May 9, 2025 • 19 mins
Tired of missing your own parties while stuck behind the grill or frantically refilling ice buckets? Christine Lanza, founder of Party Professionals, shares the solution to the number one party-hosting problem: the host never gets to enjoy the celebration.
Christine's journey into professional event support began as a side gig while working full-time as a single mom. What started as weekend serving quickly evolved into a comprehensive business addressing a universal need. "It's overwhelming when you're doing it yourself," Christine explains, pinpointing the struggle many hosts face. Her company now boasts a team of 30 staff members ready to transform any gathering from stressful to enjoyable.
Unlike traditional caterers, Party Professionals offers flexible service options that complement your existing plans. They'll work alongside your preferred vendors – or recommend trusted partners from Christine's extensive network – handling everything from setup and breakdown to serving and bartending. They even provide skilled grillers who'll man your backyard barbecue while you mingle with guests. For summer's busy entertaining season of graduations, communions, and Memorial Day gatherings, this support proves invaluable.
The emotional reward of Christine's work resonates throughout her business philosophy: "Nine times out of 10, it's a happy outcome. You're making people happy, and that is priceless." With services available throughout Northern New Jersey, parts of New York, and nearby Pennsylvania, Party Professionals creates space for hosts to create meaningful memories instead of frantically managing logistics. Visit partyprofessionalsllc.com or call 201-424-7828 to transform your next event into an experience you'll actually get to enjoy.
Party Professionals LLC
Christine Lanza
(201) 424-7828
Partyprofessionalsnj1@outlook.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Doug Drohan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hey, good morning everyone.
Well, it could be the afternoonor evening depending on when
you're listening to this, butwelcome to another episode of
the Good Neighbor Podcastbrought to you by the Bergen
Neighbors Media Group.
Today we are joined byChristine Lanza.
Christine is the owner of PartyProfessionals.
She is a party professionalextraordinaire, for want of a
(00:32):
better word.
Welcome to the show, christine.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Thank you, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, you know it's getting to be that time of year.
You know we're into May andit's graduation time coming up,
it's Holy Communions andMemorial Day and all these other
reasons why or excuses if weneed one to have a party.
Wedding season usually kicks inaround now.
(00:58):
So I think this is a great timeto talk to you about what party
professionals is all about.
So why don't you just give us alittle rundown of what you guys
do and we can talk a little bitabout you and what your passion
is?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Great.
So we basically do everythingparty and to further dive into
that, it's basically when youhave a party and you're the host
or you know you're in charge,you're coordinating it all.
It's very, you know, cumbersome.
At times it becomes a littlebit challenging.
We come in and we take it overfrom you so that you can go and
(01:35):
enjoy your party with yourguests and just be able to relax
and not worry if the cateringis coming on time or if things
are set up.
If the catering is coming ontime or if things are set up,
you're running out of a certaindish of food or the ice is
melted in the cooler and itneeds to be replenished.
Guests are coming in, you needto take their coats I mean,
usually in the summertime,that's not an issue but in
(01:58):
general, just things that youneed to tend to as someone
hosting a party or event.
So that's kind of where we comein and, um, we just do it all.
We come in and make sure thateverything stays, you know, up
to par and you know deal withthe guest and kind of just make
sure that you're enjoying yourparty.
(02:18):
That's really the bottom lineright.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
So you, you guys are doing, you're helping uh, set up
, break down and then you'reserving.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And then cleaning as you go.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
You're not bringing the food right, You're not
catering the food.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
We don't cater the food, but I work with caterers
and chefs.
I have relationships with othervendors that are phenomenal, so
we work with them as well.
So it depending on the client,customer need um we could
recommend that.
Or again, if they do their own,which is fine too, we just come
in and take over from thereyeah.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So if I came here and said, hey, I'm gonna have an
oktoberfest party, uh, september, because anybody who knows
about Oktoberfest it's not inOctober and I said to you, hey,
I want to have an Oktoberfestparty, who would you recommend
as my caterer to bring the food?
But then you guys would help mewith everything else.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Correct, yes Right.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, and listen for anybody who's ever hosted a
party, especially outdoors.
And I've done this, and thereason why I bring up
Oktoberfest is because I've hadOktoberfest parties and I go out
and I buy all the Wurst and allthese different things from the
German butcher and you know thebeer, and then I'm playing
music, you know, and we're doinggame, but I'm at the grill the
whole time.
