Party Planning Tips - Party Personalities

Tips for Dealing with the Many Personalities of People at a Party

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I am throwing a big party next weekend. I was really excited about it until I realized that maybe inviting people from all different parts of my life --work, friends, family-- might get a little sticky! Let's put it this way: I'm not sure how I'll deal when my co-worker's pierced and tattooed girlfriend meets my super-conservative Nancy Regan mom.

I have everything together: party food, music, what I'm going to wear. I thought I was ready to go, but now I'm super-nervous about how to handle everyone, especially since some people will be bringing guests I don't know. Do you have any advice for handling the crowd, or should I just give up and retreat into social hermitage?

Signed,

Hopeful Hostess with the Mostest

A:

Dear Hopeful Hostess with the Mostest,

It's great that you're growing this party and expanding your social circle this way. Parties with a mix of people are a great way to keep it exciting and network, for both you and your guests. Still, it's understandable that you'd be anxious, especially on your first party-throwing experience of this type.

The best thing you can do is be prepared, and I mean more than just the ice. Know the types of personalities that are going to be walking through your door on party night and what everyone might be like. By understanding different personalities, you'll achieve two things --first, you'll be prepared to handle any situation; secondly, you will eliminate the concept of the unknown.

Here are the nine types of people who inevitably show up at parties. Take a look at this list and get ready to have a great time:

1) The Late-Comer — Your least organized acquaintance couldn’t get it together in time.

2) He Who Always Gets Sloshed — Can you spell ‘escapist’? Life’s never celebratory enough for this guy (or gal) unless he’s had one too many.

3) Posse-master — Insecure people can never be alone — not even going to a party full of people! This guest never travels without a friend or two or three or four.

4) Party-Crasher — The narcissist who thinks that he or she should be there — and the lack of an invite was your bad.

5) Looking to Get Laid — It’s hard to be alone at the holidays and looking for Mr. or Ms. Right Now can make the lack of a relationship seem less real.

6) Sad Sack — You know this one — they just got divorced, went through a break up, got out of the hospital, nursed someone else through a hospital stay — and they are just looking to yack to someone — anyone — or everyone — about their trials and tribulations. Steer clear!

7) The Ex — It’s yours, or your friend’s ex, and it’s the one who makes situations sticky. If you catch yourself looking over your shoulder to see if your ex is watching, you might want to revise the guest list for your next shindig. (And if you're still pining over him, check out my book, How to Think and Date Like a Man, to get back into the swing of things!)

8) The Bore - They can talk about anything — at length. The weather can become an hour long topic. How to get a stain out of a sofa slipcover can become the topic of debate for them. Go back to the buffet — without them!

9) The Cheerleader — She or he is always happy to be there and makes everyone feel good about the night. Make sure you have him or her on your guest list! And if they have a brother, invite him, too.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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