Back to Blog

Growing Up Jewish - The BBC One b'mitzvah documentary

Have you watched the BBC One b'mitzvah documentary, yet? If not, you're probably the only one (other than the naysayers who pre-judge any TV shows on the BBC or about Jewish life)....

The b'mitzvah walk-in moment of truth

Imagine it... You're standing alone at the entrance of the party hall, everyone else is inside including your parents and siblings, your signature tune is pumping, everyone's cheering in anticipation, and you hear......

How important is community?

I've lived in the same town—Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, UK—for over 20 years. It's the longest I've lived anywhere. And I don't know if it's because this is where I started a family, or if it's the vibe of the place itself, but I quickly came to love the place.I'm known for investing heavily in my relationships. And that's as true for the people of my town as it is for my close friends and family.I'm inclined to whip out my controller (decks for anyone older than 40!) at the flip of a record...

Creating a theme the right way

Whether you're simply decorating a function room or going full hog dog on a fully emersive, fantastical eperience, choosing a theme can help you throw a party everyone loves.We talk a lot at JIGGLE.IN about who the party is really for. A lot of hosts—for all good and generous reasons—focus their attention on what their guests are going to enjoy. But the truth is, as long as you only invite people you love and who love you, all your guests will be genuinely delighted to immerse themselve...

How will my sensory processing sensitive child cope at their b'mitzvah?

That's often one of the first things I hear from parents enquiring about our DJing service for their kids' b'mitzvahs.And half the time it's an issue to do with their neurodivergency—autism, what people used to think of as Aspergers, ADHD, etc. One of these parents' main worries is how they'll be able to achieve the same ruach they see at other family simchas whilst accomodating their own or other guests' sensitives to various sensory stimuli like loud music, disco lights, big crowds, and...

It's NOT all about the b'mitzvah kid

That's what most of you say during our initial conversation about your kids' upcoming b'mitzvahs. I get it. It's a chance to laud them up, lavish them with praise, extol their virtues, and reward them with a moment of glory in what's bound to've been a journey of ups and downs to get them to this milestone.Of course it's all those things. But it's far far more than that. And it's not all the kid's doing.It probably took a small army of people to get them to this point starting with their main ca...

Your b'mitzvah is NOT an out 'n' out celebration [My simcha philosophy]

The conversation with me about booking a DJ, MC, or event manager typically begins: "We want a proper party, everyone on the dance floor, quite informal, something a bit different, nothing too over the top, pure fun, all about our kid." A year or two later there's a simcha party that can cost 10s of thousands to throw, bring in thousands more worth of gifts, and necessitate countless people travelling in often from abroad. And for what? 4 hours of frivolity after 30 minutes of laining or a d'var...

Israeli and Jewish simcha music play list [downloads]

Whether you've booked a DJ who doesn't have the right simcha music (the top simcha DJs of 2017 should be okay), or you just want to download the traditional hora set for 15 minutes of ruach at your bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah, here are 12 of our favourites:...

The Top Simcha DJs of 2017

So here we are: 2017's most popular DJs for bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs.We picked out the 15 most recommended simcha DJs from dozens mentioned on Facebook group Top Tips for Barmitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Mums & Dads! based on over 400 recommendations. We didn't include votes by the DJs themselves or their family members. So we're pretty sure our data is based on genuine recommendations.There've been a few changes since our last count back in 2016. The ever popular Lee Raw, Matt Frankel, and El...

Someone's gonna get ######!

Is it just me? Or is anyone else worried that tossing a kid 10 feet off the ground from a stretched out table cloth is going get someone seriously hurt? Now, nobody who knows me thinks I'm a killjoy. Far from it! Do you know anyone who parties harder? But, still, the last thing anyone wants is for someone to get injured... or worse. ...

Simcha Venues for NW London [map]

...

Bar Mitzvah is a bigger deal than Bat Mitzvah. Discuss.

Bar mitzvahs are usually a bigger deal than than bat mitzvahs. Boys' ceremonies often seem more religiously significant and their parties are often more elaborate than girls'. Right? This sentiment often manifests in the interminable explanation, "Obviously our daughter's simcha is going to be smaller than our son's." Why "obviously"? Here are 4 discussion points inspired by the International Women's Day #PledgeForParity....

The top 13 DJs for NW London Simchas as recommended on Facebook [directory]

All of these DJs have been recommended on Facebook group: Top Tips for Barmitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Mums! So, here we go, in alphabetical order... ...

