Every year at ACP Entertainment, we introduce multiple new and exciting attractions, this year is no exception! In 2023 we are thrilled to introduce over 20 new attractions (with more on the way) and activities and we are also celebrating 15 years of amazing entertainment.
Let’s talk about our rides to start our ‘New for 2023’ list! Lost Treasures is a play port/funhouse for the little ones and was introduced late last year-it’s a smash hit at every event! We also have a brand new swing ride called Cyclone which is a 20 seat chain/chair swing ride. Cyclone will now be our largest capacity swing attraction. Additionally we’re excited to introduce a brand new Classic Train from Wattman Trains, the Rolls Royce of Trackless Train Rides. This train is absolutely gorgeous with moving train wheels, smoke, sound effects and even a 4th car for maximum capacity.
We have quite a few new inflatables for 2023 as well, first up is the Rainforest KidZone and Barnyard KidZone. These two inflatables have a similar layout but a completely different theme with beautiful and vibrant graphics that will definitely wow your crowd. We also have a new game similar to Krazy Kones and Speed of Light that is called Zap a Mole. This time instead of using your hands, players will use a giant foam hammer like the classic “Whac-a-Mole” arcade game. Three new obstacle courses will hit our line up this year; High Voltage, Radical 30’and Radical 40’ Obstacle Courses. We also added, by popular demand, a second dual lane slide called the Wacky Double 18’ Slide. Finally the Big TopGames inflatable, which has 4 games in one, and the Grand Carnivalwhich is an inflatable carnival booth tent.
Two new digital games were added to our lineup in 2023, Four in a Row and Chaos!The digital Four in a Row game is an arcade version of Connect 4 and will have your guests engaged all night long! Chaos! is a game similar to Strike a Light but allows for 4 players instead of 2. Players will also have to cross over into other players area to tag lights of their color too. To say it’s chaotic is an understatement!
We’re extremely excited to introduce an entire new lineup of Midway Carnival Game trailers in 2023. Jungle Chase is a roller derby game, similar to skee ball, that has a jungle theme with racing monkey characters that up to 14 players can play at a time. The Water Race has racing dolphins that move according to how long the players can hit the moving bullseye targets. The Water Race game can also accommodate up to 14 players. Both of these game trailers will come standard with plush prizes in which one prize will be given away every 4-5 minutes. We also introduced a few new regular individual carnival games which includes Alien Pinball, Ricochet,Leaping Lizards and the Kiddie Hi Striker.
Last but definitely not least, we are introducing an entirely new attraction that we introduced in late 2022; Synthetic Ice Skating Experience. The 36’x40’ ice skating rink includes the synthetic ice, rental skates, carpets, chairs, fencing and lighting to your event space. No freeze time needed!
Wow, that’s quite the lineup for this year! We’re thrilled to be able to bring you these incredible new attractions and activities and we hope you are able to incorporate some of them if not all of them into your upcoming event(s). If you have questions about any of the new attractions for 2023, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call at 616-826-8220.
In 2023 ACP Entertainment is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. In the 15 years that ACP Entertainment has been in operation, we have serviced over 7,000 events and have had a hand in creating memories for hundreds thousands of kids and families alike. We feel like we have an incredible responsibility to continue creating safe, memorable and fun experiences for the now over 700 events that we service each year alone-and we intend to do just that.
You may be wondering, how did ACP get started and how did it get to this point in 2023? Here’s the story as old as time….well at least as old as its founder, Ryan Strayhorn.
At the age of 12, a very young Ryan found a passion in DJing and “opened” a DJ business called Amplify Christ DJ Services performing at school events, chili cook offs and prayer at the flagpole events. After doing the sound and lighting for a middle school talent show, Ryan changed the unofficial company name to Amplify Christ Productions. In the midst of these years, Ryan and his dad twisted balloons at school carnivals which is where he saw inflatables that were rented to the schools. Seeing potential, Ryan once again changed the still unofficial company name to Amplify Christ Productions & Entertainment. Quickly realizing how long of a company name it was, he shortened it to ACP Entertainment which is still the name today.
