To those unfortunate enough to get stuck with the Christmas party brief this year, it is fairly obvious how it all goes down: the budget won’t go as far as anyone hopes, everyone is torn about the date, and you are expected to create something remarkable, without the time to do it. This is an honest guide about what you can do with it.
The Room is More Important Than the Theme
People spend way too much time worrying about the theme, and way too little time thinking about the venue. The right venue, with the right size, good acoustics, and access that people can actually reach it, can carry a party with no theme. A bad venue will kill the party no matter what is on the menu or how good the centerpieces are.
Getting the right size means getting everything else right. No matter what you do with the room, it will feel like disappointing event if there are only 50 people in a room for 200. On the other hand, if there are 50 people in a room for 60 people, then it will feel like a sold-out event. Book the room based on the number of people you expect, not based on how many you hope will come.
Make sure to check the venue in person before you book it. Pictures can be deceiving. A room that looks cool on the Internet could be just really dark and not ideal for conversations. What you see in the photos can seem positive, but what you will experience in person can be the complete opposite.
The Sit-Down Meal Conundrum
Most people think sit down meals are classier. They are not. They are more complicated and can lead to awkward situations. For example, vegetarians can get really annoyed if they get served 40 minutes after everyone else.
A good buffet is more enjoyable than an average sit-down restaurant. Buffets are more enjoyable than mediocre 3-course meals, because they are able to let you choose from more options and take control over how much you eat. It’s also nice because you get to eat at your own pace and it is less likely to get expensive, as you can control how much you eat There are only a few cases where sit-down meals make sense. If it is under 40 people and you do it right from a budget perspective. Otherwise, a good buffet is more practical and better, and it is completely okay to say that.
What Everyone is Thinking about Entertainment
Optional is always better than mandatory. A DJ is an obstacle, not a source of entertainment, and many won’t consider it entertainment when it is loud in a space where people are trying to catch up with each others. Other people won’t see it as entertainment when they have to ignore a space and a casino table won’t be seen as entertainment from people who are trying to chat.It’s assuming the activity will be enjoyed by the whole group which isn’t the case. It’\s better to give the option, do what you like. The group will either be productive about not participating, or the event will be better without the activity.
Thursday Is The Answer They won’t tell you
Thursday nights hit different. The cost of a Friday night are more expensive, and there are more traffic jams. With no family commitments, people with children plan to protect that time. Mid-week means no time to do chores with the family.
Start and finish at the same time. Give people time to do what they want and with a clear end time. It will be less stressful for people not to miss the last train, and those who wanted to keep the event alive will find a way. They always do.
What You’re Actually Trying to Do Here
Not the worst party ever. Something where people actually have a good time, no one is excluded, and the only Monday morning discussion is what the next one is going to be. Let that be the real aim of the event, and most of the choices along the way become a lot more obvious.
