Consider Funeral Candles for a Value Added Funeral Product

The flickering flame of a funeral candle provides a point for focus and serenity.  Personalize the container of this flame so that all who loved the deceased can reflect on the meaning of the life that was lived…. and the soul that has left this world.

Lighting candles is a practice that transcends cultures and centuries, religions and places.  Their many symbolic implications include meditation, affirmation, devotion, and channeling and it is proven to produce effects of serenity, focus and comfort in those who take part in it.  The presence of fire at funerals – whether in the form of torches or candles – is as old as mankind itself. 

Ancient peoples used torches for protective measures.  Since spirits, whether evil or good, were thought to be active only under the cover of darkness, candles and torches were used to prevent them from re-animating corpses or haunting the living.  More modern attitudes include the belief that the sputtering, dancing flame of a candle is a metaphor for human life and the firm glow symbolizes the soul.  Whatever the belief, funeral candles hold significance and inspiration to those who behold their glow.  With the advent of funeral specific software, funeral home professionals can now offer a beautiful, long-lasting personalized candle to client families.

Funeral candles are one of the fastest growing keepsake products in the funeral industry. With great ease, you can create a top quality, enduring and personalized gift that will touch your client families and will likely be used by them again and again.  Using funeral software to design the candle holder artwork is amazingly simple.  First, select from over 500 themes to create a background design that best reflects the pastimes or interests of the deceased.  Next choose one or more photos of the departed and drag to the indicated area on the template.  Finally, choose a message such as a poem or quote and add where it is directed.  

After you’ve printed on blank perforated stock, just detach the four sections and insert in the beveled glass sides of the candle holder.  Contained in a beautiful cherry wood base, you have just created a beautiful keepsake that your client families can take home with them.  Many clients light the candle on anniversaries to celebrate the life of their loved one, finding serenity and comfort in the flickering flame.  Some of these candles come with 100% all natural wax that is environmentally friendly and once burned away can be replaced with any candle of the client’s choosing.

This meaningful gift will touch your clients when presented to them, as many funeral home professionals do as a surprise token.  Coordinate to the design and theme they have chosen for the funeral stationery and the emotional impact will be that much greater.  As a business building suggestion, include in stationery packages so that multiple family members may have one and can bring home the life affirming symbolization of the eternal flame.

Frazer Consultants primary products and services include interactive funeral home website design, funeral tribute video software, funeral webcasting, funeral candles, funeral keepsakes, funeral register books, personalized funeral stationery, temporary grave markers and funeral holiday remembrance ornaments.  For more information, please visit http://www.frazerconsultants.com or call 866-372-9372.

A Funeral Directors Tool to Creating Amazing DVD Tribute Videos

Whether you have a creative bone in your body or not, creating a world class tribute video is a piece of cake with funeral software.  Quickly becoming a focal point of funeral services, the DVD tribute video brings mourners together with memories, laughs and tears.  It will be remembered by all who see it for years to come.

As a funeral home professional, you’re somewhat a “master of ceremonies” for an admittedly difficult occasion.  Expected to provide expertise in areas ranging from the legalities of funerals to providing top quality funeral stationery, you are the source of all funeral products and services that are necessary in creating a memorable and tasteful affair.  

Here’s a chance to step up your funeral homes level of professionalism and impress your clients with an amazing portfolio of customizable funeral items that you develop in your own office.  A truly impactful and often requested product is the DVD Tribute Video.  Using funeral software that has been created especially for funeral home professionals, you can indulge your inner film director and provide your clients with a product that will take center stage and engender a profound sense of unity among the funeral visitors.

In viewing a sample tribute video, you may wonder how such a professional quality product can be created by someone who may have limited computer skills, creativity or both.  You will be pleasantly surprised to learn that with funeral software you are guided step by step through the process – quickly and easily.  If ever you reach a stumbling block, technical assistance is a mere phone call away, 24 hours, 7 days a week. 

Customizing the tribute is essential in fostering a true sense of the deceased’s interests during life.  But, have no fear -- there are more than 500 different thematic options that have already been created from which to choose.  From firefighter to physician, gardener to antique car aficionado, you will find most hobbies, professions and interests represented.  After you have procured photographs from the client family, high-speed scan technology allows you to scan one photo every two seconds, and you can incorporate as many photos as you wish.  Video clips can be added as well – depending on your client family’s tastes, they may wish to portray his quirky sense of humor with a clip of him telling jokes, or remind visitors of his scholarly prowess with a recorded speech.  The key is to bring his essence to life so guests can share memories and emotions as they pay him tribute.

