Organising the office Christmas party can be a tricky business.
Get it right, and you could earn precious brownie points from the boss and the back-slapping praise of your colleagues. Get it wrong, and the office could suddenly become a very lonely place.
The problem is that people's ideas of what makes a good party vary considerably. While the office young guns might fancy a night of pounding techno music at a trendy club, others will prefer a curry with a side helping of speeches and office in-jokes.
The prospect of being dragged along to either event can make the end of year party seem more like a punishment than a pat on the back for your hard work.
You, as the party guru, must try to find the common ground and organise something that everyone will enjoy. That's easier said than done.
But there are a basic set of ground-rules that should ensure your party is remembered for all the right reasons.
:: Venue
Location is king when it comes to choosing a venue for your bash, according to Mike Kershaw, managing director of The Ultimate Experience. He advises: "Make sure you can get there easily - and you can get people away just as easily. Make sure there's a taxi system. You don't want 200 frozen party-goers waiting around on a cold December night." The professional party-organiser also recommends giving the trusty hotel suite a miss this year and looking for something a bit more unusual. Marquees, museums, and even breweries can be hired for the night to give your party that unique novelty feel.
:: Food
Getting the nosh spot on is a must to keep the hoards happy. A slice of overdone turkey breast and a few sprouts just don't cut the mustard these days. "Food doesn't make a great party, but bad food can ruin one," Kershaw says. Party organisers should 'taste test' the quality of a caterer's cuisine before signing on the dotted line, he says. Otherwise it might not only be the turkey that's stuffed.
You also need to check the venue can handle serving large numbers of people at the same time - seasonal goodwill can quickly evaporate if people have to wait around for their food.
He says it's worth considering giving the traditional Christmas dinner the heave-ho for an international buffet, where guests can choose from a variety of dishes and avoid being stuck with the office bore for the entire duration of the meal.
:: Booze
"Ply them with as many drinks as you can," Ross Duttson, marketing director of party organisers Viewlondon.co.uk, advises. Nothing gets people dancing, chatting and partying quite like alcohol can, so make sure the bar is well stocked, well staffed and not due to close up at 11 just as the party's getting into full swing. Don't forget, however, that not everyone's there to get plastered, so make sure there are plenty of soft drinks available for teetotallers and drivers. Cocktails can also add a bit of novelty value to the bar choice - just don't ask your boss for a Sex on the Beach.
:: Drunken Disasters
Kershaw says there's not a lot you can do to prevent those drunken moments of madness where you insult the boss or snog a married colleague under the mistletoe. But violence can sometimes rear its ugly head at these booze soaked occasions, he says, so it may be worth investing in a couple of professional bruisers who can step in if trouble does break out.
:: Music
The spotty office junior wants to hear Dr Dre and Eminem, while the balding marketing manager rather likes showing off his moves to cheesy disco classics. How do you keep everyone happy?
Duttson says it's just a matter of getting a good DJ, who knows how to work a crowd. "You want someone who'll judge the mood and play some light disco stuff to begin with to get the older ones up and dancing and then some more up-to-date songs for the youngsters. It's a good idea to have some quieter areas where people can just go and chat as well," he says.
But after a good meal and a belly full of a booze most people aren't overly concerned with what music's being played, he adds.
:: Speeches
Long, rambling speeches from the boss will send most of the audience to sleep, so keep it short and sweet if you're going to share your pearls of wisdom with the office.
Kershaw says it is always nice for workers to be given a pat on the back for their efforts over the year but adds: "Avoid any David Brent-style stand-up routines. I've seen a few of them and they're terrible."
