' and so I change the pace a bit or do whatever - but I don't stop!

At the moment it seems to work - I think I'm enjoying the psychology of running more than the physicality of running - maybe this will change as I get to be doing harder distances but right now it's all good.

This Thursday I travel to Ireland for my brother-in-laws' wedding and we are staying in Dublin.  I'm intending on trial running the section of the Dublin marathon which goes through Phoenix Park - this is about 4 miles or something along a straight path on a fairly constant incline so I figure is going to be quite dull.  Knowing how long that section takes will be a good help when I do it for real in October.

As soon as that's done I shall no doubt be indulging in all the usual wedding fun and looking forward to meeting up again with all the guys who were on the stag do in Portugal.  Maybe the next blog post will be on that!!

The Run to Dublin - Marathon Man

OK so I've decided to use this blog site to talk about my marathon training. "What's that got to do with parties?" you quite rightly ask!!  Well read on.

I'm not too good at blogs but want to improve. I'm not too good at running but want to improve. So it makes sense to combine the two eh!

I work with hundreds of kids every year running parties and have chosen to include ChildLine as my charity for the marathon in Dublin which is on Sunday October 28th 2018.  

Hopefully later and as things improve I will add all the details and maybe have followers too. So I'm gonna keep blog posts short (especially this one as Im running late today) (pardon the pun) but am excited to start to get this big deal out there.  

Training for a marathon starts early and actually i started last year when i trained from January 2017 to September 2017 for the half marathon in Nottingham. I completed it in 2 hours 15 mins which was a bit slower than i had hoped by hey - theres good reasons - more later on that.

This year training has also kinda begun and its exciting because the training will continue wherever I go - I already ran in Portugal in January (during a stag party holiday!) and will be running part of the actual marathon course in Ireland when I'm over there for my brother-in-laws marriage in March. After that Im going to Norway for a family holiday and Portugal again to help a friend developing a property and then hopefully Spain in the Summer, New York and Boston visiting family then the big one back in Ireland in October. So yes its exciting and I want to share it somehow!

So there we go - this is the start.

Cheers

Roger
Running parties for kids & running a marathon for ChildLine

Booking Your Party

The magical day for your child is approaching and you are hunting for the perfect party.  No easy job in this age with so much to choose from.  This is why over the last few years I have (to the best of my knowledge) made the party booking procedure dead easy for the busy parent who is tasked with getting a party arranged.  

I take booking deposits over the phone sometimes, via email sometimes, but mostly through the website which is the easiest way I believe.  All bookings are penciled in to the diary my end but no booking is firm until a deposit has been made which is done through the website.  I've read on other party venue sites and in discussion forums that taking a deposit is the normal practice preferred by everyone.  It shows commitment from the customer and allows the venue/entertainer to be certain the booking will be met on the day.  The deposit covers ancillary expenses, such as food in my case, and should there be a 'no show' then nobody is out of pocket - but I'm pleased to say that in all the time I have been running parties there has never been a no show.

After receiving your deposit I email you to confirm I have received the deposit and send you some Free party invites plus ask 2 quick questions for my marketing purposes and its wonderful to read the replies.

Just this month I received this reply from Jo who has booked her daughter in for a party later this year: 
"In terms of website, it all worked fine for me. It's clear, descriptive (many of them don't give you much idea what it involves), plenty of photos/video and good contact details (another fault with some...they'll only communicate via email and not phone!). Easy to pay deposit and all packages clear. I'm always pretty pedantic and like to know what I'm paying for, hence the visit. I've done it with all my parties...the last thing I want is to have a rubbish party. It's a waste of money and ruins the day. I'll also try and get a recommendation which again I had for you.
I just want a nice, fun experience for my daughter and her friends (and us!) and the website describes what I saw and hopefully what we will experience.  
Thanks - Jo"

So there we go - Pop Star Party - making every step of your party easy.

What goes into a party? Before and After.

So much goes into planning the perfect party - it starts with a phone-call from a parent and you deciding the date. Once this is agreed your deposit is made and I send out invites for you to pass onto to your party pals.  The day of the party arrives and everything is ready because ahead of the party you have received, completed and returned the checklist detailing which songs and what party you want and the food can be bought for the buffet accordingly.  This is why our parties always run smoothly.

Of course the kids make the party what it is and every party has different things happen depending on interactions with the kids.  The best part always seems to be when we fill the room with dry ice and the smoke and lasers kick in making the room a dream.

But most parents probably don't realise that after the party it takes a couple of hours to produce the video for you if you have chosen that option - always a pleasure to make of course and I really appreciate the feedback comments  Also the production of branded photo prints takes time and is one of the unpredictable aspects of the parties. Frames, paper ink etc all cost and sadly last year we saw a bit of a rise in costs to just about everything.  So to try and keep in line with things I have had to increase the price of the parties just a bit.  Don't worry the level of chaos and hilarity will stay the same though.

I really look forward to running your party this year - contact me (Roger) to book yours on: 07956 624376. Let's get this party started!

 

Avoid tears at your party

Singing your favourite song is easy, right?

Give it a go at home – sing the song from start to finish and see if you actually can – you may well find there’s at least 1 tricky bit that you conveniently skip over, but this is barely noticed because the lyrics are still on the track you are singing too – we all do it.

But when you record your own voice singing to a backing track there will be no pro singers on the track you are singing too and errors will be exposed – most can be overcome by simply going over the dodgy lines or layering a section if there’s an overlap.

