How To Throw A Great Party!

Everyone loves a good party. Learn how to throw a great party, impress your friends, and avoid catastrophe!

Parties are fun. Or, at least, they are supposed to be fun. Throwing a good party takes a little bit of skill, especially if you actually want to be able to enjoy the gathering yourself. But if all goes well, a house party can provide hours of entertainment for guests and hosts alike – without resulting in disasters that will need to be dealt with the next day.

Size Matters

When you think of a party, do images of a huge, out-of-control bash come to mind? Or do you think of a more private, slightly calmer gathering? Before you start inviting people, determine what kind of party you want to throw and how many people should attend.

Also take practical considerations into account. Even if you want to throw a huge party, you may not have the money, space, or tolerant neighbors necessary. The noise levels, the amount of food and drink consumed, and the potential danger of things getting out of control are directly correlated to the size of the party. Once you have settled on an appropriate size, start inviting people. Make sure to tell guests if they bring people with them, and if so, how many people.

If you really want to throw a large party but do not have room at your home, consider throwing the party at an alternate location. You might be able to rent a bar or restaurant for the occasion, although this will of course increase the cost of the party considerable. You might also be able to cohost the party with a friend who has a larger house.

Pick a Good Time

A good party requires a good turn out. True, you may not want a huge party, but you still want people to attend. People are more likely to go to parties held on Friday or Saturday nights. Additionally, neighbors are less likely to complain about noise that occurs on these days. You should also try to make sure that your party does not conflict with other popular events.

Be Courteous to Your Neighbors

A good party will create some noise – there is no way getting around this. To avoid potential conflicts, you should inform your neighbors that you will be throwing a party. If they now about the noise ahead of time, they will be less likely to get annoyed and call the police. You might want to invite your neighbors to the party, too. Even if you know they would not want to attend, it is always nice to be invited. Once again, they will probably be more tolerant.

You should also try to keep noise levels to a minimum, especially in the late hours of the night (or early hours of the morning). The music does not have to be so loud that you can feel it, at least not at two o’clock at night. If guests are yelling, kindly remind them of the late hour.

Supply Entertainment

Sometimes guests will find ways to entertain themselves, but you should not count on this. You should arrange for various forms of entertainment ahead of time. Drinks and snacks will be expected.

*Veggie trays, meat and cheese trays, maybe a BBQ, chips, dips (Ranch dip, Onion dip, Guacamole, Spinach dip etc..), chicken wings, shrimp cocktail, etc...

Music is also mandatory but pick appropriate music for your guests and atmosphere. You should also try to think of activities that are a little more interactive. For example, Karaoke, Twister could be a lot of fun, even though they are a bit cheesy... make sure it is something to get people up, moving and interacting with each other.

*Photo-booth or photo area maybe with a backdrop or some decorations are always great. Buy a few disposable cameras or leave someone in charge of taking photos and see what comes out. People love having their pictures taken!

You could also chose a theme that all of your activities and decorations will match. You could even request that all of your guests dress in costume or specific colors; costumes do not need to be saved for Halloween.

Don’t limit yourself to the above suggestions; they are just meant to get the ideas flowing. When it comes to entertainment, you should be creative. If you are able to think of something truly unique, you guests will remember the party for years to come.

Be a Good Host

Once the party has started, your responsibilities are not over. You need to be a good host. Mingle with the guests and remember to introduce new people. Offer people food and drinks, and make sure that everybody has, or knows how to get, what they need.

If your guests are shy, you will need to break the ice. Start dancing, and soon others will follow suit. If you look like you are having a good time, others will be more likely to enjoy themselves, too. If you are throwing a large party, you may want to ask a friend or two to help with some of the more enjoyable hosting duties.

Put Away All Valuables

You will not be a good host if you are constantly worrying about your antique coffee table, the Picasso you have hanging in the living room, or the urn that holds you beloved grandfather’s ashes. Put your valuables away before the party begins. That way, you will be able to focus on your guests and not you belongings.

Be Responsible

A good party is a safe party. Assuming that you are an adult and that your guests will be adults, you will probably be serving alcohol. After all, alcohol is a great social lubricant, and people tend to expect it at parties. Just make sure that you are a responsible host.

When it comes time for the guests to leave, make sure that they have a safe way to get home. You can either arrange for a designated driver or you can make sure that people have enough money to pay for taxis. If a guest has been drinking and has no alternative way to get home, allow that guest to stay over for night.

Have Fun

Very few parties are carried out without any problems. Most likely, something will go wrong, and things will not go exactly according to plan. However, if you follow the above tips and use a bit of common sense, you should be able to avoid complete disaster. So when the party starts to stray from your well laid out plans, just relax and go with it. After all, it is a party – have fun.

Some ideas from: http://www.googobits.com/articles/p3-765-how-to-throw-a-great-party