jack

When I was trying to turn a play cast, half of whom had never been in the same rehersals, into a lean, mean, society, I took them all to formal, got them drunk, and then made sure there were silly games to play. (cardboard box game, jenga, twister, etc) This surprisingly worked. But then you don't want to have to cat herd everyone into playing stupid games they don't want to play. Maybe if you advertise parties with a gimmick "fancy dress party", "silly games party" "play readthrough party" you self select and get people who will throw themselves into it and have fun (CULES are kind of self selected in the first place) But for a sitting around talking party I think just making sure there's enough to drink (and making it clear if you're providing stuff or they should bring stuff) and to eat, a bit of sugar so everyone gets hyper (haribo!), and not having it so busy or crowded that it becomes oppressive is a good start.

There's an art to inviting people... you don't have to invite everyone you know to every party you have, and slightly "themed" people will naturally make a party slightly more fun by all enjoying the same thing. Hence mathmos will all watch "Look and See", silly games players will all play silly games, ranty political types will be happy ranting about politics, people who come to a ceilidh will all dance... (They don't all have to know each other already, but people will feel less self concious and have more fun with a group of people they're fairly familiar with than with lots of disparate strangers)

I don't know. I'm useless at parties.