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How to Host a Fun 1960′s Party!

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

When it comes time to hosting a corporate party, choosing an era to represent is not only lots of great fun, but also makes it easy to add just the right décor that can allow guest to truly feel that they are taking a step back in time. There are many ways to decorate a 1960′s party – you can choose to focus on a specific year, a specific person or event, or simply include a little bit of everything that comes to mind when thinking about the 1960′s era.

A Few Decorating Ideas
The following are a few decorating ideas that can help your corporate party event be all that you want it to be.

1960′s Era Accent Wall. An Accent Wall is a great focal point and accordingly will be a great conversation piece! The 1960′s represented a time of change, introducing a whole new culture that was centered around taking political action in order to fight for the rights of everyone as well as enjoying the freedom of being an individual. Additionally, the 1960′s began to introduce new ways of eating food by making them convenient, rock n’ roll music was expanding and becoming more accepted and thus popular, and the hippie generation began as everyone celebrated the end of the war and thus focused on the importance of a peaceful nation. Imagine how fun an Accent Wall will be for your guests as they get to view the many highlights of the 1960′s.

1960′s Rock Wall Mural. Add this rock wall mural that screams 1960′s, making it a great addition to a 1960′s party.

Clothes & Dancing
Both the clothing style and the music of the 1960′s era were quite unique!

Clothing

Tye-Dye, Plaid Shirts/Pants, Mini Skirts,
Hot Pants, Velvet Pants, Turtlenecks
Leather Boots, Go-Go Boots, Patent Leather Heels
A-Line Dresses, Shirt Waist Dresses

Music

The Beatles
The Doors
The Rolling Stones
Simon & Garfunkel
Righteous Brothers
Jerry Garcia

Food & Drinks
The following is a list of some of the more popular 1960′s foods and drinks.

1960 Food Ideas

Main Course – Casseroles, Kabobs, Meat Loaf, Chicken Pot Pies
Appetizers – Deviled Eggs, Fondue, Cocktail Meatballs/Wieners, Shrimp Cocktail
Desert – Jell-O Mold, Red Velvet Cake, Ambrosia

1960 Drink Ideas

Colas, Root Beer Floats
Martinis, Daiquiris, Manhattans

1960s Theme Tips
You can choose to update these foods and drinks to reflect the tastes of today, or choose to keep them exactly the same in order to hold true to the 1960′s theme. Also, be sure to include some bean bag chairs, peace signs, beaded curtains, and blacklight’s with some of the more popular blacklight posters if choosing to decorate the event with an overall 1960′s theme.

Tags: 1960s, sixties
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Hosting a Corporate Party with a Racing Car Theme

Monday, January 16th, 2012

custom props, tv, lighting, and incorporation of Compuware on the car

A Corporate Party with a Racing Car theme is one that any racing car enthusiast is sure to enjoy. Both men and women enjoy this fast-paced sport, with the first organized official car race being documented back in 1887. Some of the states that tend to be more involved when it comes to car racing include North Carolina, Indiana, California, Georgia, and New York.

Decorating the Event
The overall car racing theme should emit a feeling of actually being at a race track. One really great idea is to place a few television sets around the room showing some of the more popular race car themed movies, such as Days of Thunder, NASCAR – The IMAX Experience, and Talladega Nights. Also, place black and white flags/balloons throughout the venue to add to the overall party atmosphere.

Cutouts

Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Jeff Gordon, John Andretti
Pace Car, Pit Crew Members, Flagmen, Winston Cup Trophy

Props & Flats

Racing Tires, Winners Circle Flat

Floor. Using a black and white checkered floor pattern is a really great idea and adds greatly to the overall racing car theme.

Walls. Consider using Spandex Walls to add the corporate logo or display a race car related message/photo for the audience to view.

Lighting. Use red, yellow, and green lights throughout the venue to emanate the stop, slow down, and go lights used during a car race.

compuware custom banner 300x200 Hosting a Corporate Party with a Racing Car Theme

A good look at one of the many custom banners we created for this event.

