Need creative solution for Bar Mitzvah

chanchy123

Mon, Jan 09 2017, 5:36 am

mummiedearest wrote:

is there a nursing home nearby? see if you can have the event there as entertainment for the residents. nursing homes generally have big entertainment rooms. ask if they have a good sound system. bring music, the boys, family, and a spread of nosh. no need for a full catered meal. pizza will do if you want something meal-like. If your son is looking forward to the dancing, I'm sure his friends will be lively. the residents will be happy, and you won't have to pay much. and it's always nice to link bar or bas mitzvahs with chessed.

That's a great idea, my DDs Bat Mitzvah is coming up, I will keep this in mind, maybe we can do something similar.

amother

Lime

Mon, Jan 09 2017, 6:27 am

This is just an idea.
1. Rent the shul.
2. Get a 1 man, keyboard player, many do it for chesed.
3. Get tablecloths from the gemach, they possibly have other things that you can borrow, center pieces, etc.
4. Do Chinese, from a take out place.
This is not that expensive, you buy the food in 9x13 tins, bulk.
Calculate each tin serves 25 ppl, I think maybe more.
You set it up on steno yourself.
Chicken, Beef, Noodles, Rice, Eggroll.
Check prices it may even cost less than you preparing food yourself.
Try to purchase in bulk trays, NOT per person.
Don't know if they allow this.
5. Hire 2-3 waiters/cleaning ppl from an agency (OPTIONAL)
Tell them to wear white shirt and black bottom.
6. Dessert icecream and fortune cookie.( pre scooped)
7. Print invitations yourself.
8. Soda, paper goods, look out for sales, you have time to plan.

Chinese is the way to go
IMO, less expensive than bbq, fancier than pizza, a lot less work for you.
Win-win situation.

For shabbos kiddush, at shul, I've seen specials in the vues, those little magazines in BP, kiddush everything included really cheap, especially in the summer.
Again go to the gemach and borrow fancy tablecloth, serving platters, etc.

Shabbos dinner and lunch at home, your going to have to cook.

Iymnok

Mon, Jan 09 2017, 6:50 am

If you do Chinese, rice can be made yourself, buy some soy sauce. You can even buy fortune cookies in bulk with your own messages inside.

For table cloths, a large roll from a party or restaurant supply store is good, if you want nicer, inexpensive fabric from a store.

A restaurant supply store is great for paoer goods and serving dishes.

amother

Lime

Mon, Jan 09 2017, 6:55 am

Iymnok wrote:

Why buy when you can borrow from a gemach, just bring back clean.

Iymnok

Mon, Jan 09 2017, 6:59 am

amother wrote:

Why buy when you can borrow from a gemach, just bring back clean.

You're right, but not all communities have a gemach. If still not a given. Also with more simchas on the horizon, owning them may be a good investment.

The Shul may also own the basics too.

If you do a theme, centerpieces may be cheaper.

amother

Lime

Mon, Jan 09 2017, 8:18 am

Just as a side note.
As the youngest of my family, I always felt I got less since my parents had BTDT, most of the times it wasn't even a financial issue.
It's important that your son feel good about his bar mitzvah.
Try to find a way to make it happen.