It was a usual bright Monday morning at work. I was lost in thought, staring at my screen, sipping on a cold cafe latte and pondering over the happenings at last year’s New Year party.
Last year, my girlfriend and I decided to crash a New Year party. It was hard for us to find tickets, as all parties were sold out, but fortunately that night we managed to get into one. I was taken aback on entering the party. Despite the huge investment that was made for the party, not many turned up and even the ones who did weren’t pleased, including us. I was puzzled and was left wondering “What had gone wrong?” from then on. Later, I got to know that there was no prior planning and scheduling for the party, which led to a huge mess.
To avoid the same thing from happening this new year, I put together an 8-point checklist for hosting the perfect New Year party at your restaurant. Read ahead to plan the best restaurant party!
1. Launch early
At first, make a rough plan of what you are going to do and when. Planning ahead allows you to do it with perfection. Make sure you act fast to book the band or celebrity that you are going to bring in for the party night. It will also provide you with ample time for people to know about your party and the itinerary.
2. Promote and reward your early birds
Everyone should be aware of the party thrown by you, on New Year’s Eve. Start with getting your initial buyers excited by giving free tickets and discounts. These early birds are more likely to spread the word and act as free marketers for you. Hashtags, contests, interesting facts, and other shareable content are great, indirect ways to promote your event on social media. To make it easy for people to register, create an event page for your party, which includes all the essentials that would add value to your event.
3. Have a theme
Choosing a theme for your New Year Eve party can set the tone for the entire night. This isn’t any old Saturday night get-together. Differentiate it by having a predefined theme and innovative ideas. Lighting and music are the two key factors which dictate the mood of your guests, make it special. Make a selfie wall or festively decorated backdrop for your guests so that they can click Instagram worthy pictures.
4. Bring in an exclusive menu
It’s a good idea to bring in a few new varieties into the menu along with your current seasonal hot-sellers. That could mean a new pizza or burger, or an entirely new dish altogether. Have a separate category for vegetarians and non-vegetarians in your menu. This way you can attract all foodies. The kind of beverage and food you offer should depend on your guest’s preferences. Irrespective of whether you serve alcoholic drinks this New Year’s Eve, set up a special drinks bar.
5. Be ready
You definitely don’t want to run dry – make sure you have enough essentials for everyone. Based on the attendance you are expecting and the menu you are going to offer, decide on how much you need to stock up. With the right POS solution, you can track your inventory from time to time, and stock up as and when you run out. Another important thing is to get your staff ready to handle guests and making certain that everyone feels content and are attended to.
6. Use the right technology
Since new year parties are highly crowded, you can’t make your guests wait in queues to place their order, or manually take orders on their tables. It’s better to go digital and use mobile order taking applications to serve your guests quicker with minimal effort and maximum accuracy. This mobile app generated orders get synced with a POS solution in real time, which gives no need for your waiters to run around. You can take your billing and order taking services to the next level by the use of the right digital solutions.
7. Have something special at midnight
You can’t have a New Year Eve party without planning a countdown to midnight! Bring in television so that your party can include the traditional countdown or you may even try a digital countdown clock. Hire a photographer to snap candid photos throughout the party, thus capturing every memorable moment of the night.
8. Plan an element of surprise
A souvenir always makes moments special. It ensures that your guests leave happy and visit again. Give them something to cherish and remember your New Year party. Your guests will adore this unexpected touch. Plus, do not forget to insist on feedback from your guests, 2-3 days after the party. This will help you identify what could have been better and will also make your customers feel valued.
