Holiday Party Tips

As one of the top magicians in Los Angeles, Joe Skilton’s performed at a wide variety of holiday parties. Whether your party is for a large company, a charity fundraiser, or an intimate family gathering, these holiday party tips will guarantee a successful night for all.

Send Physical AND Electronic Invites

You’d be surprised how often letters from friends can accidentally end up in the trash. To make sure everyone gets the invite, send it twice. First by snail mail, and then a follow-up email 7 days later. Many companies and event planners use Cvent, but for private parties I recommend evite.com. It’s much easier to use.

Choose Your Venue Early

Hopefully you’ve got this covered already. Top venues are booked months (sometimes over a year) in advance. This is especially true on major holiday weekends like December 12th and 13th.

Going Late into the Night? Consider a Food Truck.

Food trucks are ALWAYS a hit with late-night revelers. Families love In-N-Out food trucks. Have a more “sophisticated” crowd? LA has tons of gourmet trucks with high-end offerings. Here’s 8 of the best.

In-Office Party? Get Help Decorating.

Put your co-workers to work! They’ll add some creative input, and you’ll save lots of time! This goes for house-parties, too. :-)

Non-Traditional Venue? Hire a Valet Service.

If your party isn’t at a hotel or restaurant, and you have more than 50 guests, look into valet companies. I’ve never met a woman who loves a long walk to the car at midnight in high-heels.

No Valet? Email Guests with Parking Info.

Let your guests know the best places to park. If you’re having a party in your home, remember to block off some space in your driveway for any disabled guests. FYI: Driveway space is especially needed if you have any catering. Speaking of catering…

Choose Your Caterer Wisely

Hotels and Country Clubs provide their own catering. For other venues, choose your caterer wisely. Ask friends for recommendations and referrals. Or better yet, ask your event planner. Speaking of…

When Hiring an Event Planner Makes Sense

Some venues provide their own event coordinators. But for larger events, it often makes sense to hire an experienced event planner. Do you find that you don’t know the answers to venue coordinator questions? Not sure what “theme” to have this year? Is the planning taking too much of your time? Maybe a planner is the right choice for your event.

A Word About Event Planners…

Yes… an event planner costs money. But a great event planner can save you money, time and worry, and work to reduce vendor and venue costs. Plus, they can use their extensive knowledge to make your party more, fun, delicious, and memorable for everyone.

Choose Appropriate Music

Not everybody loves rap, country, or indie rock. Choose a DJ or band with an extensive catalogue of popular hits. Just having a small party in your home? Hook up your sound system to Pandora, Slacker, or iTunes Radio. These services all have Holiday-themed and Top-40 channels you can listen to. Best of all… they’re free.

Don’t Assume Everyone Knows the Dress Code

If you want your guests to dress up, tell them so! Send email reminders one week as well as one day in advance.

Book Entertainment ASAP

World-class entertainment can make your event more memorable and fun for everyone there. Unlike a large catering company, entertainers CAN’T be two places at once, so book your entertainment as far in advance as possible.

Choose Appropriate Entertainment

Choose entertainment that appeals to a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Hiring a famous comedian? Pick one who works “clean.” Playing board games at home? Avoid Cards Against Humanity.

One reason magic is so popular at holiday parties is its universal appeal. Everyone loves magic from an experienced professional magician.