Bar None

The good news is that as businesses have shifted the focus away from alcohol, parties have gotten more interesting. "We're seeing more creative company parties," says Patsy Rhymes, owner of Houston-based Snap2, a staff training and event coordination business. "The big trend is that parties are getting more personal. Fewer businesses are holding events in hotels, for instance. More are holding parties in the home of an executive because that adds a personal, intimate touch."

Another big party focus today is food. "A major trend is to hold sit-down dinners," says Rhymes. "Even with the companies that want the informality of a buffet, the food has become much more important."

Won't a sit-down dinner minimize socializing, with workers tending to hang with their buddies? Of course, but the antidote is assigned seating--with the chart made up by you so you can place people strategically.

Another option: "We've held dinners where [the guests] played musical chairs between courses," says Rhymes. "All the men change seats or all the women do, and that way employees keep meeting new dinner partners."

How about pulling out your chef's hat? "An event can be very special if the boss does the cooking," says Rhymes. Don't despair if you're not on speaking terms with your stove, however. "A popular alternative is to have food cooked at the party by a caterer. Many chefs will even give an impromptu cooking class that can be a lot of fun."

Organized fun, in fact, is a popular party theme. "More clients [today] want games at their parties," says Rhymes, who adds that charades and scavenger hunts are high on the list. "Games let employees see supervisors in a different light, and they also help make everybody feel comfortable."

This article was originally published in the December 1998 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Bar None.