A true film is nothing without music, and tribute videos are no exception.  Ask your client families to provide tracks of the deceased’s favorite tunes, or choose from an online library of music which includes exclusive licenses with top musicians as well as royalty free songs.  The software automatically sets transitions so music is synced to photo and screen changes.  Photo touch-ups are a breeze and professional motion effects pan and zoom to place emphasis on specific elements as you wish. Other exceptional qualities of the software are the ability to upload to the internet and network so you can share projects between computers.

DVD Tribute Videos are quickly becoming essential at funeral services.  Be sure your funeral home provides the best and highest quality videos available today.

Frazer Consultants primary products and services include interactive funeral home website design, funeral tribute video software, funeral webcasting, funeral candles, funeral keepsakes, funeral register books, personalized funeral stationery, temporary grave markers and funeral holiday remembrance ornaments.  For more information, please visit http://www.frazerconsultants.com or call 866-372-9372.

How to Prepare Your Child for a Pageant or Talent Show

When it comes to the talent portion of a pageant, usually any type of on stage performance will be acceptable.  However, if you want to help your child set themselves apart from the other contestants; here are a few tips so that you can be sure they are well prepared. 

1.    Select Their Strongest Talent.  When your child is deciding what talent to portray in a pageant or talent show, be sure they select an activity that they are comfortable with and in which they have some experience.

2.    Develop Their Talent.  Believe it or not -- not everyone was born a great singer or dancer overnight without any lessons or practice.  With the help of a dance teacher or music coach and practice, you can help your child turn a modest talent into a strong performance.

3.    Project Confidence.  If your child’s talent involves performing a song, be sure they select a song that they enjoy and are comfortable with.  This will make them appear more confident in front of the judges and audience. 

4.    Practice in Public.  Before the big talent show or night of the pageant performance, look for opportunities for your child to perform in recitals, church or community groups.  Performing in public will help your child obtain the practice of performing before an audience and to learn what areas of their routine are well-polished and which ones still need help.  Performing in front of family and friends can also be an ego boost for your child’s self-confidence if family and friends come to see them perform.

5.    Have an Alternate Song or Music Selection.  Some national pageants will only permit one contestant to perform to a given piece of music.  Be sure your child has a back-up routine ready should something go wrong.

With a little creativity and a good attitude, the talent portion of a beauty pageant is what can set your child apart from the rest of the contestants.  Encourage your future star to express his or herself through their talents, whether that’s signing, playing a musical instrument or dancing.   No matter what your child’s talent, be sure reminding them the purpose of the talent show or pageant is for them to have fun.

Wagner Dance & Music offers special packages to help prepare students for the talent portion of beauty pageants. If your child is interested in competing in a pageant or other talent show these dance packages will help prepare them. Work with professional choreographers and dance teachers to tune your child's talent to show their best.

About Wagner Dance and Music
Since 1989, Wagner Dance and Music, a performing arts school, has been teaching East Valley students. Our 3600 square foot Gilbert facility is conveniently located on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Guadalupe in the Big Lots plaza. We offer classes for ages 2 to adult in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tumbling, Cheer, Musical Theater and Voice as well as adult classes.  For more information about Student Appreciation Day or to sign up for a class, visit http://wagnerdancearts.com or call 480-892-7179.

Tribute Video Software for Funeral Professionals

As tribute videos are gaining in popularity, there is a need for funeral home professionals to be able to create them to save their client families frustration, time and money.  With tribute video creation software, you have every tool you need to create a world class, stunning and personalized video tribute.

Video tributes are among the most requested items that client families have been making to create a truly personalized funeral service.  As opposed to a static presentation of photographs attached to boards, tribute videos have the power to completely transform the emotional tone of the service. 

Making a tribute video itself is a breeze. With three simple steps, importing photos and videos, editing to suit your needs and burning to DVD, you have created a video tribute sure to impress. 

Importing the Photos and Video:  With high-speed scan technology, you can scan one photo every three seconds.  Furthermore, you can use as many or as few photos as you wish. 

Once scanned and uploaded you can select a coordinating template to match with your funeral stationery and other items.  With more than 500 Life Journey themes to choose from, your client family will not have difficulty finding a theme to express their loved one.  Representing the vast majority of hobbies, professions, service and religious affiliations, the life journey themes help establish a foundation of who the deceased was during life. 

