What is the best day for party bookings online?…. According to our Google Analytics that day is usually Monday!

How many people use tablets (iPads) to book events online?… We are seeing about 11-15% of the site visitors coming in on tablet devices of which Apple’s iPad is the dominant player.  We have seen this stat increase rapidly over the last 6-9 months.

The value of your website and online booking site is dependent upon how people engage with your content on the site and each page specifically. By using Google Analytics, you’ll be able to better evaluate which pages on your site are the most important, and then where to place your focus.

Party Center Software customers are realizing the benefits of online booking each day – specifically, in the mobile device world! We live in a culture that needs information quickly – and in the palm of your hand instantly. How people are booking parties and events for their children, for their organizations is no different! Understanding your customer’s bounce rates (their average time on the site, and individual pages), and the time of day they’re booking parties will increase your awareness of exactly how each customer is engaging with your online booking site.

Google’s own Avinash Kaushik, one of their top analytics experts, has blogged about measuring the effectiveness of your web pages and writes: “My own personal observation is that it is really hard to get a bounce rate under 20%, anything over 35% is cause for concern, 50% (above) is worrying. I stress that this is my personal analysis based on my experience, but hopefully it gives you a feel for what you are shooting for.”

 Want to know how to get your customers booking events online?  Click here to take a demo of our software….

PartyCenterSoftware.com is sponsoring (and attending) the LaserTag 360 event happening right now, August 7th and 8th in Indianapolis.  Another a

mazing event put on by Creative Works (The Wow Effect) to help new and existing lasertag operators.  Right now Jeff Schilling is walking through over 40 people on how to analyze a lasertag or family entertainment facility and its feasibility.

If you ever wanted to know all the details about operations and development of a lasertag anchored or attraction based facility this is the event you need to attend.

For a list of the upcoming LaserTag 360 event click go to their website at www.LaserTag360.com.

Thanks Jeff and CW gang for putting on another ROCKIN event!

The title of this email was intended to catch your attention. With such a sue happy world we MUST do everything we can to protect and insulate ourselves from those “particular” types of attorneys. Most operators would agree that music is a key component to creating the atmosphere and experience we want our customers to have. Using high energy and popular music helps keep people entertained and keep them spending money at our locations.   I know for myself, before the internet radio became popular, we used Sirius Satellite radio, the personal version, to play music at our location. Our customers could choose whatever station they liked in their private areas although we had ones we would not allow to play as there is NO filter on those stations so the words and content were often questionable.

Interesting fact, one of our customers is friends with Right Said Fred out of the UK. You may recall they had the hit song “I’m too sexy”. While the song was a mega hit internationally and in 1992 hit big on the US charts the internet and smart phones were not even in our normal vocabulary. Once smart phones, and the iPhone in particular, hit the scene, the popularity of custom song ring tones exploded. As you can imagine the hook of the I’m Too Sexy song was just too much for the consumer to resist.   Now Right Said Fred makes more in royalties from the ring tone royalties than off the songs rotation when it was popular in the US (according to our source).

Now on to the heart of this email. Being SUED… I’m sure many of you know that artists and musicians make their livings mostly off of royalties from when their songs are played on the radio or on TV.   As consumers we can listen to the radio, play our CD or iPods and even play music off the internet for personal use. The businesses that provide those tunes for us to listen to are the ones who are responsible for the royalties. The key to this entire equation, and why so many people are getting sued, is that if you are using a CD, iPod, Internet Radio, Satellite radio (Personal or home subscription) or playing the local radio station in your facility you are BREAKING THE LAW. You are not allowed to play any song or portion of a song requiring a royalty payment in a commercial setting without paying the appropriate organization like ASCAP or BMI. While the chances of someone coming into your center and suing you is remote, it is happening all over the country in other industries. Larger franchise locations or chain stores are being hit with lawsuits for playing local radio stations or using cd or iPods. Some people say “But I paid for the CD or I paid for the song online”. Even if you purchase the CD or music online this does not exempt you from paying a royalty when playing it in your facility in a commercial setting. The reason is that you are granted personal use of that song and can listen in your personal office or car but not in a commercial setting. You need to first check with your attorney on what your government regulations are and then find a service that will pay those royalties for you.

How to protect you and your business….

