How to Party Hardy, Alcohol-Free

Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by Keith Ferrazzi
philadelphia

Katherine Hepburn after one too many in The Philadelphia Story

Continuing with our recent holiday party theme, FG’s Queen of Events, April Lisonbee, is grabbing my beloved Ferrazzerita out of my hand for a guest post on hosting without alcohol. April’s not only a terrific event planner, she was also raised Mormon and has been to a lot of great parties where alcohol wasn’t part of the story. And she’s a great guest – see her Point 4.

I'm interested in hearing what you all think: Is sobriety a party-pooper? Now, heeeeeeeeeere's April.

How to Party Hardy, Alcohol-Free
By April Lisonbee

aprillisonbeecroppedYou often hear folks, including Keith, suggesting the use of alcohol as a social lubricant. But what about those who don’t drink?

At Ferrazzi Greenlight alcohol is just one tool in our party kit.  Other strategies are just as critical, probably more so, to helping our guests step outside their norms and truly connect with others in an honest, intimate way. With that in mind, I’ve put together an “Alcohol Free” version of our party tricks – along with some of my own ideas for booze-free fun.

1.     Ambiance: Setting the mood is critical.  I throw a lot of costume parties for this reason. Be creative with space and lighting, and don’t forget the power of music. A well crafted playlist, or several, can transport your guests into a different world. Brazilian or other Latin music is nice, but also fun, pop songs and oldies get people reminiscing and sharing stories that are evoked by the songs. (For more on setting the mood, download Keith’s Holiday Guide.)

2.    Activities: Here at FG, some of our favorite group experiences are created around a learning-based activity. Guests will remember you and the party each time they use the trick or skill, and more importantly, it creates that shared experience guests can use as a starting point on their way to creating intimacy. Be creative. Some examples include magic tricks - which are fun, especially card tricks, and easy to teach. Once we brought in a pool shark to show a group of executives trick shots. How memorable is that?

3.   Herbal Remedy: No, this is not marijuana or peyote but herbal teas that stimulate similar parts of the brain as alcohol to create empathy, relaxation, and trust.  Thanks to Kate Temple-West , The Friendly Herbalist, for providing this list of teas you should consider for any brunch and alcohol free events:

  • Linden Tea: Makes you feel mellow, relaxed, and happy.  Steep 1/2 cup Linden Tea per quart of water for 20-30 minutes in a closed container. It can be served hot or cold. Check out mountainroseherbs.com for bulk info.
  • Hibiscus and Rooibos Tea with a touch of honey: A great choice for when there are drinkers and non-drinkers together.  It contains a lot of Vitamin C, which gives you energy, and the hibiscus is considered to be an aphrodisiac in many cultures.  This can be served at room temperature in a pitcher.  Looks just like red wine.  Steep 1/8 cup each per quart of water for 15 minutes.
  • Elderberry syrup in sparkling cider: Similar to a virgin Kir Royale. It looks beautiful and has the added benefit of keeping you incredibly healthy while also tasting delicious.

You can also create the feel and fun of a snazzy cocktail by serving fruity, sparkling, or even spicy drinks (or all three?) in a martini glass with a garnish.

4.   Guests: We all like fun people and just one person’s enthusiasm can be contagious.  Having someone who is “crazy,” extroverted, or has an above average energy can be invaluable, especially in the beginning of the evening when guests are still testing the waters.  This isn’t to say you need that crazy college friend who strips down and walks around all night covered in plastic wrap (true story – and he WAS sober) but most people’s energy levels are at a 2 or 3 and interacting with someone with an energy level of 6 or 7 will raise the group to a 4 or 5.

5.    You: As the host, YOU are the social hub of activity. It’s your responsibility to connect your guests, engage wall flowers and set the appropriate tone of openness, easily done by first sharing yourself in order to create a safe environment for others to do the same. Don’t be afraid to enlist the assistance of close friends to act as a second You if it’s a large party.

I hope you find these strategies helpful and would love to hear YOUR stories of success, or failure, using them. Also, if you have any other strategies we can use at our next alcohol-free party, please share!

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17 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. thanks April

    Echo your point about the tricks. I've done some magic in the past.....and it creates an instant buzz. Adults become childlike. Plus they never forget - when I meet people months (or even couple of years) later they've mentioned the trick

    happy holidays

  2. This is the most fresh post I have ever read on hosting a great party. I so appreciate your willingness to "swim upstream" and offer a fresher, cleaner approach to having a great event! Thanks bunches.Keep up the great work at Greenlight!

  3. I always think it's so cute when all the non-drinkers play make belief and have a "party".

  4. Great topic, and great suggestions. Where can I rent a crazy extroverted high energy guest?

  5. Darl,
    I hear that guy Jim Carey is a little extrovert and high energy. I'm sure he doesnt need a drink
    ;-)

  6. littlepitcher says:
    December 23, 2009 at 10:06 am
    Reply

    Add a couple of cinnamon sticks and/or a little lemon verbena to the rooibos tea for a spicy iced treat!
    Or: blackberry syrup, spiced with just a little cloves, cinnamon, and allspice, and spiked with a touch of white vinegar, then mixed with sparkling water.
    Green tea, mixed with lemon verbena or peppermint?
    And iced coffee, in all its delightful flavor variations. No-one throws up on the carpet, gets killed on the way home, or litigates.

  7. I initially tested out hibiscus tea in a health spa in india and adored the flavour. When I read about the health benefits, I was extremely determined to purchase some. Couldn't find it in any way in any regional shops but ordered online. I have been consuming about three or more cups every day (cold) for around 3 weeks at present and most recent blood pressure reading was the most impressive it has been in Decades! I highly recommend.

  8. it has nothing related to politics… The President includes always stated it’s important to get a good education.

  9. Some great ideas here - We did an event recently for a Car Dealer. They were test driving cars and obviously could not serv e alcohol but wanted a classy beverage to serve. We brought a slection of high end teas and demonstrated the Gong Fu style of Oolong tea preparation. The customers enjoyed the demoand the teas.

    We also do the sparkling water thing with cold teas - it works great and is very easy to do.

    We view tea much in the same way folks look at wine. When presented properly, guests will be pleasntly surprised at the depath and breadth of the tea and herbal landscape.

    Lastly, you can always offer detoxifiers like Nettle, Dandelion Root etc as a way to help those who insist on the alcohol route ;-)

    Bret

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  13. Damn it! great post here, i wanna host a party right no! calling to my friends!

    • @Opciones Binarias - did you have that party yet? would love hear what you've found. This post is a little outdated and I'm looking to update it. I would be grateful for anything new you can add to the tips above.

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