psp news

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.”

 

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.

Bebe at BB Studio for her Pop Star Party.jpeg
Bebe at Pop Star Party.jpeg

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.

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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

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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.

Pop Star Party buffet.jpg

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.

Pop Star Party Richard Whitehead Personal Message.png

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.

Pop Star Party Damson Jam1.jpg
Pop Star Party Damson Jam2.jpg

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.

Pop Star Party 70th Cake.jpg

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
If you would like a Pop Star Party then click here
Book Your Best Party Idea Ever Here

Pop Star Party supports ISPCC.png

This Is Me - actually it's not, it's Eve.

Eve had the last party of the school year yesterday with a select few mates from school. Her birthday is actually in August but her very organised parents sorted out her party just before everyone shoots off to hot places over the Summer - not that we need to pop anywhere right now - this mad heatwave is relentless.

Singing Camilla Cabello's 'Havana' seemed entirely appropriate in the heat and fortunately the group all sang very well helping the song to be recorded quickly - even the rap didn't prove too tricky and Eve delivered it with conviction!

Photoshoot and Booster Buffet next and they munched through everything ready for the filming session.  The Greatest Showman really does have the best soundtrack - 'This Is Me' starts off quiet but quickly builds and stays full on to the end making a song for the party atmosphere and easy to make a video to.  The girls did well, glow sticks, a formal routine for 'this is me' bits and some very cool shades.  Video looks and sounds ace.

Afterwards when I was trying to ask which out of her 10 birthday parties did she think was the best I got cut short before finishing the question and Eve just shouted 'This One' - my work is done!

Top party to top a great school year.

Oh - and yet another inspired cake - well done Mum!

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
If you would like a Pop Star Party then click here
Book Your Best Party Idea Ever Here

Pop Star Party supports ISPCC.png

10 Year Olds from Tamworth Shake It Off with style

Lucy brought a big party of friends to the barn recently and had just an amazing party.  All her party pals were great singers making the recording side of things quick and easy to achieve especially with the first song choice of This Is Me from The Greatest Showman (such a cool song) leaving plenty of time for posing on the red carpet, munching their booster buffet and of course filming their pop video to Shake It Off.

The sun was out (well we are having a heatwave) so we took the filming out onto the decking too after doing the green screen run.  All the kids were smiling and jumping and having fun all the way through each filming run so the video just looks wicked with all those smiley faces.

Her Mum made a very special cake in the design of a mirror ball which had multi coloured and layered inside with surprise skittles inside too - top effort Mum!!

Mirror Ball cake at Pop Star Party

Mirror Ball cake at Pop Star Party

Lucy with her finished CD

Lucy with her finished CD

Most of the gang

Most of the gang

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
If you would like a Pop Star Party then click here
Book Your Best Party Idea Ever Here

Pop Star Party supports ISPCC.png

A Right Royal Weekend

What a fantastic weekend it was.

Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, parades around in the horse drawn carriage and later drives off to the evening party in an E Type Jag - class all the way.

So much glamour on show but done in a very cool way.  The gospel choir singing Ave Maria in the chapel and the Most Reverand Michael Curry delivering one of the most funky and up to date sermons ever at a royal wedding.  Such a well planned event. Congratulations to them.  Below are a couple of snaps from the telly (as you do) showing the Long Walk parade and the couple in the carriage - so cool.

On Friday before the weekend I ran my monthly half marathon and pushed it further completing 24k in 2.5 hrs which is a personal best for me.  21k is a half marathon and the heat was about 20degrees but it was worth the strain so I could enjoy Saturday. The Dublin marathon in October is only getting closer.

Pop Star Party Harry & Meghan Marriage 1
Pop Star Party Harry & Meghan Marriage 2

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
If you would like a Pop Star Party then click here
Book Your Best Party Idea Ever Here
 

Pop Star Party supports ISPCC.png

Super Solo from Abi at Pop Star Party

Every party is different and fuelled by the kids. This is so true and the kids who a Bronze party with us over the weekend totally enjoyed their experience of singing together but also of seeing Abi do a wonderful solo.

The group song chosen was Justine Timberlake's 'Can't Stop the Feeling' and amazingly, with all the girls kitted up with headphones, this went really smoothly in a very short time because they all knew the song so well and followed instructions on how we record in the party situation with ease.  Top job girls.

After a cool photoshoot and their buffet break in our special Party Hangout room they bounced back in to see Abi do her solo - stood on the hotspot box and under the heat of spotlights she rose to the challenge like a champ and sang 'How Far I'll Go' from Moana really well receiving a massive round of applause from her friends.  Well done Abi.

Below are a few snaps from the party - if you would like a party with us then please get in touch.

New Package added to the Parties page

Listening is vital and after some market research we have made a few changes to way things are done and what we offer.  Massive thanks to all those who contributed to the feedback requests.