Fun & Games
Let your guests know that you want them to have fun by initiating some games for them to play throughout the corporate event.

If an actual race is taking place at the time of the corporate party, have guests draw entrants names out of a bowl. If the driver they pick wins, give them two tickets to the next racing car event held nearby.
Set up a mini track and let guests race remote control cars around the track with the winner receiving a special prize.
Set up an area where guests can play racing car games, such as on PlayStation, with the winner being the person who gets the top score of the night.

compuware starting line 300x200 Hosting a Corporate Party with a Racing Car Theme

Starting line to the event with custom props and lighting

Food & Drink
The following list of foods are some of the more popular food items served at a racing car event.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken
Nachos, chips & dip, potato salad
Soda, red bull, beer, champagne
Also, add some dessert options, such as a race car shaped cake and/or cookies

A Great Idea
Choose to highlight a particular racing event, such as NASCAR, and let the party theme fall around anything and everything related to this highly popular car racing event.

Tags: nascar, race cars
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How to Host a Corporate Party – Casino Theme

Friday, December 16th, 2011

When it comes time to host a corporate party there are many themes from which to choose. One of the most popular and fun themes to date is the Casino Theme, which is not only an enjoyable and entertaining idea, it can be highly versatile so that you are able to conform it to fit the standards of your particular corporation.

Casino Theme Options
Choose from one of the options below for hosting a corporate party with a casino theme.

Adults (21+) Only. If you’re company consists of people over the age of 21, the option to create an atmosphere that truly represents an actual casino is a great idea! Gather a few pictures of some of the more popular casinos in order to get a picture in mind of how you envision the venue to appear is a great place to start.

Family Fun. If you’re company is one that has a lot of employees with families, then hosting a casino-themed party can be fun and should be geared towards a variety of different ages.

Formal? Choose to make this theme formal by requesting that guests dress up in a tuxedo and/or a formal gown, which very much represents some of the more famous casinos, such as those in Monte Carlo or Monaco.

Casual? Make this theme super casual by not implementing a dress code at all.

Casino Theme Décor
Decorating the event can be lots of fun! as there are lots of choices to be made when it comes to decorating a corporate event with a casino theme.

Martini or Mohito Tables. Choose from white and/or black martini/mohito tables that can add that extra elegance to any party.

Bars. Choose from one of the many lighted bars (also comes with custom graphics for a specialized and more personal touch!) that are available, giving your corporate casino party that extra level of sophistication as well as a more modern touch. Or choose to use one of the mahogany wood bars, which are considered to be more casual yet offers that comfortable, down-to-earth feeling that makes people feel at ease.

Backdrops. Choose to represent a particular casino/area by choosing backdrops to set in the background.

Vegas Strip, Venice Canal, Eiffel Tower, Times Square, more…

Cutouts. Place some cutouts of some of the more popular people/items that are associated with a casino.

Elvis, Cher, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Show Girls
Poker Hand, Dollar Sign
Venice (water, bridge, more…)

Props. Add some props to the décor in order to add that extra flair that people expect when attending a corporate party

Mini Slot Machines, Dice,
Custom Casino Signs
Statues (Thinker, Apollo, Venus, more…)

Bottom Line
When hosting a corporate party with a casino theme, be sure to choose the type of casino party that will best represent your particular company. Choose to serve alcohol or keep it alcohol-free, and don’t forget to let your guests play with fake money that can be used near the end of the party to pick out some gifts/souvenirs so that they will be able to remember this super fun and exciting night for a long time to come!

Tags: casino props, casino theme, las vegas props
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How To Host a Great 70′s Party

Monday, October 31st, 2011

If you’re looking to host a 1970′s party, great! This particular era is one that exudes tons of fun and is viewed as one of the most enjoyable and thus more popular types of parties you can host. If you personally remember the 1970′s, the first thing to come to mind is probably how cool everyone and everything was: the turmoil of the 1960′s between love and war was over, and people were starting to celebrate this brand new decade with feelings of freedom, peace, and love.

