Why It’s Fun to Go to Somebody Else’s Party for a Change
As fun as it is to host parties, it’s even more fun to attend somebody else’s party. For one thing, there is obviously less responsibility so that means you don’t have to do as much in preparation. It’s good to sometimes step down from the organizer role. In addition, the novelty of a new party that you didn’t organize is extra fun. We love happy surprises, and newness is stimulating. So if your friends aren’t having many of their own parties, consider some ways you can nudge them to host their own for a change.
Ways You Can Encourage Others to Host More Parties
1. Offer to Help Plan and/or Prepare for the Party
I realize this defeats the purpose of absolving yourself of party-planning responsibility, but you will still be doing less than you would do to host your own party. Your friend is still primarily responsible, but you can offer to take on some of the planning and/or preparation work. Many people are intimidated by hosting. If someone has never hosted before, it helps to understand How to Be a Good Party Host and How to Have Fun at Your Own Party. Encourage them and offer to help with whatever it is they find most difficult. Everybody starts somewhere. They will likely appreciate your help and feel happy afterwards that they chose to host a party!
1) Pitch in with food and/or drinks
Hosting a potluck is a great way to share responsibility of food provision among all guests. But if your friend isn’t up for hosting a potluck, you can offer to provide some of the refreshments. Or maybe they buy the food ingredients and you cook or prepare whatever it is they want to serve. How you help here depends on you and your friend’s unique strengths and needs. Maybe you play bartender during the party, freeing up your friend to invest more easily in connecting with guests while you ensure everyone is fed and served beverages (a huge help!).
2) Take over decorating
Depending on how much creative license your friend is willing to give you, you could do the entirety of the decorating (whether they reimburse you for supplies or whether you choose to gift this) or you could help set up the materials that your friend purchases. Or, you could offer to help DIY decor. Again, there are many options here concerning your level of participation. It depends on your friend’s needs and your unique strengths.
3) Co-host during the party
Hosting can feel overwhelming if someone has trouble balancing responsibilities of greeting guests, chatting with them, and serving food and drinks, among other things. You may do your friend a huge favor by offering to co-host. This could simply mean that you are in charge of the door at the beginning where you greet guests, take their jackets, and direct them to seating, refreshments, the bathroom, or other people. Or, you could take charge of leading people in games or activities. However you help, your friend will much appreciate it.
2. Share That Not All Parties Have to Be Huge or Elaborate
If it helps, remind your friend that every party doesn’t look the same. It can look however they want it to look. They can invite 4-5 guests, or 40-50 guests (if they have the space!). It helps to clarify just what sort of party would be feasible for your friend to host, depending on their personality, time and budget.
1) Consider a social gathering as opposed to a full-fledged party
For people who are more introverted or simply don’t have the time and space capacity to share their home with a larger group, encourage them to consider hosting a small gathering instead. Smaller gatherings are more intimate, with maybe 4 guests or so. This still requires some level of effort because you’re opening your home to guests, but there are a lot fewer people for whom to buy or prepare food and drinks, and a lot fewer to greet at the door and converse with.
The most important thing to consider when planning a small gathering is who you invite. For this scenario, it helps when guests are either already friends or strangers who you think would get along well. Emphasize to your friend the significance of choosing guests to invite into their home.
2) It isn’t necessary to spend much money
How much money anyone spends on their party is totally up to them. If someone is concerned about the cost of hosting, share with them how to host a party on a budget. We should only spend as much money as we’re comfortable with, and there are plenty of ways to minimize costs.
3. Propose Why Having a Party is a Better and More Cost-Effective Way to Have Fun
If someone hates parties in general, then of course you shouldn’t expect them to want to host. But this entire scenario assumes that somebody else enjoys parties and has attended any of your own. So with that in mind, it’s worth mentioning that hosting a party is also a lot of fun and usually more cost-effective than other forms of entertainment people pursue such as going out to eat or drink somewhere.
1) A party requires more work, but only as much as you choose
Yes, a party host is responsible for food provision and cleanup; setting up any decorations and party-related activities; and greeting and socializing with guests. But as mentioned in the first point above, you can always offer to help. And regardless, as mentioned in the second point above, a party doesn’t have to be huge or complicated. Emphasize to your friend that they have the say over any and all details concerning how much effort they put into their party. It’s usually a lot cheaper than a night on the town.
2) You can throw a party on your own terms
It’s fun to wear the MC hat and craft your perfect party. Ask your friend how their ideal party would look, within their own capabilities. Remind them that their party can last as long as they want it to last. It can look and feel however they want. They can get as creative as they want with food and activities. We don’t have as much control over our environment or options when we go out somewhere. At home, however, we can do things our way – and enjoy them with friends!
3) Satisfying conversations and connections are easier at a party
This should especially appeal to hosting-shy introverts. When we go out to restaurants or bars, sometimes it’s too loud and distracting to really connect with people. At home, however, you can control the volume and environment to be more conducive to quality conversation that can last however long you want. You can set whatever scene to maximize the environment you’re going for.
Overview of How to Encourage Others to Host a Party
Here is a recap of the ways to encourage others to take the hosting baton:
- Offer to help prepare for the party. You can pitch in with food or drinks or take over decorating. Alternatively, you can help out during the party as co-host.
- Explain that not all parties have to be huge or elaborate. Suggest a social gathering as opposed to a large party, and remember that it isn’t necessary to spend much money.
- Propose why throwing a party is a more cost-effective and beneficial way to have fun. While a party requires more work than going out for paid entertainment, it’s only as much work as they choose to put into it. Their party can look exactly as they desire; it can include only who they want to invite; and they can coordinate it to facilitate satisfying conversations and connections.
Whether you host parties regularly or just occasionally, it’s nice to be able to attend somebody else’s party for a change of scenery. Even if it’s something you agree to help out with, you’ll still enjoy the lessened responsibility! If others attend and truly enjoy your parties, they should be more or less convincible to hosting their own. So the next time a guest kindly asks you what they can do to help at one of your parties, suggest that they host a party too!