(03:40):
So you know it's, it's a um,and you kind of miss the whole
party unless your friends arehanging out with you at the
grill.
So I totally get it.
You know, makes sense to havesomebody handle that stuff for
you.
And then, certainly, breakingdown, you know, when the party's
over, that's everybody leavesand you're like, oh my god, look
at this mess I gotta deal with.
So, yes, how did you get intothis business?
(04:03):
Like how?
You know what prompted you tosay I want to find, you know,
found.
I want to be the founder of, ofa party, you know event company
.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Well it's.
It's funny, my whole life, um,you know, with family friends,
always been.
You know everybody has partiesand events in their life.
It's a constant for everybody.
And you know I was actuallylooking to supplement my income.
You know, I got divorced andI'm a single mom and a friend
(04:33):
had recommended to me to doserving on the weekends because
I work a full-time job.
I started doing that and betweendoing that and meeting
different people and then my ownexperiences with my family, I
realized that there is a needfor this service, that people do
need help.
It's overwhelming when you'redoing it yourself.
And you know it's definitelysomething I'm passionate about,
(04:57):
because it's usually nine timesout of 10, a happy outcome.
So you're making people happyand that is something that is
priceless to me and that's kindof really why I do it, because I
want to see people happy at theend and say you know, you guys
really helped a lot and I wasable to sit with my family and
(05:18):
you know I have an elderlyparent and you know I have to
tend to them and I also have tohave this party for a graduation
and for my daughter and I'm notable to do all these things and
because of you and your team,you know, I was able to actually
sit there and enjoy it, and itjust makes people happy.
It's bringing people together.
So it's really the passion thatI have for that and that's why
(05:40):
I do it.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I'm a fan of Mad Men.
You know, obviously, myprofession advertising and I was
watching this clip.
Actually, you could Google.
Mad Men, what every ad salesprofessional should learn from
don draper and he is this onepitch where he's talking to a
tobacco company and it's the 60sand the surgeon general has
(06:05):
just said you know the, the fda,the ftc said you can't make
health claims with cigarettesanymore.
You know they used to claimthat cigarettes were good for
your health.
Um, so he, he finds a way to.
You know the.
The owner says that you know howdo you make cigarettes and he's
like you know we toast it.
He's like that's it, it'stoasted.
But he said, at the end of theday, advertising is about one
(06:27):
thing happiness, and I think alot of things that, um, you know
we want.
As a business owner, whetherit's your business or it's a car
salesman or a realtor orsomebody who's in home
improvement you want thatreaction from your client to be
happy.
You know this party that you'replanning, whether it's, you
(06:58):
know, an outdoor just thing withyour neighbors, or it's more of
an event like your kidscommunion, or you know it's a
big birthday party.
Whatever it is, I mean it's it.
You want it to go off.
Um, you know I don't want tosay flawlessly, but you want
everybody to have a good timeand you want to walk away with
say man, that was a great night,so you know, exactly, yeah you
guys provide.
You could even provide.
(07:18):
Uh.
So when I, when I talked aboutbeing at the grill, so say I
don't get a caterer but I do buyall the verst and or burgers or
you know, frankfurters orwhatever, uh, you could actually
have somebody who could grillfor me yes, we do that as well,
that's a a big demand in thesummertime especially, and I
(07:39):
actually did one.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I've become a very good griller myself.
My dad has been grillingforever.
And you know, I kind of had agood teacher.
I prefer more to do theplanning of events and the
coordination of things like that.
But if the need comes and Idon't have one of my staff, I'll
jump in and do the grilling.
And I can tell you peoplereally, really appreciate that,
(08:03):
because I don't think anybodywants to stand there for a
couple hours and miss all thefun of their event and party
because they're grilling eventhough they have to feed their
guests and they want to do that.
It's just not, you know,they're just stuck there and
they can't do that.
It's just not, you know,they're just stuck there and
they can't do anything else.
So that's really a big, big onefor us is grilling.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
There's a new Netflix , I'll call it.
It's not a series, it's like adocumentary.
It's called Chef's TableLegends.
So maybe Chef's Table is aseries and this one's called
Legends and it's a new series.
I guess it's a series.
So, and it's a new series, Iguess it's a series.
(08:49):
So they have different types ofthemes.
This one's four parts and theydo like an hour's worth of
feature on Jamie Oliver.
Alice Waters who is you?
One of his restaurants, whichis called Bizarre out in Beverly
Hills years ago, and it's thismolecular gastronomy.
