Saurabh's Cardinal Rules for Throwing a Party
We love parties. We love people who throw good parties.
Here is what defines a good party:
1. Fine tune your guest list. Don't invite people just to make it a big gathering.
2. As a host, it's your duty to make sure you have good music, plenty of good and assorted food, and to keep the drinks flowing.
3. When it comes to music, always have a party playlist ready, rather than trying to engage your guests or yourself while the party is in progress. At the same time, give your guests some freedom with choosing music.
4. When it comes to food, don't put out something that you don't already know your guests would enjoy eating. Nothing spoils a party more than people drinking on an empty stomach.
5. When it comes to invitations, don't invite single people whose purpose is just to meet other singles. They are detrimental to the spirit of a good party.
6. Move your furniture and show pieces out of the way. Your guests will also appreciate if you stow away everything that gets in the way of good partying.
7. Set no rules. It's a party, not a prison cell.
8. Unless the entire guest list is the druggie type, don't do/encourage drugs at parties. It's never a good thing to indulge in exclusive activities at parties (refer to point 5).
9. Games go really well with drinks. Include a game element to keep everyone hoping that the party never ends.
10. Move around and mix up with your guests.
11. Speaking of moving around, the party should always end at the party venue. Do not move it somewhere else on a whim. The guests might not appreciate it.
12. This comes from experience - unless it's a college party, never ever try to collect money for drinks or food.
13. Don't be that host who is interested in taking photographs of every moving object at the party. It's annoying, frankly.
14. DO NOT allow anyone to drive anywhere drunk. You invited them, you need to make sure they return safely.
And the biggest rules of them all - be humorous and have a splendidly good time!
It's been years since I threw a real party. I need to get back in the game (of throwing great parties).