Using an Accent Wall to Set the Mood
Using an accent wall to display all things 1970 is a great idea! and can be utilized in a number of ways with a purpose to show guests at a glance some of the more popular events that took place in this one-of-a-kind era.

1970′s Television/Movies. Charlie’s Angels was a hit, and so was that infamous picture of Farrah Fawcett in her red bathing suit, making this a must for the Accent Wall. Also, Saturday Night Fever, Rocky, Happy Days, and the Godfather were all super popular at this time making any references to these particular shows a great idea.

1970′s Music. Imagine life-sized cutouts of the following singers who made it to the top of the charts – Donna Summer, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and the Village People. Fun!!

Clothing Styles. Bell-bottoms, platform shoes, and tie-dye made up some of the top styles when it comes to clothing, so be sure include these fashion icon pieces. Other choices include wrap dresses, velour shirts, polyester suits, and halter tops.

Fads. Pet rocks, hanging beads, and lots of flowers should be included. (Let guests make their very own pet rock to take home with them for a memento!)

*Utilizing the colors of the 1970′s is a great idea – orange, yellow, brown, and green – and should be incorporated into the overall them.

*Also, don’t forget to create an area in at least one corner of the venue where guests are able to sit and talk with others about the 1970′s, preferably in bean bag chairs. Also, add some black lights with lots of really cool blacklight posters for that extra special appeal.

70amp;s Food & Drinks
Food. Fondues were all the rage! Since there are so many possibilities for creating fondues, you can use them for making appetizers, main entrées and/or desserts. Also, a yellow cake with a happy face is sure to be a hit. Other popular food choices include casseroles, Jell-0, pot pies, and Chex mix.

Drinks. Tang, Coca-Cola, Lemonade, and Sun Tea were some of the top drinks of the 1970′s.

Games & Dancing = Fun!

Trivia Game. Create a list of questions related to the 1970′s to pass out to your guests. Make sure there is a blend of both easy and difficult questions, and give the person who answers the most questions correctly a great prize!

Dancing. Disco was king! in this era and therefore makes it an obvious choice when it comes to choosing the music. Remember the Bump? Or the Hustle? Adding a lighted dance floor as well as a disco ball is a must!

Tags: 70's party
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Corporate Christmas Party – A Winter Theme

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

A Corporate Christmas or Holiday Party is one of the most celebrated events held for employees, who really look forward to this special time of year! The holiday spirit is in the air and has a way of making people feel warm and happy, making a holiday Christmas Party one that is eagerly looked forward to. Know that hosting a Corporate Christmas takes a lot of preparation so be sure to start planning at least 2 months in advance to ensure that there is enough time to create the very best party!

Party Checklist
There are many things to do when it comes to hosting a Corporate Holiday Party, making the following list a general guideline to get your started.

Create the Corporate Christmas Party announcements/invitations
Figure out the theme and/or the type of atmosphere that will appeal to all guests
Plan all food and drinks – order
Plan for music – order or hire

Creating the Atmosphere
One of the most important aspects that comes with hosting a Christmas Party is choosing the right decorations in order to create the perfect atmosphere.

Entrance. Imagine your guests excitement as they arrive and see that the entrance to the Christmas Party resembles an igloo, which helps to create the right mood as soon as they arrive.

Ceiling / Atmosphere. When it comes to creating the perfect Christmas atmosphere, consider decorating the venue from floor to ceiling. Envision a beautifully draped ceiling in either white, silver and/or blue fabrics along with lots of snowflakes and/or silver ornaments hanging intermittently throughout.

Sitting Area. Create a few areas where your guests are able to sit down and enjoy the company of other guests. A fireplace with comfy chairs is one great idea and allows the guests to feel completely at ease as they sit and chat by the fire.

Lighting. Use lighting to add some extra style and elegance! Choose from something simple, such as sequenced can lights in blue and white or maybe something a little more dramatic is called for, such as using lighted tables.

Food & Drinks & Music
Choose from a fancy sit down dinner or a more casual dining experience such as using a buffet table to place a few more popular, delicious foods that people look forward to eating at this time of year.

