Q. How long have you worked at Fun Enterprises?  

A. 15 years

Q. How did you get involved with FUN?     

A. The job description itself is what intrigued me to call.  In truth I was not sure what to expect but found the position and the entire atmosphere something that I wanted to be involved with.

Q. What is your favorite part of the job? 

A. The people are my favorite part of my job.  I have met all kinds of folks from all kinds of different backgrounds.  They keep my job very colorful and entertaining.

Q. What do you do to relax? Any hobbies or interests?

A. I like to paint ceramics and draw, but my favorite thing to do is spend time with my 7 year old. 

Q. What is the most interesting thing about working in the office?

A. The chance to learn new projects but mostly listening to Mark’s weekend stories!

Q. Do you ever work programs? If so do you have a favorite program or job that you have done?

A. All of my time is spent in the office.  On occasion I have had to assist with jobs in the field.  I cannot say that I have a favorite program, I like them all

Q. What is one thing about you that you would like everyone to know? 

A. I am a spoon collector.  My friends and relatives are aware of this and often bring me spoons from other states and countries.  My Grandmother was the reason I started this hobby and will continue to do so (she also gave me her collection of spoons). 

The post Working for FUN- Behind the Orange Shirt with Kim Forster appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

First year the goal was simply to make the team. It was a fairly easy goal and the workouts reflected that. There was a lot of good-natured banter between him and the coach who was helping him prepare for the season. Workouts were often slowed or stopped by extraneous chatter but the goal was attained and he made the team. Unfortunately playing time was sparse and it was not the best of experiences. Year 2 the bar was raised, make the team and compete for the starting spot. With the goal stepped up the workouts followed suit. Instead of working out 2 or 3 days a week from October on they went to five and six days a week. Verbal jabs were replaced by grunts of physical exertion. Days when things did not go as planned and performance did not meet expectation were not brushed off lightly. Saturday mornings, where Speech Competitions once held a place in the calendar, were replaced by catching Bullpen sessions, often for pitchers entering their senior year and some highly recruited by colleges. Those sessions often ended with his hand being black and blue and swollen. It is safe to say that no one on his team worked harder in the off-season than he did.

 Tryouts came and he made the team but signs for a shot at the starting job were not good from day 1. He never caught the kids that were projected starters and was usually relegated to catching the kids that weren’t going to play a whole lot. Despite all this he continued to work hard in practice and work with the coaches (not his High School Coaches) after practice. His attitude remained positive and he continued to find ways to truly be a part of the team. After three games of not playing he finally got his shot and made the most of it, caught well and got a hit but still got pulled late in the game. Several days later he spoke to the coaches and asked them why he was pulled. Respectfully he challenged their decision and advocated for himself.

 Even though it doesn’t look like the season is going to work out the way he would have liked there is so much positive to take away from this. Many of us work to achieve a specific goal and are disappointed if we do not reach that goal. Some of us will resent the work and the effort that we put in if the goal is not attained; but not him. Ask him and he will tell you that it was worth every minute. With a smile on his face he will tell you that he is better than he was a year ago. There is no droop of his head as he tells you he will not stop working and that he will continue to improve. There is still a spring in his step as he trots out to warm up the left fielder or is asked to warm the pitcher up when the regular catcher is not ready,  because that is what you do to help the team.

His goals were simple but the end result wasn’t. All he wanted to do was be a better baseball player what happened was he became a better person. In a few years baseball might not matter but the lessons of hard work and perseverance will. Learning how to advocate for yourself in a strong but respectful way is a skill that some of us never learn and are often afraid to use. Being able to find the humor in a tough situation will get you through the hard times we all have times. He may not be a star on the field but he can lead my team and my business anytime.

Ken Abrahams

The post Setting Goals and Reaching Unexpected Ones appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

So much has been written about the events that occurred both at and after the Boston Marathon by people far more articulate than I. What could my voice add to the conversation? There was, for me, a feeling of hypocrisy since I have never been an ardent fan of the Boston Marathon. More accurately, I have never really followed the sport of marathon or distance running and can name very few if any of the winners in the last few years. As a result, I was not going to write about what happened last week. Texts, e-mails, calls and Facebook messages drove home the point that people did care and were concerned.

