The Successful Party Host



Posted: Friday, February 15, 2008

by
Delightful Biteful

The first rule for successful hosting is not to take on the challenge if you are not up to it. I learned that the hard way. Remember that people can sense what you are feeling in any situation, especially if you are unenthused. Your guests pick up on your feelings and it often sets the mood for the event. Now, that is a pretty powerful thing. I was approached by someone I met a long time ago. He became a long time acquaintance after arriving unexpectedly at a party I held. This nice, shy man told me that my party turned into one of the nicest evenings he could remember. That particular evening was one of my most successful events. It was a night of good food, dancing and games where all of the guests were encouraged to participate. I was in a wonderful mood and it showed.

I used to resent going to a party "in the third person" (welcomed to come with an invited guest) because it was likely that I would not know too many people and would feel a little bit out of place. This was often the case because the host or hostess did not make it a point to welcome me. I would receive a harried half acknowledgment as he or she rushed by and would think to myself "Alright, I can expect no help from you here; I'd better check for the nearest exit." Do you know I have actually stepped through a couple of them? Courtesy is a big word and not always easy to spot.

Unexpected guests must be expected for a gathering to come off well. I see it as a compliment. Someone sees my home as a nice place to be and my friends as good people to spend time with. When I take the position of humility, I treat people the way I would like to be treated. It is the responsibility of the host/hostess to be organized and have room to take care of the needs of the guests, beyond the food and beverages. Make sure that they have someone to talk to and someplace to sit. You can build a strong reputation with something as simple as an enjoyable evening.

Rules that have worked for me over the years are as follows: Smile and look your guests in the eye. Stop what you are doing and put the people first. This is done through careful preparation. Have everything together so that you can take the time to get to know someone well enough to introduce them around and join them with others that share similar interests. For instance I have brought together a music lover and an artist. It was the closest match I could think of and it worked very well. As a matter of fact the two of them are still married. It's okay to ask for help. Get the brightest personalities among your friends to act as ambassadors for guests that seem out of place. You just might give someone a night to remember .

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