I’ve heard enough people talk of not mixing business with pleasure, but my mother has always said it is good to try new things…and mother knows best. Once in a while it is okay to loosen that tie, kick off the high, executive heels and put on your boogey shoes. There is a great deal of ways to have fun while still flying within the ‘tasteful zone.’ Nevertheless, you want your business party to be a success and there are a few things to think about….

Be Sure to Have the Attendees ‘Save the Date’

It is of paramount importance to give people more than enough time to mark the date of a big bash on their calendars. Think about what day of the week it will fall upon. Think about things such as if children will be in attendance (is it a school night?), other holidays or events surrounding the date (superbowl, St. Patrick’s Day), will having it on the weekend be preferable in attracting attendants, will there be work tomorrow, and so on. These are just some things that may go overlooked, but could have a major impact on the turn out.

Location, Location, Location

You want to show the people that work for you that you appreciate them via the extravaganza, so throwing it at a scenic, fun, and grand locale should be in mind. There are outside sources to consult on making your decision, if this is something you find of difficulty in deciding. You want the party to be held somewhere of elegance, but you do not want to make it too far as to create an inconvenience for the attendants. Make sure directions are clear and conspicuously available for in print, online, office intranet, so as everyone will not have a problem getting there….

Décor to Impress

Ask any lady and they will tell you to be attentive to detail. This goes for many facets of life (isn’t that right ladies), but corporate parties are not an exception. Invest the time, money, and creativity into the decorations, if you cannot do it yourself; hire someone to do it for you. Flowers can add a vibrant touch to the décor and add to the ambience. This event may only happen once a year for smaller businesses, so pull out all the stunts; you want your employees to do the same for you five days a week.

Be P.C.

If this happens to fall around the holidays, do not label it a ‘Christmas Party,’ because not all of your employees may celebrate the holiday. Be very general about the theme of the party. It is to celebrate the business and the appreciation of the employees, so make sure this is the motif, not a fat guy in a red suit.

Oh, Are You a Vegetarian?

Just as being open to all religions, also be open to all diets. More people now are experimenting with different diets, so be sure to have an eclectic smorgasbord of delicacies to choose from. It would be very considerate to have a line at the bottom of the invitation encouraging suggestions or details of dietary limitations. This could also be implemented into the company intranet, so people would not feel as reluctant if they saw others that had the same dietary interests.

Casual Shelly or Dapper Dan?

Be sure to indicate what the locale of the party’s dress attire will be like. It would be devastating for anyone to under or overdress. This is all about the employees and you want them to have a great time. If the locale calls for dressy attire so be it, if it is a bit more casual; then let it be known to all. Unless it is a real gala affair, most people feel a bit more comfortable being casual.

When Fun Goes Awry

Yes you want everyone to have a great time at the party, but the word fun can be a tricky and relative word to define in an objective way. Alcohol is usually incorporated into these events, but it could spell trouble if abused. It may be a good idea to somehow very artfully implementing something about the use of alcohol into the invitations without seeming to be too judgmental. Perhaps wording as to sound concerned for everyone’s wellbeing to ensure a safe and happy event. This will be respected by everyone and will be in the forefront of the attendants’ minds as the event is taking place. It would be not be good for someone to besmirch the good name of the business by misbehaving….