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Did someone mention the word Christmas?

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Summer has not finished yet and already there are scores of tweets containing the word #Christmas.

TWEETS

https://twitter.com/madcatevents/status/509947603237478400

https://twitter.com/ChandosHouse/status/509316323470360577

It’s one word which has a value of over £70 Billion for the U.K economy, but what does it mean to you and the company that you work for? Will your company be spending on a staff party or will your colleagues have to contribute? If you enjoyed a company summer party, will you also be treated to a Christmas party? If your company is having a party for Christmas, then you will need to get a move on and book a venue as quickly as possible. The key dates that you are most interested in booking in December, are the same ones that 100 other local companies are looking to book. Then, there is the catering companies, bands and other entertainment services which all get booked very quickly. For this reason, many companies end up having their “Christmas” party in January. It’s not quite the same. To avoid this, as soon as everyone is back from summer holidays, start the snow ball rolling.

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New Bond Street

The hotels in London will be busy, but there are also many venues on the outskirts of London which are worth considering. My steel drum band has performed during the reception drinks at many Christmas parties and also at many office buffet parties at venues in and outside London. If the time has caught up with you and you really can’t find a good venue because they are fully booked, then you can consider having a Christmas buffet in your office and hiring an ensemble to perform. There are many entertainers and small ensembles for office parties and various bands in London that can be hired if you prefer a particular style of music or your party. For a house party, there are also many live music options to choose from and you will find really competent musicians for hire in London, there are literally thousands of dedicated performers and bands that you can hire for a Christmas party.

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Christmas buffet

Nowadays most of your planning can be done when you are commuting or relaxing and browsing your smartphone or tablet PC. The devices are getting better at handling mCommerce and search results are also becoming more “relevant” to save your time. To help, you can browse through my Pinterest board for visual ideas.

After the work Christmas party planning is finished, you can focus on treating yourself and celebrating Christmas with friends and family. A personal treat is compulsory. For me, I have this plan that if I get through an entire season of events without receiving a parking ticket, then I will spend some of the savings on a present. I also like to change my phone at Christmas time, not every Christmas, but it’s usually at that time. Having seen the new iPhone 6 specifications, I will be having a closer look. For children, one of the popular toys this Christmas will be a levitating doll that I saw, the Flutterbye Flying Fairy. There are also a whole new range of remote controlled toys which do amazing things. What personal treat will you buy for Christmas?

 

 

Have you heard the phrase #summerparty mentioned in your office?

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How often do you hear the phrase summer party mentioned in your office?

If you are working for a company that never has a summer party or an office party, then perhaps you need to jump ship and join a team that likes to have fun. Team building is priceless!

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Summer parties in London

There are many articles written about the benefits of an office party and the correlation with improved morale, team building, bonding, etc, and it is great to be part of a team that works hard and plays hard, but total job satisfaction is often more important than salary. Many companies are creating relaxing outdoor spaces and even roof terraces and sky gardens for employees to unwind. Our clients take things to the next level by having lunchtime buffet parties or evening drinks parties and including a live band. They also have a dedicated team which arranges an annual summer party for all staff members.

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Summer parties

London is now one of the most visited capital cities in the world and it has many attractive sites and venues to hire for a summer party. From a certain perspective, you do not need to hire a venue, as long as you plan a day to get out of the office and spend some time bonding with your colleagues. However, there is something really special about having exclusive access to a venue with all the catering, entertainment and activities paid for by your company. It’s a feeling of being appreciated and although a pay increase would be even better, an office party sends the right message from the top.

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Summer parties in London

At one of the events which we covered, the management rolled up their sleeves, went behind the bar and also helped with the food preparation and service. The staff said during the event that it was fantastic to be served by the managers. At another summer party, the company hired the Mound Stand at Lord’s (below) and just enjoyed the spectacular views with summer drinks and live entertainment from our steel drum band ensemble.

