By Ruth Baron, Amber Kallor and Lynn Andriani, Oprah
holiday party. photo from International Business Times
Preparing for a party always takes longer than you expect. Here are 10 expert tricks to make the most of that last half hour.
Find the Right Volume
While most people are pretty good at keeping a conversation going, even in a loud, crowded room—something researchers call the cocktail party effect—you can help your guests by setting the music to an appropriate level. Bentley Meeker, who runs his own special-events lighting and production company in New York City, tries to play songs 20 to 25 percent lower than the average conversation. (Forgot your sound-o-meter? Just carry the stereo remote in your pocket, if it’s small enough, and adjust the volume if you notice you can’t hear the person you’re talking to.) Up-tempo music is sometimes recorded at higher volumes—so that means as most hosts shift to Lady Gaga as the evening goes on, they may not have to turn up the stereo to get people dancing.
Scent the Room—Carefully
Researchers have found that smell is an important but previously underrated part of how much people enjoy a night out (in particular, peppermint and orange increased subjects’ ratings of a dance club’s music and their “overall experience,” Scientific American reports). But there’s a fine line between catching a whiff of a subtle, minty aroma and feeling like you’re being suffocated by wintergreen number 46. Find a scented candle you like—we’re partial to Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Orange Clove Scented Soy Candle, which has a citrusy, spicy scent—and light it for an hour in the afternoon, before the party starts. Blow it out and let the wax cool for an hour or so; then relight it about 20 minutes before guests arrive. Your home will smell nice, and you won’t have to worry about the wick drowning in wax before the night is over. It’s okay if the aroma seems a little strong at first. Pam Helms, who channeled her love for the chemistry of smell into a job as the lead product developer at Caldrea, which makes candles and other homekeeping products, says once the room becomes crowded, people’s clothes, hair and bodies will absorb some of the scent.
Checklist of Important Details
Do you know where to find:
A corkscrew or opener for wine and beer?
Serving utensils?
Spare cutlery?
Matches or a lighter?
Cleaning supplies for spills?
Paper towels?
Extra garbage bags?
Cash (in small denominations) for tips to hired helpers?
The phone number for a taxi service in case a guest overdoes it?
Your lipstick?
Keep It Cool
According to Brooke Scher, who plans several events a month as a director at Alison Brod Public Relations, there’s a term in the nightclub industry called “freezing the box.” “Venues will warm up quickly as soon as guests arrive,” she says, “so you never want it to be above 70 degrees when they get there.” Adjust the thermostat a half hour before the party starts and remember that you might want it even colder, depending on the size of your guest list, how much you’ll be cooking before and during the event, and whether you have a fireplace with a fire.
Hide the Evidence
Even if you’re holding a potluck or have splashed out for caterers, you might find yourself with a sink full of dirty dishes as the doorbell rings. Unless they are absolutely essential to food you’re serving later, says Debra Johnson, a training manager for Merry Maids, don’t bother washing them. “With pots and pans, you can put them in the oven. If that’s still in use, set the dishes in a container in the pantry or a spare closet.” In the time you save, focus on the rooms your guests will be in. Johnson advises starting at the front door and following their path through your home with a basket to collect any unnecessary items (books, toys or your mail) to clear space for what they need. In the winter, that means a bed to put their coats on and a table to drop off the wine they so generously brought you. Dimming the lights or swapping in lower-wattage bulbs will instantly communicate “party” while also making dust and stains harder to see.
Read the full article by Ruth Baron, Amber Kallor and Lynn Andriani from Oprah.
