anything too formal hiring a magician , comedian or band is always fun .
9 . Gift Giving
It ’ s always a good idea to check with others what kind of gift exchange they ’ d like and what they expect from the Christmas party .
The annual Christmas party isn ’ t the time to give out anything too expensive or lavish .
Opt instead for an organised Kris Kringle or even a group charity donation where everyone pitches in .
If you do decide on a Kris Kringle type gift exchange , settle on a budget and make sure everyone knows what it is .
10 . Decorations
Depending on the company it ’ s usually a good idea to opt for the commercial type decorations rather than the more religious aspects of the season as these tend to make some individuals feel uncomfortable .
That being said , the more decorations the better , within budget of course , they ’ ll help everyone get into the spirit of the occasion and feel jolly .
11 . Invitations
Once the date is settled and the location organised begin to send out invitations .
To cut costs send out an email invitation to all employees however if family or plus ones are invited along send out a hard copy .
Make sure the invitation includes an RSVP deadline and dietary requirement questions to avoid any hiccups . It ’ s also a good idea to send out a reminder a day or so before the party .
12 . Itinerary
Even without entertainers or speeches it ’ s a good idea to have an itinerary complete with meal serving times , start and finish times and any other aspects of the event so nothing is forgotten on the day .
If it ’ s an event at a formal venue or restaurant , there will most likely already be an event coordinator with itinerary but it ’ s always a good idea to create one so the event goes on without a glitch .
13 . Extras
Organise some extra little touches for guests by handing out goody bags after the event ( free of corporate , branded knickknacks of course ) or some nice photos of the event ( free of drunken debauchery of course ). Little touches like these will help the event be seen as a success and let employees feel appreciated , especially if they ’ re forgoing bonuses .
14 . Clean Up
Always check with the venue whether they offer a clean-up service afterwards or whether it needs to be supplied .
If the event is in-house it ’ s a good idea to organise a clean-up crew to come in to do the dirty work .
15 . Feedback : Once the party ’ s over for another year it ’ s always a must to ask for as much feedback as possible , this will help ensure the following year is also a success .
Sourced from https :// probonoaustralia . com . au
October 2016 | Business 2 Business with a Twist
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