Food Ideas. Be sure that there is a variety of food, such as turkey, ham, Waldorf salad, a cheese platter, just to name a few, as well as a variety of finger foods. Also, add at least 3 different desserts, such as a berry pie, a spice cake, and plum tarts.

Drink Ideas. Be sure to include a few Christmas drinks that are considered to be classics, such as apple cider, hot chocolate, and punch as well as a few more modern drinks. Also, decide whether alcohol will be served at the event as to make the appropriate accommodations.

Music. Be sure that there is a quality sound system to play some of the more popular Christmas songs for guests to listen as well as dance to. Or splurge and hire a DJ who has plenty of experience in Christmas music and can take requests from guests to make the party just that more special.

Make this year’s holiday party one to remember.

Tags: christmas party, holiday party, winter theme
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How to Host the Best Halloween Party

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

October is right around the corner, making this the perfect time to start planning for the best Halloween Party ever! Corporate Halloween Parties are especially fun because employees feel like they can really express themselves by dressing up as someone else (or something else!) and having a night of fun with it. Whether they want to admit it or not, employees love attending a Corporate Halloween Party so be sure to start planning soon as hosting a Halloween bash is a great way to gather employees together for a night of scary fun. Personal parties, as well, are always in style for Halloween.

Scary Fun Entrance
What comes to mind when one thinks about Halloween? Lots of scary fun! Halloween is different from other parties in that guests are able to really use their imagination to become someone or something else for a night.

Halloween Party Entrance. Imagine how excited your guests will be when they show up to the party’s entrance and are greeted by a Grave Prop with a Haunted Window and Black Velour Drapes as the backdrop. Fun!

Zombies, Spiders & Corpses… Oh My!
Creating the ideal atmosphere for a Halloween Party is critical. There are many themes from which to choose, such as Zombies, Spiders, and Corpses, or you can forego the theme and have a party that includes a mix of all things scary. Whatever you choose will sure to be a big hit with everyone, so be sure to start the planning right away in order to give guests time to search for the best costume.

Zombies. What’s scarier than zombies? Nothing! Imagine a display that shows a zombie emerging from a crate so it can come out and get whoever is closest.

Spiders. Picture a large spider web with a victim entangled in it for later munching! This prop will have your guests mesmerized at the very thought.

Corpses. Visualize an Electric Chair with a Truss and Throw Switch, and a Corpse sitting in the chair all hooked up – maybe he/she was late to work?

Clothes, Food, & Drinks
Now that the atmosphere is set, it’s time to place a focus on a few other important details.

What to Wear?

Depending on the theme will dictate what your guests will wear to the Halloween Party.
Idea #1 – Incorporate a theme that has everyone dress up as the same type of scary creature, which allows guests to have fun comparing themselves to each other.
Idea #2 – Choose a classic movie and have your guests dress up as some of the characters.

Food & Drinks
Eating and drinking at a Halloween Party can be lots of fun when you use your imagination! Since this is a Corporate Halloween Party, be sure to mix up the food offerings in order to accommodate all the guests.

Snacks. Finger sandwiches (in the shape of real fingers, of course) are an all-time favorite.
Drinks. Blood Red Punch with ice cube eyeballs
Dinner. Cream of Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Salad, and/or Spaghetti (worms & blood sauce) are 3 great choices!
Desert. Boston Scream Pie or Creepy Crawler Cupcakes

Don’t Forget!
Be sure to include the classic game of bobbing for apples! Also, don’t forget to choose a variety of Halloween-inspired music, for listening as well as to dance to. Enjoy!

Tags: halloween
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Arzika Plex 2011 Event

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Display Group was hired by Arzika to assist them with branded directional signage, stage settings and after parties. To help guide attendees, Display Group produced a series of branded light towers. Standing at 8’ tall, guests could easily navigate their way through the sprawling complex. Each tower was lighted for maximum visibility. Simple cardholders and signs were placed throughout to help identify key areas.

Combining the mix of old meets new; Display Group used a combination of stretched spandex units with truss, along with large dimensional gears. Both gears and spandex structures where lit and changed colors during the presentation.

