Comments on: How to Throw an Awesome Holiday Party–Part IV: A Primer on Being the Ultimate Host

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:08:57 +0000

You can only be a host to the civilized. Beyond entertaining the civilized you are looking for trouble.

By: Matt Petty

Matt Petty — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:33:59 +0000

Another bathroom tip: remove all towels that aren’t hand towels, and put hand towels on every hook and rail.
Put a candle in the bathroom, with a supply of matches. Just in case.
We have a clothes rail that we use for laundry, ironing etc. We put that in the guest/coats room.

By: Srinivas Kari

Srinivas Kari — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:22:17 +0000

I would hire the coolest nightclub in town to host my party. Simple yet effective. and very cool.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:17:12 +0000

Any suggestions for parties that have kids around–not kid’s parties, but ones where children may be around. Invariably, my kid will do something terrible and I am torn between punishment or letting it go. Both seem undesirable to me under the circumstances.

By: Phelps

Phelps — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:55:59 +0000

On getting people out the door gently, I prefer a malapropism from Archie Bunker. It’s funny enough to take the sting out.

“I wonder how late it’s getting for people who gotta go home?”

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:37:41 +0000

Thanks for the great article. My wife and I throw the occasional Holiday party. I can use a lot of this great advice! I appreciate the contribution.

By: Josh D

Josh D — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:24:18 +0000

Aaron is right. Booker T. and the MGs can flat-out groove. Start with this album.

http://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-Booker-T-MGs/dp/B0000033C3/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324477413&sr=8-2

By: Aaron Brame

Aaron Brame — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:55:49 +0000

MUSIC:

When it comes to making a quick playlist for a party, no group is going to do you better than Booker T. & the MGs. Play everything you have by them, and if your playlist runs out, play it again. It’s manly, funky, and it just might get you laid.

By: Julie S

Julie S — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:57:03 +0000

We just had quite a successful party this past Saturday of about 10-12 people, where conversations flowed for the most part and the different personalities mixed well. I just wished I’d thought of two or three conversational re-directions for the couple times when all talk died or was getting too technical for most of the group. I’m no whiz at small talk, so preparation beforehand is necessary if I’m going to pull it off.

By: Chase Campbell

Chase Campbell — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:57:22 +0000

Mariah Carey’s Christmas albums (Both I and II) are actually great. Total modern standards. And in my holiday playlist, I included the Bieber song solely for the purpose of having a funny conversation starter. It totally worked. The holiday music genre is so vast and varied nowadays. It’s good to have a nice mix. Last time I had a party with all classic holiday tunes, people kept scanning the iPod to see what else they could be listening to. This year, my playlist with Wham, Mariah, Hall & Oats, Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, and more…kept the vibe going pretty nice. Nobody scanned the iPod.