You know these things that it'scalled the Caesar salad, but
(09:10):
it's things you wouldn't think.
It's sort of like Willy Wonka.
You pop it in your mouth You'relike, oh my God, I didn't know
it could taste like that.
But he's originally from Spain,hence the name andres and my
accent when I try to try tospeak spanish.
But the reason I bring it up isthere's a lot of scenes where
he's got a huge grill and a hugepaella pan.
But even when it's not evenpaella and there's so many
(09:31):
people out in this scene of youknow, helping with the grill and
whatever all these things thatthey're grilling, I was saying
to my wife was like you know,I'd like to get a big, like we
have a gas grill and we have alittle weber charcoal grill.
Excuse me, but I'm watching thisuh documentary and I'm like man
, wouldn't it be cool if I had,like a really big grill that you
(09:52):
could either put a, you know,big paella pan not that I've
ever made paella, but it's thecommunal part of it of everybody
gathering around it but alsotending the fire and the
different ways of cooking andhow the taste change when it's
exposed to heat and the kind ofheat.
And I want to get a huge grill.
(10:13):
And I was thinking, yeah, butif I have a party, do I want to
be at the grill?
But it would be cool if I hadsomeone like you or people from
your company that could help mewith that, because there is
something around that, you know,that innate uh, you know, going
back to our Neanderthals, I wasbeing around a fire, but when
you're grilling, um, it justbrings out some other kind of
emotion that you don't get froma gas grill.
(10:35):
You know, when you're over anopen flame, uh, I think that's
really cool yeah, no, it is, andI highly recommend.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, a grill stone isn't an open flame, but I have
grilled on that and Iabsolutely love it because it
reminds me it's different thanthe traditional, like what
you're talking about the flame,which is also amazing, but the
grill stone is like you're at arestaurant, like it reminds me
of a kitchen in a restaurantbecause it's a flat, big grill
and you could just do so muchwith it if you're having a big
(11:05):
party it's like a griddle.
You mean kind of like a griddleyeah, exactly, yes, um, and it's
just so like, it's so easy touse.
So I mean, for a person that'sgrilling for a party and you
have a large volume of people, Ithink that that's really a good
way to go.
We did one for a graduation of100 people and we were able to
(11:25):
just crank out the burgers, thehot dogs, the chicken.
It was just so seamless.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So just a recommendation.
I think when I walked intoLowe's last season I noticed
that there were, you know, newkinds of grills, that that were
more griddles, I guess you couldsay.
And I said I guess this must bea new trend because you know,
people are.
You know why would there be somany options?
(11:53):
And it's funny, in my Wyckoffmagazine in June we have an
article from Ace OaklandHardware about the new grills
that are on the market.
And I'm actually going to pullup the magazine while we talk.
And it's more traditional, youknow, is the egg.
(12:16):
Have you cooked with the egg?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
no, that I have not, I'm okay, do you know about that
?
Yeah, tell me what you know,because I don't know much about
it I don't know much about theegg.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I mean, I know it's popular, you know it's got a big
lid on it, so I guess it.
You know it acts like aconvection oven or something I
don't know.
You know, and then of course,the pizza ovens, which are
popular but, if got a pizza oven.
I wouldn't want a gas pizzaoven, I'd want to get one where
I can actually put wood in it.
Have you ever cooked with oneof those at a party?
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yes, yes we have a client that has a beautiful
pizza oven, nice, and I wish Ihad that, because I would never
get pizza out again, because youcould do so much I wouldn't
mind getting that yeah yeah um,yeah, so and that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So, but if I came to you and said, look, this is the
kind of party I'm having, youwould even recommend kind of the
menu like so, if you want tobuy food and grilling, this is.
You know what's your theme,what's what do you guys like
exactly recommend you?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, we go a step above, even a bartender, so we
have bartenders as well.
So you know, a lot of myclients need to know how much we
don't bring the alcohol.
Of course they have it therefor us, but they want to know
how much to purchase.
We also do drink.
Which is my favorite thing isrecommending drinks like drink
signs and specials for parties,and then you know it'll be like
(13:37):
Mary's Margarita, you know, forher 50th.
You know, it's just it's fun andthat's what I love about it.
It's just a lot of fun andpeople are genuinely so happy,
you know, so it's the greatestthing.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
And what about set up , like in terms of tablecloths
and things like that?
Or you know if you've madesigns of, you know, mary's
Margarita or something like that?
Do you guys do any of that?
