Episode Summary:
What happens when two event pros put Nick Gray’s “The 2-Hour Cocktail Party” to the test? Alysse and Libby break down the simple systems that make small gatherings shine: smart invites and day-of reminders, better name tags (that don’t ruin your outfit), how to handle the early birds with kindness, inclusive drink setups for sober and sober-curious guests, and the art of a clear end time (yes, even cueing “Closing Time” when it’s time to go). Fear no-shows? You’re not alone — and the hosts share practical moves to fill the room and keep the vibe high.
Takeaways
- Send multiple reminders — especially a same-day note with the key info up top.
- Name tags help strangers connect, but choose materials that won’t damage clothing.
- Greet early arrivers with warmth and a tiny job — instant belonging, zero awkwardness.
- Make drinks inclusive: offer thoughtful zero-proof options alongside the basics.
- Announce a clear end time; a ten-minute heads-up + a friendly close keeps it classy (or just play “Closing Time”).
Timestamps:
[01:06] Fear of hosting: the #1 worry — “what if no one shows?” and how to counter it.
[06:06] Invites & reminders: how many to send and what to put first.
[08:06] Name tags do’s & don’ts (and when to skip them).
[11:00] Early arrivers: make them feel seen — give a role, not a circle of strangers.
[13:01] Inclusive beverages: zero-proof setups that actually feel good.
[14:22] Ending on time: announcements, cues… and “Closing Time.”
Resources & Links:
-Nick Gray: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram
-Book: The 2-Hour Cocktail Party
-Extras: Free Party Checklist
-Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn
Connect with Us:
-Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com
-LinkedIn: @BEATS WORKING Show
-Instagram: @beatsworkingshow
-Facebook: @Beats Working Show
-YouTube: @BEATSWORKINGPODCAST
Follow & Subscribe:
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.
Send Feedback:
If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show.
BEATS WORKING is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.
Share Article on Social Media
Transcript
The following transcript is not certified. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors. The information contained within this document is for general information purposes only.
00:00:00:00 – 00:00:19:13
Libby Sundgren
Could you do that? If people were,
Alysse Bryson
I would just. I would just. I would just turn on closing time. Like, you don’t really good Q for, you don’t have to go home. But you’re not staying here because homegirl wants to get in her her sweats and get on the couch. Like, I’ve got I’ve got TikTok to doom.
Scroll. Like it’s time for you to go.
00:00:21:10 – 00:00:44:20
Unknown
Welcome to Beats Working winning the game of events where we share stories and strategies to turn any event or life moment into something unforgettable. Events are wild, and the people who work in them are some of the most resilient humans on Earth. If you know, you know. So come with us behind the curtain for a look at their most memorable experiences.
00:00:44:22 – 00:00:55:02
Unknown
As they say, the show must go on, so let’s get on with the show.
00:00:55:02 – 00:01:23:04
Alysse Bryson
Welcome to Beats Working, where we talk with people that are winning the game of events. And today we’re going to do something a little bit different. It’s just going to be me and Libby. But we are going to dive into a book that’s been making the rounds in event circles. And friend groups alike. It is the two hour cocktail party by Nick gray.
00:01:23:06 – 00:01:42:07
Alysse Bryson
It’s first of all, like, I love to judge a book by its cover. And that’s how we ended up with this is I was scrolling for event books, saw the cover, and was like, add to cart. I did not need any more information outside of that because I love the font. And I know you love a name tag like you.
00:01:42:07 – 00:01:45:20
Libby Sundgren
Love a name tag. You know how I tag the name tags?
00:01:45:22 – 00:02:13:05
Alysse Bryson
Yeah. Plus, I like the idea of a two hour cocktail party. Not too long, not too short. You’re in. You’re out. So this is a refreshingly practical guide that makes hosting simple. It makes gatherings meaningful without the stress. This is kind of like a 101. So for someone who’s an event pro you’re you’re not going to need this book, right?
00:02:13:07 – 00:02:30:06
Alysse Bryson
But for someone who’s new to the game or maybe coming back to the game, maybe you’ve been out of the game for a while and you want to just kind of polish up your skills. I think this is the perfect book. I actually think this would make a great gift.
00:02:30:08 – 00:02:31:02
Libby Sundgren
I do too.
