Tuesday, October 27, 2009

How do you get

100+ party guests to mingle? We have a large party area, there is the driveway, the fireplace patio, and the two floors of the shop. People hung around in groups in one area through the whole party....and husband and I ran around like mad, trying to make sure that we introduced everyone. That was clearly not working.

Husband and I debated over this for a couple years and then he came up with what I thought was the stupidest idea :D It is called Graveyard Bingo.

It works like this:

You make up about 115 passes(similar to a backstage pass) on lanyards for all the guest, one side says R.I.P. (really important person) with the Davis Graveyard logo, and the other side has a number. Even though the RSVPs were in the 130's, there are always people that never show.....and we know who you are and you know the rules - three years of not coming to the party boots you off the guest list permanently! :D

Anyway, the pass makes it easy for us to identify a guest over someone who, for example, hops the fence (and we had a few of those this year)....and it gives them their "number". They also get a bingo card and a pen. The objective is to go around the party and find the numbers on their bingo card and have them initial the card. When someone gets "bingo" they get to draw from a prize bucket. You can get bingo several times through the night.

Well, we have been doing it for three years and I have to say I was wrong (again) about it being "stupid", it is a great idea, everyone gets to mingle and they love it. The guests that have been to the party for years are eager to help newbies understand the game....likely they are just looking for their number, but anyway, works for us :D

Well, thanks husband, it is a great idea. It is a bit of work (and a bit expensive), printing, cutting, and laminating the passes and creating the bingo cards...but it is worth every penny! :)

9 comments:

  1. I'll admit, it's also much cheaper than providing everyone with the implements for my "Graveyard Mumbly Peg" proposal, but I still say bingo's not nearly as fun to watch.

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  2. I can't believe anybody would RSVP to a shin-dig like that and not come - are they crazy?!?

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  3. LOL! Now that is an idea I would support....what could go wrong with drinking and sharp knives!?! I mean we had a few nurses and an EMT in the guest list..... :)

    Definately more entertaining!!!

    Cheers!

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  4. that sounds pretty cool. glad you had a good time and hope you are feeling better!
    blessings
    ~*~

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  5. The whole party sounds great, and that's probably what it would take for me to meet someone anyway, as I tend to hide out in a corner.

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  6. What a GREAT idea. I may use that at my next Halloween soiree...IF and when I ever can have one again! The last one was in 2001. '-)

    SpOOky Cheers,
    Chris (-:

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  7. what a super fantastic idea... So I am not the only one that ends up with RSVP's that don't show and uses the 3 strikes your out rule...Our final count was a wee bit under yours at 54.... but 54 in my wee little house with one bathroom is wrenching enough.

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  8. That is a good idea, our party is a lot smaller, only around 20 people, it is so hard to get people to dress up. We did Halloween Trivia this year and it made our party a lot better than last years.

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  9. Your prize should be arriving in the mail shortly! (This week I'm giving away The Widow's of Eastwick in honor of Halloween! There's still time to enter!)

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