Or do you bring the?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
I guess the supplies or no?
Yeah, no, we make the signs,because I have software that I
do it with and I usually willgive it to my staff or myself if
I'm working, because I stillwork a lot of these things and
we bring that.
In terms of linens and thingslike that.
We don't bring that, but I workwith a company called the party
squad.
They're great.
(14:25):
I have other companies I workwith and I recommend them,
depending, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So I try to do all.
You're kind of like a one-stopshop.
I have an idea.
I come to you and then you're,you know you could recommend all
these different vendors, andthen obviously you guys come out
and handle the day of serving,bartending and all that.
That's great.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Yeah, yeah, it's great, I love it and I love the
planning.
I also do that as well andevent planning and coordinating
for weddings, which is a biggerscale.
But that's why I say we do itall Cause, like you said,
one-stop shop.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
We know for weddings, weddings, you know you plan
that like a year in advance.
But how far in advance shouldsomebody call you, thinking
about god forbid memorial day?
Is it too late?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
it.
I say it's never too late.
I've had people call me two orthree days prior to an event
which is kind of late.
I've been able to accommodatebecause I have a staff of 30.
So we can try, but I wouldrecommend a two-week, at least a
two-week lead time.
So I'm going to share.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
So I like to do kind of theme parties in the backyard
.
I've done a lot of Oktoberfestand unfortunately it seems like
every time I do a party it rains.
We went to the South of Francetwo years ago and so when we
came home I was like I want tohave the South of France two
years ago and so when we camehome it was like I want to have
a South of France party.
So I was grilling Bronzino,like whole Bronzino, on the
(15:48):
charcoal grill, and then I wasin the house making New York
strips and then, you know hadmade these cocktails, like these
tequila.
I actually made freshmargaritas with, you know, lime
and everything.
When people walked in they werehanded little shot glasses and
it started to rain.
It was like a tornado camethrough.
Everything blew over the, the,the canopies that I had they
(16:09):
were one got broken, theumbrella flew over.
You know it was crazy, but Ihad the Bronzino going outside.
I was inside doing the steak.
It was crazy.
So, um, you know, if I try todo something like that again, I
know who to call.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I would love to, absolutely.
It sounds like a great time.
Actually, I'm curious aboutyour margaritas now.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It sounds like you, take a lot of time.
It's really just fresh lime,which takes a long time to
squeeze.
All those limes, cointreau andtequila and ice.
I don't use margarita mix, Idon't want any of that sweet
stuff.
I want it.
I want uh, you know we're goingto mainline that tequila, but
it's going to be refreshing.
You know chilled glass, becausethe glasses are sitting on ice
(16:49):
in a bucket and oh my goodnessit was cool.
Yeah, I don't know how french itis drinking margaritas, but I
didn't, you know, I didn't bringhome any pastis, so listen.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
As long as it tastes good, it's all good.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, yeah.
So, christine, what's yourradius?
Like you're in New Jersey, likewhere do you typically work?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yeah, so I'm in northern New Jersey.
I used to live in South Jerseyfor a little bit.
I lived all over the state.
We do the whole state.
I have staff all over and we doNew York as well.
I say New York, I say mostlyyou know upstate, not too far up
, but like you know Warwick, wehave something in Sydney Center,
(17:30):
new York.
I'm learning about new areas.
It's actually prettyinteresting.
And some Pennsylvania likeEaston.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
You know Pennsylvania , that's not far Correct yes,
and some.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Pennsylvania like Eastern, you know.
Pennsylvania, right likePoconos, that's not far Correct.
Yes, from New Jersey.
So yeah, so that's what we do.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
That's great.
So how would people get a holdof you?
So your website, we can go overthat.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
It's partyprofessionalsllccom.
Correct Right, and then is thathow they should best reach you?
Or email, phone?
What do you recommend and whatwould those contacts be?
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yes, so the website's great because you can see the
staff, you can see the work, thereviews, so that would be a
great first way to reach me.
Another way would be my phonenumber 201-424-7828.
I always have my phone with meat all times.
As a business owner, you knowit's 24-7.
(18:24):
Never a break.
And on Facebook you can find us, party Professionals LLC, and
also on Instagram.
So, yeah, you can definitelyfind us on socials, on the
website or directly to me.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
All right, christine, thank you so much for being on
the show.
Again, it's party professionals.
If you are planning a partythis summer, I'm going to give
you a little tag.
I'll do a commercial.
