BOBBY'S ADVICE FOR SUCCESSFUL PARTIES
Music is the magic that can make your party No. 1 on the popularity list. Live or recorded, it should be plentiful if you'd have a party that keeps its lively swing from start to finish.
Bobby Rydell, a slim, sociable, lighthearted young man in his twenties, who began as a teenage singer and now stars on TV, in films and on recordings, shared his views on "Music to make a party succeed" when we met at a Hollywood party. Naturally I asked his advice.
"When I want to throw a party," he told me,"I remember how it was in my home town, South Philadelphia. I've been all over the world, and find the same pattern goes well everywhere. Have the music playing when the first guests arrive. It's a welcome ice-breaker. Birthdays or post mortems on ball games are good party excuses. but you don't need them. Just wanting to have fun together is reason enough. Choose a night when you don't have to worry about getting up next morning for school or work.
"There were no formal invitations," Bobby recalled. "We spread the word in our neighborhood group a week in advance, to make sure no one had other, special plans and so we knew about how many to expect, with no gate crashers. There was no pairing up, but all the boys and girls in the crowd got there. Main thing was to begin the music early. Lots in our crowd were musicians. They came a half hour early and started tuning up."
His special advice for teen hosts and hostesses is really worth your attention. Here it is:
Live music makers should play 20 or 25 minutes, then take a 10 or 15-minute break for coffee, soft drinks, food. They should stop awhile whenever gate guests start strolling away.
Keep the tunes current, familiar, popular.
Musicians should pull for audience participation, but too much is as bad as too little. Listen a little, dance a little, sing a little, but don't sing every tune and bore the rest of the guests.
If you're planning a dance-to-records party, Bobby Rydell recommends:
About 50 picked records are enough. Borrow from friends' collections. Mix instrumental and vocal. Go from fast to slow for relaxation, then bring up the tempo. Don't play disc jockey and announce each one. After 30 to 45 minutes, take a break.
You might try a dance contest. Let volunteer couples dance, one at a time, for a minute, then let all dance together for a minute. Have leader make the rounds, holding a hand above each couple's head and let the audience choose the winner with applause. A currently popular record could be given as a prize.
What about food?
Spread around some snacks before the guests arrive. Have soft drinks handy. About halfway through the evening, serve more substantial food buffet style.
Here's his sum-up for party success: "Keep the food and music coming. Use props to get into the spirit of a special occasion or holiday."