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The Mound Stand at Lords

Right now in London, there are more roof terraces for hire than ever before and there are many new buildings coming soon like the Walkie Talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street which has a Sky Garden with dedicated event spaces. The capital is growing and after staying inside throughout the Autumn, Winter and most of Spring, it is nice to enjoy the panoramic views from a roof garden or terrace space high above the City.

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The central London skyline looks amazing from a tall building.

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Images of London

You can also enjoy a good summer party from a boat anchored along the Embankment. We have covered corporate parties on HMS President, Tattershall Castle and at Westminster Boating Base.

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Boats to hire for an outdoor party

Summer parties run right up until the end of September as the temperature in London is still quite warm. Our clients try to add something extra to a summer staff party by hiring a steel drum band as entertainment. There are many different ensembles available for hire in London and it is great to utilise this talent and surprise your colleagues with a live band. If you have already had your summer party, please leave some comments and share what you did.

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10 Things You Probably Knew About Planning A Party

Here are 10 things that you probably knew about planning a party.

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Party planning ideas

There are many dedicated party sites and articles offering help with party planning and the tips below are probably already on your list, or are they? When did you last host a party?

  1. Find a special party invitation App. There are some amazing Apps available and it just adds more sophistication to receive a well prepared invitation to a party, than a text or email.
  2. The number of guests should not exceed the capacity for the venue. The last thing on your mind is probably health & safety issues or potential fire risks, etc. However, the host does have a duty of care to ensure that the safety of the guests is guaranteed.
  3. Always remember to include the starting time of the party in the invitation and be sure to include a finishing time. At least most people will start leaving by then.
  4. Some of the most successful parties have a simple theme which most people can get excited about, without having to go shopping for an outfit or props. The simplest theme idea is Colourful Clothing. Just ask your guest to wear something colourful.

  1. As the host, you should not be running around multi-tasking when the guests arrive. Get help. There are many companies that offer party services and in my experience, they have become better and better.

  2. Kids should not be invited to an adult’s party. Kids should have their own party with lots of exciting features.

  3. If you are having a summer party, don’t forget to stock up on Ice.

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Chilled drinks for parties

This is easily overlooked and many party hosts have had to apologise for the drinks not being chilled. Not good!

  1. Be sure to insert a line in your invitation about where to park. You will be surprised how many guests get tickets at parties. If the party is in central London, there is almost a zero tolerance attitude by the well motivated wardens and the signs are ambiguous.

  2. For music, if you are creating a playlist, don’t get stuck in a time warp by ignoring all the recent chart topping hits of the last 5 years unless it is part of the theme. There is nothing more annoying for the guests than listening to your 2 favourite bands all evening.

  3. Hire professional entertainers. If you can afford a live ensemble or a function band, this is much better than asking a friend to sing a few songs, unless the friend is a chart topping artist.

I cover many private parties in London where space is tight and the organisers still manage to create a good balance by not inviting too many people. Some parties are crowded to the point where it takes a few minutes to get to the exit.

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Apartments in London

Experienced party hosts and planners know how to create the right balance so that the guests are not knocking over the waiters and spilling your expensive champagne. They also set aside just enough space for a live ensemble to perform. If you are thinking of music for a penthouse party or some live music for a small house party, then have a look for a good duet or trio. I am not a huge fan of the soloist with backing tracks idea; it is much better to watch a competent musician performing on their own or interacting with at least 1 or 2 other musicians. The telepathy and coordination is just amazing. What’s your view on this? Have you ever booked a live band for a party in London, or any other City? Please let me know how it went. Also, if you found this post interest, please share the link with friends.

beach themed parties

Parties in London – Ideas for a 25th birthday party

Ideas for a 25th Birthday Party

I often wonder what it would be like to be 25 again and celebrating my birthday in London. This is one of the most exciting cities for people who are turning 25 and have the means to enjoy the plethora of party options. Just trawling through Time Out magazine you will see that there are many venues which would welcome you to have all your friends and family in a function suite or night club to celebrate a special birthday.