00:02:31:04 – 00:02:52:00
Alysse Bryson
To like all the people in our life who have no idea how much work throwing events are. Yeah, yeah. I can think of like five people I would give this to because then when they text me questions, I could be like, it’s read book. Yeah. And I don’t know why I’m still holding the book up. I’m not going to hold the book up for the entire episode, but I mean, I might do it.
00:02:52:05 – 00:02:56:07
Alysse Bryson
I might. It is actually a pretty thick book to just me. Yeah.
00:02:56:11 – 00:02:58:12
Libby Sundgren
I’ve got weeks of tips.
00:02:58:14 – 00:03:04:14
Alysse Bryson
Yeah. Tips and illustrations to. We already talked about the illustrations because I like them.
00:03:04:19 – 00:03:24:17
Libby Sundgren
We have it. Yeah, but it was great. It’s got cute little call outs. It really is formatted more like. I mean, there’s no place you and you can write in any book you want, but it’s not like he left out a bunch of places for you to write stuff. But there are little call outs and little tips and little like there.
00:03:24:19 – 00:03:45:02
Libby Sundgren
There are little chapter checklists that you can you could check off if you wanted to, or you could make a copy. He also includes links to different places where you can get this information, online so that you don’t have to mess up your book. You can keep it pristine, as I like to do with my books.
00:03:45:04 – 00:04:03:08
Alysse Bryson
I mean, maybe, maybe Nick is going to see this episode and then we’ll want to come on the podcast. What do you think? I think it’s possible. I think it’s possible, Nick sliding to our DMs, because we really like your book, and we’re going to spend the next 20 minutes telling you all, all the reasons why.
00:04:05:10 – 00:04:07:09
Alysse Bryson
Okay. So where do you want to start at the beginning.
00:04:07:09 – 00:04:30:06
Libby Sundgren
Yeah. Let’s jump right in. Okay. One thing Nick talks about in this book is the fear of hosting and all of the things that come along with that, the unknown, the uncertain things. But I wonder what’s the biggest block that you’ve ever personally felt about hosting an event?
00:04:30:08 – 00:04:33:04
Alysse Bryson
Well, I don’t like it when you’re not there.
00:04:33:06 – 00:04:34:13
Libby Sundgren
Well that is a blocker.
00:04:34:14 – 00:04:52:07
Alysse Bryson
It’s a big block. It’s a big block for me I kind of shut down. I’m like what do you need. I am not much of a host or outside of the all the events that we have done. I don’t personally host at my house. Almost ever. Never. I really I’m not.
00:04:52:09 – 00:05:06:20
Libby Sundgren
I like events that so many. Hosting isn’t the right word. Maybe with just events that you’re planning, that you’ve ever planned, that you’ve ever been a part of planning. What is what’s what secure event? Fear.
00:05:06:22 – 00:05:11:19
Alysse Bryson
My event fear is that somebody and said no one’s going to show up.
00:05:12:23 – 00:05:16:11
Alysse Bryson
Yeah. It’s very real fear. No one’s going to show up.
00:05:16:13 – 00:05:29:02
Libby Sundgren
I think that’s a lot of people. That actually was what I was going to say. My fear is that no one’s going to come. No one’s going to buy a ticket or no one’s going to RSVP. Yes. And then there’s not going to be anybody at the party.
00:05:29:04 – 00:05:41:03
Alysse Bryson
Because I can actually happen. I can actually handle the things that go wrong. Because we’ve been doing this for long enough that it’s like of course things are going to go wrong, but no one’s showing up to give you.
00:05:41:05 – 00:05:41:17
Libby Sundgren
Yeah.
00:05:41:23 – 00:05:45:05
Alysse Bryson
You need people there that can see you making the mistakes at full speed.
00:05:45:05 – 00:06:06:13
Libby Sundgren
So what did you read in this book that changed that for you? I thought, I mean, there might not have been anything in here that would change that for you, but I thought there were a lot of tips in here that he offered for people who maybe aren’t super familiar with events or just getting back into them, like you said, like the number of reminders you should send.
00:06:06:14 – 00:06:07:10
Alysse Bryson
Well, I thought that was.
00:06:07:10 – 00:06:15:08
Libby Sundgren
Great on them and what details you should include at the top so that people see that part first.
00:06:15:10 – 00:06:38:23
Alysse Bryson
I thought this is a very practical book, a very straightforward. Here it is. Here’s how you do it. It’s kind of like you can’t fail if you just follow the directions. And I loved the examples of the invitations and how many times to send out the invites and the copy that you could basically copy and use as your own.