In 2008 and at the age of 15, Ryan finally convinced his parents to allow him to sub rent inflatables from another local company to start doing events. After only a couple short months of sub renting inflatables, obvious potential was seen by Ryan’s parents and they agreed to allow him to buy his first 3 inflatables in June of 2008. Later that Fall, the second batch of inflatables were purchased bringing the total count of inflatables to 6 and also severing ties with the sub-renting company. In August of 2008 Ryan turned 16 and could finally start driving to events himself instead of having to rely on his dad and in October of the same year, the company was legally incorporated.
As years moved on, more inflatables were purchased along with concession machines and carnival games. By 2013, ACP Entertainment had started producing company picnics and other events of large scale for thousands of people. Dad’s Classic Catering, ACP’s then in house catering division, was established in 2014 to better service company picnic events as a ‘Turn Key’ event planning company. In 2016, the first two real carnival rides were added, Ballistic and Pirates Revenge, which started the company in an entirely new trajectory.
In 2023, the focus of the company has dramatically shifted now servicing mostly company, school, church and other organizational events with carnival rides, game trailers and inflatables. ACP Entertainment is now the largest supplier of rental carnival rides in the state of Michigan and is one of the largest entertainment companies in the state. Not only are we one of the largest and best amusement suppliers in the state, we are also a company that brought many firsts into the state!
ACP Entertainment was the first to introduce many rental-only attractions for events across Michigan and even outside of Michigan. The following attractions were the first rental only attractions of their kind in Michigan; Velocity Super Slide, 40′ Ferris Wheel, Carnival Funhouse, Lost Treasures Funhouse, Frog Hopper, Midway Carnival Game Trailers and the Synthetic Ice Skating Experience. Although ACP Entertainment mostly stays in Michigan, we have also been a part of events in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Florida.
If you have booked with us in the past 15 years, all of us at ACP Entertainment want to thank you for your business and we look forward to working with you this year and into the future! Here’s to another 15 incredible years of creating Memorable Events for you and your guests!
ACP Entertainment is excited to announce the arrival of our newest Winter attraction; the Synthetic Ice Skating Experience. This new skating rink rental attraction is indeed an experience like nothing we’ve ever offered before with a 36’x40′ skating rink rental, adirondack chairs for skaters to take a break from skating, benches to put on/take off skates, ice skate ‘rental’/distribution station, music, lights and fencing.
What is a Synthetic Ice Rink Rental you ask? Instead of having a conventional ice skating rink that requires hundreds of gallons of water, special freezing systems and days to freeze and solidify, the synthetic ice rink rental is assembled and ready to use in just about two hours. The panels are 4’x4′ and snap together like a puzzle to form the entire rink. No freezing necessary! In fact, our ice rink can be installed indoors our or outdoors, used in cold or warm temperatures and can even be used in rain and snow!
Our Synthetic Ice Skating Experience makes its debut in November of 2022 and will be available for events all winter long in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. For more information and details about the ice rink rental, Click Here.
Ferris wheels are an iconic attraction of festivals and fairs, in fact it’s the most iconic carnival ride in the world. Ferris wheels are also the backdrop, centerpiece and/or most iconic moments in any movie featuring a carnival which only adds to the popularity of ferris wheels. Due to the popularity, we at ACP Entertainment have decided to purchase a brand new ferris wheel to add to our lineup of attractions. What makes it historic? First, a little history.
The very first ferris wheel opened at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago in June of 1983 and was invented by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. As you may have guessed, the name Ferris wheel comes from his last name and has stuck as the generic name of all attractions like his original 250 foot Giant Wheel ride.
While Ferris’ wheel was the first of its kind, the first portable ferris wheel attraction was built in 1900 by William Sullivan called “Big Eli.” This 45 foot ferris wheel was completely broken down and moved inside of a trailer which meant every piece had to come apart. The company that formed out of Sullivan’s innovation was called the Eli Bridge Company and is still in operation today.
