7 Tips for Hosting a Successful Party with Entertainment

In my 20+ year career as a professional magician, I have been in front of thousands of groups. I’ve seen every kind of audience you could possibly imagine, including the ones you would never want to imagine. What used to amaze me is how similar groups would respond so differently to the same material. It’s true that sometimes, the group is to blame. Sometimes, it’s the entertainer. BUT!! More than 90% of the time, there’s only one thing to blame…atmosphere! If the right atmosphere isn’t set from the beginning, it likely won’t do much improving on its own.

Trust me when I tell you, if you’re having entertainment at a house party, this just works. Put these party hosting tips on a checklist before your next party!

1. TV Off and Hide the Remotes!

Unless this is a viewing party, there really is no need for the temptation of a TV being present. A party is for mingling and that doesn’t really get done if a handful of primary people are in front of the TV. One time while performing for a private party at a home, there was a guy sitting in the back, laughing and enjoying the show as much, if not more, than anyone else there. For some reason that I likely will never figure out, he very briefly turned on the TV…directly behind me just to check the score of a football game. It took every bit of 10 minutes to get everyone back on track. Mostly because people were upset that he did it. Don’t give people the option.

2. Crank Up The Music

Upbeat music is a great thing to have at parties. It provides extra noise in the background which breaks potential awkward silence and seems to add more life to the party. It doesn’t need to be very loud, just loud enough that it can be heard. The only time the music should be turned off is when the entertainment starts. When the entertainment is over, turn the music back on.

3. Kids and Adults Sitting Together

If you only take one thing from this article, please take this one. So many people have the mindset that the adults should sit/stand in the back and the kids should sit on the floor up front. Totally wrong! Kids behave way better when sitting with their parents. It’s basically a different show…and it’s much better. I promise that even if this is a child’s birthday party, you will do yourself a huge favor by inviting the parents.

4. Chairs For The Show Set Up Before Guests Arrive

This does a lot more than you might think. First, it prevents you from having to set up chairs during the party, with people standing everywhere, judging you. Second, it sets an environment for guests when they walk in that tells them they’re about to see some entertainment. Third, it controls where the people sit. It stops someone from grabbing a chair and putting it in a place that suits them but not the people directly behind them, staring at a giant head.

5. Food Not Accessible During The Show

Food is too much of a distraction. If I’m hungry and I have a plate of food, I don’t care who’s doing what at the front of the room. At many parties, the food is set up in a “buffet style” which means guests know it’s always available. So, do this…about 10 minutes before the show starts, announce that the food is being put away until the show ends. This gives people time to adjust to the missing sustenance. If children are present for the show, DESSERT IS ALWAYS SERVED AFTER!!! In other words, DESSERT IS ALWAYS SERVED AFTER!!! If an explanation is needed, give a group of children some cake and ice cream and then make them sit still for a half hour. The easiest way around all of this is just to serve the food after the show.

6. Careful With The Alcohol

No, I’m not saying don’t have alcohol, but take a few things into consideration. How long is the party? Are any of your guests heavy drinkers? Will children be there? It only takes one person swinging from the kitchen chandelier to not only ruin the show, but ruin the party as well. And unfortunately, I’ve seen it happen. All because the host let the wrong person have too much to drink. It resulted in major embarrassment for pretty much everyone present. Don’t make this mistake when hosting a party!

7. Set The Friendly Atmosphere Right From The Start

Be near the door. Greet people as they come in and if anyone is new to this particular group of friends, be sure to introduce them to some other people. This gets them involved without them having to put in a lot of effort. They will feel a lot more comfortable right from the start and that’s what you’re looking for.

Quick Bonus Tip

I love dogs and cats. But trust me, please have them out of the room during the show. The only time it wasn’t a distraction was with a client that booked me multiple years in a row to do magic shows in Raleigh, NC at his home. He had a huge dog that sat on the floor and did nothing. Looked…and acted…like a bearskin rug.

Conclusion

Remember, just because you hire entertainment for a house party doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to be a great party. My repeat clients who literally have me every year have a checklist app on their phone with the things you see here. If you’re hosting a party, the result from following this list is irreplaceable.