00:06:39:02 – 00:06:49:09
Alysse Bryson
I wouldn’t need you because I have a you, but like it, it totally work. But I we’re skipping over the name tags, are we? I feel like we’re skipping over name tags.
00:06:49:09 – 00:06:58:14
Libby Sundgren
Well, I was going to tackle that next, but we can just jump right into name tags right now. I mean, I guess name tags.
00:06:58:19 – 00:07:04:08
Alysse Bryson
And then after that you get people there. So I guess there was an order to the.
00:07:04:14 – 00:07:06:02
Libby Sundgren
Difference matters the least.
00:07:06:04 – 00:07:31:09
Alysse Bryson
But I actually love a name tag as long as okay, here’s the thing though. It has to be a good name tag. I don’t want to stick a bad sticker on my clothing, especially if I’m wearing like a leather jacket or or I don’t. As long as the name tag does not ruin my clothing, it doesn’t have to match it, but it should.
00:07:31:12 – 00:07:33:21
Alysse Bryson
It should not ruin my clothing.
00:07:33:23 – 00:08:06:10
Libby Sundgren
Yes, I think I have a jacket that still has like a name tag sticker like the bottom of the sticker, like the base of it. You know, where it actually connects to. I’ve never been able to get it off, so just leave it on there. That’s a nice jacket too. I am on the fence about this one. What I know I do love name tags, but not always, and I think that I think in the context of his book, you know, he talks a lot about smaller gatherings for two hours.
00:08:06:10 – 00:08:36:16
Libby Sundgren
You know, there are a lot of parameters around it. Smaller gathering, two hours, lots of tips for connections, both like ways for you to connect with your guests and for ways to you to connect other people. So in that setting where people don’t know each other, yes, I would consider name tags, but like but I don’t usually do name tags.
00:08:36:16 – 00:08:39:16
Libby Sundgren
But also most of my friends, everybody knows each other.
00:08:39:16 – 00:08:41:18
Alysse Bryson
Everybody knows everybody. You know, I.
00:08:42:00 – 00:09:07:07
Libby Sundgren
Have like 250 people like, you know, people don’t want to name tag on their cocktail dress or something, you know, like, that’s not really gonna going to work. But I do think it is really nice to have, especially if you are, you know, meeting a lot of people you don’t know. I tend to sometimes black out people’s names a lot of times and very good at remembering.
00:09:07:07 – 00:09:09:21
Libby Sundgren
Once I remember I’m really good. You never forget it.
00:09:09:23 – 00:09:11:09
Alysse Bryson
I agree with that.
00:09:11:11 – 00:09:30:01
Libby Sundgren
Sometimes I in a moment of like panic or I don’t know what they tell me, and it’s like someone throws like a, a bomb in front of me and I can’t that and I have to be like, oh my God, what if they just told me their name? What is it? So if they have a name tag, then I’ll know.
00:09:30:03 – 00:09:44:08
Alysse Bryson
The problem that I have with name tags is that when people see my name, they don’t know how to pronounce it. So I do think there is a little bit of a barrier to entry, like a name tag. It’s not going to fix everything right.
00:09:44:08 – 00:09:47:08
Libby Sundgren
It’s just not it can help. It can help.
00:09:48:03 – 00:10:06:11
Libby Sundgren
But it won’t fix it. What is one of aside from name tags which you love? What is one of your favorite tips from the book? What did you hear that you were like, oh, I should have done this or should I should be doing this? Or I’m so glad I do this because it’s one of my favorite things to do.
00:10:06:13 – 00:10:26:21
Alysse Bryson
You know, I think there was a lot of that in this book. There was a lot of reinforcing that were doing the right things. Because I also agree, like, have your event on a weeknight, don’t try to like, compete with people’s weekends. You and I are in the camp that we love a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, but I would prefer a Tuesday or Wednesday.
00:10:26:23 – 00:10:46:04
Alysse Bryson
So I love that there was that reminder. I love that there was the send, the reminder the day of because sometimes people send it a day or two before, which is lovely, but it’s going to get buried because I get like hundreds of emails a day. So when you send it the day off, it’s going to be easier for me to find it.
00:10:46:05 – 00:11:19:02
Libby Sundgren
One of my favorite tips that Nick had in the book was what to do when you have earlier writers, or the very prompt A Reivers. I remember reading that part and I was like, oh my gosh, yes. I mean, you know, there are always people who arrive right on time or they arrive a little early because they don’t normally do events, so they don’t really know that you really shouldn’t show up early.
