Organizing the office Christmas party is never an easy task. Believe it or not, a lot rides upon the success of the party and failure can really dampen the spirits of your fellow employees. Here are 5 crucial tips for organizing a very memorable office Christmas party.
Pick a suitable date
The holiday season is usually the busiest time of the year for everyone, thanks to all the shopping that needs to be done. The last thing people need is dropping everything, in order to go for the office Christmas party. Pic a date early enough in December so that no one has to miss out celebrating with their colleagues. Some offices even have their Christmas party in January, once all the holiday madness has died down. And make sure the party is on a Friday or a Saturday; no one wants to come to work the next day with a hangover.
Choose a venue well in advance
It’s not just your office that will be having a Christmas party. Pretty much every office in the city will be duking it out to secure venues for their Christmas party. So, make sure you book a venue well in advance. Some offices choose to have the party on the premises itself, but that is generally a bad idea, unless you have an office that will rival those of Google or Apple. Look for venues that also provide packages that include catering and a DJ.
Sort out the transportation
Believe it or not transportation is something you have to plan for. Pretty much everyone at the party will have something to drink and the last thing you want is for them to get behind the wheel. This is the time of the year when teetotallers are worth their weight in gold. Organize carpools so that no one has any trouble getting to the party venue. For the journey back, you can call ahead and book sufficient number of cabs to take everyone home.
Don’t skimp on the food
When you’re planning a budget, make sure the food is taken care of first. If the food served is terrible, people are going to talk about it for a very long time. On the other hand, if the food is good, the party is almost guaranteed to be a success. Don’t blow most of your budget on office Christmas trees and then have little left to spend on food and drink.
Know when you are in over your head
Organizing an office Christmas party may seem like smooth sailing on paper, but is harsher in reality. It will take up quite a bit of your time and will demand that you put in massive amounts of effort. In addition, the success or failure of the party is now tied to how people will perceive you for the rest of the New Year. Don’t hesitate to admit when you are in over your head and need help form a professional. Whether it is just for booking a venue or organizing the catering, never hesitate to hire someone who can get it done for you, thus saving you a lot headache.
Keep these 5 tips in mind when organizing the office Christmas party and it is bound to be a runaway success.
