I'm feeling a bit bummed this year about Halloween. Not that I don't want to celebrate, it's the opposite in fact.
Last year, my party, for the first time in almost 8 years, was a bust. Hardly anyone showed up. It was a big let down. I vowed NO MORE PARTIES!
But here I am, 99 days til the big day, a new house, and I want to have a party soooo bad. I just know most of my friends are not into it, and sometimes I feel like they think they are obligated to come. Too bad I don't have more friends who are insanely crazy about it as I am.
I guess I'll just live vicariously through you guys this year!
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"There is no delight the equal of Dread." - Clive Barker
I feel your pain. We just postponed/cancelled this year's party until next year, since at least 6 couples will be pregnant at the time. There was a lot of concern about some not being able to travel at that time, some worried about financing costumes/travel/etc with the baby coming, and some of the general lushes upset they wouldn't be able to drink like we always do... It's killing me that we're not going to have one this year! I'm trying to at least get some others together that are local and CRAZY, that we can go out all dressed up for at least one night. Then, I'll have to work extra on the yard for the TOT's to satisfy my craving until next year...
I feel you for you RS. After all the big parties we had when we had the diner it seems like I go through withdrawel every holiday. Making this move clear across the country & not having any friends makes me pretty unhappy when it comes to planning parties. I've tried to invite the few people I have met out here over but no one is in to it here either. The happiest I had been in awhile was finding this forum that made my halloween days so much more fun & exciting. I mean these people really get with the program.
I even thought about riding around to find houses around here that are really decked out & just sending invitations to those families. But then we started discussing having a neighborhood pig roast a week before halloween & inviting some of the families that live around here. We would do it outside & have pumpkin carving contest & games for the kids & a costume contest, hayrides and such. That idea is still on the burner just not for this year. We have to get our candy business going a bit stronger & my health has to improve more before we could handle a big party like that again. Still the idea excites me.
I totally understand which is why I made friends with everyone on my small block. If I can't get my regular friends to come (most of them live in the city and it's hassle for them to come), I can always invite the families on the block and relatives of course. Better than no one coming. Or you can always just fix up your house for Halloween and have some sort of Open House so you can get to know people in your neighborhood.
I agree with colmmoo! Since you are in a house, why not turn your party into a Halloween block party. Invite the neighbors! Decorate house and Yard. Start a new block tradition. Maybe inspire a block decorating contest...Nothing like getting everyone involved.
I was hoping to be in my house by September, but not it'll be December. So I was afraid I was going to have to cancel my party. But I share a suite at work with a fellow that suggested we have a joint party at the Office. So I'm revamping my decorating ideas. I'll do something at my Apartment for TOT's and have the party the weekend before Halloween weekend. I can still get my dose of Halloween!!!!!
Elza is right, and that's exactly what I do, except for the contest part (that's a good idea!). Everyone on my block knows to come over to our place for a Halloween party. : )
If you want your regular friends to come, you could say that you're having a housewarming party and would like to initiate the house with a Halloween party.
There's no question about it... To PARTY - That is the Answer! Our early parties were simple. Very few decorations and only about 10 people. By 2000, we were starting to get a little more into decorating, and we had a few more people show up. By 2005, we were decorating the entire house, including the walls and ceiling, and averaging 50 - 60 guests. In 2006 we built our first facade (in addition to all of the inside decorating AND a 7-room haunted garage), and our attendance doubled, jumping to 120. Last year we built the PIRATE SHIP FACADE (for sale), and had 140 people show up. It would seem that the more effort you put into your invitations (ours are now a 6-page newsletter), food, decorations, facade, etc, the more people you will get to show up. I guess it's true... "If You Build It, They Will Come".
PS: Last year's 140 people included 15 staff: 2 hosts, 4 co-hosts, 3 bartenders, 1 food passer, 1 psychic, 2 assistants to the psychic, and 2 photographers. We also had 2 babysitters next door with 7 of our guests' kids, so technically, our total count was 149 people.
Last year's 140 people included 15 staff: 2 hosts, 4 co-hosts, 3 bartenders, 1 food passer, 1 psychic, 2 assistants to the psychic, and 2 photographers. We also had 2 babysitters next door with 7 of our guests' kids, so technically, our total count was 149 people.
Wow LV Scott! Dare I ask what your budget is for the party? I would love to hire some servers and possibly a bartender, but until I don't have to pay for daycare any more, that is definitely out of the question! Also, how long does it take you to set up for your party?
RedSonja - Definitely PARTY! Invite everyone you know and you will be suprised at who show's up!
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A positive atitude may not solve all your problems,
but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
We are gonna be a little bigger this year with our haunt, & after last year we definately realize that we need some additional help this season.....but yes once again, no one to come to the parties & no one to help with the haunt. SO one day at the beauty shop I asked the girls if they knew any of them "Red Hat Society" babes....their motto is to "Just have fun!". So I thought of contacting them & seeing if any of them are into Halloween & would like to come & help us. There is quite a few chapters of them here in my area.
If we pull off all we have planned for this season I will need about 6-7 people to help us. So the gals at the beauty shop gave me a name of a red hat gal & I'm gonna call her to see if they are interested in helping us. Last year we had a rough time trying to pull it off ourselves, as I mentioned before there was 2 of us & our neighbors 8yr.old son who was a tremendous help in keeping the fog machine going & making sure the music outside kept playing.
I think the block party is a great idea. Ghostess of the web site "The Dead End" does a neighborhood party & in her party pictures the house looks loaded with people who all have big smiles on their faces. At least with a block party you have a chance of SOME people showing up.
Besides I'll never be able to have a cookie exchange party for Christmas unless I can round up some interested women when we all get together at Halloween!!lol Maybe I should run an ad stating...."Seriously Looking for Friends to Party!" lol
I think the open house is a great idea and so is the block party. Good neighbors will prob. get involved quite a bit even if they do the stuff that's not directly related to Halloween, which leaves the decorating to you along with activities.
At our party last year, we did not have any help other than some family members helping out at the actual party. We prob. had 50 or so guests last year total including the kids (our party is for all ages). I'm already saving for hiring some help this year... I figure 1 cook for the grill, 1 bartender, 1 photographer (going to try to get either "amateur" or maybe someone from the high school photo club), and 2 "helpers". I'm **hoping** I can get each person for around $ 50.00 - who knows, I may be way off.
But I say PARTY ON! You only live once so whatever you do, do it up good!
To Party or not to Party?...that is the question
It's killing me that we're not going to have one this year! I'm trying to at least get some others together that are local and CRAZY, that we can go out all dressed up for at least one night. Then, I'll have to work extra on the yard for the TOT's to satisfy my craving until next year...
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