One such product I found is called ControlPLAY (http://www.ControlPLAY.com). They are also known as Bowling Music Network for those in the bowling business. One of the best features or functions that they have is not just to play the music or music videos for you, but they offer “PARENT APPROVED” stations so that all questionable language and video content is edited out. This is to assure that you can play the hottest music without coming under fire from the parents concerned about the content of the music. Later in the night, you can switch to the regular station when the younger crowd is gone.

Obviously ControlPLAY and the other commercially available music or music video systems will pay any and all royalties that occur while using their service. This allows you a care free and potentially lawsuit free existence when it comes to playing music and music videos in your facility.

The biggest feature that comes in the ControlPLAY suite actually has nothing to do with royalty payments at all. This feature is the personalized marketing feature. You can set audio or even full video marketing commercials inside your own personal radio station. That means you can promote upcoming events or even when a meal time hits you can suggest that they get a mouthwatering burger with gourmet French fries… The customers have no clue they are listening to a personalized station except that all the commercial breaks are focused solely on promoting sales within your own company.

The reason for this article was not to scare you but just to make you aware that you might possibly be violating the law and putting yourself in a situation that is not necessary. Find a solution that will pay your royalties and one that will help you filter the content of what you are delivering to your customers. This will release a burden off of your plate while allowing you to create an amazing atmosphere for your customers.

FYI Similar laws also apply to television and sports games shown in your faciilty.   Some people try to save a few dollars by paying for TV or Satellite TV as if they were a home or personal account as often the commercial TV accounts are two times higher than a personal account. Why are they higher? They get charged more and have to pay different royalties when being rebroadcast in a commercial setting.

So I don’t get sued…..I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice. This is an opinion and I do not claim any of the above information to be factual or without error. Consult your own attorney and local government for the rules and regulations you must follow in regards to paying royalties or using a service that will pay the royalties for you…

No this is not a joke… Gift cards are DANGEROUS! Why you ask? At the IAAPA FEC Summit earlier this year, Gregg Borman, Senior VP Palace Entertainment, warned the audience about how unused gift cards or gift certificates will soon be seized by our desperate and over reaching state governments. The first state to try this move was New Jersey. Last year their law makers approved the seizure of any unused gift card or travels checks that had went unused for more than two or three years. While a federal court blocked their bid to seize these assets from businesses, it is only a matter of time before they are allowed to take your unused gift card or gift certificate funds. New Jersey is attempting to balance their out of control budget by taking the estimated $80 million in unused gift cards in the state. The fiscal ramifications to the businesses that lose these cash reserves will be catastrophic and the short-sided view by the state government will send shock waves through the already hostile business environment.

WHAT CAN I DO? Borman in a recent meeting with Party Center Software suggests that each facility contact their attorney to find out how to protect their funds from being seized. Borman says his in-house counsel had suggested the first step is to completely remove the word GIFT from the product name. They will most likely be going to a more generic “play card” or “game card” name. The theory behind this move is that if they can show that the monies paid were for the purchase of a “play card” then the fund were fully used and allocated to the play card and most likely will not be subject to the unredeemed gift card laws. On the accounting side you will need to verify and check with your accountant as this may change how you account for those cards and the value on them within your books. You may be requiring to show them no longer as a liability but now as an asset which can change your tax implications.

An additional step is to provide a policy for those play cards and have that policy printed on the back of the card as well as posted on your website and on location. This policy may include details about how the card value can be exchanged for other goods and services and also to put on an expiration date for the card. Under certain state laws, such as California, if you issue physical gift certificates as opposed to gift cards, they may never expire and are consider identical to cash. This makes is difficult to balance your books with years of unredeemed gift certificates. All in all the actual Gift Card is not dangerous but the fact that a state can, by the barrel of a political gun aka threat of prison, seize your hard earned cash right from your bank account makes them a huge liability. So this is just a warning to those of you who still issue gift cards or gift certificates. Get with your attorney and find out how you can start to transition your gift card program to a play card or other system and start protecting the hard earned revenue from the hands of often over reaching government.