To wrap the night up, Display Group created two different areas for guests to unwind. One end of the ballroom was transformed into an 80’s era arcade. A central truss light bar with chain link panel accents was the focal point of the room. Vintage arcade games and pin ball machines lined the walls, which were up washed with vibrant colors.

In the opposite end of the ballroom, Display Group created a dueling Piano Bar. Pianos were set atop a stage, and surrounded by our Black Plexi Bar. Additional black resin tables were used to give the club a slick black feel.

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How to Host a Fun 1950′s Party

Friday, July 15th, 2011

1950s Diner Theme

There’s no doubt about how excited your guests will be once they find out they are invited to a party with a 1950′s theme! Out of the multitude of party ideas from which to choose from, if your goal is to have fun, then hosting a 1950′s party is the way to go!

Start the Fun!
What comes to mind when one thinks about the exciting and wholesome era of the 1950′s? How about Poodle Skirts, Leather Jackets, and wholesome sitcoms like Happy Days? Or maybe the first thing that came to mind was the laid back attitude of James Dean or the extraordinary coolness that Rock ‘n Roll brought to the music field during this particular era?

Whatever comes to mind when you think of this particular period of time can be easily realized when you choose to host a 1950′s Theme Party!

The Perfect Atmosphere for Fun!

1950 tv prop 300x199 How to Host a Fun 1950s Party

1950s TV Entrance

Creating the perfect atmosphere is essential to a party’s overall success!

1950′s Icons
As you walk into the party, envision seeing (cutouts of) Dick Clark, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and/or Elvis Presley standing amongst the sidelines greeting and welcoming guests as they enter the party. This is a great way to introduce your guests to the theme as they arrive, and will help get the 1950′s party off to a great start!

Accent Wall.
An accent wall is the perfect place to display your favorite 1950′s memorabilia, and will not only be quite the stunning and impressive display piece, it will surely be quite the great conversation piece. Be general in your selection of what to display, or hone in on a particular theme, such as 1950′s cars.

Event Tip
Black, white, pink, and turquoise are all popular 1950′s colors.

Clothes, Food, Drinks, & Dancing
Now that the atmosphere is set, the rest is icing on the cake!

What to Wear?
Be sure that you let your guests know that they should dress up in their favorite 1950′s clothing style!

Girls: Poodle Skirts, Scarves, Bobbie Socks, Saddle Shoes, Ponytails
Boys: White T-shirts, Jeans, Leather Jacket, Slicked Back Hair

Food & Drinks
Imagine your guests sitting at a 1950′s Diner Counter, ordering their favorite 50′s foods.

Food: Hamburgers, French Fries
Drinks: Soda, Milkshakes, Root Beer Floats

Dancing Music
It’s hard to not dance when the music that the 1950′s is famous for starts playing… Rock ‘n Roll! Picture your guests dancing the night away as they perform to all the popular American Bandstand moves that were so very popular in this era.

Bands: Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Everly Brothers
Dances: The Twist, The Jitterbug, The Stroll

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New Orleans Mardi Gras Theme Party

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Ever think about hosting a Mardi Gras Party? The Mardi Gras theme encompasses many options for throwing one of the best parties ever! Since there are a many different aspects to Mardi Gras, you can either choose to focus on a few highlights or you can go all out and incorporate anything and everything Mardi Gras into your party!

Maybe you would like to spotlight all the vibrant colors and masks that are famously worn during New Orleans largest celebration? Or maybe you’d rather focus on the actual Mardi Gras parade and floats? Whatever you decide, know that when you choose to host a Mardi Gras Party, you are letting your guests know that they are about to attend one of the best parties ever!

Why a Mardi Gras Party?
No matter who you are or where you live, when someone simply mentions the words ‘Mardi Gras’, the first thought that comes to mind is… Party Time! This first thought is quickly followed by more thoughts… delicious Cajon Cuisines as well as all that great Jazz Music that so many of grew up listening to.

