Contrary to what a lot of people might think, event planning professionals do more than run conferences and trade shows. They’re also fantastic for planning parties, whether for a musician’s album release, a wedding, a family reunion or anything in between. That’s not a huge surprise, of course – hosting a good party requires many of the skills necessary to run an effective conference.
That said, there are a few differences. If you’re an event management professional who wants to branch out to something a bit more personal, it’s important that you understand what makes for a successful party. Much like every great event shares certain elements, every awesome party also has something in common with every other awesome party.
That’s what we’re here to talk about today – what makes for a great, engaging and entertaining bash?
Food, Drink, and Ambience
This trio is the foundation of incredible party throwing. Do you have enough food, drink, tables and chairs to accommodate all your guests? Is there a coherent theme tying everything together? What about music? Do you have a sound system and lighting in place? Is a band, a professional emcee or a DJ right for your festivities?
Master how to throw a party by giving it a cohesive theme and making sure everyone has what they need to enjoy a good time. Décor is another factor to consider. Think about what props you need to create the mood your get-together is meant to convey. You probably wouldn’t have pastel flower bouquets at a rave, just as you wouldn’t host a fancy dinner without a dress code. You can host a party with impressive skill by coordinating these details in advance.
Entertainment
Although a party might be held for many reasons, everyone’s ultimately there for one main purpose – to be entertained. To that end, aside from music or an emcee, what activities do you plan to keep your guests entertained? Hosting a party might incorporate games of some kind, while others might simply toss out an open bar and call it a day.
Which one you do depends entirely on the event you want to host. When you’re thinking about how to throw a fun party for adults, alcohol will likely be a must. Games can be cheekier too, since your audience doesn’t include kids. The kind of gathering will give you clues here. Bachelor and bachelorette parties have an expectation of suggestive themes, compared to birthdays, which have an atmosphere to match the personality of the person celebrating. Understanding what makes a good party relies on understanding your crowd first.
A Sense of Connectedness
Last but certainly not least, the greatest parties foster a sense of community. They bring people together and make them feel like they’re part of something bigger – something better – than would otherwise be possible. The party elements that help you accomplish that feeling will change based on your audience. A family reunion will look quite a bit different from a wedding, although they’re both geared towards families. When you get into the sheer variety of celebrations, from going away parties and graduation dinners to baby showers and Easter brunches, you’ll want to keep the purpose of the gathering at the front of your mind.
Throwing a party that people are excited about means understanding what draws this group in. Maybe you get people interested through community inside jokes and clever marketing tactics. Maybe you bring people together through a common interest in something or by actively engaging your guests as an emcee or host. However you do it, the most important thing to remember is that your gathering is about your guests – not about you.
Finishing Touches for What Makes a Great Party
Amazing celebrations all have a few things in common – and if you understand those universal elements of a party, you’re well-equipped to host one. What’s more, depending on what kind of festivity you’re running, you might consider livening things up with custom-designed clothing or party favors to commemorate the occasion. BlueCotton can help with that – check out our Design Studio for some idea of what you can do with our T-shirts, hoodies and beyond.