Great Idea #19: Off the beaten track parties

For some reason, my friends and I frequently come up with lots of really fun party ideas, many of which will never eventuate. Perhaps it's simply because so many of us involved in theatre and we love an opportunity to dress up and show off.

However, it would be great if there was a collection of GOOD party ideas. Not lame ones like "Football party, come in your favourite football colours," but unusual party ideas, like, say, a ladybird party, where everyone must wear black and/ or red and/ or spots.

Even more fun would be to provide a feedback function, where people could rate how their party went, and post photos and tips.

Here are a few ideas we've come up with lately:

-Slinky Pinky party- the trashiest barbie inspired pink outfits you can think of. Trashier the better. If you have a pink trailer in which to hold the party (a la Barbie's trailer), this would be ideal
- Pirate pARty- everyone must talk in a pirate voice, wear a parrot or an eye patch, and preferably amputate a limb. All drinks must include rum, and all food served must include the sound 'AR', such as banARnAR, or pARty pies, or tARcos.
- Asia bling party- Head to toe burberry with ear muffs. Not a single pattern matching on your body, topped off with the world's most enormous earrings. Hello kitty. You get the idea. Serve sushi, mai tais and Japanese slippers.


Get creating the most ridiculous party ideas you can. There's bound to be SOMEONE who loves it and takes it on. Most likely my friends...

Great Idea #16: Kid friendly healthy snacks

Have you ever had one of those 'pop-top' fruit drinks? They're aimed at kids, maybe about 200ml and taste like super strong, overly sweet cordial. They're disgusting, but they appeal to kids because they're more interesting than water, and they have a pop up lid. They appeal to parents because they fit into kids' lunchboxes, and it means their kids are drinking something. Plus, because it says 'fruit' on the front, parents can pretend it's healthy. Well, being a health teacher, I checked out the label. 25% fruit juice, and something like 50% sugar. BAD!

What a great niche market it would be to market healthy food that was appealing to kids. It seems like snack foods are either totally kid friendly (LCMs, etc) or totally boring. Lots of kids are quite happy to eat healthy food, but it needs to be marketed to the kids. Like these pop top drinks. One could EASILY produce water in the same shape bottles, and colour it with natural colours (not sugars), and maybe add a twist of fruit juice to flabour it. Voila. A healthy drink which fits in a lunch box (good for parents) and is bright and flavoured (good for kids). Easy.

Where health food companies are going wrong, I think, is not looking at the existing market. They need to check out what works for the current market leaders, and then, well, rip it off! Lots of the gimmicks can be reproduced with products which are not high in sugar, or with natural flavours and colours. Things like popcorn are really healthy, and kids love them- but the only version available are covoured in coloured sugar, or toffee. It's so easy to tweak.

Come on, health food manufacturers! You're missing out on the sales opportunity of a lifetime!

Great Idea #14: Mobile Kebab Van

I love having nights out on the town. I adore smokey venues, striking up conversations with random strangers while bopping along to loud music, and drinking whatever beer is on tap. While I've never enjoyed clubbing, you can find me at the nearest pub or bar, with a drink in hand and a smile on my face. Kebabs are the perfect end to a night out.

Maybe this is why I don't enjoy house parties as much - no kebab.

BUT.

What if someone started a Mobile Kebab Van business?

Party hosts can call up the Mobile Kebab Van to book a time, date and location, winning the admiration of drunken party-goers. The Mobile Kebab Van would have a guaranteed clientele who are eager for food, but too drunk to walk too far. And, in the same way that Ice Cream Vans play a tune so that little kids can rush out on hot summer days, the Mobile Kebab Van can play a rendition of "I Will Survive" (the ultimate party song) when cruising the streets, so that drunken partyers know when to rush out and get their kebab fix...

I need garlic sauce. NOW.

See you at the next house party!

*** This great idea was originally formulated with Nick and Johnny.

Great Idea #5: Short Story Cafes

I love those cafes that have books shelved on the walls. These are normally the type of cafes that have mismatched chairs and old, over or under-stuffed couches with springs that poke into you. But that's ok- it just means you don't feel bad if you put your feet on the furniture.

Sometimes, if I'm in a cafe alone, I like to pick up a book and browse it. But realistically, one can't commit to a novel over a latte. There's just not enough reading time in a standard cup. But how can you satiate your literary hunger when you're wanting something a little more substantial than your standard trash mag fare?

Some cafes will stock zines (short, personal, handmade magazines), which is fantastic. Zines are great, because they don't demand commitment and often have interesting pictures and short quirky pieces you can read through on the fly. More cafes should have zines. And pay the zine-writers! Zinesters normally work for the love of their art.

Another often under-represented class of writer is the short-story writer, and this is where a beautiful union could occur with cafes. Cafes could commission short story writers to submit pieces, and then have them bound into short story collections to adorn the cafe shelves. Perfect cappucino froth browsing!

But a cafe needn't commit to such expense as publishing and binding. Maybe a short story could be placed on or around tables, perhaps inside the menu, framed at eye level, or slotted into a plastic menu stand. It'd give a unique, friendly vibe to the cafe, allow for stories to be on high rotation, and would mean that even when you get stuck with the crummy table in the back corner by the kitchen door, you can still delight in the personal touch of a new story to keep you company.

Great Idea #4: Cake to Share

Have you ever noticed how cake in cafes and restaurants is simply too big for one human sized person to eat alone? And of course, one is charged accordingly. Can't give away a slice of cake that could feed an entire African nation for mere small change now, could we? Just wouldn't seem right. A veritable insult to Africans everywhere.

Why is this? Sure, it's great to share a slice of cake with a friend, but what about when you can't agree on which cake to choose? Or when you're on your own? It seems quite criminal to order (and pay through the nose for) a large slice of raspberry summer torte, only to leave half of it on the oversized plate.

And so, I feel that there should be options in cake sizings. Perhaps you have a Standard Slice, reasonably priced (say, under $5) and sized for one. But then you offer the economical Share Slice, which is designed for two. Perhaps it's sized at about a Standard slice and a half, and only a few dollars more. Now the cafes will still get their profits, as people love a bargain and will often choose the share slice based on the sheer VALUE. But it means that people like me, who like to have their cake and eat ALL of it too, need not pay to leave any more than the crumbs on their dessert plates.