Christmas parties aren’t essential events, but they are
great for many reasons. If you’re holding a company party, it’s great for
employee morale. If you’re holding a friend or family get-together, it’s a
great way to connect and remember that Christmas is about loved ones, not
presents. No matter what type of party you are hosting, you have to consider
how you are going to manage your crowds.
You strategy will have to differ depending on the type of
party you are holding. We’re going to break it down into three categories;
company party, friends/family party, and party with children.
Company Party
A company party is generally a larger affair, which may be
held on the premises or in a space that has been rented for the occasion. If
you are holding your party at a venue other than your workplace, there are some
extra steps you must consider such as how far the venue is from work and what
the parking situation is. It’s a good idea to give directions and parking
options to all your employees to avoid traffic congestion and confusion.
No matter where your party is, be sure to provide adequate
signage so employees can find the party. Many workers stick to familiar areas
in a building and may need help finding the party location, especially in a
large building. And of course, it goes without saying that you must provide
directions if your party is held in a hotel banquet hall, for example. Again,
signage helps prevent confusion and stops employees from wandering into the
wrong area of your venue.
Now, onto the party itself. Company parties fairly
traditionally count on food, alcohol, and sometimes dancing. It is likely you
will have a catered meal, and dancing is fairly straightforward. Where you do
have to be careful is with alcohol. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can lead to
some awkward situations. Plus people have to be able to get home. If you’re
worried about serving alcohol, just skip it. Serve juice, coffee, tea, soda…there’s
tons of other beverage possibilities!
Company parties can be quite crowded, especially if family
members and significant others are invited. For this reason you must pay close
attention to the capacity of your space. Have enough seating and crowd control
items such as rope posts to direct any lines that may form. Spread out your
food and drinking stations so no area of the party is getting congested,
leading to uncomfortable and unsafe conditions.
Friend/Family Party
While it is certainly possible to rent out a venue for a friends
and family party, these events are usually held in someone’s home, which presents
its own challenges. First off, be sure you do not invite more guests than your
home can handle. While you don’t necessarily need seating available for
everyone, you should have enough for the majority of your guests. You also don’t
want overcrowding in your home, in case of some sort of emergency.
One way to reduce overcrowding is to keep everything spread
out. This will work differently depending on the layout of your home. You may
choose to have plasters of food spread across your home. For example, leave the
warm food in your kitchen, but spread trays of cookies, candy, and cold
appetizers across the entire party area. Have seating available in multiple
rooms, so guests can spread out and create their own pockets.
Mess can create extra clutter, which can lead to accidents
and safety issues. Strategically place garbage cans near food areas to subtly
encourage guests to throw away garbage right away, to avoid stacks of plates.
Party with Children
Many parties that do include children are often hosted at
home, so make sure to read the friend/family section above. But, in addition to
all of those tips, you must add the high energy of children to the equation.
It’s a good idea to have an area of the house dedicated to
the kids. Here you can set up toys, craft stations, and games. If you do this
make sure there’s some sort of supervision in the room at all times. Alternatively,
you could set up this area in one of the main party areas, so there will always
be adult eyes on those nearby children.
With sugary treats likely available, children will likely
have a lot of energy which can manifest in behaviors that can cause damage. If
you’re planning to have children over for this party, we recommend being
strategic about where you place items. You don’t want to set a drink station
next to where the children are dancing, for example.
No matter what type of party you’re hosting, it’s sure to be
a little chaotic. Stay organized, spread out the party, and be clear about
where everything is, and make the crowding at your party a little less
stressful.