You know, if you're planning aparty this summer, don't do it
yourself.
Give Christine a call.
It's a great staff, greatRolodex of vendors to use and,
and you know you could sit backand enjoy the, enjoy the party
(19:02):
yourself and let them take careof everything else.
So I look forward to workingwith you and and you know, have
a great weekend and, luckily, Ihope you don't have any parties
today, cause it's been no.
I think it's going to be a rainout, but this weekend should
hopefully be nice.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Fingers crossed and thank nice fingers crossed and
thank you for having me.
I really appreciate it.
It's been a pleasure yeah, thisis great.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
All right, bear with us while chuck just says goodbye
no problem.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Thank you for listening to the good neighbor
podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpbergen.
com.
That's gnpbergen.
com, or call 201-298-8325.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Doug Drohan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Hey, good morning everyone.
Well, it could be the afternoonor evening depending on when
you're listening to this, butwelcome to another episode of
the Good Neighbor Podcastbrought to you by the Bergen
Neighbors Media Group.
Today we are joined byChristine Lanza.
Christine is the owner of PartyProfessionals.
She is a party professionalextraordinaire, for want of a
(00:32):
better word.
Welcome to the show, christine.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Thank you, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, you know it's getting to be that time of year.
You know we're into May andit's graduation time coming up,
it's Holy Communions andMemorial Day and all these other
reasons why or excuses if weneed one to have a party.
Wedding season usually kicks inaround now.
(00:58):
So I think this is a great timeto talk to you about what party
professionals is all about.
So why don't you just give us alittle rundown of what you guys
do and we can talk a little bitabout you and what your passion
is?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Great.
So we basically do everythingparty and to further dive into
that, it's basically when youhave a party and you're the host
or you know you're in charge,you're coordinating it all.
It's very, you know, cumbersome.
At times it becomes a littlebit challenging.
We come in and we take it overfrom you so that you can go and
(01:35):
enjoy your party with yourguests and just be able to relax
and not worry if the cateringis coming on time or if things
are set up.
If the catering is coming ontime or if things are set up,
you're running out of a certaindish of food or the ice is
melted in the cooler and itneeds to be replenished.
Guests are coming in, you needto take their coats I mean,
usually in the summertime,that's not an issue but in
(01:58):
general, just things that youneed to tend to as someone
hosting a party or event.
So that's kind of where we comein and, um, we just do it all.
We come in and make sure thateverything stays, you know, up
to par and you know deal withthe guest and kind of just make
sure that you're enjoying yourparty.
(02:18):
That's really the bottom lineright.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
So you, you guys are doing, you're helping uh, set up
, break down and then you'reserving.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And then cleaning as you go.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
You're not bringing the food right, You're not
catering the food.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
We don't cater the food, but I work with caterers
and chefs.
I have relationships with othervendors that are phenomenal, so
we work with them as well.
So it depending on the client,customer need um we could
recommend that.
Or again, if they do their own,which is fine too, we just come
in and take over from thereyeah.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So if I came here and said, hey, I'm gonna have an
oktoberfest party, uh, september, because anybody who knows
about Oktoberfest it's not inOctober and I said to you, hey,
I want to have an Oktoberfestparty, who would you recommend
as my caterer to bring the food?
But then you guys would help mewith everything else.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Correct, yes Right.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah, and listen for anybody who's ever hosted a
party, especially outdoors.
And I've done this, and thereason why I bring up
Oktoberfest is because I've hadOktoberfest parties and I go out
and I buy all the Wurst and allthese different things from the
German butcher and you know thebeer, and then I'm playing
music, you know, and we're doinggame, but I'm at the grill the
whole time.
(03:40):
So you know it's, it's a um,and you kind of miss the whole
party unless your friends arehanging out with you at the
grill.
So I totally get it.
You know, makes sense to havesomebody handle that stuff for
you.
And then, certainly, breakingdown, you know, when the party's
over, that's everybody leavesand you're like, oh my god, look
at this mess I gotta deal with.
So, yes, how did you get intothis business?
(04:03):
Like how?
You know what prompted you tosay I want to find, you know,
found.
I want to be the founder of, ofa party, you know event company
.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Well it's.
It's funny, my whole life, um,you know, with family friends,
always been.
You know everybody has partiesand events in their life.
It's a constant for everybody.
And you know I was actuallylooking to supplement my income.
You know, I got divorced andI'm a single mom and a friend
(04:33):
had recommended to me to doserving on the weekends because
I work a full-time job.