Water wars are taking shape in greater Northeast Tarrant County.The city-owned NRH {-2}O in North Richland Hills is adding a $1.7 million ride, and construction is ongoing at the soon-to-open $10 million Hawaiian Falls in Roanoke.And not too far away, in Grapevine, construction continues on a water park that is expected to open this summer for resort guests at the Gaylord Texan.The battle for water park patrons is on.Roanoke City Manager Jimmy Stathatos said that despite the number of local water parks, Roanoke should have no problem drawing big crowds, considering its location on the Denton-Tarrant county border. The city has already established itself as a dining destination.”Hawaiian Falls will have one of the largest water features in North America in terms of the amount of people it will hold — more than 2,000 at one time,” he said. “I think everyone’s lucky there are so many choices.”The main reason water parks are popular is simple.”Mainly because it’s hot,” said Aleatha Ezra, spokeswoman for the World Waterpark Association.That’s especially true in North Texas, where we eclipsed 100 degrees 21 times last summer.Ezra said attendance at North America’s roughly 1,000 water parks is in the neighborhood of 80 million.

The Viper NRH {-2}O puts an average of $4 million a year into North Richland Hills’ coffers, city spokeswoman Stephanie Hee said. The city adds an attraction every other year or so to help ensure that the park keeps bringing in about 250,000 guests each summer.This year, it’s a doozy. The Viper is a family-oriented thrill ride, Hee said.”It takes four riders instead of two, and you’re all facing one another so you can see the excitement on their faces while you’re riding,” she said.Hee said the Viper is a 430-foot slide that’s 43.2 feet high and ends with a 20-foot-wide “mega tube” where the rafts slosh back and forth before they slip out across a pool. It should be finished before the park opens next month, Hee said.The Viper will be the first one in North America, said Lesley Baker, senior marketing manager with WhiteWater West Industries. Other Vipers are being built in China and Dubai.The slide will be the first major addition to the park since 2009, when Beachside Bay opened with a white-sand beach, sand volleyball court and pool. The balance of $2.1 million borrowed last year for NRH {-2}O improvements is destined for a two-story food services building with a covered pavilion and an observation deck overlooking the wave pool and volleyball games.”So far we’re doing good,” Hee said. “Hopefully we won’t have inclement weather to delay construction.”

In Roanoke, Hawaiian Falls, which already has water parks in Mansfield, Garland and The Colony, will operate the Roanoke-owned park under a 40-year lease.Officials expect the park to generate $200,000 in sales tax revenue in its first year, said Debra Wallace, assistant city manager and chief financial officer.Hawaiian Falls spokesman David Alvey said the park will include “the biggest and the best, the world’s largest water playground.”Mega WaterWorld will be six stories tall and have a dozen slides coming off it, Alvey said.”We designed it for families to be able to play together on it,” he said.The lowest level is designed for toddlers, Alvey said.”This ground-floor level also has water wheels and interactive features,” he said. “The first level has small slides for preschoolers to slide down with their siblings or parents. As you venture higher up into the play structure, the slides and features are meant to appeal to older kids and their parents.”The park will also have a 16,000-square-foot wave pool and lazy river, Alvey said. But he expects people to line up for two “dumping buckets” that send 500 to 1,000 gallons at a time cascading onto them.

Private Parks, While NRH {-2}O is expanding and Hawaiian Falls is coming, other privately owned parks will certainly draw their share of water lovers.Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine was built as an indoor water park resort and features nine huge slides, six pools, a water fort and a lazy river that are ensconced in the 80,000-square-foot Bear Track Landing. Resort guests are protected from the weather year-round in an environment that’s kept at 84 degrees, and the water is heated as well. Summer guests may also enjoy the 84,000-square-foot Raccoon Lagoon outdoor water park.Just down the street is the Gaylord Texan, which plans to opens its water park for clients this summer, spokeswoman Stacey Rendelman said. Attractions include a 10-acre pool with a 600-foot lazy river and a water tower that spills from 200 feet in the air. Resort guests also enjoy a 6,000-square-foot lagoon, a 27-foot-tall winding water slide, a two-person zip line, three horseshoe hot pools and sun decks with seating for 1,200.Arlington’s Hurricane Harbor is still the granddaddy of water parks and has dozens of slides and other features that attract so many people on hot days that — from cars zipping by on Interstate 20 — the towers and pools look like stirred-up fire ant mounds.But its challengers are gaining on it.This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Terry Evans, 817-390-7620

Read more:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/12/2996021/new-dfw-water-attractions-aim.html#ixzz1JWbVMEtd

The founders of the Blake, Kymberly and George Rapier Charitable Trust donated $2 million on Friday to Morgan’s Wonderland, the largest gift from an individual or family made to the theme park to date.
George and Kym Rapier had planned to contribute a check for $1 million to Morgan’s Wonderland, a park designed for families with special-needs children and adults. However, Kym Rapier pulled out a pen and crossed out the $1 million and wrote in the new amount for $2 million, much to the surprise of Morgan’s Wonderland founder Gordon Hartman.

