Party Time!
This may not seem like rocket science and you are correct!
Why do we have a focus on community and bringing people together? Let’s be honest, life is a whole lot better when it experienced with others! No matter if you are highly extroverted or deeply introverted, we all need connection with others. Plus, why not enjoy great food with great people!
There are a few steps that we follow to host a great event/party!
Plan
Invite
Talk it up and share
Create an environment
Get it rolling
Enjoy!
Plan
Start with the end in mind and plan for that. If you want to have a sit down meal where you are all together then go with that. If you want a relaxed enviroment in the patio with live music, then go there. Be like Tarantino … start and the end and work your way back through it.
Invite
Start building a core group of people and invite them. This may be your current community, key customers or friends. Start getting them on board then expand the list out further. If you have anyone providing additional services (music, artist, bartender, etc..) ask them to invite their communities too.
Don’t be afraid to keep putting information in front of people reminding them of the event. Our worlds are filled with so much information build it up and share it.
Talk it up and Share
You best be excited about your event. If you’re not excited then no one will be. Talk it up, share about it and build the anticipation. One thing i like to do is to share images leading up to the event. If I’m doing a backyard style party i’ll share pictures of buying briskets, sausage, etc.. then start documenting the process. As this all comes together it takes us to number 4.
Create an Environment
This may be as simple as fire pits, lights, music and a few additional goodies. However, I like to think beyond the normal in this area. One time I hosted an Oktoberfest beer tasting event and the garage was decked out. German flags, Oktoberfest table clothes, a wide variety of Oktoberfest beers and a scoring sheet. This went from a time of people sitting around drinking a few beers to a bunch of people taking their voting serious. It is just moving beyond the norm and figuring out how you can add 2% more to make it incredible. If you are not good at this, no worries, get someone who is! Don’t skimp on the environment!
Get it Rolling
You’ve planned, you invited friends, you are talking it up like crazy and the environment is coming together. Now it’s time to put it all together. First stage is, don’t do it alone. Set up a list of what needs to get done and pull in others to help you to make is successful! In my previous life within live production, we ran by a theory of “set the table” which means, be prepared for when the guests arrive. I like to start with my “ready time” and go backwards from there. This helps to define when it will be ready to party and you are not dying to have it ready on time. This includes your cooking and rest on smoked meats!
Enjoy!
You’ve made it! It’s time to sit back and enjoy your time with friends. What’s the point in bringing them all together if you are running around like crazy and not able to connect. If that is the case, everyone else has a blast and you miss it all. I have done both (not prepared and prepared) and the evens are the best when you can enjoy, raise a glass and have fun with your party goers!
Part of planning is to ensure that you have all that you need to be ready! Pick up the spices you need today!