The biggest thing we learned was that singing is the main focus so in our Bronze and Silver Packages we are going back to how the party service originated and focussing more on singing.  Lots of people really like the video that's produced after the party, but these do take a considerable amount of time (up to 2 hours) so to reflect this there will be more time in the party to discuss the filming process so kids really understand what they are doing.

The disco is also one of the best parts for many kids - and adults! - so we've been shopping and bought more lights - everyone loves a good disco.

A fourth package (Platinum) has been added to accommodate those that want to do everything.

The disco just got better!

The disco just got better!

Cake (just keep saying it!)

Cake - birthday cake in particular - surely the best invention ever!
We get to see so many amazing designs and creations at Pop Star Party because at least 90% of our groups bring their cake to the party.  All cakes are welcome and I do try to make sure I get a good pic of the cake before its cut, smashed, lit etc.  

So why not bring your cake to the party - and just incase you are stuck for decoration ideas here's a few that have been brought along recently.

Book a party with us and the rest is done for you - but don't forget the cake!

www.PopStarParty.rocks

Guinea Pig Day for Greasby!

Yep it's right I have been a guinea pig - sometimes the only way to find out if something is good, is to try it - which is what I started last October when I was introduced to a food supplement.

Long and short of it is - it works - and I'm still using it - so would you mind if I tell you about it?

Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't like lies - I generally have good gut instincts about situations and won't spend money on rubbish.  So, when I was introduced to a food supplement that is 'everything in 1 bag' I was very dubious.  I have never taken food supplements, I have never got involved with multi-level marketing organisations and I have never had any faith in stuff not sold in the shops, but for some reason I agreed to go to an evening presentation about this new product.  The lady who took me along runs an alternative healing clinic (who I have been making tons of short videos for at the studio) and is a genuine successful practitioner - so I trusted her - trust is such an important thing.  As it turned out it's not that new - it's been around a couple of years but I was sufficiently interested to give it a go.  Let's face it, I'm training for a marathon and anything which gives me more energy, fire and enthusiasm I am willing to consider.  But there's way more to this than just energy lift.

Clinton Sellers the CEO of the (local) company impressed me from the onset.  Here is a man who has worked in the food supplement industry all his life and decided to radically change everything - from the product, the packaging, the website & back office to the distribution and the price.  There's 1 product & 2 ways to get it - buy it or supply it. 

Integrity has to be Clintons middle name - everything he has done is squeaky clean, tested in the massive Brunswick labs in America, 100% organic, organically registered & approved and there's no bulky packing agents - this last point being one of the most impressive aspects to me.  I have a Chemistry degree so kind of feel I understand the nuts and bolts of packaging food - this doesn't have any 'stuff' in it to keep it fresh or bulk it out - it's just 100% useful product rammed full of the stuff we don't get in everyday foods (that have been genetically modified or 'processed' for us) sourced from the really cool ingredients of many, many foods we wouldn't normally buy, because they are expensive or unavailable - all the info is on the label, everything is transparent with this company and it just works.

What works? - what does it do? - well there's a question!!

Initially I was interested in the food supplement side of things to get essential minerals and natural chemicals into my body which will help with digestion and general healthiness to boost my running, but after 6 months of testing it myself, going to presentations every 6 weeks at Warwick Castle and hearing genuine testimonials from people who have (had) medical complaints I'm just amazed at how much more is going on - the antioxidants in the product is mind blowing, the pre & probiotics in the product is amazing and the healing properties seem too good to be true, but everyone is telling how their psoriasis, fibromyalgia, hair loss, rheumatism, arthritis and allergies are reduced/eliminated.  Now I'm genuinely lucky that so far to date, I've not had a medical condition that's needed prescribed drugs to keep under control so I can't actually vouch for whether any of these things are true myself, but I can't deny what my ears have heard consistently for 6 months now - this stuff is like magic!!
Last night I was at a massive awards ceremony in the Grand Hall at Warwick Castle - so many people being rewarded for their involvement in the company (see pic of Rhian at bottom).
Quote from Rhian: "it ticks boxes for things we don't even have boxes for" - Quite simply a game-changer!!

So what is it?

It's called NewGen Direct Superfoods Plus and the company is based in Warwick.

Here is my page on the company website which details everything you need to know about the product:

https://www.newgendirect.com/PopStarFood

There is a promotion on for another week until new stock arrives - they just put in an order for £1 Million worth of stock - you can try it it for yourself for £27.99.  Less than what you probably spend on cups of coffee in a month. PLUS - free shipping until April 22nd 2018.  Surely this is a no-brainer!

PS - I called my page PopStarFood because you will notice the model used in the brochure is actually a pop star - her name is Yennis Cheung who you may also have seen in the James Bond film SkyFall as a casino cashier.  Well, since I run Pop Star Party and know that a lot of singers take supplements and are fastidious about their diet/health I realised the potential right there.  But I wanted to test it on myself first and now feel 100% satisfied that this product absolutely rocks.

 

PopStarFood - Warwick Castle Awards.jpg