Cocktail Party Networking

  Networking as we get older is probably the hardest task to manage. Who in this day and age has 2 hours for each new person they meet off the street, restaurant or even a bar. Of course, we make the occasional exception for that sweet girl but dating almost seems counter productive these days. A great way to provide an atmosphere where everyone can have a good time and build bridges is through an age old event, the cocktail party.

  Cocktail Parties arrived at the scene in the 1950's. Hollywood glamorized the cocktail party as celebrities stood around in swanky smoke filled rooms with dim lights casting shadows with the sound of ice cubes clinking in glasses. Although the images associated with what a cocktail party was in the 50s may seem out of style, we're here to let you know the modern cocktail party is even better.

  A reason being that cocktail parties are a great way to entertain is that they accommodate any kind of guest list ranging from neighbors to business associates. At a cocktail party, it is easy to mix guests who might not feel comfortable sitting across from one another at a dinner party. The traditional time frame for a cocktail party is two to three hours in length held between 6 P.M. and 10 P.M. We like to call this time Happy Hour. The mixture of people is a great environment to bring together promotors, friends, girls, guys, even your friend's friends for a social event.

  Perhaps the best thing about a cocktail party is the freedom to experiment with a wide variety of food on the menu. This is not a dinner party so appetizers and hors'dourves are served. Most catering services offer complete cocktail party menus with a wide range of appetizers and hors'dourves to choose from. Hiring a caterer to cater your cocktail party will allow you the freedom to mingle with your guests and relax. The going rate for catering a cocktail party is about $12 per person. Talk things over with your caterer in regards to food selection and the quantity of food offered to your guests.

Consider these bits and pieces while planning for your cocktail party:

1. Stock up on plenty of ice. You'll need it for chilling bottles of wine or champagne as well as serving in drinks on the rocks. A good rule of thumb is planning to have 1-pound of ice per guest.
2. Be prepared with an assortment of glass styles to cover the type of drinks you plan to serve. These include wine glasses for wines, juice and water; straight-sided highballs for tall drinks; tumblers for spirits and juices; and martini glasses.
3. Have twice as many glasses on hand as guests.
4. For a 2-hour party where you only plan on serving wine and/or champagne, you'll need to have one bottle for every two guests.
5. For a basic bar you'll want to stock up on vodka, whiskey, wines and beer. For a more complete bar you can add gin, tequila, rum, bourbon, vermouth, sherry, and brandy.
6. Don't forget to stock up on mixers including orange juice, soda, tonic, ginger ale, cola, tomato juice, Tabasco, lemons, limes, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce. If you're brave, bitters.
7. If you anticipate your guests will be wine drinkers, you can prepare by uncorking a few bottles in advance, and then replacing the corks. Have a mix of white and red varieties.
8. Have coffee available for any guests that may need a little assistance at the end of the party. Your local taxi company phone number should also be handy and offered to any guests you believe shouldn't be driving.

  Consider hiring a caterer or bartender to mix the drinks for your party. Hiring a caterer will allow you much more time to socialize with your guests. There are even caterers that specialize in bartending services only. If you hire a caterer to handle the drinks at your party, the caterer will be responsible for everything, even alcohol, glasses, and ice.

  A cocktail party suggests a classy occasion so shine your shoes and turn the volume up a notch on the stereo. Clink-clink, have fun!