While most of us enjoy attending parties, not everyone enjoys being the host. In fact, for many people, the prospect of hosting a large gathering may be stressful and off-putting owing to the sheer amount of labour that is required. It is your responsibility to send out invites, clean the house (if the event is being hosted at your home), set up the venue, organise food and beverages, play music on your Signals Hi-Fi, and ensure that everyone has a good time. With all of that pressure on your shoulders, it is difficult to relax and enjoy yourself. However, there are several things you can do to aid in your preparation and ensure that your party goes off without a hitch!
1. Decide on a theme
If you are holding a simple housewarming or birthday celebration, guests will show up in their jeans and nice shirts and will not necessarily make a big effort to dress up. While it may be plenty for your standard get-togethers, if you want something truly unique, consider establishing a theme for your gathering. As a result, you will notice that individuals are more imaginative in their attire and are more inclined to get into the spirit of the occasion than in previous years.
If you do decide on a theme, make sure it is clearly stated on your invites – there is nothing worse than showing up to a party unprepared to participate!
2. Participate in some enjoyable activities
Although it is possible to keep to traditional dancing, you may discover that some individuals prefer to hang out in the kitchen or along the sidelines if they are feeling a little self-conscious. It is more common for individuals to dance later in the evening, when they have had a few drinks.
It is possible to enjoy some lawn games outside throughout the summer – gigantic Jenga and hook a duck are always a hit with kids and adults alike. Games such as Cards Against Humanity, which may be played in a more relaxed setting, can be a great ice breaker.
Another entertaining option is to set up a ‘make your own cocktail’ bar where guests may choose from a variety of interesting glassware, decorations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and compete to produce the most creative drink.
3. Make an effort to bring together an interesting mix of people.
It is essential to take into account the chemistry that exists between people. You should consider leaving people off the guest list if you know there will be a few people who will respond negatively to one another or if tensions are high. If you know there will be a few people who will react harshly to one another, you should consider leaving them off the guest list if you can. It is OK to bring people from diverse friendship groups together; however, make certain that they all get along well with one another and participate in discussions with one another. Groups of individuals crowded together and not conversing with one another are the number one factor that detracts from the ambience of a party. Invite visitors who you are confident will ask thought-provoking questions and contribute to a lively flow of discourse.
4. Don’t forget the music!
Most people would agree that it’s not really a party without music, so this is something that you really need to make sure that you are focusing on as well. There are a lot of ways that you can approach this. You might decide to have a live musician or band playing, for example. To save money, you can hire a one-person band or solo performer. You’ll be amazed what they can do armed with a guitar, a couple of microphones, and a drum pedal from www.singularsound.com. Or you can opt for a DJ, which is great if you want an eclectic mix of music. However you do it, just make sure that you have thought long and hard about how you are going to get people up and dancing – because that is a really important way to create the perfect party atmosphere.
