throw a party with more than 30 people attending

The arrival of my high school prom date and her roommate into Seattle, aligned with the fact that we are all geminis and our birthdays were all coming up was enough to kick this party into the planning stages.

As advised, I sent out invitations to twice the desired people quota about a week early, sent out reminders often, bought a ton of alcohol (three trips to the store) and snacks (yum cat cookies), and made sure to be drunk before the first guest arrived. However, since I had guests staying with me, this meant mimosas and bloody marys at 11am. The first non-staying-with-me guest arrived around 6:30 (drove up from Portland to meet Jenn, Leanne’s roommate). Though I could never stay focused long enough to get an accurate and complete count, several guests claim that they counted at least 30 people in the place at one time… so I’m good to go with this goal. Overall I think perhaps 50 people came and went during the evening. Seven people made it the morning, and we all went to dim sum at the House of Hong and pigged out on ambiguous pastries and meats. Yum.

I guess there were several things that we’re not allowed to mention happened. And a couple other things that we don’t really want to mention. But overall the people were well-behaved, non-puking, and non-breaking-of-my-things. I enjoyed how many different friend-worlds got to collide and not explode. Perhaps it was the opposite of exploding in some ways.

Lessons learned from my first throwing of a party:

1. Make sure you have lots of toilet paper. Despite having a few rolls to start, we ran out around midnight and I had to make an emergency run to 2nd and Bell for some more.
2. Get a lot of vodka. Even though I had three bottles it was the first thing to run out… still had a ton of whiskey and wine and beer and gin, but oops no vodka.
3. Make sure the closet is comfy.
4. I need to remember that I’m the host. I kept on acting like a guest… throwing things on the floor and what not. But seriously, I think I did a fair to poor job of making sure everyone was happy the whole time… I was too busy singing Kelly Clarkson and doing jello shots (with plastic mermaid surprises) to introduce people properly.
5. Pouring drinks from the second floor into mouths on the first floor is ALWAYS fun.
6. Prop the front door to the building open. There’s no proof that paintings got stolen from the lobby when we propped it open last time… and answering my phone every minute while guests arrived and left and came back for their coats and when the pizza guy arrived was tough… it took too much focus and required too much responsibility. Jenn took responsibility of the phone for a while and I think without that respite I might not have made it.
7. Don’t sit down at 3am! Keep standing! Keep standing until you’re positive that you won’t be passed out on the couch when coworkers with cameras are still around.

Highlights:

1. Experimenting with new drinks… including the Ghetto-rita before we found the actual recipe. I tried rum and Mountain Dew. NOT tasty. Jenn’s terrabomb was much more successful and I think it involved Diet Coke, something, something else, and… champagne?
2. Putting a cake in the blender… hm. But the cake was so good.
3. Kelly Clarkson never disappoints.
4. Fitting 1,000 people on my bed.
5. Spencer’s Miracle Jackson dance, even though I hadn’t known what he was referring to at the time… but now I do and will never be the same.
6. Watching two full cups spill all over my bedroom at the same time, that was actually really funny at the time.
7. Who’s in the closet?
8. The many varied and convoluted and mind-boggling love connections.
9. Though I forgot to throw Rick out the window, at least I can now save this fun activity for next time.

I feel like I’ve experienced a little more of life as a result. I little wiser, etc. Maybe a little less healthy as well, but alas.

Some pictures from the party (mixed in with other parts of the Seattle trip) can be found over in Jenn’s flickr account.

I think my next party (for the party-giving appetite has been whet) is going to be a smaller wine and artsy and pretentious affair. I would like to put a big canvas on the floor and let people paint/spill wine/step all over as inspired. Maybe listen to jazz and play an old Billy Wilder movie on my wall. You know, there might be a crystal bowl of old person candies laying about somewhere.

Everyone that came, thanks!

I’m throwing a Gemini/Evil Twin party this Friday, and so far have invited about 45 people… we’ll see what happens. Anyone else want to come?

What if it was a party where I made t-shirts for everyone and everyone at the party had to wear the same t-shirt? Would people come to that? Would it be too weird or just weird enough?

Originally I thought I’d do this sometime early December, but that time is already the present, and I am not mentally prepared to take on a task this daunting just yet. Perhaps mid-January is more realistic. I want to throw a party that lots of people come to, and they all happen to be people that I like, and there is something fun and different about it. Not live animals. No mimes or jugglers. I’m not really into costumes or dress up. Maybe just some good music… with a twist. Though I guess there ain’t really a dance floor unless you count the kitchen.

Obviously, I need help! Who has thrown cool and unique parties that amazed all attendees and rocked out and yet didn’t result in any casualties or broken friendships? Is it even possible?