Adding excitement to aging party trends
Celebrating b'nai mitzvahs with style and creativity
B’nai mitzvahs have become cliché in every aspect; from the DJ playing tired hits to obnoxious party favors. But for brave nonconformists that are willing to ditch the YMCA song and cowboy hats, an exiting and original b’nai mitzvah is possible.Breaking out from the formula is easy with creative options like multi-sport complexes, including the New England Sports Academy in Westwood. This venue offers a refreshing take on the traditional b’nai mitzvah with plentiful and diverse activities – trampolines, a foam pit, full fitness center, martial arts center and an open gym – assuring that party goers won’t grow bored easily. And a DJ can always be added for those that want the time-honored touch.
Behind the development of NESA as a fresh alternative to the mundane b’nai mitzvah party is Henry Shterenberg, owner of the facility.
“This is by far the most exciting thing that kids can do to unwind,” Shterenberg said. “It’s really special and memorable for them.”
Although not a visionary, he was able to recognize his company’s potential to serve the Jewish community in this capacity. It all began quite unexpectedly.
“We started on accident,” Shterenberg said. “One of our customers asked us to host a party and we did.”
Thus far, the company has hosted a half-dozen of the right-of-passage events, with most of the promotion coming through word-of-mouth. Each event brings new potential clients and the number of people signing up is steadily increasing. To help facilitate and plan the parties, NESA enlisted the services of event manager, Lauren Loomis, who specializes in keeping customers entertained.
“Parents are starting to look at other types of options for [b’nai mitzvahs],” Loomis said. “They’re looking for places that offer other types of entertainment like the New England Sports Academy.”
An added benefit of having NESA host your event is that their facilities can accommodate nearly any activity imaginable. A clown? Check. Face painting? Check. Virtual reality games? Why not. NESA gives clients the ability to customize any event they host, in addition to what they already offer in-house, assuring that the party will be inundated with entertainment options. In particular, there are many sporting activities to keep party goers active and releasing all of their pent-up excitement. The complex seems like an obvious choice for a youth’s party, and it’s no wonder Shternberg has been watching his client base grow.
“The feedback has been phenomenal,” he said. “They go through their religious ceremony during the day, and after the long day, they just go nuts. Every time we do a b’nai mitzvah, a lot of inquiries come in for future parties.”
Part of the reason that people are becomingly interested in alternative options for their parties is that adults need entertainment as well. After all, they are usually paying copious amounts of money for these events – the y should at least be entertained.
Take-home items, lights shows and video screens are just some of the adult-themed additions being incorporated into these parties, according to Loomis. Added solace can also be found in knowing that there is no need to worry about somebody knocking out a window with a poorly-aimed swing at a piñata. To Loomis, entertaining all of the guests is a vital aspect of party planning, and as the event manager for NESA, her expertise has eased the b’nai mitzvah process for many parents.
“NESA is a newer venue and we’re trying to get their name out there,” she said. “But it definitely offers a lot of different types of options. There are a lot of different ways we can coordinate with the client to tailor it to their needs. It’s a lot different than a regular venue because we can bring all the entertainment here.”
The owner of NESA is also confident in his facility’s capability of offering the best of both worlds, traditional and unconventional, when it comes to entertainment.
“The benefits are mostly the flexibility to design and customize to the customer,” Shterenberg explained. “There are a multitude of things that kids can do. The options are phenomenal. Our instructors are top-notch and it makes the experience that much better.”
Let’s say that you have your eyes set on a specific facility to host your b’nai mitzvah. What are the steps you need to take to book the date? It’s important to start as early as possible because spaces are limited. When it comes to financing a party, Shterenberg and Loomis agreed, the cost can greatly vary depending on the customer’s taste and budget.
“Always book well in advance,” said Shterenberg. “We will always do our best to accommodate the customer, but we do need some time to be able to do that. As soon as people know about the event they should book it because it takes a lot of time to customize and plan it.”
