Our top 5 tips to host a low cost Christmas party
This entry was posted on Saturday, October 15th, 2011 | By: Vjem.
With the holiday season just around the corner, most firms should have started thinking about the office Christmas party by now.
It’s typically a time to show appreciation to staff for their hard work throughout the year, and a time for staff to let their hair down. There has been much talk about a global recession, a double dip recession and credit crunch recently, which will undoubtedly put a strain on budgets. Some firms have cancelled it altogether.
However you can still organise a fabulous party even in these times of austerity. Follow our top five simple tips to host the ultimate party on a shoe string budget.
BUDGET
Once you agree the number of guests you want to host, decide how much you want so spend per head. £30 per head sounds reasonable but if you are entertaining 500 guests it soon adds up. Once you have agreed your budget STICK to it. Break the budget down in to sub-areas as food, entertainment, venue etc to identify where you can save money. A sit down three course meal is often more expensive than a buffet so if dancing if the most important element of your event then go for a buffet instead of sit down meal. Equally if the focus is on a formal dinner then allocate more money here and reduce your spend on DJ and entertainment time. When working out your budget don’t forget to make allowance for VAT which is often over looked and can throw your budget out. Lastly, be sure to include a contingency no matter how small the budget.
ENTERTAINMENT
Get the best value for money by using multi-talented entertainers. Can the DJ double up as a compere for the evening if you are having live entertainment? When looking for entertainers, consider tapping into the local creative community to reach them direct. Ask around for recommendations. Facebook and Twitter are great places to start. Booking entertainers direct is often cheaper than going through an agency.
VENUE VS. COMPANY HQ
Do you really need to hire a venue? They can be expensive. You’ll be amazed at how festive decorations can transform what is ordinarily a bland space. Large meeting rooms are ideal. Devoid the space of office furniture and dress it with colour coded or themed drapes, tinsel, baubles, chair and table coverings and atmospheric lighting (changing the colour of light bulbs is cheap and creates a retro feel). Next contract a local caterer to provide a luxury buffet, purchase your own drinks in bulk, link your ipod/lap top to speakers and off you go. Guests can take turns being the DJ or even do some karaoke. Hours of fun at half the cost.
Alternatively you may want to consider a shared party option, which can work out cheaper depending on the package you choose.
TIMING
If you are flexible with dates, consider hosting your party in January. Most venues now offer Christmas packages that run into January.
CAR POOL
Car pooling is a great way to encourage guests to share transportation home. Obviously if they have been drinking then driving is a no no. Non-drinkers can be tasked with taking colleagues home that they either live nearby or pass their home en route. Alternatively identify where each guest lives and organise taxis to take specific groups home that live in the same direction. This is some thing that needs organising in advance otherwise it could be quite difficult. A cheaper and greener option.
If you would like an informal chat about planning your Christmas party of shared party options, please contact Veronica on 020 8819 9919 or drop us a line.
