Planning is central to the success of corporate parties.
Whether it's a retirement party, or a celebration of a promotion, the planning, the execution and the clean up have to be perfect.
Corporate parties are complex affairs because there is always the undercurrent of office hierarchy and politics, and that pressure to please everyone (the boss, the investors, the colleagues and the VIP guests).
People will always be searching for something to gripe about, and everyone who is anyone in the office hierarchy will be requesting something that you may or may not be able to address.
So be warned, planning corporate parties IS stressful.
There are a million things to consider and a few hundred others that won't get done in time.
Tip #1: Outsource You do NOT have to manage everything on your own.
Planning a small office event is easy and you can handle the decisions and details yourself, and still have time left to go shopping for that fabulous party dress.
However, corporate event management will need outside assistance.
There are a lot of party planning companies that specialize in helping others plan corporate parties.
You need to find one that shares your meticulous approach, and won't leave you hanging.
Unlike a personal party, corporate parties have solid financial backing.
Having said that, time is often a more crucial resource than budget.
These companies have access to resources that you may not know about, like employees with specialized skills (ice carving and champagne fountain creation).
Some of the things that you can delegate include: • hiring caterers; • band auditions and recruitment; and • reserving a proper venue.
The party planning company should also supply the employees needed to distribute drinks, dish out food, and take care of any specific request from your guests (e.
g.
"black coffee no sugar").
The host or master of ceremonies must be someone who can speak well and can connect with people.
Alert the organizers to gatecrashers and remind them to always be on the look out for these people.
Although it is not necessarily a part of their service, help with surveillance and security should be a given.
Remind them to glance around and watch out for people who are getting too drunk for comfort.
If you need technical help, like when you need to show a slide show of your company's achievements, the party planning company should hire the technician for you.
Tip #2: Take responsibility for the small but important stuff The most important elements of corporate parties are the invites, giveaways and brochures.
These are the things that your guests can bring home and will remember your company by.
Whether or not the corporate party involves the promotion of a particular product, your giveaways must be flawless and professionally made.
Pay attention to colors and stick to the safe ones when ordering giveaways.
Make sure your company logo is present, and no part of your company name is misspelled.
You also have to estimate the number of guests and plan around that number when ordering giveaways or invitations.
Whether it's a retirement party, or a celebration of a promotion, the planning, the execution and the clean up have to be perfect.
Corporate parties are complex affairs because there is always the undercurrent of office hierarchy and politics, and that pressure to please everyone (the boss, the investors, the colleagues and the VIP guests).
People will always be searching for something to gripe about, and everyone who is anyone in the office hierarchy will be requesting something that you may or may not be able to address.
So be warned, planning corporate parties IS stressful.
There are a million things to consider and a few hundred others that won't get done in time.
Tip #1: Outsource You do NOT have to manage everything on your own.
Planning a small office event is easy and you can handle the decisions and details yourself, and still have time left to go shopping for that fabulous party dress.
However, corporate event management will need outside assistance.
There are a lot of party planning companies that specialize in helping others plan corporate parties.
You need to find one that shares your meticulous approach, and won't leave you hanging.
Unlike a personal party, corporate parties have solid financial backing.
Having said that, time is often a more crucial resource than budget.
These companies have access to resources that you may not know about, like employees with specialized skills (ice carving and champagne fountain creation).
Some of the things that you can delegate include: • hiring caterers; • band auditions and recruitment; and • reserving a proper venue.
The party planning company should also supply the employees needed to distribute drinks, dish out food, and take care of any specific request from your guests (e.
g.
"black coffee no sugar").
The host or master of ceremonies must be someone who can speak well and can connect with people.
Alert the organizers to gatecrashers and remind them to always be on the look out for these people.
Although it is not necessarily a part of their service, help with surveillance and security should be a given.
Remind them to glance around and watch out for people who are getting too drunk for comfort.
If you need technical help, like when you need to show a slide show of your company's achievements, the party planning company should hire the technician for you.
Tip #2: Take responsibility for the small but important stuff The most important elements of corporate parties are the invites, giveaways and brochures.
These are the things that your guests can bring home and will remember your company by.
Whether or not the corporate party involves the promotion of a particular product, your giveaways must be flawless and professionally made.
Pay attention to colors and stick to the safe ones when ordering giveaways.
Make sure your company logo is present, and no part of your company name is misspelled.
You also have to estimate the number of guests and plan around that number when ordering giveaways or invitations.