Christmas Party Ideas
I know what you’re thinking, it’s only August and Fergus is talking about Christmas party ideas – surely not!?
The festive run is the busiest in any performer’s calendar. It is a monstrous marathon of gigs with days consisting of multiple events up and down the country…followed by hearing Mariah Carey in your sleep…
This blog will examine the good, the bad, and the ugly when considering Christmas party ideas and hopefully offer some helpful thoughts from 20 years of performing at them…
At the time of writing, my diary is already starting to fill up, so if you are interested in having me perform, please email me by clicking here. (Watch me in action by clicking here or read reviews by clicking here).
I think it’s important to note that whilst I refer to Christmas party ideas throughout the blog, the ideas are for everyone and not exclusive to any specific faith or celebration.
Best Christmas party ideas
Now more than ever, inclusivity is key. As I talked about in my “What is corporate entertainment” blog, empathy is the secret to success when planning a great party. When you are looking for the best Christmas party ideas it is vital to think about what your guests need first and what you think will be a great idea second. (That is not to say the two don’t align!).
The biggest mistake I see is when an organiser has only considered a certain demographic of attendees. An example of this might be providing an incredible alcohol option and a soft drink option. Not the end of the world, but it does make those not drinking feel isolated from the cocktail environment…
The Christmas Party Experience
First and foremost, what is the experience you are looking to create for your guests? Are you planning the classic Christmas dinner, or do you want a team-based activity? Is the aim of the party just to have fun? Or is it to build client relationships? In my experience, the group dynamic dictates the festive experience. Once you have a clear understanding of that, move to the next step…
The fail-safe Christmas Party
The Christmas dinner is classic for a reason…I’d say 90% of Christmas parties I attend have the following format: Drinks and canapes followed by either a lunch or a dinner. The focus is on fun – even if clients etc are present. It is about connecting with people on a more meaningful level and coming together during an inherently reflective period.
Whilst the above format is standard, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your event is not just your run-of-the-mill meal. Entertainment is set to play a key part in making your party the first thing on everyone’s mind when they think back to December…
What follows are some recipes for success!
PLAY SHOWREEL
Unique Christmas party ideas
Magician
One of the best Christmas party ideas is to have a Christmas party magician attend your event – it fits “the magic of Christmas” theme perfectly! Magic is an incredibly versatile form of entertainment. I perform close-up magic, table magic, stage magic and virtual magic shows to add that extra-special sparkle to festive celebrations. Have a read of what it means to be a dinner party magician as this might fit your festive celebrations perfectly!
Magic is unique in that it is universally loved, interactive, and entirely self-contained (by this I mean you don’t have to worry about complex AV requirements). It creates lasting memories between pockets of people that they will be able to reminisce about for years to come! All of the above adds to it being my number 1 choice (unsurprisingly) for Christmas party ideas.
Photo Booth
A trusty staple of any boozy bash. It might take a while for people to conjure photo booth courage, but once they start, they’ll never stop! Often photo booths have fancy dress add-ons that can feel a little out of place. However, not during the December season it’s Elf’s, reindeer and Santa’s galore! There are so many companies that offer this service I’d suggest a quick Google to find a business you like the look of.
Shuffleboard
In my opinion, Shuffleboard is a brilliant Christmas party idea. First and foremost, the rules are simple, and the game is inclusive of all skill levels. If you don’t know what it is, click here and see a demo. For my birthday this year, a load of us went and played at Electric Shuffle-Board in Bermondsey. Everyone absolutely loved it (really, it’s very addictive!) and it was a gentle way for people to bond who didn’t know each other.
Table Football
This might not feel like the most “Christmassy” of options, but table football or “foosball” is a fantastic summer or winter corporate entertainment option. The reasons are two-fold. Primarily (as with shuffleboard), it is very easy to take part in. Secondly, it is an installation that takes care of itself. By this I mean no one needs to manage the table or explain the rules, you can just have it set up and leave people to play as they wish!
Live singer
A playlist is great, but you can’t beat live music when considering Christmas party ideas. There is something inherently magical about walking into a party to the dulcet tones of a solo singer, the rat-pack vibes of a 4-piece band, or the slick style of a wandering saxophonist. I have so many solo singers, as well as band recommendations, simply drop me an email by clicking here.
Beyond the classic Christmas Dinner
Perhaps you are looking to spend some quality time together in the form of team-based activity. This can either precede your main party or be in place of a traditional Christmas dinner. Quite often I am booked to perform a virtual magic show ahead of an in-person show. It creates a brilliant buzz and gives people a common talking point when they meet a few weeks later. What follows are a few activities and opportunities for festive fun that people will love!
Magician
Come on, it’s a blog on my website…Either close-up magic or a stage magic show for 30 to 3000 is a superb way of creating a truly incredible experience for your employees. Magic creates the most memorable moments for those watching and is one of the few forms of entertainment that isn’t necessarily improved with the consumption of alcohol..! Enquire today to find out more about booking me as your christmas party magician.
Wreath making
What’s more festive than sitting down with your work pals and building yourself your very own wreath? This can work both in-person or virtually and is a sure-fire way of making everyone feel wholesome Christmas vibes.
Gingerbread baking
You’re going into the office to make gingerbread people? Stop it. That sounds too good to be true…Any form of cookie-making or cake-baking is an absolutely fail-safe way of getting people in the festive spirit. Just save some for me…
Designing Decorations
Wishing you had some fancy decorations from Liberty? Why – when you can make your own!? This activity is a super opportunity for you and your team to bond – not to mention a lovely little keepsake. You can keep it friendly or you can award a decorations designer master!
Worst Christmas party ideas
Okay, that was a dramatic headline. This isn’t really the “worst Christmas party ideas”, but rather some cautionary advice from one magician who has seen his fair share of “Don’ts”…
Don’t
X Hesitate booking
Granted, this might feel like a sales tactic…However, if you are considering planning your Christmas party ideas, it’s likely someone else is too. For some dates during December, I turn away 50+ enquiries – key dates go quickly! Avoid disappointment by getting your acts locked in early.
X Underestimate the smaller details
You’d be surprised how much people pay attention to your efforts! Coming up with unique Christmas party ideas is a great way to showcase the innovative side of your business. People look forward to the company Christmas party over any other social event of the year
X Only think about alcohol
Lots of people don’t drink or can’t drink. By providing alternative experiences (in either the form of “mocktails” or entertainment) you are making sure everyone feels seen at your event!
X Have the DJ start too early
Your Christmas party is a great opportunity for people to create meaningful relationships – a DJ cranking up the tunes too early gets in the way of that.
X Forget other celebrations
For me, Christmas means family, friends, and gratitude. However, it denotes a religious day for many people too, and therefore it is important to recognise other faiths and how they choose to celebrate during this time.
Get planning!
Overall, just aim to be inclusive – whatever Christmas party ideas you are exploring!
I hope this blog has helped you in some way, and provided you with some useful information to ease the pre-party anxiety. If you find you are still feeling overwhelmed, why not pick up the phone and give me a call on +44 7929709894. We can bounce some ideas back and forth, and hopefully get you well on your way!