00:11:19:02 – 00:11:28:15
Libby Sundgren
Like we’re we’re still straightening linens. We’re still placing things. I mean, maybe not everybody. A lot of people get their act together and aren’t doing those things. Just you.
00:11:28:15 – 00:11:31:03
Alysse Bryson
You may or may not be dressed now.
00:11:31:07 – 00:11:58:05
Libby Sundgren
I may still be in leggings. You know, I want to be able to change and not have people show up when I’m not prepared, not on my clothes, but, you know, giving them a not just kind of throwing you know, if you have a couple people who get their ride at 7:00 and no one else gets there till 715, you know, not just like throwing them into a circle and saying, oh, hey, this is John, this is Lisa, this is Sue.
00:11:58:07 – 00:12:24:21
Libby Sundgren
Okay, I’ll be back. Guys like that kind of creates a little bit of an awkward moment for for people just. And for you as a host too, but giving people jobs to do and also saying like, oh my gosh, I’m so glad you’re here first. This is going to be such a fun night. I’m so glad that you came like just saying something like that, because it also can feel awkward for the person arriving on time.
00:12:24:23 – 00:12:50:20
Libby Sundgren
They might think like, oh, they said seven. Everybody’s going to be there right at 7:00. And then they get there. And the the only person sitting in your house while you’re running around, you know, putting out the last of the Halloween forks. I say that because I just got down some themed party supplies. But anyway, I thought that was a really nice reminder.
00:12:50:21 – 00:13:01:21
Libby Sundgren
And there were some helpful tips in there about how to make those first, those those early birds just feel comfortable.
00:13:01:23 – 00:13:26:14
Alysse Bryson
I actually also that kind of leads into the next thing I want to talk about is how Nick addressed drinking drinks, alcohol preferences and reasons why. Like he he likes this, he doesn’t love that and a very like straightforward how to what you should have including I think there was like a little illustration of like how to set it up on the table.
00:13:26:16 – 00:13:43:06
Alysse Bryson
But I love that because I also love that it felt very inclusive that he, he was thinking about the nondrinkers. You know, that’s a pain point for me. And I feel like he was thinking about that when he wrote this book. So I thought it was just I thought he did that right.
00:13:43:08 – 00:14:03:05
Libby Sundgren
Yeah. He even had, you know, supply lists for events like exactly what you should get. So if you’re feeling a little frazzled or nervous, like you don’t know what exactly to get, and maybe if you’re somebody who has a tendency to overbuy like I do, but you can never have too many snacks. Let’s be real.
00:14:03:06 – 00:14:04:08
Alysse Bryson
No, no, no, you.
00:14:04:12 – 00:14:05:12
Libby Sundgren
Never.
00:14:05:14 – 00:14:22:13
Alysse Bryson
Know. You definitely. Yeah. I also appreciated it. What a clear start time is great. And you’ll have the people that will show up early or on time. And then you’ll have your typical people that show up late. I’m usually in the late camp, but I love that there was a clear end time.
00:14:22:17 – 00:14:44:19
Libby Sundgren
I did because, like, you could really, I, I loved it. And also he talked about, you know, giving, you know, playing your harmonica and then give an announcement ten minutes before, like, it’s a school night. I don’t want to keep you guys too long. And then, you know, ten minutes later when it’s time to end, coming back on, I mean, like, all right, time to go home.
00:14:45:00 – 00:14:54:01
Libby Sundgren
I mean, he had a little bit of a more eloquent way to say that, but. Well, I don’t know if I could do that. Could you do that? If people were, I would just.
00:14:54:03 – 00:14:59:00
Alysse Bryson
I would just, I would just turn on closing time right now for.
00:14:59:01 – 00:15:00:16
Libby Sundgren
Really good cue for.
00:15:00:18 – 00:15:19:10
Alysse Bryson
You don’t have to go home, but you’re not staying here because homegirl wants to get in her her sweats and get on the couch like I’ve got I’ve got TikTok to doom scroll like it’s time for you to go. I know I, I think you can, I think you can. I think there’s a right way to do it.
00:15:19:12 – 00:15:30:12
Libby Sundgren
It does. And it’s going to depend on the crowd. It’ll depend on the people. I mean, usually when I start cleaning up, people start helping me clean up and then.
