Plan ahead and get experts' advice before sending out the invitations CAIRO: The sun is shining and the beach is beckoning. Summer is here and there is no better way to celebrate the season than by throwing a party. For first-time party hosts, hosting can be a stressful and terrifying experience. Is anyone going to come? Do you have enough food? Does everyone have a drink? Why aren't people dancing? Who just fell into the pool? Whether for 10 of your closest friends or for 50, throwing a party is serious business. It takes a lot of work to make a get together fun. So before burning down the phone line, read the following tips from two of Egypt's event gurus, Ahmed El Ganzoury (Ganz), the creative director at Unity Entertainment, and Hassan Abaza, managing director of Rimedia, an event planning company. "There is no better time to throw a party than in the summer, says Ganzoury. "People are relaxed and in the mood to socialize. The mood and atmosphere in the summer makes it ideal for a summer bash. "The most important thing is the crowd, your guest list is the key to a successful party, says Abaza. It's important to invite more females than males at a large party, he notes, as women feel slightly uncomfortable walking into a room full of men. But beware; while the success of a party heavily relies on the mood of the guests, it is up to the host to put people in the mood. "If someone comes to the party not in the mood to socialize and let loose, your job [as a host or organizer] is to get them in the mood, says Ganzoury. "If people are having fun, then the party is a success. To guarantee that your party is a resounding success, he continues, there are a few key guidelines to be followed. "Two of the most important factors in the creation of a successful party are the alcohol and music, says Ganzoury. "If the alcohol runs out or the music is not fitting to the atmosphere of the party, then your party just took a nosedive. To get the party started, Ganzoury suggests getting waiters (dressed in uniforms) or the hosts to circulate with a tray of martinis and shots. Fun and colorful shots get the guests to relax at the start of the party, rather than standing around a crowded bar waiting to get their drinks. The type of alcohol offered is also important depending on the setting. In an elegant evening affair, red, white and rose wines are a must. Champagne also adds festivity to the event. For a casual daytime party, beer is a no brainer. Margaritas and fruity cocktails are also advised, explains Ganzoury. And if you notice that your guests are getting a little too loud or rowdy, pretend to run out of alcohol, he notes. "Just say that you have run out of alcohol and are in the process of getting more. This works all the time. Music is also a key factor. No one wants to listen to Pavarotti at a barbecue or Bon Jovi at a candlelit dinner. For a small, simple barbecue for the gang, an iPod hooked up to the sound system playing upbeat tunes or soft rock music is perfect. For an elegant candlelight cocktail party, rock is not the way to go. A playlist that includes Café del Mar tunes and some jazz favorites will do the trick. "The music has to be good in order to get the crowd going. If you get a DJ, then you must make sure that he plays music appropriate to the setting and mood of the party, and that he plays all night. The point is to forget about him and just enjoy the music, says Abaza. In terms of food, if it's a full-fledged party and if you want people to schmooze and show off their moves on the dance floor, finger foods are the best way to go. The canapés can range from smoked salmon and caviar, to cheese and vegetable sambosak and stuffed grapevine leaves. "If you're planning a party where the point is to get people to dance and socialize, forget entrée food, as it tends to make people mellow. The best thing to do is offer a variety of easy to eat and light starters, explains Abaza. For those going for a black-tie feel, entrees such as grilled halibut steak, creamy risotto, crispy duck and fresh greens are recommended. A cheese board and a variety of bread rolls and breadsticks in a simple basket work for any party. As for dessert, nothing beats ice cream. For daytime casual gathering of friends, an ice-filled bowl with ice cream cones can be fun and easy; vanilla and chocolate are loved by everyone. Lemon sorbet adds a nice touch to classier events. And no one ever says no to fresh fruits like pineapple, mangos and peaches, according to Abaza. "Ice is also very important at summer parties because of the weather, notes Ganzoury. "Make sure that drinks are always cold and food does not melt by replenishing the ice every 15 minutes. "No one wants to drink lukewarm beverages, says Abaza. "Make sure that drinks are served cold. As for decorations, summer parties do not require much. "Unlike winter events that usually happen indoors, which need a lot of decorations to give a warm feel, in the summer you have all the natural elements at your hand. The sand, the sea, the grass, the stars, says Ganzoury. House parties, however, require minor adjustments. "If you're planning a big party, then you might need to move your furniture indoors, says Abaza, "But if you have plenty of space you may want to take out all the comfortable couches and pillows, sometimes even borrow a few pieces of furniture from friends, to create lounge-like settings in various corners of your garden. Thankfully, nature comes free of charge, so whether on a tight budget or with open purse strings, very little of your hard earned cash is needed for decorations. "Lighting is also very important. For an elegant affair, candles add a nice touch, but not too many or too few, says Ganzoury. "It's tricky with candles. For a night event, pool lights offer great ways to soften the mood and add a little beach feel to the party. In general, lights should not be so bright that people can count the freckles on your face, or too dim that one cannot see into the contents of their purse. As for utensils, opt for plastic. "Plastic doesn't have to be gaudy, says Ganzoury. "For a casual get together, bright plastic cups and plates can be fun and flirty, in bright blues, reds and oranges. For a classier event, you can buy the plastic that looks and feels like glass. "With a formal, sit-down dinner, you don't need to do too much. Soft music, good food [and] maybe one flower centerpiece or candles, and you've got a successful party, states Abaza. The invitation etiquette varies depending on the event and the size of the guest list. "If it's a big party, is a good idea to garner a buzz [and] a sense of excitement a few weeks prior to the event. It's also a great way to stake a claim on a date [especially as summer is the party season], he says. This can be done by phone or by sending out invitations, he adds. But word of mouth is a no-no, unless it's a last minute get together after a day at the beach with a few close friends. "The trick with telling people about the party is that you don't want to let them know too much in advance because they'll forget. And if you tell them to close to the date, they'll be insulted. And if you keep remind them every few days or every time you see them, it will be a buzz kill, explains Ganzoury. Ideally, hosts should send out invitations or make calls two weeks to 20 days in advance and should send text messages reminding guests of the date, two days prior to the event. And if it's a house party, a one week in advance invite should be sufficient, says Abaza. As for costs, Abaza says that depending on the venue and number of guests, a party can set you back as far as LE 5,000-LE 6,000. "And remember that a party is supposed to be fun, even for those giving it, notes Ganzoury, "Glitches happen all the time, so unless a guest's hair catches on fire, relax and don't get caught up in the things that went wrong. Enjoy yourself and just take note so that next time, you know what to do and not to do.