To commemorate the donation, Hartman renamed the park’s 575-seat amphitheater the Rapier Starlight Amphitheater.
“We owe Dr. and Mrs. Rapier our deepest gratitude for their incredibly generous gift to Morgan’s Wonderland,” Hartman says. “This will enable us to expand programs and services for those with special needs in a safe, inclusive, uplifting environment. We look forward to many, many performances and special events at the Rapier Starlight Amphitheater.”
The Rapiers established the Blake, Kymberly and George Rapier Charitable Trust in 2006. Since then, the trust has donated a $1 million or more annually to causes promoting education, stay-in-school initiatives, homeless pets, needy animals and seniors. In 2011 alone, the trust donated more than $17 million to San Antonio causes.

George Rapier is the founder WellMed Medical Management Inc., a San Antonio-based company that provides health care to seniors. WellMed was bought out by UnitedHealthcare.

Full Article Here

The new standards, which were set in 2004 to give builders time to plan, affect amusement parks, movie theaters, event venues, hotel rooms and other facilities.

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

MURRIETA––The wading pool and plastic slide can stay stored in the garage this summer with a water park set to open by late May.

Construction for the first phase of the new water park going in at Mulligan Family Fun Center began Tuesday, March 1.

The project is set to be completed in five phases. This first phase, costing $1.5 million, consists of a 104-foot wide water play area, containing five slides, multi-level platforms, interactive aquatic controls, vibrant colors, spray nozzles and a Big Splash Pumping Station. Mulligan’s hopes to have it open by Memorial Day weekend.

Below the structure, however, will be a water run-off zone rather than a pool. The area will have a full staff of water attendants.

The structure will replace their Blaster Boat attraction, which is now closed indefinitely. However, none of the other attractions are going to be affected, and remain open, assured Scott Agajanian, group sales and marketing manager at Mulligan’s Family Fun Center.

Phase one also includes the addition of bathrooms with showers and locker rooms. This gives guests a place to get cleaned and dried off, especially if they want to enjoy other attractions after playing in the water.

Use of the water area will be included in a day pass, so guests have the option to enjoy all of the attractions. “There’s nothing more fun than going on the go-carts soaking wet, especially on a hot day,” said Agajanian.

Lounge chairs will be set up around the structure for guests who want to relax in the sun; cabanas will also be available for those who prefer to lounge in the shade. Plans to move concessions closer to the water area are in progress, and this area will allow for parties and events.

The play area is ultimately designed for children ages 3 to 13, but Agajanian says he is excited to go on the slides too. A water park Advertisement

DMM Note Investors ]gives another option for a family outing, which is needed in the growing area.

Comments left on different online articles about the water park, on other local news websites, show that residents are excited about the addition, especially for their families.

Summers in Murrieta, according to the Weather Channel website, average around 92 degrees in June, go to 98 degrees in July and August, and then back down to 93 in September.

It is not uncommon, however, for temperatures to go past 100 degrees. This climate not only requires a water park, according Agajanian, it also provides a long season for a water park since weather is warm almost year round. The water attractions would be closed during the winter months he added.

In past years a water park was planned to open in Temecula. Clearwater Waterpark Development of Orange County was behind the proposed park, Splash Canyon.

There are water parks in neighboring counties and in Palm Springs, but none that serve Southwest Riverside County.

Mulligan Family Fun Center can put in the park quickly, said Agajanian. Currently with the economy many amusement parks are not expanding, but Mulligan’s feels it can provide the anticipated park.

The timeline for the park’s completion is estimated at five years. The finished project will include more slides and a lazy river, a round pool of continuously moving water guests can float around in on inner tubes.

The only change that is being thought about is downsizing from two mini-golf courses to one course.

The center will keep all its other activities, and the inside area will remain untouched, said Agajanian. They will just have a water park too.

Eventually though, it is possible guests will be able to pay for admission to either the Family Fun Center or the water park, after it becomes a place one can spend an entire day at, said Agajanian.