By: Children have returned to school and some sense of normalcy returns until you go to a major retailer and find they’ve already put out Christmas items. They say there’s always a silver lining and this is one of them, because it’s a great reminder to start planning your company’s holiday party.
Most companies already have a template in place and some even have most of the details taken care of from last year. But now is the time to make sure everyone is still there because it gives you a couple of months to find what you need should something slip through the cracks. Even if you have everything already set, this is still something to use to double check that you’ve covered all the bases.
The most important element of the corporate holiday party is the site and catering. Without those set now, it can be tough to find something that would fit your group. If most of your employees are local, then figure a plus-one for each one and that’s the number you should put all of your focus. The event space should have enough room for everyone to sit, along with places for them to move around. A cramped room can really be a downer, but at the same time, 25 people in a 400 square foot room is crammed, while 25 in a 4,000 square foot room is spacious.
You know what your theme is going to be, so now you want to focus on what the special activity is going to be. Will you have a gift sharing portion, have a casino night, open dance floor, secret Santa, visit from Santa, or another special feature? Plan these accordingly and make sure you have them booked. Trying to book a performer in December is a lot harder than booking someone in September.
Now you need to figure out if you’re going to need prizes and gifts. If so, how will they be distributed? A casino night is a good idea as it gives all guests an even playing field to win prizes. Base it on total money won, raffle tickets, or even offer some prizes for winning hands during certain times of the night.
Once you’ve decided on the site, food and activity, find your entertainment, whether it be a band or a DJ. Then make sure to communicate with your DJ about your company, about what you expect from the DJ and what you are planning for the night. A good entertainment organization will work with you on everything to facilitate the evening, making your life easier. Should you have any reservations, discuss them with someone else in the office, or even another industry professional if you feel comfortable. Several times, we’ve consulted with companies who did hire us that first year, but did the following January to make sure we’ll be there.