There are more than 80 moving video clips available that promote the ethereal elements such as waterfalls, clouds, sunrises and animals express the life - death - rebirth cycle of nature.  Of course, your client families may wish to use personal videos if they choose. 

Editing the Tribute:  The software automatically sets transitions from screen to screen for you and syncs music to movement with the smart movie creation technology.   A photo editor feature allows you to touch up a photo, reduce red eyes and restore color.  You can also add professional motion effects to each photo with pan/zoom technology.  It takes only seconds to do and adds vibrancy and dynamism to the video that will keep viewers engaged.  

The software also provides a selection of Hollywood style introductions and endings to the video that add to the professionalism of the final piece.   An online music library with artists that have been exclusively licensed can help set the tone.  Music ranges from vocal to instrumental and provides comfort, hope and meaning to services.  Or you can use music selected by client families. 

Burning to DVD:  Once your tribute video is complete, with a click of the button you can burn it to DVD.  Create as many copies as the families wish to purchase and remind them that they can always reorder more later too.

Creating a moving and fully customized presentation, tribute videos have an extended life as far as keepsakes go.  Putting together a world-class video in-house is unbelievably easy with the tribute video creation software. 


Frazer Consultants primary products and services include interactive funeral home website design, funeral tribute video software, funeral webcasting, funeral candles, funeral keepsakes, funeral register books, personalized funeral stationery, temporary grave markers and funeral holiday remembrance ornaments.  For more information, please visit http://www.frazerconsultants.com or call 866-372-9372.

Benefits of Dance

Not only does dancing make you feel great – there are several other benefits to participating in a dance class.

Dancing Your Way to Healthy
Dancing is a great way to get kids and adults alike off the couch and moving towards a healthier mind and body.  Studies show that dancing can help you lose weight, stay flexible, reduce stress, and diminish depression.

Weight Loss:    Aerobic dancing can help you lose weight.  According to a study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, an aerobic exercise program was as helpful in weight loss as was jogging and cycling.

Flexibility:  Almost every move your body makes during a dance class is essentially increasing your flexibility and reducing stiffness.  A more flexible body also means decreased joint pain.
Stress Reduction:  The best remedy to a stressful time is to get moving.  Dance and the accompanying music can release tension and stress according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

Ease Depression:  Dancing really can lift your spirits and improve your mood!   Studies have concluded that patients who suffered from depression were able to reduce their symptoms by participating in an upbeat dance group.

Dancing Improves Memory
Along with the benefits of having better balance, dance helps your mind age gracefully!  The New England Journal Medicine published a study that showed that dancing may actually boost your memory and prevents you from developing dementia as you age.  Aerobic exercise has also been shown to reverse the volume loss in the hippocampus – the part of your brain that controls memory.  Normally, as people age, the hippocampus naturally shrinks leading to impaired memory and even dementia.

Helping Your Heart
For those at risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to family history or sedentary lifestyle, dance is a great option to improve health.  An Italian study found that patients with heart failure improved their health by dancing the waltz.  In the controlled group study, patients breathing capabilities and quality of life improved significantly over a second test group that exercised by walking, biking or using a treadmill.

Dance for More Energy & More Friends
Yet another study published in The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition has found that adults who participated in a weekly dance class can increase the energy levels.  Additionally, dance classes provide an ideal opportunity to meet new people and to socialize.  Having positive relationships is as important to a person’s well-being as is having a healthy body.

About Wagner Dance and Music
Since 1989, Wagner Dance and Music, a performing arts school, has been teaching East Valley students. Our 3600 square foot Gilbert facility is conveniently located on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Guadalupe in the Big Lots plaza. We offer classes for ages 2 to adult in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tumbling, Cheer, Musical Theater and Voice as well as adult classes.  For more information about Student Appreciation Day or to sign up for a class, visit http://wagnerdancearts.com or call 480-892-7179.

Print on Demand and be in Control of your Funeral Stationery

Revolutionize your funeral home operations with incredibly easy stationery production.  With templates that allow for personalization of all stationery and print on demand features, you eliminate the print house – and your frustration.

Modern society moves at a fast and furious rate, needing everything immediately.  In our competitive world, if it’s not provided when the customer wishes, there’s always the next guy down the street.  But this is only if the customer is not able to do at home whatever it is that’s needed.  With technology available to practically everyone, and software programs that do many things that used to be done only by professionals, it’s not difficult to become an expert at almost anything!  Small businesses also are enjoying the many benefits of moving services in-house.  Funeral homes have welcomed it too, particularly the ability to print-on-demand.

