Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Struhar.
Hi Matthew, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first noticed Foam Parties in 2021 scrolling through a friend’s feed — glittering clouds of foam, people dancing with giddy abandon, faces lit by surprise and joy. That friend was Mark Gibson, owner of Foam Party USA and Foam Party Pittsburgh, and after one phone call he took me under his wing and walked me through everything I needed to know. By spring 2022, equipment boxes had arrived and Foam Party Myrtle was officially born.
What started as a backyard experiment quickly became a community obsession: a simple idea that turned ordinary streets and resorts into playgrounds, uniting toddlers and retirees alike under a sea of suds that promised nothing more complicated than a good time.
Early doubts and the first test
Leaving a steady job to chase an unfamiliar dream drew skepticism from friends and strangers — and stirred a quiet fear in me that maybe I’d made the wrong choice. The first time I fired the cannon, I didn’t have a backyard big enough to test it, so I hauled equipment to my mother-in-law’s house and flipped the switch. Foam poured past the driveway, spilled into the street, and in ten minutes every 80-year-old neighbor was at the curb, gleeful and curious. I’d imagined foam for kids, but right away I realized: this was for everyone.
The cold calls and a bold pitch
For two months I knocked on doors at resorts, daycares, and churches, and heard more “maybe”s than yeses. Worry crept in until Melissa and I went to a BBQ festival in Surfside Beach. I decided in that moment to find whoever ran the event and pitch them. I found Tabitha, told her the crazy plan, and her response — “That’s exactly what we need” — came like a lifeline. A week later she called to book Foam Party Myrtle as a main attraction for the festival’s Fourth of July event.
The turning point
On the day of that festival my nerves were raw — would the equipment fail, would kids storm the streets unsafely, would anyone actually play? At noon I counted down: 3…2…1. When the cannons opened, the crowd erupted. The road became a shimmering ocean of foam; children dove in, parents laughed, and even passersby stopped to watch. In that moment I realized I hadn’t started a business so much as created a place for people to feel free and joyful — something much bigger than a gig.
Growth and expansion
In three years Foam Party Myrtle grew far beyond backyard birthday parties and daycare events. We now serve backyard parties, schools, churches, RV campgrounds, summer camps, beach resorts, community festivals and large-scale university events at places like Coastal Carolina and UNC Wilmington. We developed Glow Foam Parties that add an immersive, neon-soaked twist that’s become a crowd favorite.
Commitment to safety and quality
From the beginning, safety has been our priority. We use a top-rated foam solution that’s safe, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable, and we bring professional safety barriers and GFI-protected electrical setups to every event. Our team treats each booking like a promise: go above and beyond, protect guests, and deliver an experience that’s effortless for families and unforgettable for participants.
What’s next
As we head into our fourth year, we’re positioning Foam Party Myrtle as the premier foam entertainment company on the Grand Strand. Plans include adding “snow” events for off-season celebrations and continuing to broaden the types of events we serve. The service we provide is rare, but the reward is simple: watching strangers become a community for an afternoon, and seeing, as we like to say, smiles for miles.
It still gets me every time — watching a road, a parking lot, or a campus flood with foam and laughter until the ordinary becomes magical. That first driveway test taught me that joy is contagious, and three years later, the contagious part is the whole point.
By Matthew Struhar, founder of Foam Party Myrtle
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Early funding and equipment hurdles
Upfront cost for cannons, foam solution, barriers, and safety gear can be large and unpredictable; we struggled to know which suppliers and models to trust.
Learning to set up and test equipment (and dealing with the first chaotic driveway test) is a real technical and logistical challenge most new operators face.
Finding customers and winning bookings
Cold-calling resorts, daycares, and event organizers often brings many rejections before a yes, which is a common early-stage difficulty for startups trying to prove demand.
Getting event organizers to commit requires a concise pitch, proof (photos/video), and sometimes a risk-free first offer — tactics many entrepreneurs use to overcome initial resistance.
Fear, doubt, and personal risk
Leaving a steady job creates financial and emotional pressure; there was immense anxiety about whether the idea will work and fear of failure while income is uncertain.
Staying motivated through early slow months and persistent “maybes” is a typical challenge and requires resilience and a support system.