 As many of you know we are located outside of the city of Boston, about 12 miles to the south. We were nowhere near any of the events that occurred that day or in the manhunt that followed. Our staff, friends, and clients are all safe. You cannot live in this area and not be affected by what happened. The pictures of the city on Friday with the streets deserted are images I won’t soon forget. It is impossible still to turn on the news or listen to the radio without hearing about this still unfolding story. We are national news whether we want to be or not. Luckily we are a strong city with good people and friends across the country. A good friend from Florida that ran in 2008 has already put in a request for a number in 2014 because she feels she needs to be here to support the other runners, the city and the first responders.

 Few people realize this, but the Boston Marathon is probably this country’s largest single fundraising event. Each year thousands of the runners both with and without numbers are running to raise both money and awareness for hundreds of worthwhile causes. Stand on the route anywhere and you will be amazed at the number of runners coming by with shirts for a myriad of causes hospitals, cancer research treatment and support organizations, juvenile diabetes, aids awareness and the list goes on. They run for those that can’t and some run to honor those that have helped them. For many of them the marathon itself is the culmination of months of serious training. For others it is the realization of a lifelong dream. Regardless of why they do it they will tell you that crossing the finish line is special and incredibly emotional.

 Often it is at or near the finish line that many of the groups that people are running for are gathered. It is there that many of the children that are undergoing treatment for a wide range of illnesses are standing, waiting to catch a glimpse of the runner that they have been paired with to cross the line. They are eager to find them and thank them for their effort and to share a hug or a simple pat on the shoulder. Knowing that there were so many innocent men, women, and children in the area, makes this heinous act even more egregious. The Boston Marathon is truly an international event. Runners from all over the globe come to what is often referred to as the Grand Daddy of them all. It is also one of the truly apolitical events of its size and scope held annually. Along the route you see well-wishers with signs urging on not only the runner or runners they know but all of the participants. People spend hours slicing oranges or making bags of G.O.R.P that they hand to friends and strangers alike. Thousands take the day off from work to volunteer to hand out water, man first aid stations, work various check points and clean up garbage.

 No matter what happens in the future, this event will never be the same. In the following years security will be heightened here and at other events, people will be more on edge and some afraid to go to or support the Marathon. For others it will be a painful reminder of lost or maimed loved one and lives forever changed. There will be changes but the Marathon will go on. It has to go on. It does too much good.

 Thanks to all of you that have sent wishes our way they are appreciated. Thanks to all those that showed incredible bravery that day in the face of incredible cowardice, our thoughts are with the families of the victims and those facing a long road of recovery. We look forward to April of 2014 where the city will show its strength and pride.

-Ken Abrahams

The post Thoughts About the Marathon appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

There are so many GREAT venues and each of them has their own special thing that makes them perfect for your event.  Every event is different and before you search for the venue, you want to first decide on your event goals are. Is your event; an educational meeting, a networking event, a FUN theme party, a sit down event for awards etc. You want to consider location, parking, public transportation access, traffic flow, and time of year. Knowing more about your event needs before going to site visits will help both you and your event managers to find the best place for that event.

Here are just some of the things I always look at when choosing a venue.

• ·         Is it the right size not only to fit your guests, but all the other elements you are putting into the event. Such as stage entertainment, décor, catering, special lighting…

• ·         If it is for a speaking program do all guest have clear line of sight to the speaker?

• ·         Does it fit your event goal or purpose?

• ·         How far does your group have to travel to get there?

• ·         Will there be traffic during the travel time?

• ·         Are there appropriate accommodations nearby?

• ·         Is there enough parking for the number of cars you expect?

• ·         What challenges might this venue present during the season of the year you are having the event?

• ·         How easy is the load-in for any element you might want to bring in? Take a look during the site visit. Also ask if there are any restrictions in reference to the loading docks etc.?

• ·         Is the AV in house or can you bring in your own?

• ·         Does the venue have Wi-Fi?

• ·         Is there a preferred caterer and preferred vendor list or can I bring in someone I already use?

• ·         Is the date free?

• ·         If I want to come in early are there fees?

• ·         If it is facility with multiple rooms always ask what other events they have going on at the same time.