Today, portable ferris wheels are trailer mounted which is much different than the original “Big Eli” wheel that had to be taken apart and transported in a trailer. Jerry Wisdom is who we have to thank for that incredible invention. In 1957, Jerry dismantled the family carnivals ferris wheel and mounted it to a trailer, a tank hauler trailer to be exact. And thus, the trailer mounted ferris wheel was born.
Today, all portable ferris wheels are trailer mounted in some fashion or another with the largest portable wheel called the “Midway Sky Eye Wheel” and stands 155 feet tall. This wheel takes 12 trailers to move and is operated by “Biggest Wheel, LLC” in Florida.
The manufacturer that we chose to build our Ferris Wheel is Wisdom Rides, ironically founded by Jerry Wisdom who first mounted a ferris wheel on a trailer. Wisdom is making history once again with the creation of the “Rental Wheel,” a portable ferris wheel specifically designed for the ride rental industry. ACP Entertainment will be the first company with this ride in the country and we’re incredibly excited to bring it to the Midwest market. Wisdom has designed this ferris wheel to setup and tear down within 2 hours with 2 people and can be transported with a 5500 pickup truck. This 10 seat ferris wheel can accommodate up to 30 riders and stands 40’ tall. It will feature a beautiful LED light show and even have pre-built sign channels for branding overlays.
ACP Entertainment has been in the carnival ride market for 6 years and have heard countless requests for ferris wheels. These requests led to the decision to buy not just a regular ferris wheel, but a ride that would perfectly match the demands of our business model and beyond. Unlike the rest of our attractions, our Ferris Wheel will be available for rent not only in Michigan but also Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York. Other locations may be considered upon request.
We are incredibly excited to bring this new ride to the market and look forward to continue to create Memorable Events across the Midwest! Contact our team to learn more and get a quote for your event by calling us at 616-826-8220 or emailing us.
ACP Entertainment was invited to be a part of Season 25 of the Bachelor which was filmed in the Fall of 2020 at the Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, PA. The producers of the show wanted to create a “Carnival in the Woods” for a one-on-one date with Matt James and Piper James (crazy how they just happen to have the same last name). ACP Entertainment was called in by Epic Party Team out of Phoenix, AZ to help create the scene and we were also joined by Big O Amusements out of Cardington, OH.
Attractions and rentals from ACP Entertainment featured in the show include the Ballistic Swing, Carnival Tents, Balloon Blast, Popcorn and Cotton Candy. Our team had to quarantine on site for one week before the shoot and receive multiple COVID tests before interacting with the cast and crew. To say that this was an unforgettable experience for our team is an understatement!
We want to thank the Bachelor, NKZ Productions and Epic Party Team for bringing us onto this great project!
Enjoy this compilation video of the scene that aired on February 6, 2021!
Choosing the right venue is one of the most important initial decisions you will make when planning an event. The venue sets the tone for the entire experience and can directly impact guest comfort, attendance, logistics, entertainment options, and overall event success. Whether you are planning a company picnic, corporate event, festival, fundraiser, or community celebration in Michigan, selecting the right location requires more thought than simply finding a space that looks nice.
From guest capacity and parking to weather backup plans and local regulations, there are several important factors to consider before booking your venue. At ACP Entertainment, we have worked with thousands of events throughout Michigan and have seen firsthand what works well — and what can create major challenges on event day.
First Consider, "Can We Host At Our Business Location?"
Before moving on, consider hosting the event at your facility. It’s possible that hosting your event at your business or organization is impossible. However, if it is possible, it may be the best option for many reasons.
You know the space inside and out-there’s no guesswork
You can control what you bring in, your not restricted to what the venue will and will not allow
Your employees and attendees know exactly where to go, again taking the guesswork out of the equation
Families can see where their spouse, mom or dad works. Consider facility tours-family buy in is important!
Reducing expenses (no venue rental fee)
In the last few years, we have seen companies and organizations opting to host their event at their own facility for the reasons above and many more. If that’s not an option for you however, continue reading.
Start by Deciding Between an Indoor or Outdoor Venue
One of the first decisions to make is whether your event will be held indoors or outdoors. This choice will influence nearly every other aspect of your planning process, including entertainment, catering, weather preparation, guest comfort, and venue availability.
