Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Don't Let a Gridlocked Traffic Jam Destroy Your Party

We all know what gridlock is. But, do you know what party gridlock is? Party gridlock is when you face the fact that the big, fancy wedding reception you've promised your daughter she'd one day have (that the two of you have talked about for years) won't happen because it's not affordable.

Another form of party gridlock is, you can't seem to figure out how to get the money together to have a much needed party that you feel like you should throw, because you feel like you're the chosen one, the one who should do it - the one who should throw a party to help cheer everyone up, and who, too, is going through a hard time and deserves to have a little fun.

But then, not thinking about what you want to do - host your daughter's wedding reception or have a party for your friends - to pass the time you start thinking about how everything seems pretty gridlocked (up) lately. And it appears to be true. There certainly are a lot of gridlocks lately, aren't there?

It's a pretty sad state of affairs. The economy: gridlocked and at a stand still, almost. Banks and Wall Street: credit seems to be turned off. Congress: packed with gridlocks. Vacations and cruises: going nowhere for the most part.

Vacation destinations and fun parties: frozen practically dead. Famous, rich people: Botox gridlocked - along with their egos and their publicity. Even Tiger Woods is under lock and key after Girls Gone Wild. Health care, public school systems, and cities are gridlocked. The list goes on and on, as you realize you really won't be able to host your daughter's dream wedding reception, which is sad for her.

But if you think about it there's one thing that doesn't have to be gridlocked: your daughter's wedding reception and that party that you wanted to give for your friends. There's help all over the place. You just have to let people know that you need help, is all. You put the word out and you'll start to get help with the food, with her bridal gown, flowers, everything!

People seem so bummed out and depressed lately that it's seems like they almost believe that beautiful wedding receptions and parties don't exist anymore. Don't you wish you could give these people some kind of little pill that would promise they'd never suffer from any type of gridlock syndrome again? It's as if someone told them, there's no such thing as a party - except theirs (if they were to want and have one). It's unreal. And even though they can't have a party, they think that what their party would be like is the only way a real party should look. Crazy.

Look at their parties. Look at the parties they've invited you to. Were they outstanding? Was there anything exceptionally memorable about any of them, except that maybe someone got drunk and made a complete fool of themselves, and left everyone talking about the disgrace of it for days on end? That is, if there was even that much to remember about their party. Yuk. Gridlocked again. Traffic still isn't moving.

You remember the days of lavish parties. Parties where they served good food, good whiskey, and Dom Perignon. None of this barbecue hamburgers and hotdogs thing, again. For some people, being able to have a great party was like giving yourself a badge of honor. There was no party gridlock then - it was merely a battle for who could host the biggest, best, and most expensive party.

But these days, it's a battle for wedding reception and party survival.

Here's the thing. My advice to the average mom, dad, sister, brother, friend, coworker, or family member is that there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't have some type of party that you want, even if you have to scale back your ideas. Some of you might wonder about this change in my attitude, given my usual view point on standards, style, and what's appropriate and what isn't. Nothing has changed very much here. Those remain as firmly gridlocked as ever.

But the thing is, I recognize that parties are a "want". But, in this instance having your daughter's wedding reception or some other type of party is more of a "need". I recognize, too, that there are a multitude of inexpensive ways you could go planning your party that would still bring everyone together and get everyone in a more upbeat mood - a minimalistic picnic or barbecue, a "jobs party", an open house, or a scaled back wedding reception. Today, anything goes because the majority of people out there are feeling the economic crunch, so to have any type of party will almost create a spectacle and is considered kind of a big deal.

It's weird. It's as if we're all in a reality show of our own casting and are desperate for a camera to follow us around to make us feel like we're okay or as if we're special. I mean, the perfect example what people post on YouTube. Think about this. If someone going by the name of Snooki from New Jersey can become a TV star, there's hope for everyone, right? What's it more about, the money or the notoriety?

I say, make the money and have a party. But, it's whatever you feel like. And, since this is about parties, it's whatever you want your party to be - and for some people that can change from hour to hour, when you get yourself out of gridlock and decide to have a party. Gridlock in parties has to be over, which gives everyone involved (all lay people and party professionals) a great opportunity to move on.

It's like a new reality. And, the party game is not to look like everyone else anyway. So, have a Salvation Army decorated-bring-the-stuff-you've-been-thinking-about-getting-rid-of party. Live to be daring and let the chips fall where they may.

It all comes down to the fact that a party is a celebration. And if you end up impressing those whom you invite, by having the most creative, yet scaled back, inexpensive party they've ever seen, you've won. You've proved that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. And, that it doesn't take goo-gobs of money spent on all kinds of stuff to call it a "party" and get people together to have a good time.

Ah, I hope this helped get you out of gridlock. Unfortunately, gridlock starts in the media before it starts in your mind. Those prognosticating talking heads will have you scared to do anything if you listen to them long enough. Prove them wrong. Prove all naysayers wrong who think you won't be able to pull off affording your daughter's wedding reception. Show those losers who think you're out of your gourd for wanting to boost spirits by raising when-it's-depressing-have-a-party consciousness who's large and in charge (you!).

Put your thinking cap on, plan a fun party, and let everyone that you know that gridlock season is over. Because gridlock isn't permanent. Gridlock is just a bad state of mind.

Image source: Wikipedia
Wedding reception New Jersey YouTube Tiger Woods Salvation Army House Home Relationships: Technorati Tags

Related Articles:
Parties in 2010
How to Enjoy Yourself at Any Party
How to Master a Hangover After a Party
Surviving the "Age of the Downward Party Curve" (What you should ...
A Caterer and Event Planner Warn You: Be Careful! Watch Out for ...
The World's Most Expensive Party
A Big Cardboard Box: The New Party Chic?
Aspiring Caterers and Party Event Planners: You're Going to Make ...
Are Caterers & Event Planners Parties Perfect? (Or, Are they Like ...
Food Secrets: Ten Foods that are Bad for You
Party Dressing to the Hilt
A New Year and Party Bad Words: P-Bombs
Keeping the Peace at your Holiday Party
Who in the Hell Do Some Caterers & Event Planners Think They Are ...
The Best Time to get a Deal on a Party
The Secret to Working with a Wedding Planner: It's in the Juice!