There’s so much that goes into an amazing party. If you’re not a natural when it comes to party planning, don’t get flustered. By implementing a few key tips, you’ll be able to throw a work party that your boss and co-workers will remember for a long time. Consider the following steps to plan a great work party.
1. Hire a Host
One of the reasons why work parties can be potentially boring is because there’s so much lag time in between entertaining features. Find a person who specializes in hosting. A stand-up comedian is an excellent choice because people come to a party for a light-hearted, good time. During times where people are looking for entertainment, the host can fill in those dead spaces.
2. Create a Vibe with Decor and Music
A great DJ and a beautifully-decorated venue will always set the tone. Even if you can’t afford a full-fledged DJ, set someone in charge of managing the various playlists that are used throughout the night. You can set one playlist for the cocktail hour that’s filled with jazz or R&B music. When the dance floor opens up, make sure there’s a playlist to suit the style as well. If you have a stunning venue, you won’t have to do much in terms of decor. Still, it’s nice to transform a room to get the ambiance you’re going for. Choose a theme. If it’s a holiday party, it’s pretty simple to develop according to the holidays. There are plenty of event decorators who can create a custom look based on the budget you provide. Do your research to delegate that portion of the grand affair.
3. Provide Excellent Food
When the food is good, it’ll be pretty hard for anyone to have major complaints. In many cases, people come to work parties with low expectations regarding the food. Blow their expectations out of the water with amazing hors d’oeuvres and drinks when they walk through the door. Make sure there’s more than enough food. Before you hire a caterer and plan the menu, do a survey of the attendees to find out if there are any dietary restrictions. You can also opt to build menus that are inclusive of vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters.
4. Get Creative with Entertainment
If you’ve booked a room that’s large enough, you can have different stations that are designed to entertain people. Have a game section where people can enjoy arcade games and rack up points. Set up a stunning photo display where a photographer takes photos of the guests. They can also take their own selfies. In a different area of the room, set up a giant fondue display. Make sure someone is in place to monitor and restock the food. Make a chocolate fondue fountain as well as a cheese fondue fountain. Along with wooden skewers, provide an array of fruit, meats, and breads for guests to enjoy with their fondues. You can also provide unconventional items like pretzel bread, candy, and vegetables. As long as it can fit on a skewer, it’s fair game.
Book entertaining acts that you’d potentially see at a carnival or a fair. Invite someone who’s able to walk on stilts throughout the crowd in a costume. Hire belly dancers or interpretative dancers who can fill up some time as they entertain the crowd. Make it a party worth attending and remembering. You can find entertainment rentals for game booths and other equipment as well.
5. Enlist Day-Of Help
When you’re trying to take care of all the moving parts of a party, you can’t get stuck on minor details regarding the centerpieces or the temperature of the food. This is why you’ll need to have help on the day of the party. If you’re hiring a caterer, make sure they know what time to arrive and all that’s expected of them. Get extra hands to take care of people’s coats, directives to the restrooms, and other important details. Everyone will naturally go to you for all of their questions when they’re getting to the party. The more help you have, the fewer questions you’ll have to handle.
Throwing a small house party with friends is pretty simple. With a work party, the stakes are a bit higher. However, by taking care of these details in advance, it’ll be hard to ruin the moment.