One of the most exciting ideas is to have a beach themed party. I covered a beach themed party last year at the Kanaloa club, which Beyonce had visited when in London, and the average age was around 24/25 and it was such a great night.

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Party ideas for the 25th birthday.

 

All the guests commit to the theme which is so important at a “themed party.” It was almost as if they all visited a party shop beforehand to get their props. When the girls started dancing around the steel drum band it was a real test of concentration as they all looked stunning in beach wear. If you are planning a big party, then it is worth considering the beach theme and you can ask the venue if they have a list of recommended suppliers to transform the room for your party.

Having said all of that, the James Bond theme is also very popular. Something amazing happens when people get dressed up for a James Bond party; it’s as if the tuxedo or dress comes preloaded with confidence, charm and sophistication. Maybe the simple answer is all the champagne which they drink at the reception and in some cases, the drinks before the party. It’s that feeling of the alcohol disabling your personal firewall and leaving you susceptible to all types of crazy ideas. It’s nice to retain cognitive ability so that you can find your way to your own home or at least remember the address when you call a cab. Worse is when you drink too much and make an error when a stunningly attractive person gives you their number. It is also good to retain some capability to deal with any immediate impulses at a party, perform your duties and enjoy the moment rather than disappoint someone whose hormones had your name written all over them.

In London, we have some of the best night clubs like Boujis, Aquum, Café De Paris, Dstrkt, and Mahiki, so if you want to go out and have fun with the chance of meeting famous people, then this is one way to celebrate your 25th birthday. However, if paying £16 for a glass of champagne is way too expensive or above your means, then I always like the idea of having dinner with my inner circle of friends; the friends who will always take your call no matter what. Just choose a special place and book a table. Choose carefully, as your reputation will be burnt like a steak if you get it wrong. A venue with spectacular views is a good start.

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Boat parties in London.

One of my favourite places is an Indian restaurant called La Porte Des Indes which is near Marble Arch and they have a fantastic reputation for quality. It comes at a price, but you will impress your friends. If you have recently had a 25th birthday party in London or any other city, then leave some comments and share your party ideas.

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Private Dining & Dinner parties in London

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Dinner party ideas

There are some amazing venues in London where you can enjoy a private dinner party and here is a short list of venues to check out.

The Ritz Private Dining

Almeida Private Dining

Daphne’s

Bluebird

45 Park Lane

If you prefer to host your own dinner party, then this Pinterest board is full of dinner party ideas and includes everything like what to wear, what to cook and some options for musical entertainment.

If you plan to have a champagne reception for your guests, try to arrange for the arrival drinks to be ready just in time rather than preparing the champagne half an hour or longer before the guests arrive. Champagne tastes amazing when it is chilled and many of our clients prefer to serve it in a wine glass rather than a champagne flute. They also prefer a live ensemble performing during the reception than playing the current chart songs from a playlist. Whatever your preference, always plan ahead and share any dinner party ideas in the comments space below.

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How to make friends in London

How to make friends in London?

Making friends with people is like a skill which needs to be developed. You can start by developing the right mindset and saying hello and good morning to more people and see how they respond to you however, one of the best ways is to plan a party. This can include the people who you already know and ask each of them to bring two people who you have never met. They will usually persuade at least one person, but if you ask for one additional person, you can guess the outcome. Use a guest list App to get their basic contact details and confirm the numbers well in advance. Depending on the scale of your party, you will have enough time to greet all the strangers and make a good impression. During the party, you can refer to the guest list and leave some brief comments next to the name of a guest who impressed you. It will be too difficult to remember all the information if you wait until the next day, or drink too much. The idea is that you now have a list of useful names which you can add to your social network and follow-up to make friends.

