Wrapping paper
Let me tell you about the making of a happening so simple that it worked really, really well.
Two weeks ago, our main mascot, Brumle, was celebrating his 14th birthday. One of my goals for the 2011 summer season was to put greater focus on all show/special events and raise the quality level of these. Throughout the years that have passed, little have been done to use the birthdays of our bears as a tool in the making magical moments for the guests. I wanted to make a simple event where all guests in all ages could, and would, participate in both the making of the event and in the sharing of the magical moments that would arise during the event. Five days before Brumles birthday, the planning started. At first, I did not know what to do. Then, frustrated as I was, I asked one of my cast members for ideas.
Suprise party, he said.
Twenty seconds after hearing those words, repeating them for myself, I’v got the whole plan figured out:
Brumleline want’s to suprise Brumle on his birthday with a huge suprise party! Therefore, she needs your help! Gather your friends and family, and meet up at the front gate at 12:15PM, and help Brumleline plan the surprise!
Of course the whole event was scripted in advance. By using the rest of the bears, all having presents with them, and presenting the celebration (the story) through them, the guest felt like they took part in the planning. The guests that had shown up for the celebration then hid behind signs, garbage bins, walls and poles. Brumle of course was really surprised and happy to see all the kids jumping out in front of him wishing him happy birthday.
I am incredible proud of my staff. That’s how easy it is to make a successful event for the guests - starring the guests - using only mascots, some music, hundreds of soap bubbles and quite a lot of joy as wrapping paper.