• ·         How many bathrooms do you have and where are they? Always use them on a site visit.

• ·         Does it have the appropriate electrical needs for your event elements?

• ·         If it is an outdoor venue or park, ask about permits and trash removal, as well as tenting and rentals. Do they take care of all that?

When I started in this field over 20 years ago I asked few questions. Now, with every site visit, I find more to ask about. I always find that the more questions you ask, the better prepared you are to make the right venue choice for your event. As an event producer for FUN Enterprises, Inc. I often go on site visits with our clients as a second pair of eyes, especially if the event will have many elements in it. Never be afraid to ask your vendors to be part of the selection process, it might save you headaches and money down the road.

AC Anders

Event Specialist

Photos from the New England Aquarium

The post Picking a Venue? Make sure you ask the right questions. appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

For the record I do not like to receive recognition and accolades for what I do but I enjoy recognizing others. I am not a fan of giving everyone that participates a ribbon or a trophy. (Before you vilify me there are exceptions to this rule.)  Nor do I believe that in youth sports we shouldn’t keep score, the only group that not keep the score works with is the parents. Ask a six year old which team is winning at a T-Ball game and trust me they know. Ask that same kid a half an hour after that game who won and most of the time he / she could care less. As they get older they do care and for some, losing is a motivating factor. It pushes them to get better.

Over the years I have played lots of sports and frankly struggled with most of them but it pushed me harder to improve OR it convinced me that I needed to try a different sport. My baseball and wrestling careers were not long lived. As a matter of fact I held a dubious distinction in South Bend Indiana for being pinned the fastest in a wrestling match, 8 seconds. As I got off the mat my coach had his face in his hands trying to contain the laughter and failing miserably. Although embarrassing it is a great conversation piece and has been for forty years. It made me realize that Wrestling was not for me. When I went to High School I tried Lacrosse instead and I proved to be okay at that.

Failure is a part of life and an incredible teacher. My failures have often meant more to me than my successes. Whether in sports or in business, failing makes me want to succeed even more. It pushes me to be better. Thomas Edison was once asked about his many failures to get the light bulb to work, his response: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  Thankfully Edison did not give up.

I am not so optimistic as Edison. I do look at things in my life and career as failures or mistakes. Fortunately, I also look at them as teachable moments and try and learn the lesson that has been put before me. These failures are part of who I am and are the foundation of who I can and will become. What I want to become is the best and not for an award or an accolade but that is who I am. Trophies are something I don’t need to validate who I am and I certainly don’t want one just for showing up and participating. So please keep the trophy for someone that needs it or better yet for someone that has truly earned it.

The post You can keep that trophy. appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

For this weeks blog we decided to do something a little different and let you take a look at what they had to say about the visit. Here is a link to the article they posted  http://clambakeco.com/blog/Fun-Enterprises. Remember if you need any kind of catering or a Clambake contact our friends Brian and Mickey at B&M Catering www.clambakeco.com.

The post Fun Times at Fun Enterprises appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

Q. How long have you worked at Fun Enterprises?

A. My first job with FUN was when I was 13 years old. Next year I will have been working for them for officially half of my life! But I have been full time with the company off and on between attending college since graduating from High School in 2006.

Q. How did you get involved with FUN?

A. You could say I was born into the company. My aunt, Donna, has worked for FUN for the past twenty-something years. When she needed someone to help with Sand Art 12 years ago I never could have guessed it would lead to such an opportunity. One of the things I love about this company is how personal and tight knit it is. I don’t think there is a member of my family, including my husband, who hasn’t worked for FUN.

Q. What is your favorite part of the job?

A. My favorite part of the job is that I never do the same thing twice. Each day I learn something new and each job is different from the last. You can do the same program 100 times, and I have, and it will never be exactly the same twice. There is always a new venue, new group of people, and new theme. I also love the connection we make with our clients. Many of them even work for us to make some extra money during the holidays. It’s nice to genuinely care about the people you work for and with and to have those feeling reciprocated.

Q. What do you do to relax? Any hobbies or interests?

A.I love to bake! I also decorate cakes. It’s funny because the baking relaxes me but the decorating has the opposite effect. It’s not that it’s stressful but it definitely gets your adrenaline going when you have to create something that will be on display at someone’s wedding. I really am my toughest critic.