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Making new friends

When making contact with some of the people from the party, you may wish to suggest going out for drinks. It helps if you come up with some exciting suggestions as they are also assessing you, just as much as you are curious about them. Most of my favorite places have excellent views like the Sky Bar at the Trafalgar Hotel. I also like Skylon which is overlooking the Thames. The service is good and everything is well presented.

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Dessert at Skylon

You can arrange to meet anywhere that you like, but it is better to score as many points as possible in the early rounds of a friendship. If you have good listening skills, this will be useful. There are over 300 different languages spoken in London from many cultures and you can bet that the people you meet will have an exciting story to share. You can share the most relevant parts of your experience and this will help to form a bond.

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Summer party venues London

Most people like the company of others with a common interest or someone who can help or become a useful contact. After a while, you will build a larger social network and be able to hand-pick the guests for your next party. I attend many parties in London to perform with my band and you can easily tell which ones are more about networking than celebrating. What’s special about London is that there are many hotels with good bars where you will find a comfortable space to have drinks with friends. You will also get a quality service and a clean glass; the wash rooms will also be in good condition. In my experience, this is better value than going to a crowded bar with a louder ambiance, average service and no seats. It is worth paying a little extra for the comfort and quality.

Please leave some comments if you found this post useful and share any advice on making friends in London. You can also follow me on Twitter and start a conversation if you get stuck with the challenge of making new friends.

Parties in London

House Parties in London (Entertaining guests)

An outdoor space is a luxury in a crowded city, but you can still be creative and plan a fantastic house party. This post covers some basic party ideas and top tips for entertaining guests at home.

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House parties

You can use these suggestions for house parties, garden parties or parties in your penthouse flat in London.

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Penthouse parties

It all starts with making your guests list and ensuring that you do not saturate the property until it over spills onto the streets, this will not score many points. It is best to limit the number of guests so that they can enjoy your attention and the full extent of your hospitality.  Most of my clients begin with a champagne reception and serve a selection of quality canapes.

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Luxury canapes

There was a house party which my band covered in Cheyne Walk and as the guests entered, they could enjoy the aroma of freshly baked pastry. The canapes were freshly made and well presented.

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Canapes

The waiters then served chilled champagne, which was timed to perfection. Many hosts and catering companies get the timing totally wrong as they prepare the arrival drinks too early to cope with the demand at the start of a party. The guests arrive and are served champagne or fruit punch which was poured 30 to 45 minutes earlier.

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Colourful drinks

If you hire an experienced catering company, they will time this to perfection and clear the cartons before your guests arrive.

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Champagne

If your budget does not extend to having champagne, you could source a quality sparkling wine and ensure that it is served chilled. A good choice would be Reina Maria Cristina 2008.

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Good sparkling wines

Champagne should always be served in flutes, never in plastic glasses. It is also trendy to serve champagne in a wine glass and you can purchase cheaper champagne flutes from Ikea or any suitable supplier. Be sure to add ice to your shopping list as this is easily overlooked. The most successful parties have a manageable guest list and a continuous supply of drinks, quality food and entertainment. If you have enough space for a live ensemble, then this is an excellent treat for your guests. The experienced party bands are very efficient at providing this service and will ensure that the sound is fit for the purpose. Popular choices include jazz bands, string quartets, steel drum bands and mariachi bands.

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Bands for parties

A live act performing a couple of sets or just covering the reception drinks, will score many points and your guests will always remember such features from your party.

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Most of my clients just want to have live music in the background during the reception drinks, at a volume that they can talk over. After the reception phase, the party then goes into overdrive with pulsating dance music. You could at this point remember to take random pictures on your smartphone or use a dedicated photographer throughout the party. Create a pin board for the images on Pinterest or post onto your Facebook page and, you are welcome to link back to this blog post to help anyone who is planning a house party.

One final thought for house parties in London, is to remember your neighbours and insert an etiquette line with the invitation. This could include anything which you would like guests to adhere to when visiting your home.

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40th Birthday Ideas London

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This post is about planning your 40th birthday party in London and a few ideas for your birthday celebrations based on successful gigs that we’ve covered.

