Party Planning

The key to a great party is ensuring that it "travels" from one planned event to the other -- in a timely manner.  This includes getting every one to the dinner table if it's a sit down dinner.  It means ending one planned event and moving to the next smoothly.  This is critical to keep your guests entertained.

One of the major duties -- or you could call it privileges -- of hosting a party is that of "traffic manager."  That takes the description of host to a mundane level but it does effectively describe what's required of a good event:  that it doesn't get stuck in a traffic jam with no way of escaping.

If you've ever attended a party where the participants can't get past the talking portion and into the dining room for dinner -- or maybe just two or three -- then you know exactly what I mean.  It can be a host's nightmare.

Don't let this happen to you.  You need to put your "Officer Friendly" uniform on and keep the flow of traffic traveling at the speed limit with no jams.

What's all this talk about
"progression" mean, anyway?

And this isn't as difficult as you might think.  There's even a name for it.  It's called "party progression."  When an individual talks about a party's progression, he's usually referring to the fact that the party takes place in various venues.  Rather it progresses from one location to another.

And that doesn't mean it roams throughout town (although some events, called "progressive dinners" do exactly this.  They move from one person's home to another for the various courses!).  The movement could be as simple as pre-dinner drinks in your living room, to dinner in your dinner room and dessert on your patio.

And this is very effective "trick" of party planning.  Because your guests must move, it makes a natural transition.  But beyond that, such a transition adds interest to the party. 

A sense of anticipation builds as the guests travel from one place to another.  And if you can manage to get different individuals meeting and mingling a different set of people with each venue ... well, you've got a real winner of a party.

Coaxing your guests to move

Here's a quick overview of how you can carry this off with ease.

As your guests arrive, direct them to the room in which the drinks are being served.  This venue can be designed for a "cocktail party" as well.  As you recall, a cocktail party either has enough room for all to sit or have enough people standing that they don't feel awkward doing so. 

You may have some soft music playing in the background.  Make a few appetizers and hors d'oeuvres available for your guests as well.

As the time approaches to serve the main meal, gently invite your guests into the next venue.  This may be the dining room.  But depending on the size of your various rooms, you may have converted your living room into the dining area for the evening. 
Some people prefer to use the patio for this purpose as well.  This works especially well if it's warm outside.  Guests can linger on the patio until it gets chilly.

And then you can bring them inside for dessert, coffee and after-dinner drinks.  Or if you prefer, you can serve the main meal inside and adjourn outside to the patio lit by some party lights or tiki lights.

Do you see how easy it is keep the party moving?  It's really quite simple.  And with each move, may naturally strike up a conversation with a different guest --- hopefully someone they don't know quite that well ... yet.

Tap the talents of your guests

One way of keeping boredom away and the party flowing is by tapping the natural talents of your guests.  Of course, in no way do you want to put them on the "spot," making them feel uncomfortable.  But asking a guest to play the piano a little or another to sing, can be a great way to raise the excitement level of a party that seems as if it's a little flat.

You know your guests, so don't be afraid to ask them even before the date of the party, if they would be willing to jump in to help save it with their expertise.

I've seen this principle in action when there was just a group of four of us gathered together.  My friend and I went to visit a married couple.  He noticed their piano, and asked permission to play (because he just can't keep his hands off a piano -- and he is good).  The next thing I knew our one friend was sitting next to him singing.

From there, the conversation went to pianists and composers.  One of our hosts jumped up and out of the room to bring out some old records.  The evening took a wonderful and quite unexpected turn simply because of that single act.

Sometimes taking control of the traffic flow means entertaining when the "red light" prior to dinner lasts a little longer than you thought.

The big event.

Okay, this may sound a bit corny, but believe me, it works.  Every party really needs at least one event that draws a focal point for the group.  You may want to plan a game or a contest.  In some cases, it may be the act of toasting the guest of honor.  Some parties have "The Dance" that creates the focus.

If you plan this, then helps to keep the party moving, mixing and keep everybody having fun.

Plan on implementing at least one of these events.  But in addition, you may also want to have several more as back up plans.  If your original idea doesn't work as you hoped, you can always fall back on plan be.

For example, have a trivia board game on the coffee table -- something even as simple as an old Trivial Pursuit game.  If any of your guests are like me, they really don't need to actually play the board game aspect.  They'll open the box, dive right into the questions and start asking. 

You never know what guests will be attracted when they hear certain questions.  And you'll never know where that may take the next turn of events.