00:15:30:14 – 00:15:31:20
Alysse Bryson
Yeah, that’s kind of a hint.
00:15:31:20 – 00:15:41:02
Libby Sundgren
Correctly. That’s a hint. But I don’t know I think he’s right. I think I, I need to be a little bit more direct. There have been times where I’ve been like.
00:15:41:04 – 00:15:52:12
Libby Sundgren
Why won’t they leave? And to be clear, if you’re my friends or family and you’re listening to this, I’m not talking about you. Because if you listen to if you’re listening, I wouldn’t mind talking like this.
00:15:52:12 – 00:15:54:11
Alysse Bryson
She might be talking about you.
00:15:54:13 – 00:16:23:22
Libby Sundgren
I also liked, his tips for follow up. I thought I there is one thing that he said in there that I was like, that is so kind and so inclusive, I’m going to use that. But and, you know, he said it as an example of texting, but, you know, you could email, you could say to somebody, you know, you could send him a voice memo, whatever you want, but just thanking them for coming, telling them how much fun you had and asking if you can invite them to the next one.
00:16:24:00 – 00:16:36:10
Libby Sundgren
I just really warm way, and I just made me think about, as an attendee, how good that would make you feel, even if you don’t actually ever want to go back to one of those again.
00:16:36:12 – 00:16:56:05
Alysse Bryson
Yeah, you want to think, you want to at least to know you’re invited. You may or may not want to go, but you want to. You always want to be invited. I also liked that he was like like, take a beat before you get all, like, jacked up and go and plan the next one. Like put your oxygen mask on.
00:16:56:05 – 00:17:13:22
Alysse Bryson
Like, take a minute for yourself and reflect and ask yourself some questions before you just jump into planning the next one, because that’s actually it’s really easy while you’re at an event to start talking about the next event. Right? And so that’s a slippery slope that people fall into all the time I do.
00:17:14:02 – 00:17:20:07
Libby Sundgren
It’s true. I know you kind of have to stay where you are. It’s a good reminder to be present.
00:17:20:08 – 00:17:31:10
Alysse Bryson
What do you think about okay, a two hour cocktail party. And when people check in, they lock their phones up. They put the phones away.
00:17:31:12 – 00:17:37:18
Libby Sundgren
Don’t like it? Only because I have young children and I.
00:17:37:20 – 00:17:40:10
Alysse Bryson
But you also have an Apple Watch. Like, do you need your phone?
00:17:40:15 – 00:18:02:09
Libby Sundgren
Well, honestly, right now I do. My Apple Watch is being is acting really weird. I can’t really talk on it sometimes if I try to like, like we’re, you know, give a reaction to a message, it doesn’t record it like it shows that it did it, but then it just deletes it. It’s really weird. So technically right now, yes, I would I would say my watch isn’t really working.
00:18:02:11 – 00:18:12:20
Libby Sundgren
Even if I had an Apple Watch, I would probably not want to give them my phone. I probably say no thanks, I’m going to keep it.
00:18:12:22 – 00:18:16:13
Alysse Bryson
Because what about if they ask you to take off your shoes?
00:18:16:14 – 00:18:42:19
Libby Sundgren
You know what we are a typically shoes off household. So and it’s like whenever my kids go, I’m surprised they don’t take their shoes off. When they go in the grocery store. They just take their shoes off at every house that we go into. So I wouldn’t be weirded out. But if there are a lot of people that would be, I would think that’s a little strange.
00:18:42:20 – 00:18:42:23
Libby Sundgren
Yeah.
00:18:43:00 – 00:18:52:22
Alysse Bryson
Why does that matter? Why does that matter when there’s a lot of people? Why does she have to be on if there’s more than ten people? What is the rule there? Libby I don’t.
00:18:52:22 – 00:18:55:15
Libby Sundgren
Know. There is just something about there being a lot of.
00:18:55:15 – 00:19:07:02
Alysse Bryson
People that literally makes no sense. They are not. That literally makes no sense because the more people would be more dirt on the shoes. Isn’t that the whole point of taking the shoes off.
00:19:07:04 – 00:19:29:17
Libby Sundgren
Is it is. I don’t know, it’s just like there’s more than ten people. I don’t want to take my shoes off. I just don’t. That there’s more like feet. There’s more like just I don’t know. I’ll do it if you want. If you’ll only invite me if I take my shoes off, I’ll do it.