For your 40th birthday party, preparations should be made a year in advance, because this is a landmark birthday to celebrate 4 decades on the planet. Forty years of staying focused and dealing with all the challenges which have been thrown at you; forty years of waiting to throw a really big celebration.

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How to celebrate my 40th birthday?

The 40th birthday party is so important that some of our clients have celebrated their birthday in 3 stages. One of the best parties was held at home and the client had invited just 20 guests, almost like an inner circle of friends. However, there was the most extravagant treats laid on which started with a catering company and waiters for the reception drinks, a steel drum band ensemble, a Caricaturist and close-up magician. During dinner they had a duet singing and playing guitar, followed by a mini disco and firework display in the garden. The next day, all of them were going on holiday to continue the celebrations. Some of our other clients have made use of the amazing view from the River Thames and celebrated with a cruise.

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River Cruises

At night, the city looks amazing and you will need a good camera to capture the best images. The photo below was taken during a celebration cruise in September last year.

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Parties on the River Thames

Hosting your party at a venue where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city, is a fantastic idea and there are many venues which are available for hire. If you wish to include our steel drum band for reception drinks, then I can recommend Altitude 360, Tower 24 and the Roof Gardens. You could also check out Paramount Bar at Centre Point and Galvin At Windows which is on the 28th floor at the Hilton Park Lane.

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Hilton Park Lane

If you have never planned a party before and need some help, there is a dedicated party ideas page with popular themes and suggestions on how to plan a successful party. It is important that you arrange a celebration to remember turning 40, so invite the people who matter the most to you and have drinks in your garden or go out for dinner or afternoon tea at a hotel. You are welcome to submit party images in our special section to help anyone who is seeking ideas for their birthday celebrations. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

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How to Make Friends? (Networking Party ideas)

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How to Make Friends? (Networking & Party Ideas)

Quality friendships are priceless. You meet someone for the first time and a bond is formed which connects you to that person. This post looks at some of the simple ideas for making new friends by networking and arranging parties.

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Bonding

One of the easiest things that you can do is to arrange a garden party and invite just 10 people, but ask each person to bring 2 people that you have never met. You can also request that they each bring a bottle of drink to share or you take the responsibility for all the refreshments.

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Champagne receptions 

Nowadays, you can use social media to set up a unique group and create a barrier to entry so that only those with similar interest can join. This strategy is popular on Facebook and LinkedIn. Some groups are so successful that they have weekly events.

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Mixers

To make new friends at these events you will need a certain amount of confidence to approach a complete stranger and start talking. The last thing that you want is to be seen standing by yourself. The best way to deal with any confidence issue is to be prepared and speak to the first person that makes eye contact with you. Start by saying hello with a smile and they will respond. From here, it gets more tricky so you need to focus. When you start a conversation, the person will want to know who you are and which company you are from or what you do. Keep it brief and do not hijack the conversation and make it all about yourself. See if you can explain what you do in just 2 short sentences and then allow the other person to do the same.

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Business Networking

If you find yourself attracted to the other person, it will get more challenging. Should this happen, there is no preset response which works in all situations, but you could try taking more interest in what they are saying and exchange business cards. Whatever you do, there is certain etiquette which you should remember; do not get too excited or too loud, don’t forget their name and no personal contact like touching or patting on the back or shoulder. There will be many other attractive people at the event, so keep it brief and move on. As the host, you should arrange some light entertainment to create the perfect ambiance and ideally have a regular supply of canapes. The choice of music or live ensemble is important and should not make conversation too difficult by being loud. A steel drum band was not an obvious choice for networking parties, but we now have excellent relations with event planners who trust our expertise in this area.

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Music for Networking parties 

After the event, you must follow up by thanking all your guests through the social platform and issue a bulletin about the upcoming event. Do not issue a series of bulletins, you need to give the impression that each event is really special. If you become successful at arranging such events, there will be opportunities to monetize the situation. You will also become a magnet and attract new friends and social followers.