I started doing that and betweendoing that and meeting
different people and then my ownexperiences with my family, I
realized that there is a needfor this service, that people do
need help.
It's overwhelming when you'redoing it yourself.
And you know it's definitelysomething I'm passionate about,
(04:57):
because it's usually nine timesout of 10, a happy outcome.
So you're making people happyand that is something that is
priceless to me and that's kindof really why I do it, because I
want to see people happy at theend and say you know, you guys
really helped a lot and I wasable to sit with my family and
(05:18):
you know I have an elderlyparent and you know I have to
tend to them and I also have tohave this party for a graduation
and for my daughter and I'm notable to do all these things and
because of you and your team,you know, I was able to actually
sit there and enjoy it, and itjust makes people happy.
It's bringing people together.
So it's really the passion thatI have for that and that's why
(05:40):
I do it.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I'm a fan of Mad Men.
You know, obviously, myprofession advertising and I was
watching this clip.
Actually, you could Google.
Mad Men, what every ad salesprofessional should learn from
don draper and he is this onepitch where he's talking to a
tobacco company and it's the 60sand the surgeon general has
(06:05):
just said you know the, the fda,the ftc said you can't make
health claims with cigarettesanymore.
You know they used to claimthat cigarettes were good for
your health.
Um, so he, he finds a way to.
You know the.
The owner says that you know howdo you make cigarettes and he's
like you know we toast it.
He's like that's it, it'stoasted.
But he said, at the end of theday, advertising is about one
(06:27):
thing happiness, and I think alot of things that, um, you know
we want.
As a business owner, whetherit's your business or it's a car
salesman or a realtor orsomebody who's in home
improvement you want thatreaction from your client to be
happy.
You know this party that you'replanning, whether it's, you
(06:58):
know, an outdoor just thing withyour neighbors, or it's more of
an event like your kidscommunion, or you know it's a
big birthday party.
Whatever it is, I mean it's it.
You want it to go off.
Um, you know I don't want tosay flawlessly, but you want
everybody to have a good timeand you want to walk away with
say man, that was a great night,so you know, exactly, yeah you
guys provide.
You could even provide.
(07:18):
Uh.
So when I, when I talked aboutbeing at the grill, so say I
don't get a caterer but I do buyall the verst and or burgers or
you know, frankfurters orwhatever, uh, you could actually
have somebody who could grillfor me yes, we do that as well,
that's a a big demand in thesummertime especially, and I
(07:39):
actually did one.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I've become a very good griller myself.
My dad has been grillingforever.
And you know, I kind of had agood teacher.
I prefer more to do theplanning of events and the
coordination of things like that.
But if the need comes and Idon't have one of my staff, I'll
jump in and do the grilling.
And I can tell you peoplereally, really appreciate that,
(08:03):
because I don't think anybodywants to stand there for a
couple hours and miss all thefun of their event and party
because they're grilling eventhough they have to feed their
guests and they want to do that.
It's just not, you know,they're just stuck there and
they can't do that.
It's just not, you know,they're just stuck there and
they can't do anything else.
So that's really a big, big onefor us is grilling.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
There's a new Netflix , I'll call it.
It's not a series, it's like adocumentary.
It's called Chef's TableLegends.
So maybe Chef's Table is aseries and this one's called
Legends and it's a new series.
I guess it's a series.
So, and it's a new series, Iguess it's a series.
(08:49):
So they have different types ofthemes.
This one's four parts and theydo like an hour's worth of
feature on Jamie Oliver.
Alice Waters who is you?
One of his restaurants, whichis called Bizarre out in Beverly
Hills years ago, and it's thismolecular gastronomy.
You know these things that it'scalled the Caesar salad, but
(09:10):
it's things you wouldn't think.
It's sort of like Willy Wonka.
You pop it in your mouth You'relike, oh my God, I didn't know
it could taste like that.
But he's originally from Spain,hence the name andres and my
accent when I try to try tospeak spanish.
But the reason I bring it up isthere's a lot of scenes where
he's got a huge grill and a hugepaella pan.
But even when it's not evenpaella and there's so many
(09:31):
people out in this scene of youknow, helping with the grill and
whatever all these things thatthey're grilling, I was saying
to my wife was like you know,I'd like to get a big, like we
have a gas grill and we have alittle weber charcoal grill.
