Many Leisure Industries have gone through or are going through major transformations as their market demands change.  These changes are not about demographics (how many people, where they live or income bracket) but how today’s family lives and especially how they spend their free time. 

The bowling industry does not at all look like it did five years ago.  Adult leagues are almost non-existent.  The smoke filled, bar like atmosphere has been replaced with brightly colored, comfortable environments, where the alleys glow and eating areas are themed.  Billiard halls and ratty arcade games have been replaced with redemption and virtual reality games.  League revenue has been replaced with family walk-in traffic and birthday parties .. and it’s working.

    Amusement parks are adding wet attractions and Waterparks are adding dry amusement attractions.  Past focus on multi-million dollar roller coasters every year to draw traffic, have been replaced by an investment in their people and interaction with the everyday guest.  They are all revisiting local programming, including birthday party concepts as far less costly ways to draw traffic.  They have discovered that these programs are new profit centers and have been missing it all these years. 
 
    The Ice Industry is looking out of it’s box of hockey and figure skating programs.  They can no longer keep up with the escalating costs of operating an ice rink, without a new realm of thinking.  Many rinks and skate stadiums are opening up their facilities to the general public more often, offering more time for families to spend time together, birthday parties and other unique fun programs.  A great example of an Ice rink pioneer is Scott Slavensky or Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville California.  www.skatetown-roseville.com

    About five years ago he came to Birthday University, committed to break out of the mold and be radically different.  They all thought he was nuts.  Now he’s the rink that everyone wants to visit and find out why he’s doubled his business and what everyone’s talking about.  There aren’t too many rinks that build snowmen, catapult snow balls at targets or ride trikes on ice.   It’s working.
 
    Other Industries such as, zoos, aquariums, farms and restaurants are all evolving with entertainment to give them a unique and different draw.  What do all these industries seeking the addition of family entertainment into their mix have in common?  Birthday party programs, of course!  “There’s gold in them thar hills.”  Just make sure you’re not mining on the same mountain as every one else.  If your party program is not evolving or unique in some way, then you too will become the outdated, “been there – done that” concept that more than likely doesn’t even make the list for this years celebration.  "By the way, this does not work."