IPCs are all about giving people the opportunity to mingle
socially, and the cocktail party is a staple of active social-oriented groups.
In this blog, I’ve written about Salons, and these can often
take a cocktail party-ish guise. But the difference between the two is
substantial. You can think of one being somewhat smart and scholarly, and the
other one being all about the fun.
Cocktail parties can keep the life of an IPC lively by
keeping everyone busy on the social front. Most everyone enjoys talking, and
this helps people get to know each other on a casual level. It also creates
connections that give your club greater depth. Cocktail parties need not be
stressful, so keep everything as simple as possible, and if you’re hosting,
enjoy it too. You might be finding yourself playing social cop, but this, at
least in my experience, is very rare.
Here's a couple of quick tips. First, you may want to monitor any alcohol provided or brought by guests, and keep folks honest
about consumption. In my experience, most folks are reasonable about drinking, but there always seems to be person who has some issues with self-control. Also, make sure that guests are acquainted with each other so no time is wasted with awkwardness. Re-read the "Effective Introductions" post from last month to brush up on how to introduce guests.
Articles about Cocktail Parties:
Wikipedia, “Cocktail party”
Epicurious, “How to Throw a Cocktail Party”
The Nest, “5 Fun Cocktail Party Themes”
wiseGEEK, “What is a Cocktail Party?”
Party Swizzle, “How To Compile A Cocktail Party Music Playlist”
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