Q. Do you have a favorite program?

A. I have to say I really enjoy all of our programs but I suppose I like the green screen photos the best. People are always so amazed with the process. They get so excited to see themselves in all of the different backgrounds we offer.

Q. Where is the best place you have visited while on tour?

A. I have a few favorites when I am on tour. I love the Swan Creek Candle Company in Swanton, OH, the Flatwoods Factory Outlets in Sutton, WV and the Warm Glow Candle outlet in Centerville, IN. But my all-time favorite pit stop is Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. It’s usually on the way home and you can go on the ride and get a free piece of chocolate! Parking is free for the first hour or two so it is a fun and inexpensive way to break up the drive.

Q. What is one thing about you that you would like everyone to know?

A. I actually found the college I attended while working for FUN. I was at the Post Grad Party for Manchester High School working Antique Photos. When we loaded into Manchester Community College we had to take the service elevator through the Culinary Arts Center. That is how I decided to go to school there.

Samantha Drake

The post Working for FUN- Behind the orange shirt with Samantha Drake appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

Next to your desk you have a reusable recycled bag filled with flyers, hand-outs, triangle highlighters, USB keys, a key chain that has the world’s smallest computer mouse attached to it and a notebook full of notes. That or you’ve opened up your Evernote account and realized how many notes, ideas, questions, and strategies you’ve heard about from the sessions you’ve attended and quickly close it to handle the 50+ e-mail messages, 10 voice mails, and desk full of Post-It to-dos.

“I don’t have time for this yet. Let me get settled then I’ll go through the conference stuff.”

A day goes by, “Ugh, I have to handle this mini-crisis first. Let me get this settled then I’ll go through the conference stuff.”

It’s Friday. “You know, let me tackle this on Monday when I have a fresh start. I need to give my brain a rest and recover from the traveling. Let me get that settled then I’ll go through the conference stuff.”

Monday comes and so do a new round of e-mails, voicemails, and to-dos. All of a sudden you are in April and then all to quickly May with graduations and Little League Games and School field days, then June with Orientations and hiring new staff from all of the recent college grads, July with vacations, and September you realize that bag in the corner with a layer of dust hasn’t been touched.

Here’s the thing – whenever it is you do decide to digest, decipher, and discuss what you’ve learned I have three simple tips you should follow.

1. You need to STOP


Seriously. Stop. That amazing orientation or team building idea that involved Twitter, balloons, a scavenger hunt, and the faculty or Corporate Officers in grass skirts cheering students and staff on sounded great in the hotel conference room but, stop. Stop before you share it. Stop before you send that e-mail saying, “I heard about this great idea, we should do…? STOP. Why? Because…

2. You need to reassess


You are stopping because you need to get off your conference high and really think about what works for YOUR campus or business. That huge university with the 5-tiered leadership program that includes off-site retreats and on-campus ropes course training complete with faculty mentors and athletic coaches worked for that campus culture. An Interdepartmental Pot Luck Dinner at a small business worked for the presenters but how do you accomplish that with a staff of 900 at 4 different locations. Look at the structure and the purpose of the program to find the main idea, then reassess what aspects of it would work for you. You may have just heard about a recipe that makes the most amazing walnut-chocolate chip cookies but your organization or group has someone with a nut allergy. This means you have to adjust and see how you can make it work which brings me to…

3. You need to revamp


That great idea with the enormous budget? Subtract the enormous budget and all you are left with is a great idea. Revamp the plan /program you heard about to fit your situation. Find the aspects that worked really well and could be easily replicated without major cost. Did they have an interesting approach to marketing? Did they tap new resources that also happen to be at your disposal? Did they share a tactic that could work with your organizational politics with a few tweaks? Start thinking how the ideas could be applied to your business or campus, not how the programs can be regurgitated and re-manufactured.

What makes me a pro at this? Nothing. I simply have been lucky enough to go to a lot of major conferences early in my career and have come back to campus bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to change the world only to realize, what works at XYZ institution isn’t going to work at ABC institution.

When I do go to another conference I won’t be looking for programs, proposals, handouts, or how-tos. I’m going to be looking for ideas.

