Tonight is New Year’s Eve!
The best New Year’s Eve parties are the ones where the hosts spend a lot of time with the guests; because of your charm, wit, and preternatural good looks (the average ReadyMade reader in other words, all of whom are way above average people), your guest list is long and everyone accepted your invitation. Here are some simple tips to help you be remembered as hosting the best party tonight.
- Choose one cocktail and make it ahead of time, so all you have to do is pour. See Gary Regan’s Joy of Mixology for list of other drinks you can bottle and pour.
- If you are serving wine all night, make it a light white wine, not something ponderous, and not red.
- Always have bottled water, or sparkling water. Give your guests a chance to leave on their own two feet!
- Serve a variety of small foods guests can eat with one hand — and chips and dips do not count. Three items are a minimum.
- If you have a washing machine, turn it into your ice chest. Layer in the cans, bottles, and other items you want to keep cold, and pour in the ice on top. As the ice melts, it drains away. At the end of the party, once the machine is empty, you just run the spin cycle and your cleanup is done. You can also use a spare sink or bathtub.
- If you have the money to do it, rent your glasses and dishes from party supply place. Rent a larger quantity than your guest list. This saves you from having to do the dishes later that night, or the next morning. You just rinse, and stack and you are done.
- Introduce your guests to each other. This can be tricky — don’t say, “Here’s Bob, he’s an engineer,” as you drop Bob to the wolves. Try to introduce Bob by something he’s done or an interest. “This is Bob, he just came back from the Netherlands where he saw Radiohead.” Stay near the door until your guests all arrive, so you can greet and introduce them. As hosts, you should always be the ones to open the door, and to say good bye.
- Play music, but not so loud that people cannot talk over it. Unless you are planning a club party, people will remember your party because of the sparkling conversation, not the thumping beats.
If you are attending a New Years Eve party (or several), you want to charm everyone there such that you are invited back. Here are some tips to work the room.
- Arrive on time. That fashionably late thing keeps the host near the door all night, and makes it seem as if you had other things to do. If you know you will be arriving late, let the hosts know ahead of time. They won’t feel they have been stood up.
- Do bring your hosts a small gift. You’re crafty, you’ll know what to make or bring.
- Err on the side of being overdressed, not underdressed. You can always loosen a tie, or make other adjustments to look more casual, but you cannot dress up suddenly.
- You and your date should move in opposite directions, one goes clockwise and the other does not. Introduce yourselves to people you do not know, maybe ask how they know the host. When you each arrive back at the door, you can leave if you have another party to go to, and if you are on a tight schedule.
- If you are going solo, choose a direction and to the same thing. If you are attending only this party, and you know few people there, ask them to introduce you to the others.
- Drunk is never charming. Keep your wits about you.
- Always say goodbye to your hosts. Always.
- The next day, write a thank-you note to your hosts, and tell them you had a delightful time. Do not thank them for the food or drink, as it makes it sound like you only attended to scarf down their food.
- Invite your hosts to your next party.
