Planning a Corporate Party? How to Host a Successful Corporate Cocktail Party

Have you been put in charge of the office cocktail party and want it go off with a bang? Read these useful and perhaps not-so-obvious tips on planning and giving the perfect corporate party.

GIVE THE DATE OF YOUR PARTY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

Spend a little time and thought when picking the right date for your corporate party. Choose a date that works for your business and staff to ensure maximum turnout. A mid-week date is usually a good choice as people have personal plans and commitments on Fridays and Saturdays. And try to avoid busy times for certain office departments. For example, avoid the quarterly or year-end rush for the finance department or clashing with the annual marketing roadshow.

GIVE ENOUGH NOTICE

Send out invitations about 10-14 days in advance and make sure you put RSVP on the invitation and whether or not the employees are allowed to invite their partners. Chase up the RSVPs three days before the party date so you can finalize the numbers.

LET YOUR BUILDING MANAGEMENT KNOW

Remember to notify your building management in writing that you are holding an office party.

SHORTER IS SWEETER

Corporate cocktail parties are typically held in the early evening and should not run too long. 6:00pm-8:30pm is a good time. By setting an end time, you can clear the venue out in prompt fashion and by keeping it short, you can ensure a better turnout. if you are going to have speeches, don't forget to make room for them in the schedule.

PICKING A THEME

If you pick a theme for your corporate party (and they tend to be more fun), try to carry it through to every aspect: from drinks, food, waiters' attire, background music, invitations and decorations.

Theme ideas:
1. Hollywood
2. Decades (the 20s, the 60s, the 70s, the 80s)
3. Famous couples
4. Color e.g. gold and black
5. Hawaiian Luaus
6. Country and Western
7. Kids (if you're giving a party for adults)
8. Shipwrecked / Pirates of the Caribbean
9. Wine tasting
10. Casino
11. Grease/Happy Days
12. Superheroes
13. Nuns and Vicars
14. Gangsters and Villains
15. Caveman
16. Greeks and Romans
17. Elvis
18. Countries and Cultures
19. Sports
20. Aliens
21. Superheroes and arch-villains

CREATE A MEMORABLE AND FRIENDLY WELCOME

Apart from the food and beverage staff, consider asking some staff to be greeters at the door. Not only can they take business cards and offer a cloakroom service, but it creates a friendly welcome from the start. Perhaps there is an opening activity to get people in the mood e.g. a cut-out photo opportunity (you know, the ones when you put your head in the space and end up with the body of a monster), or a giant autograph board. Or perhaps this is the moment that the Lucky Draw tickets are given out.

DON'T FEEL PRESSURE TO HAVE BACK-TO-BACK ENTERTAINMENT

Do not feel obliged to hire end-to-end party entertainers, play games or have speeches throughout the evening. There is nothing wrong with allowing your staff to talk casually and get to know each other in a relaxed social setting.

KEEP ALL SPEECHES SHORT

If you do have speeches, make sure to keep them short and if several people will be speaking you might want to break them out into two (or more) sessions.

Follow these tips and your office party should be a huge success!

Gemma Swansburg is a writer/researcher who has attended many a boring office party in her time. Maybe that's why she works from home now. Read Gemma's latest article, a set of Luminess Tan reviews the at-home self tanning system featured in Allure Magazine. For the best prices, special offers, airbrush make up tips and great before/after images for the Luminess airbrush system and other airbrush make up equipment, visit her site at airbrushmakeupfoundation.com.

Easy Holiday Party Planning Ideas For You

The Holidays are extra special because of all the parties and festivities. They can be as lavish or as simple as you want. While hosting a party at a fancy venue is always nice, a holiday party hosted in your home can be equally wonderful. Parties held in the home have a warm and cozy feeling and socializing is much more enjoyable.

Most holiday parties are held in the evening but they don't have to be. If you find your, as well as your friends and neighbors, evenings are already filled with special events, why not host a brunch, lunch or an early cocktail party. You can enjoy time with your family and friends and still enjoy the many evening holiday events already scheduled.

Your guest list should be well thought out. Do all the people have something in common so that conversation will be easy for everyone? If you plan on inviting couples, will there be an odd-man-out? Are your guests all women or men? Try and invite everyone at the same time so no one feels as if they were a last minute thought.

Food is a very important to a party. The easiest food to serve is finger food. It should be easily handled and not messy or sticky. The food you choose to serve should complement each other. The food table should be decorated in accordance to any theme you may be using and the food attractively arranged.

When preparing for your party, use any help you can. Using a caterer can take much of the stress of party planning off your shoulders. If you are preparing the food yourself, use any prepared items such as prepackaged salads or items from you local grocery store delicatessen.

Of course, you party would be less than perfect if you didn't have any decorations. Most holidays have themes that make decorating easy. Besides the typical decorations, be sure to add candles for ambiance and items that add sparkle to the occasion.

Music always adds something special to an occasion. Have your favorite holiday music playing softly in the background. If you or any of your guests play an instrument or sing, you may want to set aside a time for a performance for your other guests.

For drinks, try serving one specialty drink instead of providing a full bar. Offering wine, sodas and water and one alcoholic specialty drink will provide everyone with a beverage they can enjoy.

As the evening gets late, you may wish to put the alcoholic beverages away and offer coffee and some light snacks. Not only does this help your guests from over indulging in alcohol but also indicates the party is coming to an end. If any of your guests are unable to drive themselves home safely, it is your responsibility to make transportation arrangements for them.

Holiday parties should be filled with fun and laughter. Offering a great smile the minute your guests arrive at your door and providing a generous amount food and drink will provide a great start to your holiday party. Add stimulating conversation, festive decor and your genuine happiness that your guests are there to celebrate the holiday with you and you are guaranteed a successful party.

Next discover more detailed holiday party planning information for making your party the most successful and fun ever at http://www.idealpartyplanning.com.