Should any of these ideas work for you, we are happy to accept a gratuity and you are welcome to refer to this article in any promo material.

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Kids or No Kids at a wedding? (Should Children be at Weddings?)

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Is it a good idea to have children at a wedding event?

This is a very sensitive subject and the best advice is not to have kids at a wedding event. We have covered many wedding events and kids do not enjoy weddings. The event is too long and boring for most children.

Parents have a different perspective and believe that children are a part of the family and should be included in the celebration. It is an interesting perspective, but try to look at it from the children’s point of view. What do kids like more than anything? They love to have fun. The invited guests who take their young children, do not get to enjoy the full event. For this reason, most of our clients do not permit guests to bring young children or babies to the weddings.

Some weddings have a seperate play area for children with inflatable features, and that seems to work. At other wedding events where there are no special preparations for the kids, they get bored very quickly and start to cause complete chaos. Then, there are those parents that carry pushchairs and buggies which take up lots of space and sometimes end up at the front of your beautiful wedding photos.

If you are planning a wedding and do not want any children to be at the event, it is best to state this on your invitiation. Most parents will respect your wishes and either make arrangements or, decline the invitation. There is no undo at a major event like a wedding, you just have to make some tough decisions.

There are many articles written on wedding etiquette and you will find different opinions on whether kids should be invited to a wedding or not. Please let me know your view, especially if you have recently had a wedding or plan to get married soon. For information on wedding reception music please visit the website.

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Office Party Ideas For Christmas (A quick guide)

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What are the best ideas for an office Christmas party?

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The first decision for your office Christmas party is to agree on whether you are going out or staying in. All the office Christmas party ideas will fall into place after making this big decision. Going out means hiring a venue or securing a group booking at a shared event. Staying in means decorating your office and arranging catering, entertainment and games with your colleagues. Having the Christmas party in your office does have the advantage of continuity as you get to enjoy the decor for at least a week or two and there will always be left over food and drinks for a few days.

If you can find the right venue, then going out and getting away from the working environment is exciting. Just watch the smiles on your colleagues face when they hear the news that you’ve booked a venue for the Christmas party!!! It’s great to have fun with the people who you spend a lot of time with and surprisingly, the colourful Caribbean theme is one of the most successful choices for Christmas staff parties.

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Barrio East
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Welcome drinks
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Staff parties with tropicana theme

It is an amazing feeling when you walk into the lobby of a venue and see how the professionals do it, compared to your best efforts in the office. We have covered many Tropicana theme parties and it’s a fantastic surprise when guests arrive and hear a live steel band performing and they are greeted with rum punch, mojitos or colourful cocktails.

Alternatively, if you choose to stay in and celebrate with champagne and Christmas canapes, then be sure to get lots of ice!
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Quite often, they pour the welcome drinks too early and the champagne does not taste nice unless it’s served chilled. Be sure to pick up on this critical point if you are planning the party.

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Office parties

You can then focus on presents, Christmas stockings, the office quiz and any other fun ideas for the party. There are also many entertainers that can be hired to perform in your actual office. If you have done all the decorating and preparations, then why not add some live music? Our steel drum band is available for entertainment; bookings need to be made in good time as many companies choose the same week and the same date for their office Christmas party. The repertoire is enriched with a selection of popular Carols to capture the spirit of the festive season. You can discover how Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sounds on steel drums or hear a medley of Jingle Bells and Joy To The World. The acoustic format with 3 players does not require much space or any electrics and is a great idea for office party entertainment.

The other advantage of staying in is that you won’t have to worry about parking issues. This is becoming a real concern and can ruin a fun event when you see a ticket on your car or, no car. If you are fortunate to hire a remote country hotel, then this is not a problem, but in the cities and towns some advanced preparations are needed.

Visit our corporate hospitality page for more party ideas and inspiration, or call +44 208 421 2987 if you would like to book our steel band for your party.