Decorations & Atmosphere
It’s easy to host a Mardi Gras Party when you are able to create the right atmosphere. It’s important that the guests feel as though they are truly stepping right into a Mardi Gras Party Scene! The entrance makes the first impression, and should set the tone for what the guests can expect to see once they walk through the entrance to join the party.

1. Choosing an Entrance. The entrance makes a statement and is the first thing the guests see when they arrive. Maybe something simple and elegant such as a sign stating ‘Mardi Gras Entrance’ or ‘New Orleans Entrance’. Or maybe a complete Bourbon Street Backdrop is a better fit?

2. Creating the Right Atmosphere. Once the guests walk through the entrance, it’s important to give them that special Mardi Gras Party atmosphere they’re expecting.

A Few Ideas and/or Suggestions

Street Sign and/or Lamp Post — Bourbon Street
Mardi Gras Parade Flat
Cajon Shack Façade and/or Bourbon Street Façade
Drape walls in Mardi Gras colors–Green, Purple, and/or Gold
Harlequin Masks and/or Beads
Mannequin in a Jester Costume

Food & Drinks
Be sure to serve all the Mardi Gras food favorites! Your guests will surely be expecting all the delicious, soulful, hot and spicy Cajon foods that are found in the New Orleans District. Setting up a Food Station as well as a Bar is recommended and easy to do.

A Few Favorite Mardi Gras Food & Drink Ideas

Jambalaya
Sausage Creole
Chicken Gumbo
Muffuletta Sandwiches
King Cakes-Essential!
Official New Orleans Cocktail – Sazerac

Mardi Gras Music
When one thinks of Mardi Gras music, the first thing that comes to mind is Jazz! Simply buy one of the many CD’s available that feature all the best Mardi Gras music, or choose to bring in a DJ for some live-action music.

Event Tips
If you’ve chosen a particular theme for your Mardi Gras party, make sure you’ve stated this in your invitations so your guests are aware if they need to dress a certain way, etc.

Use Mardi Gras colors – Green, Gold, and Purple – to set the atmosphere for balloons, streamers, and lighting.

Tags: cajun, mardi gras, new orleans
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How To Host a Circus Theme Party

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Who doesn’t love to go to the circus? There are funny clowns, animals that do tricks, as well as lots of peanuts and popcorn to snack on, which is just a small preview to all the fun there is to be had when one goes to the circus. The good news is that hosting a party with a circus theme has the ability to be made into one of the most fun and enjoyable parties you’ve ever hosted! The better news is that it’s really not that difficult to do. You can start by simply choosing an area of focus, such as clowns or animals, but if you’re really ambitious, instead of placing a focus on one particular circus area, you can choose to create an entire circus!

Creating A Circus Scene
Imagine the look on the faces of all your guests as they approach your Circus Party and are welcomed by the Ringling Brothers clown poster. As they pass a giraffe and a lion to get inside the circus, they see lots of life-sized cutouts decorating the room, such as a juggling clown, or a lion tamer. The fun can really start when your guests are able to take pictures with some of the more popular circus entities by putting their faces and/or heads in a cutout, instantly turning them into the ringmaster, a knife throwers assistant, a snack charmer woman, and/or a circus strongman. Fun!

Choosing an Area of Focus
Although choosing to hone in on one particular aspect of a theme may narrow some of the decorating options, it can make creating the party a much simpler process. For example, choosing circus animals as your area of focus can allow you to create a Circus Party that spotlights all animals known to be involved with a circus. This type of specialized theme will be the talk of the party.

A Couple Great Tips
Know that there are ways to create ‘sections’ for your Circus Party by using a dividing wall of draperies, which can resemble the big top circus tent. This way you can have games in one area, picture taking in another area, and eating in still another area.

Lighting can also make a world of difference! A circus has many spotlights that are usually focused on whatever is currently being highlighted, so think about setting up some lighting fixtures that can simulate that of a circus.

Good To Know
You simply can’t go wrong with a Circus-Themed Party! There are so many ideas and variations that you can choose from that you are sure to figure out which direction is best for you. If you need help planning your party or renting equipment, know that there are professionals that can help you. Have Fun!

Tags: circus, clowns, party
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