New Year's Eve Again!?!

This week, I started making the final plans for my New Year's Eve party for the independent living residents in my CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community). The residents like to have a dance, so that is what I do each year. The trick is to make it a bit different each year.

Depending on the residents in the community, sometimes our dance is right after dinner, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and sometimes it is 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 p.m. Check out one of my first blog postings ever when I talked about New Year's Eve last year.

This week I spoke with a talent agent that I use from time to time to arrange my musical entertainment. I like to use an agent for New Year's Eve because I want to be assured that I will have someone there that night. It has happened before that I book a performer and he or she finds a better paying job and comes up with an excuse to cancel our arrangement (even with a contract in hand!).  I know that with the agent that I pay a bit more, but the piece of mind is worth it to me.

The agent sent a contract to me that said "one man band" for New Year's Eve. I called to ask what the person's name was and when I was told, I went to my list of performers and found that I did not want him. (Please see my posting on this important tool for scheduling entertainers.) After that conversation, the agent called me to say that they wanted to check a man's name to see if he was on my approved list before they called him to see if he was available. I thought that was great.

My next step is to finalize my dance hosts. With all the single ladies in the community, it is hard to imagine a dance without them! Check out my blog and the articles there about dance hosts in retirement communities! After that, I will be getting my New Year's Eve Party supplies.

Don't wait to the last minute to make a plan for this special night. Your residents will thank you for it!