Excuse me, but I'm watching thisuh documentary and I'm like man
, wouldn't it be cool if I had,like a really big grill that you
(09:52):
could either put a, you know,big paella pan not that I've
ever made paella, but it's thecommunal part of it of everybody
gathering around it but alsotending the fire and the
different ways of cooking andhow the taste change when it's
exposed to heat and the kind ofheat.
And I want to get a huge grill.
(10:13):
And I was thinking, yeah, butif I have a party, do I want to
be at the grill?
But it would be cool if I hadsomeone like you or people from
your company that could help mewith that, because there is
something around that, you know,that innate uh, you know, going
back to our Neanderthals, I wasbeing around a fire, but when
you're grilling, um, it justbrings out some other kind of
emotion that you don't get froma gas grill.
(10:35):
You know, when you're over anopen flame, uh, I think that's
really cool yeah, no, it is, andI highly recommend.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, a grill stone isn't an open flame, but I have
grilled on that and Iabsolutely love it because it
reminds me it's different thanthe traditional, like what
you're talking about the flame,which is also amazing, but the
grill stone is like you're at arestaurant, like it reminds me
of a kitchen in a restaurantbecause it's a flat, big grill
and you could just do so muchwith it if you're having a big
(11:05):
party it's like a griddle.
You mean kind of like a griddleyeah, exactly, yes, um, and it's
just so like, it's so easy touse.
So I mean, for a person that'sgrilling for a party and you
have a large volume of people, Ithink that that's really a good
way to go.
We did one for a graduation of100 people and we were able to
(11:25):
just crank out the burgers, thehot dogs, the chicken.
It was just so seamless.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
So just a recommendation.
I think when I walked intoLowe's last season I noticed
that there were, you know, newkinds of grills, that that were
more griddles, I guess you couldsay.
And I said I guess this must bea new trend because you know,
people are.
You know why would there be somany options?
(11:53):
And it's funny, in my Wyckoffmagazine in June we have an
article from Ace OaklandHardware about the new grills
that are on the market.
And I'm actually going to pullup the magazine while we talk.
And it's more traditional, youknow, is the egg.
(12:16):
Have you cooked with the egg?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
no, that I have not, I'm okay, do you know about that
?
Yeah, tell me what you know,because I don't know much about
it I don't know much about theegg.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
I mean, I know it's popular, you know it's got a big
lid on it, so I guess it.
You know it acts like aconvection oven or something I
don't know.
You know, and then of course,the pizza ovens, which are
popular but, if got a pizza oven.
I wouldn't want a gas pizzaoven, I'd want to get one where
I can actually put wood in it.
Have you ever cooked with oneof those at a party?
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yes, yes we have a client that has a beautiful
pizza oven, nice, and I wish Ihad that, because I would never
get pizza out again, because youcould do so much I wouldn't
mind getting that yeah yeah um,yeah, so and that's interesting.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So, but if I came to you and said, look, this is the
kind of party I'm having, youwould even recommend kind of the
menu like so, if you want tobuy food and grilling, this is.
You know what's your theme,what's what do you guys like
exactly recommend you?
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Yeah, we go a step above, even a bartender, so we
have bartenders as well.
So you know, a lot of myclients need to know how much we
don't bring the alcohol.
Of course they have it therefor us, but they want to know
how much to purchase.
We also do drink.
Which is my favorite thing isrecommending drinks like drink
signs and specials for parties,and then you know it'll be like
(13:37):
Mary's Margarita, you know, forher 50th.
You know, it's just it's fun andthat's what I love about it.
It's just a lot of fun andpeople are genuinely so happy,
you know, so it's the greatestthing.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
And what about set up , like in terms of tablecloths
and things like that?
Or you know if you've madesigns of, you know, mary's
Margarita or something like that?
Do you guys do any of that?
Or do you bring the?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
I guess the supplies or no?
Yeah, no, we make the signs,because I have software that I
do it with and I usually willgive it to my staff or myself if
I'm working, because I stillwork a lot of these things and
we bring that.
In terms of linens and thingslike that.
We don't bring that, but I workwith a company called the party
squad.
They're great.
(14:25):
I have other companies I workwith and I recommend them,
depending, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
So I try to do all.
You're kind of like a one-stopshop.
I have an idea.
I come to you and then you're,you know you could recommend all
these different vendors, andthen obviously you guys come out
and handle the day of serving,bartending and all that.
That's great.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Yeah, yeah, it's great, I love it and I love the
planning.
I also do that as well andevent planning and coordinating
for weddings, which is a biggerscale.
