I hate to say it and sound like a social biscuit, but my social calendar is ridiculously booked. This weekend I traveled out of state to attend a friend’s birthday bonanza. Honestly, there was a birthday, but I was looking all over for the bonanza. I was sorely disappointed when his apartment was littered with 20 party hungry guests and he resorted to putting on old college videos that only 2 people knew anything about.
I looked around at the looks on the other guests’ faces and you would have thought they were at a chess tournament. If it was my party, I would’ve livened things up a little with some games, some fun drinks, some jokes, and a little bit of guest involvement…but it wasn’t my place. So I sat….and sat……….and sat.
Please. I beg you. Help the world put an end to boring apartment parties and parlays. If you are going to be entertaining this holiday season or at anytime in the future, keep these simple 5 steps in mind to help your guests boogie down. Check it out:
One- The Invitation
Make sure that you have a high energy, fun invitation that grabs your guest’s interest and makes them excited about your shindig. Fun pictures, jokes, and taglines always help. Use exciting verbiage that gets people up and going.
Two - Greet Your Guests
When a guest arrives, greet ‘em! Don’t just let them enter your apartment and uncomfortably attempt to integrate themselves into an already mingling group. Be at the door to shake their hands and make them feel welcome. The sooner they feel welcomed, the sooner they’ll let themselves have fun. Then introduce them around and be a true host of the party.
Three- Ambiance
You’re throwing a party. You’re entertaining in a situation that should be fun, interesting, and exciting. You must set the ambiance. Change your lighting to create a different mood or move your furniture around. In a normal situation, your apartment layout is set up for just living, but now you have to get it ready for entertaining! Have fun with it. If your ambiance isn’t fun and open, your guests won’t feel it. Throw music on in the background, but try not to make it too loud where people have to scream over it.
Four - Make it Involving
How many parties have you been to where you are just standing around eating or drinking? LAME! Give your guests something to do. Have something planned that gets them involved. Play a game, give away door prizes, sing songs, anything entertaining that can draw some laughs will get your party bumpin’! (BTW- Remember to be aware about your neighbors and not disturbing them…unless they’re at your party…and they should be!)
Five- Fun Food and Drinks
Beer and pretzels are a great little snack for you and a couple of buddies watching the game, but if you are truly entertaining you need to have fun food and a variety of great drinks. Unique food and hors’ dourves will leave your guest pleased and keep them interested. Try California rolls instead of pizza rolls or chocolate covered pretzels mixed with peanuts rather than just one or the other.
It’s also always good times to create a themed drink for the night and give it a fun, applicable name that breeds interest and laughter. Some friends of mine created Yucca Juice which was a simple variation on the traditional margarita with some other added goodness. The important thing to remember is to have fun with it. If you have fun, than the guests will follow!
Keeping those five simple steps in mind when you are throwing your next party should have your guests saying how much fun they had at your party and asking when you are going to have another one rather than have them dreading ever setting foot in your place again. Remember…HAVE FUN!