Outdoor venues are popular for:
Company picnics
Festivals and fairs
Family reunions
Graduation parties
End of school year events
Church outreach events
Community celebrations
Indoor venues are often better suited for:
Winter events
Formal gatherings
Corporate meetings
Banquets
Events requiring climate control
Events with sensitive equipment or electronics
When deciding between indoor and outdoor venues, consider the season and typical weather conditions in Michigan. While weather is unpredictable, planning around seasonal trends can help reduce risk. For example, spring events often need a rain contingency plan, while winter events usually require an indoor location due to cold temperatures and snow.
Have a Weather Backup Plan When Possible
If you are planning an outdoor event, having a backup plan can be critical. Rain, strong winds, excessive heat, or sudden storms can quickly disrupt an event. A backup indoor location or covered shelter can help protect your event from unexpected weather conditions. However, many backup locations may not be large enough to accommodate every attraction or activity originally planned for the outdoor setup so flexibility is key .
If bad weather happens, prioritize the most important elements of your event and adjust accordingly. A smaller backup setup is still far better than scrambling at the last minute without a plan.
When evaluating outdoor venues, ask questions such as:
Is there an indoor backup space available?
Are tents allowed on-site?
Are there covered pavilions or shelters?
How quickly can the venue adapt for a bad weather situation?
Make Sure the Venue Fits Your Guest Count
One of the biggest mistakes event planners make is choosing a venue that is either too small or unnecessarily oversized. Your venue should comfortably accommodate your expected attendance while still leaving room for:
Seating areas
Entertainment attractions
Food service stations
Open space for crowd flow
Vendor spaces
Restrooms
Staging or presentation areas
A crowded venue can feel uncomfortable and chaotic, while an overly large venue may make the event feel empty and disconnected.
Before booking, ask the venue for their realistic event capacity — not just the maximum occupancy listed by fire code.
Don’t Overlook Parking Availability
Parking is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of event planning, yet it can significantly impact the guest experience. Just because a venue can hold hundreds of people does not mean it has enough parking to support that attendance level.
As a general rule, your venue should have parking available for approximately 30% of your total guest count. For example:
200 guests = approximately 75 parking spaces
500 guests = approximately 200 parking spaces
Another factor to consider is cost. If you choose a downtown venue, your guests will most likely have to find a parking garage that comes at a fee. You may want to consider budgeting the cost of parking in for your guests if you choose a downtown location. If parking is limited or costly, consider alternative solutions such as:
Off-site overflow parking
Shuttle services
Valet parking
Carpool encouragement
Ride-share drop-off areas
Understand Venue Rules and Local Regulations
Before finalizing your venue, make sure you fully understand both the venue’s policies and any local regulations that may affect your event.
Some venues and municipalities have restrictions involving:
Tent usage
Amplified sound or PA systems
Noise ordinances
Alcohol service
Food vendors
Generator usage
Fireworks or special effects
Event end times
Ride or inflatable permits
For example, some parks may prohibit tents entirely, while certain cities may require permits for amplified music above a specific decibel level.
Confirm all requirements prior to booking the venue with both the venue management and local governing authorities to avoid surprises later.
Are Theme Parks and Family Entertainment Centers the Right Choice?
Many organizations consider hosting events at theme parks or Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) because attractions and activities are already built into the venue. While this can sound convenient, there are important drawbacks to consider.
Unless the entire venue is rented privately and closed to the public, your guests will likely be sharing the space with unrelated visitors. This can reduce the sense of community and connection among your attendees. At large amusement parks especially, guests often spread out across the property, limiting opportunities for employees, families, or attendees to socialize together.
If you choose this type of venue, we strongly recommend considering a full private buyout whenever possible so your event remains exclusive to your group.
Work With Experienced Event Professionals
Choosing the right venue can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing logistics, budgets, entertainment needs, and guest experience expectations. At ACP Entertainment, we have helped plan and provide entertainment for thousands of events throughout Michigan. Our experience with local parks, event spaces, corporate venues, and outdoor locations allows us to help clients avoid common mistakes and choose venues that truly fit their event goals.