Ideas are like recipes. There is always a substitute for an ingredient to make it work for your diet, your guests, your audience; it is just a matter of finding it and that’s my favorite thing to do.

-Joe Ginese

Joe Ginese currently serves Borough of Manhattan Community College as the new and first year student experience specialist. His is MBA trained with an entrepreneurial mind and an education focus. Read more about him here: http://www.joeginese.com/joe

The post Avoiding the Conference Hangover appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

Q. How long have you worked at Fun Enterprises?

A. In July it will be 9 years.

Q. How did you get involved with FUN?

A. Starting in my sophomore year of college, I worked in the Student Involvement and Leadership Office at Bridgewater State University (then it was a college). While working there, I’d have numerous conversations with Ken Abrahams. The month after graduation, I was still without a job, and FUN was in need of some temporary help. Someone was on vacation, and they needed someone to help answer phones and other remedial office tasks. What started as a week-long venture has turned into a career.

Q. What is your favorite part of the job?

A. Seeing the reaction on people’s faces when I do something really cool in Photoshop.

Q. What do you do to relax? Any hobbies or interests?

A. I am a very social creature. So with my down time, I really try and get out and see my friends and spend time with loved ones.

Q. What is the most interesting thing about working in the office?

A. Well, I am of course.

Q. Do you ever work programs? If so do you have a favorite program or job that you have done?

A. I don’t often work programs, but my favorite jobs have been at colleges during spring weekends, when they have all the inflatables, and food carts, and performers and photo programs, the students really enjoy it, and it reminds me of the FUN I had when I was in school.

Q. What is one thing about you that you would like everyone to know?

A. Everybody knows that the bird is the word.

Mark Gallagher

The post Working for FUN- Behind the Orange Shirt with Mark Gallagher appeared first on Fun Enterprises.

Wine is one of those items that many of us know precious little about. For some it is a passion and their knowledge is endless for others a wine shop is like white noise or information overload. We need a guide to walk us through the shelves and aisles of Merlots, Chardonnay’s, Zinfandels and Sparkling wines. We need a good wine merchant. That individual will take time to ask questions about our needs and will hopefully make good suggestions. Will the wine be served with a meal or is it just to sip with friends? Do we, or the person the wine is intended for, prefer Red or White? Is there a budget that we need or want to stay within? If the individual asks the right questions and makes a good suggestion they will have a customer for a long time.

In many respects our business is very similar to the wine business. Planning an event and purchasing entertainment for many people is something that happens on rare occasions. It is also often purchased for significant and special events; milestone birthdays and anniversaries, retirements, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, graduations, and even weddings. These events are not everyday occurrences and are often planned by people that don’t do this professionally or even on a regular basis. Due to the fact that events like this are often once in a lifetime celebrations, they are also attractive to some less than scrupulous business people who play on the heartstrings of the unsuspecting.

Here is where the sage advice of my friend comes into play. As a consumer, you do not need to know anything about planning and coordinating an event you just need to know good people that do. This is a far less daunting task than you might think. Start with suggestions from friends or families members that have planned celebrations like this. Ask them for a referral or a recommendation, if they were satisfied with the service and the vendor they are usually more than happy to provide you the contact information of the companies they used. If not, there are a few ways that you can evaluate whether a business or individual is a good match for you.

First, trust your instincts. If the individual is talking more than they are listening that is not a good sign. Are they trying to pitch their goods and services or are they really interested in how they can make your event special and memorable for you and your guests? Do you get the sense that they are only concerned with how much you can spend? How long have they been around? Will they provide references if asked? Are they willing to meet with you at no charge to discuss your needs and determine if it is a good fit? What kind of experience does their staff have? All of these will give you a sense as to who they are and if they are a good fit for you. Feel free to call us if you have questions about your event. We pride ourselves on being a resource for people. Our sales staff is knowledgeable, low key and professional with more than 50 years of event planning experience. We love what we do and are happy to answer any questions even if you never spend a dime with us. Why you might ask would we take this approach? We want your event to be a success just like you do. Our name begins with FUN and that is something we hold near and dear to our hearts.

Ken Abrahams

The post Know Your Wine Merchant appeared first on Fun Enterprises.