Intent
On December 1st, salon Ad Hoc premiered with a successful show of watercolors and jewelry. Even before 5 pm when it was to open, people were knocking at the door wanting to see what was going on. The house was packed from 5 until almost 9 pm and, from feedback I’ve received, just about everyone had a good time.
Being most comfortable with dinner parties for 4 or 6 people, I was emotionally unprepared for the tumult of the crowd that appeared.
For most of the evening, I wandered about talking with quests and marveling at the lively conversations going on all around me. It was rewarding to see how people from different networks mixed so easily.
Virgil, Marianna and Me (r to l)
At the end of the evening, after everyone had left, I sat in the front room with the lights dimmed, and listened to the still echoing party chatter. Later, when I went to bed, I questioned if I would do another salon. It was way outside of my comfort zone.
Since then, I have continued to evaluate my experience and decided, yes! I’ll have another salon. I think it will be in February when everyone will have a touch of cabin-fever and will be looking for something to do.
Tips for Throwing a Salon
- Have a clear idea of the theme for the event.
- Make a list of things to do and things needed.
The only way I could keep everything straight was through the use of lists. Lists also help manage time. - Be flexible.
What started out as an intimate event with a few guests, quickly expanded as more people became involved. I’m glad that I didn’t cling to keeping it small, otherwise I’d have missed the magic of the evening. - Know when to say ENOUGH.
It is important to know your limits and when planning veers to far away from the original plan. Because this salon was an experiment I was willing to let it grow larger than my initial comfort zone. However by the end, it was necessary for me to reign in invitations and other things. - Try to have all preparations done the day before.
For me, I wanted to have the hours before the party open and restful. That way I could go into the party relaxed and not worrying about last minute details. - Mix up your guest list.
While it was important to invite people who had a predisposition to enjoy looking at painting and jewelry, it was also important to have diversity. Combining my mailing list with Marianna’s gave us a wider audience. Also, distributing postcards to my neighbors and friends that I ran into during the day helped get the word out. - Welcome people as they come in and thank them as they leave.
This is hard to do once the party is going but it is an important personal touch. If the event is large it may be the only time that you get to meet with each and every guest. - Have someone designated to help keep the wine and snacks topped off during the evening.
I lucked out. Initially, I stayed on top of keeping the refreshments and snacks stocked but as the night progressed I got side-tracked. That was when Marianna took over and made certain that the table remained full. - Let go and have fun.
After all the work and expense of putting together a soiree, it would be shame to miss it because of fretting and worrying.
Many thanks to Jim Earley and Kathy Boesch who took pictures during the event.