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Inspecting wedding venues – 7 Checklist items

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Inspecting Wedding Venues

Every Bride needs to make a wedding planning checklist or obtain one from an experienced person who has covered many weddings.

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Choosing your wedding venue is by far one of the most important decisions that you will make, so what are the most important considerations? Would you know what to look for when hiring a venue? In this post we look at some of the common sense issues which are easily overlooked and discuss some aspects which could have been improved at recent wedding receptions.

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If you are getting married at a large venue which hosts multiple events, you may need a person to arrive before your guests arrive to ensure that all the boxes have been ticked and that the venue is ready for your party. Some venues do not demonstrate enough care and attention to details, which is very dissapointing when you consider the amount that they are charging for the service. Such venues are more focused on optimising their profits and turning over each wedding or event as quickly as possible, then moving on to the next one. For you, there is just one take and no rewind or undo button. You simply have to get it right the first time.

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Hunton Park, located just outside London There are venues which are managed by proper professionals who know the required standards and there are also venues which have suddenly decided that hosting weddings could be another income stream, but the owners have very little customer care experience or event management training. The question is how can you tell the difference? Usually it takes a trained eye to spot certain things as most people just walk past all the clues, accept the terms and place good money on the table.
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Here are 7 checklist items to help you.

#1.When you visit the venue for the first time, be switched on from the moment that you enter the drive or approach. What you are looking for are signs that everything is in order and that the venue is well managed.

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Well maintained flowers

#2. Start with the signs for the venue, if they are old and the paintwork has faded, what does this tell you? It could be an early reflection of a lack of maintenance. As you continue your tour, you can bet that there will be other items in need of repair or falling apart.
#3. Have a look at the grounds; if there are dead flowers in the flower beds all around the entrance, this is a red flag. You could at this point, get back into your car and find another venue. To continue after seeing these signals, is taking a gamble. What you really want is a venue that ticks all the boxes. A wedding venue that feels vibrant before you enter and start to plan your wedding celebrations.

#4. As you enter the reception area, have a good look around and see what impression you get from the staff on duty. Do they look competent and professional? Have they kept you waiting for a long time? Did they keep the appointment?

#5. When they take you on a tour of the venue, is the focus on the specifics that you are requesting, or are they more interested in selling extra services?
#6. Does the function suite or marquee look like a place which will make your guests feel special? Does the room look like it is regularly used, or more like it has not seen a wedding in a few years?
#7. Try ordering something to eat and stay for a short while. You can then see what their quality of service is like. Try the popular club sandwich from the bar menu and ask them to hold the tomatoes and see if they pay attention to details.

I bet that many people have dived in at the deep end and hired a venue without visiting the place or even trying the food and drinks? There is no room for reckless decisions when planning the biggest day of your life, it just pays to plan well and check everything. We recently covered a series of summer weddings and there were some annoying things that the venues had overlooked. In one place, the weather was hot and they should have opened the windows and aired the function room for a while before the guests arrived. The summer heat made the carpet smell terrible and there were ceiling fans, but they were switched off. At another large venue, the hotel guests were using the same outdoor area for tea and the tables were not fully cleared and reset. They also had problems with local wild life and there was pigeon guano stains on the patio furniture where guests were later seated. In another wedding venue, they had just one toilet for male & female guests and no additional toilets in the area where the reception drinks was taking place, you had to walk all the way to the main building to find another toilet.

Many venues are on the ball and take real pride in hosting events and you will not find anything to complain about. However, some hotels hire too many third-rate people as cheap labour and dress them up in smart uniforms, but you can tell that they don’t have a clue of what the required standard should be.

If you have recently chosen your venue or celebrated a wedding, please tell us what were the deciding factors and share your experience. If you would like to use our steel drum band for wedding reception music, please visit the website and send an enquiry.

If you used this advice to good effect, please leave some comments for other brides.