Ready to start planning your event and need guidance on selecting the right venue? Our team is happy to help provide recommendations and insights based on your event size, location, and entertainment needs.
Contact us today to learn more about planning a successful event in Michigan!
Are inflatables Safe? Yes. Are all inflatables safe? No-well at least in our opinion.
Inflatables are, in essence, sewn together fabric filled with air to create a sort of playground structure. Does this sound dangerous? No, absolutely not. But just like anything else, this seemingly safe amusement attraction can turn dangerous and even deadly. At ACP Entertainment, we carry a wide variety of inflatables including bounce houses, obstacle courses, combos, slides and interactive inflatables. All of our inflatables we consider to be safe if used properly. Every inflatable has rules that need to be followed. When rules are broken is when people start to get hurt. But what inflatables are considered unsafe?
*Before you read any further, please know that the items listed below that we consider dangerous is our opinion of over 16 years in the inflatable industry. If you disagree, that’s quite alright!*
At ACP Entertainment, we will not carry traditional bungee runs, sumo suits or bubble balls because we have seen first hand or have heard about too many injuries surrounding thee 3 attractions. We refer to these attractions as the “Main 3.” There are other attractions here or there that we have opted not to carry or discontinue from our roster for safety reasons, but the main 3 are what we’d like to draw your attention to. While fun and hilarious to watch, the main 3 are dangerous and in some cases have been deadly.
Bungee Runs: The point of a traditional bungee run is to run to the end of the 30 foot inflatable, while attached to a bungee cord, to see how far you can get until the strong bungee pulls you back. The danger in this attraction is within the bungee cord itself. The most dangerous scenario is when the rider gets to the end of the inflatable (while connected to the bungee cord) and then jumps instead of running backwards. When the rider jumps, the bungee cord reels the player in uncontrollably until the player hits the back wall of the inflatable. How the player lands is where the injury can come into play. In 2007, a boy in Denver was injured on a bungee run and later a “judge awarded nearly $6.9 million to the family of [the] teenager who suffered a permanent brain injury,” according to the Sokolove Law firm on April 18, 2011. The second most common cause for injury is from the bungee snapping due to a faulty bungee cord, old age or excessive extension of the cord. A snapping bungee cord will hit the player in the back and can also hit spectators.
Sumo Suits: Sumo Suits is an attraction in which players climb into either an inflatable or foam-filled suit that is made to resemble a sumo wrestler. The players will also put on a foam helmet that is sometimes made to look like a sumo wrestlers hair in a bun. Once the players are dressed, they step onto a thin foam mat that has a ring in the center. When instructed, the players run towards each other to tackle one other resulting in one or both of the players falling almost immediately. Commonly, the player still standing will then jump on the player that fell as a sign of victory. The suits are very restrictive in movement for the players and don’t allow them to move freely. Since they can’t move like they would without the suit, they often will lose control of their body and fall easily. When they do fall, if they hit their head it could cause temporary or serious damage damage to their skull or brain. In Colorado Springs, a participant fell while wearing a sumo suit and caused her to have permanent brain damage. A Denver jury awarded her $2 million for her injuries that she sustained while playing in the sumo suits.
Bubble Balls: Bubble balls are most commonly used for a game known as “bubble soccer.” The game of bubble soccer involves anywhere from 4-12 players wearing these bubble balls and running around on a field or course, like a regular game of soccer, with the intention to score goals with a soccer ball. Now of course part of the fun is hitting their opponents with the bubble balls almost always resulting in the player flying backwards 5-20 feet and/or falling. At a first look, it looks harmless, in fact it looks safe since the players have a near-fixed air bag around them to keep them safe. However, the danger is what’s outside of the bubble. The most common known injuries are broken feet, twisted ankles and broken legs. Also if the bubble balls do not have shoulder restraints, the players head could pop out of the top resulting in them potentially hitting their head on a hard surface which could cause serious damage to the players spine, skull and/or brain. In Missouri, a man severely injured his spinal cord while playing in a bubble ball and because of those injuries he is now paralyzed (quadriplegic). He was awarded nearly $45 million dollars in a lawsuit against the recreation company.