But that's why I say we do itall Cause, like you said,
one-stop shop.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
We know for weddings, weddings, you know you plan
that like a year in advance.
But how far in advance shouldsomebody call you, thinking
about god forbid memorial day?
Is it too late?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
it.
I say it's never too late.
I've had people call me two orthree days prior to an event
which is kind of late.
I've been able to accommodatebecause I have a staff of 30.
So we can try, but I wouldrecommend a two-week, at least a
two-week lead time.
So I'm going to share.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
So I like to do kind of theme parties in the backyard
.
I've done a lot of Oktoberfestand unfortunately it seems like
every time I do a party it rains.
We went to the South of Francetwo years ago and so when we
came home I was like I want tohave the South of France two
years ago and so when we camehome it was like I want to have
a South of France party.
So I was grilling Bronzino,like whole Bronzino, on the
(15:48):
charcoal grill, and then I wasin the house making New York
strips and then, you know hadmade these cocktails, like these
tequila.
I actually made freshmargaritas with, you know, lime
and everything.
When people walked in they werehanded little shot glasses and
it started to rain.
It was like a tornado camethrough.
Everything blew over the, the,the canopies that I had they
(16:09):
were one got broken, theumbrella flew over.
You know it was crazy, but Ihad the Bronzino going outside.
I was inside doing the steak.
It was crazy.
So, um, you know, if I try todo something like that again, I
know who to call.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I would love to, absolutely.
It sounds like a great time.
Actually, I'm curious aboutyour margaritas now.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It sounds like you, take a lot of time.
It's really just fresh lime,which takes a long time to
squeeze.
All those limes, cointreau andtequila and ice.
I don't use margarita mix, Idon't want any of that sweet
stuff.
I want it.
I want uh, you know we're goingto mainline that tequila, but
it's going to be refreshing.
You know chilled glass, becausethe glasses are sitting on ice
(16:49):
in a bucket and oh my goodnessit was cool.
Yeah, I don't know how french itis drinking margaritas, but I
didn't, you know, I didn't bringhome any pastis, so listen.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
As long as it tastes good, it's all good.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, yeah.
So, christine, what's yourradius?
Like you're in New Jersey, likewhere do you typically work?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Yeah, so I'm in northern New Jersey.
I used to live in South Jerseyfor a little bit.
I lived all over the state.
We do the whole state.
I have staff all over and we doNew York as well.
I say New York, I say mostlyyou know upstate, not too far up
, but like you know Warwick, wehave something in Sydney Center,
(17:30):
new York.
I'm learning about new areas.
It's actually prettyinteresting.
And some Pennsylvania likeEaston.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
You know Pennsylvania , that's not far Correct yes,
and some.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Pennsylvania like Eastern, you know.
Pennsylvania, right likePoconos, that's not far Correct.
Yes, from New Jersey.
So yeah, so that's what we do.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
That's great.
So how would people get a holdof you?
So your website, we can go overthat.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
It's partyprofessionalsllccom.
Correct Right, and then is thathow they should best reach you?
Or email, phone?
What do you recommend and whatwould those contacts be?
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yes, so the website's great because you can see the
staff, you can see the work, thereviews, so that would be a
great first way to reach me.
Another way would be my phonenumber 201-424-7828.
I always have my phone with meat all times.
As a business owner, you knowit's 24-7.
(18:24):
Never a break.
And on Facebook you can find us, party Professionals LLC, and
also on Instagram.
So, yeah, you can definitelyfind us on socials, on the
website or directly to me.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
All right, christine, thank you so much for being on
the show.
Again, it's party professionals.
If you are planning a partythis summer, I'm going to give
you a little tag.
I'll do a commercial.
You know, if you're planning aparty this summer, don't do it
yourself.
Give Christine a call.
It's a great staff, greatRolodex of vendors to use and,
and you know you could sit backand enjoy the, enjoy the party
(19:02):
yourself and let them take careof everything else.
So I look forward to workingwith you and and you know, have
a great weekend and, luckily, Ihope you don't have any parties
today, cause it's been no.
I think it's going to be a rainout, but this weekend should
hopefully be nice.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Fingers crossed and thank nice fingers crossed and
thank you for having me.
I really appreciate it.
It's been a pleasure yeah, thisis great.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
All right, bear with us while chuck just says goodbye
no problem.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Thank you for listening to the good neighbor
podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpbergen.
com.
That's gnpbergen.
com, or call 201-298-8325.
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