Becks vs Nebs - 4 ways to challenge party negativity

It's not a term of endearment, that's for sure. Whenever I hear the word, I ask what people mean. (If you've said it to me, you know I've asked!) Here are some word-for-word definitions I hear over and over again: "Oh, you know. All they care about is what they look like." "The rich lot." "It's a clique. You've got to fit in or you don't belong." "They treat life like a popularity contest." "Make up." "I don't know. I mean I know what a beck is. But I can't explain it." ...

Simcha music playlist for a party rockin' bar mitzvah [download links]

We're constantly asked for an up-to-date simcha playlist. So here are some of our current favourites! We love partying with hardcore Israeli dancers as well as the more common street dancers. Why not? It's a big fat Jewish simcha, after all! BTW: Nothing against David and The High Spirit. They produced most simcha music you'll hear DJs play today. (I've included a couple of their tracks here.) But some of their stuff's been knocking about for 20 years! And there are more up-to-date recording...

How to deal with kids who take mobile phones to parties

"How do we deal with kids who bring mobile phones?" is a question asked by every client planning their simcha. Mobiles can be party-poopers at parties. They disconnect kids from the celebration and they reinforce cliques. It's a tall order to expect other parents to moderate their own kids' use of phones at your party, especially if their kids aren't accompanied. And enforcing rules isn't really in the spirit of a party. Here are a few ideas... ...

7 Hora Dance Tracks To Fill Your Simcha Floor [downloads]

You don't have to be Jewish to love spinning round like a meshuggener! Here are a bundle of tracks to download for your simcha. Hora away your tsuris, make you schvitz, get you verklempt (Yiddish translations)...

5 Non-Alcoholic Cocktails that hit the spot [Recipes]

A party's not a party without sophisticated cocktails. And why should the boozers get all the fun? Designated drivers, teetotalers, and under 18s need a sparkle, too. So here are 5 recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails everyone will love!...

Get thrifty: 3 money-saving simcha ideas your guests will love (if they notice at all)!

Too many people spend more than they can afford (or need to spend) on throwing a simcha party. In a b'mitzvah year (September to September), we find people end up spending more and more! (Any ideas why?) So we thought we'd share some of the money-saving ideas we've seen people use to great effect. And trust us, their parties were certainly no less memorable. If it's noticed at all, being thrifty can add even more loveableness!...

5 ways to work out the “going rate” for a present. #5 is the safest bet.

Ever fretted over how much to spend on a present? Thought so! Most people do. We've lost count of how many times this question comes up. So here's our definitive list of answers, and we've scored each method out of 5 for helpfulness and loveableness:...

16 Alternative Kippah Inscription Ideas (apart from "stolen from...")

Seen the "Stolen from..." kippah before, right? Hilarious in it's time. But scroll through 16 more you won't have seen before. (And don't forget to add your own ideas!) Contact us for more creative simcha ideas!...

The Wiggle Jiggle (line dance) goes viral! Yay! (Tutorial included)

How does the Wiggle Jiggle stack up against the Top 10 dance crazes of the modern era? Agado Cha Cha Slide Cotton-Eyed Joe Gangnam Style Harlem Shake Hustle Loco-Motion Macarena Oops Upside Your Head Time Warp ...

What word did you see first? [Game]

1. DJ 2. JIGGLEIN 3. COCKTAIL 4. JOHNTRAVOLTA 5. NOISE... 6. MUSIC 7. BOOGIE 8. BALL 9. DISCO 10. DANCEFLOOR 11. SOUND 12. LASER 13. STAGEACT 14. POPSTAR 15. INFERNO 16. BARMEN 17. STILETTOS 18. BASS 19. LOVE 20. SEVENTIES 21. TRAMPS 22. PASSION 23. JIVE 24. ABBA 25. STAGDO 26. SATURDAYNIGHT 27. RAVE 28. SMOOCHIN 29. TUNES 30. BOOZE 31. GYRATE 32. LIGHTS 33. PARTY 34. YMCA 35. STROBE...

DJ hire ain't just about disco lights, sound, and look. But it helps!

JIGGLE.IN is all about the party! That doesn't mean we neglect our kit. Far from it! Every light has to work hard for its place on our rig. That means plenty of photons, epic movement, effects, and excitement. On top of that, we have to think of safety, reliability, and... well... stuff we love using! Over 25 year we've worked out what we like, what gets our party-goers going, and what's safest and easiest to use and move around. Luckily disco lighting has come a looong way in 25 years! An...

Pro tip: look for face bombs in party photos

Some of our favourite memories are what we DIDN'T plan! True or true? Never exclude party photos because of an inappropriate face bomb or zombie face. Those are the images that capture the essence of your party!...