The office Christmas party was almost a disaster, and it would have been on my head. I am the party organizer, for the same reason that I do a lot of stuff at work: no one else wants to do it. I don't want to do it either, per se, but it's not unbearably painful, so I don't object very loudly.
We share our Christmas party with another company, and have done so for several years. This is because one professional who works part-time with us has his own company, but he's too busy to plan his own party. His employees have always been a small and unobtrusive group; it was easy to absorb them into our party. It saved him the trouble of organizing an event, and it helped fill the room when our own turnout wasn't great.
This year, this fellow expanded his business. By a lot. And didn't mention it to me. I mean, I knew that he had added some locations, but I figured there were only a handful of staff in each new office. I had booked the party room in June. I was expecting 20-30 people from the other company. They e-mailed me last week to say that they were sending 90. Ninety! My company only confirmed 65, including the plus-ones! We were totally outnumbered. I wasn't sure that we could all fit.
It was a squeeze to seat everyone in the venue I had booked, and still have room for a buffet and a dance floor, but fortunately we managed it. And hey, the party was super-fun! No one got sloppy drunk. My boss kept his often awkward and rambling annual speech to a minimum. And I only sustained a slight injury to my right foot from dancing like no one was watching. (As the hostess, I feel it is my moral responsibility to break the ice on the dance floor, and I don't care if I look a fool in the process.)
So there you have it. A work event that did not involve any drama or calamity. It's a true Christmas miracle! Now, if only I could get my hands on some of those mini-quiche hors-d'oeuvres at home, life would be perfect right now.
7 comments:
VERY cool, Spark. And YIKES! I think it may be time to subtlely, gently let the other company know, of their 90 employees, someone must be able to plan their OWN par-TAY.
But, you, always the good sport and ever the gracious hostess, managed it and did so with holiday cheer. You are, as I have always said, a wonder. :)
Happy Chanukkah and Merry Christmas, Spark! :)
It's not a partay until you learn of all the drunken shenanigans that happened behind the scenes. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
You must be a magician to have carried that off. 90 more guests...Yikes!
Wishing you happy Hanukkah and a wonderful New Year!
Good job, sounds like! I'm glad it was fun. :)
I need people like you at my gigs! Actually, I've always found the best parties are always in small rooms with too many people. People are kinda forced onto the dance floor. It makes my life a lot easier!
You're a hostess with the mostest! Glad the party worked out. Maybe you can freelance party plan for the other company and your office can piggyback next year.
Wow, Spark, you are uber-cool to pull off something like that! And dance while you're doing it, too. I am SO jealous!
And next time I have a party, can I come to you for planning? ;)
Glad you, and everyone, had a great time!
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