Tis the season to be jolly and from now until January the calendar is awash with invitations to drinks parties, dinners and other festive fun. But with so much competition, how do you make sure your soire goes with a swing?
Geoff Sewell, the impresario behind Incognito Artists, has over a
decade’s experience of creating the ultimate entertainment for the most
discerning international clientele. He reveals his Top Ten Tips for the
perfect party:
1) Less is More – the old adage ‘quality not
quantity’ really does ring true. Don’t overload people with
entertainment; we only have short attention spans and it’s best to offer
a memorable ‘blast’ of permance that will leave your guests wanting
more.
2) Keep On Moving – parties are usually full of
interesting people and it’s a shame for them not to be able to mingle.
Keep people moving around the room, that way there will be a constant
circulation and conversation remains fresh. You never know who you’ll
meet next.
3) Don’t be aid – be bold and lead from the
front. If your guests see you having a whale of a time they’ll be keen
to join in. As the host, it’s down to you to get the party started.
4)
Encourage Participation – Keep the party fun by getting guests
involved. We always involve guests in our permances – the
interactivity makes the atmosphere electric and the whole event becomes
more memorable.
5) Light up the Night – It’s essential to
strike the right balance between a brightly lit cafeteria and a dingy
nightclub. Too bright and people tend to be aid to let their hair
down, too dark and it all looks a bit murky. If you are having
entertainment, make sure they are in the spotlight so all your guests
can enjoy them.
6) Sound Check – As perming artists we
live and die by the hand of our sound engineers. Background music should
be audible without being intrusive and for any entertainment or
speeches make sure the volume is turned up appropriately with speakers
cleverly positioned around the room so that the whole room knows to
listen.
7) Knowing Me Knowing You – As the host of a party,
it’s down to you to think hard about who you’ve invited and ensure that
the party suits them, not just you! Incognito Artists tailors its
permance to suit the unique requirements of any given audience.
8)
Speak out – if you are planning to have any speeches keep them short,
sweet and relevant to your audience. And most importantly, make sure
people can hear you – the last thing you want is for the moment to be
lost and people to start chatting amongst themselves
9)
Preparation preparation preparation – at Incognito Artists, we are
ruthless in our pursuit of quality, often spending hours undercover
ahead of a 25 minute permance. You can’t put too high a price on
getting things right and a lot of the leg work can be done ahead of the
party so you can relax and enjoy yourself safe in the knowledge that
everything is in place
10) Maintain Momentum – Timing is
crucial and take your entertainers’ advice about when to perm for the
maximum impact. They’re professionals and will know what to do – these
are the moments that your guests will remember and which will transform
an evening from ‘great’ to ‘amazing’.
– Incognito Artists is
an entertainment company that offers ‘surprise’ permances at parties
and events around the world. They have permed at events from Paris
to Monte Carlo and from New York to Sydney – with clients ranging from
chic corporate and charitable occasions to birthday parties for
celebrities and royalty at venues ranging from Sir Elton John’s private
home to the Royal Albert Hall, the House of Commons and the Millennium
Stadium.
Any comments? Email conferencenews@mashmedia.net
