With those years of
experience come a few lessons that I have learned. You may not host a gala
dance, but I think you will still find these points helpful in your job as
activities director.
- Promote the date of your event well in advance so that
residents have time to plan their evening (outfit, guests, table seating
arrangements)
- Book a special musical talent for this night. This
should not be someone your community uses on a regular basis.
- At the same time, you should develop a good working
relationship with the performers so that in case they must cancel on you
at the last minute, they will work hard to find a replacement for
themselves that is as good, as or better than they are for you.
- Make sure the musicians understand the group's ability
to stay on the dance floor is not as long as those of people half their
age.
- Remind the musician that most of the audience will not
be dancing because they do not have a partner. Ask them to include line dances
or a song or two that audience members can do from their chairs.
- Hire dance hosts for the single ladies who want to
dance.
- Decorations do not have to be elaborate, unless you
want them to be. Sometimes simple and understated can be viewed as classy.
- If your dance is after dinner, you will not need much
more food - but you must have something. A little salty and a little
sweet.
- You will never please all the people at a dance with
the temperature of the room. Dancers will want it colder and those listening
to the music will want it warmer.
- Create a special feeling with the lighting in the room.
Dim the lights like at a dance club
- Just like at the parties that you go to, there needs to
be a fun person that gets things started. Be that person or find someone
else who will be!
- Make a personal connection by going from table to table
and sit down. "How are you enjoying the party?" is a good opener
or "I haven't had a minute to talk with you lately, how are
you?" Residents love to have the personal contact that only you can
offer.