While it is our opinion that the 3 categories of inflatables are dangerous, there are definitely other individual inflatables or attractions that we will also not carry. Just like anything, the level of danger that an inflatable has (especially a new design of inflatable) is unknown until it’s been tested on the market. Once it’s been out there in the market and stories unfold, it is our duty to A) inform our customers of the dangers relating to specific attractions and B) not carry those attractions in our inventory.
We can’t stress the fact enough that these are our opinions based on our over 10 years of experience and staying informed about the accidents across the world pertaining to inflatable attractions. Reading all of this about these attractions may be a bummer to hear, especially since they all look so fun, but we all want everyone to not only have a good time but remain safe while playing. If you have questions regarding these or other attractions, please do not hesitate to call our office at 616-826-8220.
Sources:
Bungee Run Lawsuit: Sokolove Law Firm: https://www.sokolovelawfirm.com/blog/boy-injured-in-bungee-run-gets-multimillion-award/
Sumo Suit Lawsuit: Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm: https://www.dallasfortworthinjurylawyer.com/denver_jury_awards_millions_in/
Bubble Ball Lawsuit: Columbia Daily Tribune: https://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20170717/boone-county-man-wins-45-million-in-lawsuit
We’ve all seen the news stories titled “bounce houses go airborne” or “fly away bounce houses.” Scary, right? It absolutely is. The fact is inflatables “going airborne” in high wind conditions is absolutely possible however it can be prevented. But how? If these two simple steps are followed, there would never be another case of a fly away bounce house.
First and foremost, inflatables should NEVER be setup in conditions where the wind speeds or gusts meet or exceed 25mph. Some inflatables are actually rated for a lower-maximum wind speed than others and may have a maximum wind rating as low as 15mph.
Second, inflatables should always be secured with stakes or sandbags. At ACP Entertainment, we use 36″x1″ metal stakes and 60 pound sandbags on all inflatables and for every event. The amount of stakes or sandbags used on each inflatable really depends on the individual unit. For example, a regular bounce house would get 4 stakes and 6-8 sandbags while a large slide could get up to 12 stakes and 20 sandbags. Just like wind speeds, each inflatable has it’s own specifications for anchoring. Please note that using plastic stakes or stakes less than 18″ is never safe for the use of inflatables.
Even if inflatables are properly anchored, there is always a chance that high winds could still rip anchor points off of the ground which is why both guidelines absolutely must be followed. Weather is unpredictable and sometimes winds may increase during an event. If that is the case and winds exceed the maximum ratings, then it is crucial to shut them down immediately.
With over 4,000 events under our belt, ACP Entertainment has never had an inflatable go airborne and we will never allow it to happen in the future. We value the trust that you put into our team at ACP Entertainment and will always make safety our number one priority and concern.
A question that is commonly asked of our booking staff is “How far in advance do I need to book?” Unfortunately, that question often comes too late as they are starting the planning process the week or two before the event. 1 or 2 weeks before your event is (usually) too late to book-especially for a weekend day during the Summer. So when is the best time to book? Now!
We understand that during the Winter it’s hard to wrap your head around planning a Summer event, but it’s absolutely crucial to start planning early if you want the best availability of our attractions. It’s very common in the Summer months for us to be completely booked out 3-8 weeks out in advance for weekend days. In fact, we often have to “blackout” or close-off Summer weekends earlier in the year because of the amount of events that are already scheduled.
You also may be thinking, “How can your entire inventory be completely booked up?” Well it’s actually not, in fact 100% of the time that we “blackout” or close off a weekend, we still have inventory left in stock. What we don’t have is the man power to bring those attractions to your event or staff the attractions. In some cases our operations team will work with you to drop off equipment one or multiple days early (if it’s not being staffed), but this is not always the case.
In conclusion, we strongly recommend calling as soon as possible to at least get your event date on hold with us. Although a hold doesn’t confirm your date, it at least gets the ball rolling and we can let you know if someone else is interested in your date. Calling early will not only guarantee that we can service your event, it also allows you to have first pick at the attractions for your event. So please, do yourselves and us a favor and start planning your event early. We promise-it’s worth it!
