The business of making parties

One year after Jewish singles met on the dance floor of the Media Club for the first Love Potion party, Michael and Rory Present are bringing the magic elixir back. Jewish party-goers in their 20s and 30s can, once again, knock heels at Love Potion 2003 Feb. 15.

And, if planning parties in the Lower Mainland were not enough for the dynamic duo, Michael (Horowitz) and Rory (Richards) Present are taking their entrepreneurial, let's-get-Jewish-kids-together enthusiasm across Canada. They now have plans to co-sponsor a Feb. 22 party in Calgary, as well as to host one for Toronto in April.

It seems the reputation of Michael and Rory events has preceded the duo out east and requests are coming in for them to throw a party in almost every major city in Canada. As well, Richards and Horowitz feel if the momentum gets going, they could expand their enterprise to cities south of the border.

"I don't think anyone is doing what we're doing the way we're doing it," Horowitz said in an interview with the Bulletin.

"Coming to our parties is like walking into a nightclub in Tel-Aviv," added Richards. "You know that 99 per cent of the people are going to be Jewish."

Word of the parties, which have included Love Potion last February, Aviva Las Vegas in March, Club Shmooze in May, Rosh last August and Jewcy in November, has spread by word of mouth from people on the West Coast to friends across Canada. As well, the two organizers have developed a comprehensive e-mail list that allows them to connect with interested Jewish adults directly.

Right now, the two, who are both self-employed professionals, are doing all the work of organizing the events in their spare time. They hope that, as momentum gathers, enough income will be generated from each party that they will be able to fund subsequent parties and, if all goes well, maybe a Shabbat dinner or two for singles in the Lower Mainland. They also plan to continue their custom of donating 10 per cent of party profits to the federations in the cities where the parties are held.

The upcoming Calgary party, Hava Na BEERa! Jewish Booze 'n' Shmooze, will take place at Ceili's Pub in downtown Calgary, 513 8th Ave. S.W., on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. Couples and singles are welcome. There will be live music. The party is actually being hosted by Party Jew Crew-Calgary and co-sponsored by Michael and Rory Present. Space for the party is limited so RSVPs are advised to e-mail partyjewcrew@yahoo.com.

In April, Michael and Rory Present will be throwing a signature party in Toronto. Visit www.michaelandrory.com to stay tuned.