But during a solo with the pressure of all your party pals watching you whilst under the some cool spotlights we don’t want a song to go wrong – you need to be really confident to rock your solo out in front of your friends and not get it wrong or feel bad if you forget anything – this can all lead to tears – and nobody wants them at your party.

It doesn't have to be stressful!

So how can tears be avoided?

Pick an easy song – not necessarily your fave.

Practice it at home – a lot. Try not to cheat.

Be honest. Are there bits that are layered or a bit fast and tricky?  Is there a rap section, which you can’t really do?

Download a backing track for around 79p on iTunes and actually practice to a backing track.

Don’t worry – we have recorded kids for years doing their solos at our parties and really know how to help them through.  Remember also that it is just an ‘experience’ of recording a solo and not an opportunity to get absolutely the best recording – we can do that, but it’s much better if it’s done on a separate day where there is no pressure from friends and family watching.  Most actual stars spend hours recording their original songs, so don’t worry if you don’t nail it in 15 minutes in your party – just enjoy the experience!!

Anyone who has had a party with us is more than welcome to come back on a separate occasion and make a real recording of themselves at a later date and we find that generally this works so well because you already know us, have seen around the studio and know what to expect – so you are relaxed and ready to deliver!

Keeping kids happy is what we do.

For more info on all our parties check:
www.PopStarParty.rocks/parties/

4 tips for choosing your songs

What songs should you choose as a parent and as the party person?

It's a big decision for the big day - there's just so many songs!!  

How are you going to get it right? Will everyone enjoy the party based on your taste? Can any song be done? These are some of the worries parents have - kids don't have worries they just pick what they know! But is the song appropriate? 

Tip 1 - Pick something all the friends to the party will know - if party pals have to learn a song at the party its going to slow things down and lower the mood. If someone doesn't know the song they may feel excluded or under pressure.  If only the main party person knows the song then perhaps it should be only used for a solo.

Tip 2 - Try to pick upbeat songs. This will keep the group vibrant and happy, even bouncing and bobbing as they sing.  Also the video will be more fun to make than a slower ballad style song.

Tip 3 - Really check the song for lyrical delivery styles - a lot of pop songs these days have extra artists featuring on the song, sometimes as rappers.  Check that the rap section is deliverable by your child or someone at the party.  If it's too much, then it can slow the recording procedure and lower the mood.  Remember - its 'pop star party' so charted Pop music is going to be most ideal.

Tip 4 - Double check the song for any bad language which you may not feel is appropriate. Often the words in question can be substituted easily for more appropriate words, or just sounds like 'shhh' for example!  This can remove the awkward parental moment of embarrassment as they hear their kids swearing as a group and giggling profusely!

www.PopStarParty.rocks - the original recording studio experience party for girls & boys.

CDs are available at the end of a party for everyone.

Printed pictures are a hit!

Recently we introduced a new 'bolt on extra' in the form of printed pictures from your red carpet shoots on glossy card and they are proving very popular so far - A5 or A4.

Our red carpet photoshoot in Pop Star Parade is fun for everyone and we quite often get parents pictured with their children, as well as the individual and group shots.

Now you can have these pics printed out after the party and sent to you all dressed up with our logo and anything you want writing on the design.  

On the day you can also take away framed A4 pictures of the group on the red carpet or just 1 exclusive big print of your child, or the solo set-up if you are performing a solo - it's up to you!

What to sing at your party?

Common questions asked by eager parents when booking their party are:

What songs can they sing?
Is there a list?
Whats the most popular at the moment?

Well the answers are anything, no and it varies!

Unlike some events you go to where everything is funnelled down so the organisers are basically performing the same stunts, I don't like to have limits on the kids at their parties - it is their party after all. So this is why you can choose any songs you want.  I always advise that you pick something a bit funky or with an uptempo beat so that the party is lively and to ensure all the kids know the song. It's also easier to film kids being active than singing slow & moody ballads and makes for more entertaining viewing later! But if you want to sing ballads that's also fine - it's your party.
No list - the list is whatever song your child is into, so long as there is a backing track available then we will download it.
With so many parties it's tricky to say which song is currently most popular but last year Uptown Funk was definitely top of the list - maybe it will be a Honey G song this year!!  Where has Jessie J gone? 

 

Weekend parties

Most of our children's parties are run on weekends but we do offer shorter parties during the week. It's all on the site so please visit www.PopStarParty.rocks to learn more.  

Elvis is in the house - all 8 of him!

Just recently we had a local business visit celebrating part of their Christmas at the barn by singing Suspicious Minds by Elvis as a group.  Things went pretty well and we certainly got a unique version of the song - the main thing was everyone enjoyed themselves.

If you want a team building event, group outing or just want to come along and sing a few songs in a private group then get in touch and we can sort it all out for you.

The group here had really gone to town and bought all the wigs, glasses, footwear and clothing to set the scene - great effort.

http://www.popstarparty.rocks/pop-celeb-party/

Elvis is here everybody!

Superb party for 10 year old Holly and friends.

There's nothing quite like our recording studio experience parties.  

Happy Holly with her CDs at the end of the party

Holly had our Gold party and totally rocked it making a wicked video to Love Me Like You by those Little Mix pop stars. Great party and wonderful party spirit.  

Visit : www.PopStarParty.rocks for all you need to know about our parties.  

Back to school season has been great

Since the summer break we have run loads of parties already - some will have been mentioned in social media as appropriate to age and restrictions, some may not if parents have requested.  The kids are all enjoying the new structure and of course the flashy headphone station.  If you have had a party recently why not leave a comment here - many thanks