A work party can either be a hoot, or a dull evening where people hurry to make their excuses to leave. To ensure that your event is the former, you need to put some time and effort into the planning. We have gathered five tips to make your staff event one for the history books. Read on to find out how:

Gather a Goody Bag:

There are some VIP events where the goody bags are so good that people attend just to get their hands on the swag. You don’t need to go this far, but some carefully chosen freebies can put the icing on the cake at the end of a great night. Fun promotional products are a popular inclusion, or for something different, you could put together a post-event survival kit. Whatever you choose, make sure that you have enough for everyone who attends – you don’t want the people who missed out to leave your event with a bitter taste in their mouth!

Choose a Theme:

A theme can make an event particularly memorable. When choosing one, consider your event attendees, your venue (if this has already been locked in) and your budget. Some well-liked options include choosing an era like the 1920s or 1950s, a casino party, a masquerade ball or a Mexican Fiesta. For extra points, see if you can find something that is authentic to your brand.

Having a themed event gets people talking in the lead-up and creates a fun atmosphere on the night. If you are asking people to dress up, try to choose something that encourages creativity but isn’t too elaborate and challenging, as this may be off-putting for some.

Incorporate Some Entertainment:

To avoid a quiet room of subdued work colleagues munching on canapes, you might like to hire some entertainment to get the party started. Match it to the theme if you have one. At a casino party, some blackjack and roulette tables with pretend money won’t go astray. A dance troupe can be a great way to encourage people to get moving on the dance floor, while acrobats can make a circus theme feel authentic and give people something to talk about.

If you are bringing together different groups that don’t know one another, choose entertainment that will encourage conversation between guests. Human bingo challenges guests to track down certain people in the room and works as an excellent icebreaker.

Keep the Food and Drinks Flowing:

The quality of your catering can make or break a party. Make sure that you check for any dietary requirements in the leadup to your event so you can cater for food allergies and restrictions – a good caterer will be able to modify whatever cuisine you select to work for everyone.

If you are serving alcohol, it is particularly important to ensure that you have enough food. A small number of nibbles with free-flowing cocktails are not conducive to everyone maintaining their professional integrity!

Time It Right:

Be strategic when selecting a day to hold your party. Some companies choose a midweek night to discourage overindulgence and take advantage of more affordable event packages. Other organizations embrace the festivities and select a Friday evening, avoiding the bleary eyes and loss of productivity the morning after. Whichever you choose, make sure you set the date as early as possible to allow people to slot it into their schedule, particularly when planning events like a staff Christmas party, which fall into peak social season.

Once all the organizing is done, make sure that you relax and enjoy the evening!

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