Operational safety and liability
Running public events raises safety, insurance, and compliance questions; reliable, non-toxic solutions and proper electrical/GFI setups and barriers are essential and require learning and investment.
New operators must budget for insurance and safety equipment and develop standard operating procedures to protect guests and the business.
Scaling while keeping quality
Once demand grows (festivals, universities), logistical complexity increases: staffing, transport, larger supplies, and maintaining consistent guest experience become harder to manage.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Foam Party Myrtle is a family‑run event entertainment company that creates safe, high‑energy foam and glow-foam experiences for all ages across the Grand Strand, and readers should know we focus on joy, safety, and unforgettable shared moments.
What we do and who we serve
We provide foam-party entertainment for backyard parties, schools, daycares, churches, RV campgrounds, summer camps, beach resorts, community festivals, and university events.
Our offerings include classic foam parties and immersive Glow Foam Parties, plus custom setups for festivals and large-scale campus events.
What we specialize in / what we’re known for
Immersive, family-friendly foam experiences that appeal to toddlers, teens, parents, and seniors alike.
Turning ordinary spaces — streets, parking lots, resorts, and campuses — into playful, photo-ready moments that guests remember and share.
What sets us apart
Multi‑age appeal: we design events so everyone from grandparents to preschoolers can play safely and have fun.
Quality and safety first: we use a top-rated foam solution that is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable, and we bring professional safety barriers and GFI‑protected electrical setups to every event.
Production value: our Glow Foam Parties add a unique, neon‑soaked layer that other local offerings don’t provide, making evening events visually spectacular.
Brand strengths and what we’re most proud of
Community impact: converting skepticism into community smiles — like the first festival count‑down that turned a crowd into a cheering, foam-covered playground — is our proudest achievement.
Reputation for reliability: we’ve grown from backyard test runs to being booked for major local festivals and university events, while maintaining hands‑on service and attention to detail.
Customer experience: we consistently go above and beyond client expectations, handling logistics, safety, and cleanup so hosts can relax and guests can play.
What we want readers to know
Foam Party Myrtle delivers a safe, professional, and joyful entertainment option that’s ideal for family events, community festivals, resorts, and campuses.
We prioritize guest safety and environmental responsibility through vetted foam solutions and proper event controls.
Whether you want a daytime backyard birthday or a glowing nighttime spectacle, we design each event to create memorable moments — as we say, “smiles for miles.”
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Melissa (wife): She provided emotional support, helped with on‑the‑ground tasks (logistics, setup, and client coordination), and stood beside me when I made the leap from a steady job to entrepreneurship; her encouragement kept me focused during slow stretches and gave me the confidence to keep pitching events.
Mark Gibson (mentor, Foam Party USA / Foam Party Pittsburgh): Mark taught me the technical and business fundamentals, answered questions when I was starting, and offered practical guidance on equipment, safety, and best practices — effectively accelerating my learning curve and reducing costly trial‑and‑error.
Surfside Beach community (Tabitha, Eileen and festival organizers): The Surfside Beach BBQ festival and Tabitha’s willingness to take a chance on your pitch provided the first major public booking and a showcase that proved demand, created word‑of‑mouth momentum, and led to more festival and community bookings.
How they helped the business succeed
Emotional and practical support: Melissa’s steady involvement made it possible to manage family life while building a business, and she helped with on‑site assistance, and troubleshooting during events.
Mentorship and know‑how: Mark’s mentorship shortened your startup learning curve by sharing equipment choices, safety protocols, and operational tips that protected guests and preserved your investment.
Opportunity and exposure: Surfside Beach’s festival gave you a high‑visibility stage to demonstrate the product live, turning skepticism into bookings and creating the viral, photo‑driven proof you needed to win resorts, schools, and larger events.
Pricing:
- We don’t list set prices because each event’s safety needs and production requirements vary. A backyard birthday for 10 five‑year‑olds requires very different staffing, equipment, and setup than a daycare with 25 ten‑year‑olds or a college event for 500 adults, so we prepare a personalized quote to match your group and goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FoamPartyMyrtle.com
- Instagram: @Foam_Party_Myrtle
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoamPartyMyrtle/
