Does the thought of entertaining or hosting party stress you out and give you anxiety? Proper planning and preparation beforehand are the keys to any successful event. Here are a few tips on how you can entertain without losing your mind:
Provide Entertainment
Give your guests something else to do besides stand around making awkward small talk while you dash around putting in the finishing touches to dinner. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate form of entertainment like a show or magic act; it can be something as simple as renting a photo booth from The Photo Factory. A photo booth can provide endless, unique entertainment for your guests.
They’ll have fun and loads of laughter coming up with creative and wacky poses, or hamming up to the camera with funny props or backgrounds. The Photo Factory is the top photo booth rental company in NYC because it offers unlimited sessions, unlimited printing, a wide variety of backdrops and props to choose from, and even a social sharing station so your guests can easily upload their photos to their social media networks in real time. With as many features as this, your guests won’t ever get bored.
Mix Up the Guest List
It’s not much of a party if everyone invited already always spends time together anyway. Instead of limiting the guest list to only your team at work (who you see on a daily basis at the office) consider inviting a few other people who don’t work in the same company, but who you think might jive well with your teammates. Add variety and life to your party by inviting a good mix of people who share common interests, but who don’t regularly see each other or who don’t know each other very well yet.
Resist the Temptation to Experiment
It can be tempting to try and impress your guests with an exotic new dish or a complicated meal with several courses. You’ll probably only end up stressing yourself out unnecessarily, and maybe not even impressing your guests all that much. Stick to the familiar dishes that are your specialty, that you know you can cook very well.
If you’re absolutely determined to serve a new dish, don’t wait until the day of the event to cook it for the first time. Have at least one practice run so you can avoid making mistakes on the day of your event, and so you have time to tweak the recipe if needed.
Have Snacks Ready
Despite all your careful planning, some guests inevitably show up earlier than expected, or before you’re finished cooking. Be sure to have some quick snacks ready. Nuts, crackers, cheese and cured meats are a cinch to prepare, but can still satisfy and please any hungry early bird.
Make Sure Your Home is Spic and Span
No matter how well you plan the music and menu, no one ever wants to go to a dirty home for a party. Make sure to give your home a good clean before you entertain, and make it smell fresh and inviting with the use of flowers or room sprays. Enlist your kids or other family members to clean up scattered toys, books or shoes, and make sure to bring out fresh tablecloths and throw pillow covers.
At the end of the day, being a good host is all about keeping your guests’ comfort first and foremost in your mind. Don’t try too hard to impress them, but think about keeping them well-fed and entertained, and you’ve already won half the battle.