With software designed specifically for the funeral industry, creating funeral stationery is exceptionally easy.  Templates direct you where to place content and there are 500 beautiful themes that represent almost every profession, religious belief, hobby or interest.  With the print on demand feature, there is absolutely no need to deal with the frustrations that accompany working with print houses – missed deadlines, errors in content and restricted options.

After you’ve designed customized stationery options - such as register book pages, memorial folders, prayer cards, acknowledgements, bookmarks, signs, DVD packaging, and even candles – you print on blank perforated stock the exact quantity needed when you need it.   If more visitors than expected attend the service, you just print more copies of whatever you require.  A drastic change from in the past when you would have to order each item in set quantities with minimal design options.  The items would need to be stocked and re-orders needed to be well planned in order to maintain inventory.

The funeral home can use its own printing equipment or a low fixed cost per page program.    Although comparable in cost to pre-printed stationery, print on demand offers so much more flexibility and ease of mind in avoiding all the potential pitfalls of working with print houses.
The combination of software with so many options in design and the simplicity of blank perforated stock that can be used for almost every funeral stationery item desired streamlining your operations immensely.  No planning is needed, no missed deadlines are worried about.  You have all the control right there in your funeral home.  Furthermore, you have so much more to offer your client families.   Revolutionize your funeral home and look into software with customizable templates and print-on-demand features. 

If you haven't already done so, consider switching from outsourcing your funeral stationery printing or using generic templates to utilizing the latest funeral software.  The ease at which you can provide a fully customized funeral in minutes will amaze you and please your client families as well.

Frazer Consultants primary products and services include interactive funeral home website design, funeral tribute video software, funeral webcasting, funeral candles, funeral keepsakes, funeral register books, personalized funeral stationery, temporary grave markers and funeral holiday remembrance ornaments.  For more information, please visit http://www.frazerconsultants.com or call 866-372-9372.

How Kinderdance Can Help Your Child’s Development

Kinderdance is a dance, basic gymanastics and fitness program designed for children ages two and up.  Children who begin learning to dance at an early age receive the benefits of not only participating in a dance fitness program, but also the class will help a child’s development at the same time. 

Child development can be divided into four categories:  cognitive development, physical development, social and emotional development, and communication skills.  Because these areas of development overlap, one category is reinforced and enhanced by growth in others.   Enrolling your child in a Kinderdance class enhance the development of all four areas of child development.

Cognitive Development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains understanding of his or her world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors.  It has been said that early movement experiences are beneficial to optimal brain development. The stimulation children receive from dance combined with decision making exercises leave children with a mind ready to absorb information and learn new things.

Physical Development is important to anyone over the age of two years of age.  Thirty minutes of moderate endurance-type physical exercise can help children develop basic motor skills, laying a foundation for an active childhood which can motivate them to participate in other activities for years to come.

Social and Emotional Development includes a child’s development of self – including self-awareness, self-regulation and his or her ability to interact and react with other people.   Dancing together with others, helps children not only build their self-esteem but also see and appreciate that others are different than themselves.  Such peer activities can also help a child gain personal control and can lengthen their attention span. 

Communication Skills are certainly an important skill for every child to develop.  Many children learn by touching everything as they learn.  Kinderdance helps children learn by watching others, and learn how to follow audible clues, such as clapping their hands to the beat of the music.

Some of the dance techniques that can be taught during a Kinderdance class are ballet, tap, tumbling and creative movement.  In addition to being a beginner dance class, Kinderdance helps develop gross motor skills, movement creativity, fitness, and body awareness.  During each Kinderdance class, age-appropriate music and songs are incorporated. 

Children will need pint ballet slippers and any color leotard, with or without tights for Kinderdance 1.  Those children enrolling in Kinderdance 2 and Kinderdance3 will also need black tap shoes.

About Wagner Dance and Music
Since 1989, Wagner Dance and Music, a performing arts school, has been teaching East Valley students. Our 3600 square foot Gilbert facility is conveniently located on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Guadalupe in the Big Lots plaza. We offer classes for ages 2 to adult in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tumbling, Cheer, Musical Theater and Voice as well as adult classes.  For more information about Student Appreciation Day or to sign up for a class, visit http://wagnerdancearts.com or call 480-892-7179.