Party Spy: Corporate Parties 101

Christmastime last year was, as ever, fun, exciting, and what-else-is-new busy. I didn't make it to every party that I was invited to. But I was invited to (and was a spy at) a so-chic corporate dinner party at the home of a CEO who (in my opinion) "get's it".

Here's what I mean: Rental halls are generic. Hotel banquet rooms are impersonal. And both are too vanilla and terribly "pedestrian".

Certainly venue ideas for corporate parties can be stretched beyond more than the boring standard. Besides, think of the room rental fees you'd save!

And don't even think about celebrating anything at work. Unless it's goodbye party for someone, your team isn't being given a real, much deserved corporate party.

Back to the party... I was seated next to a woman who wanted so much catering and event planning advice that I immediately thought... There must be a mix-up! I must be their guest speaker. And any minute now, I'm going to get "in trouble" (wait a minute, I'm past the age of getting in trouble, aren't I?), for fraternizing with the guests.

Of course this dinner was a "catered affair". So I tried to change the subject so that I could just sit there and scope out the other company's catering prowess.

The evening was delightful. Watching Mr. and Mrs. CEO talk was interesting. They were so beautiful and so, well, human. It was a great evening, listening to them describe their charity work and boards that they sit on, respectively. And here I am, in the midst of "the experience" - that so many caterers and event planners dream of, yet miss because their working. Paydirt. Totally.

It's funny, we expect hosts like this to be sort of superhuman - living their fortunate opportunities to have "the best of everything", including a beautiful corporate party once or twice a year. These people "get it". Team building a corporate team never actually quite happens with year-end, year out corporate party plans that are predictable, that always look the same. Bonding with the team just doesn't quite happen.

Your corporate team member's want to feel that they've been considered.

Do what this CEO did. Entertain the troops in a more personal style. He not only hosted his event at his home (held in a drop dead gorgeous tent, by the way), but he thought about his corporate party's entertainment and hired someone amazing. After dinner, a strolling magician made his way through the room amazing us with his card tricks. A larger company could hire an entertainer to perform for everyone at the same time.

People like to help. People want to help. People like to "do good".

If you're planning an elegant dinner party with some strolling entertainment thrown in, you could turn the party into a charity event as well, with donations made throughout the evening in support of your designated charity.

Our host made up a game with a 25 pound bag of ice, that was displayed in a attractive container on a sturdy table in the bar area, with Post It-sized pieces of paper and pens next to it. The bartenders made sure to tell everyone that the goal was to win a prize by writing down how many ice cubes they thought were in the bag. The generous prize for having the accurate (or closest to accurate) answer was an all-expense paid trip for two to Sonoma, in California's wine region.

Clearly, there are a gazillion corporate party ideas and corporate party themes you could come up with to plan a memorable corporate party - especially if it's a corporate holiday party. In fact, you could make it a corporate cocktail party, serving only great drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

You could host a corporate Christmas party Vegas-style. You could get your corporate group together and head out for a night of fun and gambling at a local casino (if that's a viable option), where you would also be able to get a meal thrown in (pre-paid, of course), and spend the next few days discussing the biggest winners and losers of the night.

Think of it this way, if you do your corporate party planning early and budget months in advance you can plan and host one, really fabulous and impressive corporate party that your team will brag about all year long. Not to fail to mention the great deals you'll get on your corporate party invitations, and all kinds of other good stuff.

I almost forgot this... I was the hired planner (and was also invited to attend; that never happens!) at the event mentioned above. And there are 12,681 ice cubes in one 25 pound bag of ice.

Other related posts:

Cater-Hater?
Using Twitter to Find a Caterer or Event Planner
Good Catering and Event Planning Party Deals
Get Cheap and Shameless Catering Deals
A Truth about Hiring Party Professionals
Are You a Party Visionary?
Parties at Home... Better & Back In Style!
Break the Rules to Save Money


Image source: garryknight

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