I know what you’re thinking, “My event is free for my guests, how am I supposed to increase the value with no extra budget?!” Well increasing value of your event doesn’t mean you have to pay more for it. When we say to increase the value of your event, we are talking about the perceived value.
Every year, you go to some sort of an event; whether it’s a school carnival, company picnic, church event or something else. How many years in a row does that event have the same games, inflatables or activities? 9 times out of 10, events just go with the same thing they had last year because “it’s easier that way.” If you were to attend that event yearly, wouldn’t it get old? Would you be less interested or motivated to attend? Well unfortunately, that’s the number one way an event is perceived as losing its value.
The definition of value is “The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” Defining the word “value” in the entertainment world can be defined as “The regard that an event is worth while attending the first time and for future events to come based on its importance, worth and usefulness.” Now of course, that’s our definition, but if you think about it in context to your event, you’ll come to realize that there is truth in it. Keeping events, fresh, new and introducing new elements that attendees will want to continuously return for year after year is the key to increasing value of your event. Here are some ways to do it:
Do something different than the yearbefore: Having inflatables from year to year or having rides from year to year is fine, but don’t take the easy route by doing what’s comfortable and/or what’s been recently done, mix it up! At ACP Entertainment, we are constantly adding new inflatables, rides, games and activities to our lineup to make sure our inventory is as fresh and new as possible. We do this to make it easier for you to switch up your events line up every year and to make sure we have the newest and best attractions around.
Replace carnival games with a new experience: Carnival games have been around forever and are especially a staple at school carnivals and company picnics. Consider swapping the games and prizes for an inflatable, digital games or another take away item like spin art, flip books or a photo booth. Let’s face it, carnival game prizes are mostly trinkets that will be thrown away in a matter of days after the event anyways. Why not pay for a better experience instead of throw-away prizes?
Replace inflatables with rides: Inflatables are great attractions at a reasonably low cost that also fill up a lot of space. However, inflatables are very common, they’re at events almost everywhere you go. But what’s not at every other event is rides. I’m not saying bring in a full carnival, but instead of having a bounce house and a slide, why not do one small carnival ride for nearly the same price? Adding rides to your event will most certainly increase perceived value to your guests.
White tents instead of coloredtents: Tents can often be association with two things; Weddings and the Circus. As you can imagine, colored/striped tents are often referred to or thought of as carnival/circus tents because that’s what the “Big Top” tents look like. Large white tents are often referred to as fancy wedding tents because those are where they are most commonly found. White tents may cost a little bit more in the end (not much though), but it’s so worth the perceived value of a fancier and more upscale event.
Non-traditional games and entertainment: Surprise your guests with something they would have never expected at an event of it’s type. Add stilt walkers, jugglers, arcade games or digital games-something new and different. If you think about it, who would expect to see arcade-style games at an outdoor company picnic? Or stilt walkers roaming a school carnival?
These ideas and tips are just a few ways that we can recommend to help increase the value of your event without spending much or any more than you already are. Put yourself in the shoes of your event attendees, ask others what they’d like to see and get creative! Just remember, mix up your event, keep it fresh and new every year and think outside the box. If you have questions or would like to get more ideas from our event planning experts, please give our staff a call at 616-826-8220. We’re ready and eager to help make your event the most Memorable Event ever!
Before moving on, consider hosting the event at your facility. It’s possible that hosting your event at your business or organization is impossible. However, if it is possible, it may be the best option for many reasons. 
If you are planning an outdoor event, having a backup plan can be critical. Rain, strong winds, excessive heat, or sudden storms can quickly disrupt an event. A backup indoor location or covered shelter can help protect your event from unexpected weather conditions. However, many backup locations may not be large enough to accommodate every attraction or activity originally planned for the outdoor setup so flexibility is key .
Some venues and municipalities have restrictions involving:
Many organizations consider hosting events at theme parks or Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) because attractions and activities are already built into the venue. While this can sound convenient, there are important drawbacks to consider.