00:19:29:19 – 00:19:42:04
Alysse Bryson
Oh, no. I actually, like, tell people no, please keep your shoes on. Like I have dogs. Like we can’t have nice things. Like, please keep your shoes on. It’s just better for everybody if you keep your shoes on. Please.
00:19:42:06 – 00:19:48:14
Libby Sundgren
While some people don’t have very good foot hygiene and you have to smell their socks well.
00:19:48:17 – 00:20:02:16
Alysse Bryson
But there are also people like our good friend Delhi who like at her house that has shoes off, but she’s got slippers and socks and you take them with you when you leave, like she’s got a whole welcome kit. I’m not doing that.
00:20:02:18 – 00:20:04:22
Libby Sundgren
That’s very kind. That’s a really good.
00:20:05:00 – 00:20:07:08
Alysse Bryson
It’s very kind. And also I’m not doing that.
00:20:07:09 – 00:20:30:19
Libby Sundgren
No, I would rather just like, clean my floors really good the next day and not make people take your shoes off. Because here’s the other thing. If you don’t have a place to put the shoes in a tidy out of the way place, then people just kick their shoes off. And then there’s just shoes in, like every room of the house.
00:20:30:19 – 00:20:39:14
Libby Sundgren
And that makes me a little bit nuts. Tripping over shoes all night. So like that. Maybe that’s why if there’s a lot of people, I’m like, just keep your shoes on. I don’t want to deal with.
00:20:39:16 – 00:20:43:01
Alysse Bryson
Unless there’s a shoe check.
00:20:43:03 – 00:20:43:19
Libby Sundgren
Maybe that’s why.
00:20:43:19 – 00:20:47:12
Alysse Bryson
I think like a coat check, but it’s for shoes, a shoe check.
00:20:47:14 – 00:21:00:12
Libby Sundgren
Okay, if you were taking all the tips from next book, if you’re going to host a two hour cocktail party, is there anything you would change or add from the formula?
00:21:00:14 – 00:21:28:03
Alysse Bryson
That’s a good question. I don’t think so. I’m not really big into the ice breaker stuff, but I’m also like super chatty and like, I’ll just I’ll talk to anyone about anything and any people will talk to me about anything. So like, I don’t I don’t need an ice breaker. And if I, I also feel like if I see someone who doesn’t feel included or isn’t like, I’ll, I’ll pull, I’ll pull them in to the group.
00:21:28:05 – 00:21:50:13
Alysse Bryson
So I don’t like there was, there was a bit on Ice Breakers, which I think is great. There were some good ideas, I just I don’t think I’d, I don’t think I’d use those, but I also would not be hosting an event where people didn’t know each other, I don’t think. I mean, maybe I know that happens when you have different friends groups.
00:21:50:15 – 00:21:56:11
Alysse Bryson
I don’t know, apparently I only like to throw big events, go big or go home.
00:21:56:11 – 00:22:02:01
Libby Sundgren
Big events for lots of strangers, or very small events for people that for each other.
00:22:02:03 – 00:22:05:11
Alysse Bryson
What would you do different because you guys host all the time?
00:22:05:13 – 00:22:06:15
Libby Sundgren
We do.
00:22:06:20 – 00:22:10:23
Alysse Bryson
I don’t feel like I get invited to most of them, but your host all the time, it’s true.
00:22:11:05 – 00:22:33:00
Libby Sundgren
I don’t know if there’s anything. I’m going to stay open. There are things that I don’t love that make me a little uncomfortable. Like telling people it’s time to go home, or just. He even says if they stay, just very be very direct and say, it’s time to go home now, please leave. I’ll invite you to the next one.
00:22:33:00 – 00:22:34:20
Libby Sundgren
But you need to leave now like I.
00:22:34:20 – 00:22:37:05
Alysse Bryson
Don’t you really. You can’t do that.
00:22:37:07 – 00:22:53:07
Libby Sundgren
I don’t think I could, I don’t think I could. I’m not brave enough to do that. I know I don’t think I could do it, but maybe I will try that next time.
00:22:53:09 – 00:22:58:20
Alysse Bryson
I do try kicking people out. Let’s, let’s let’s give that a good college try.
00:22:58:20 – 00:23:19:07
Libby Sundgren
Yeah. And keeping it shorter I mean I actually so this isn’t something that I would change. I actually really liked this. And when I read it it was actually a good reminder for me because I had just tried to send out an invite for an event, like a party at our house. That was going to be way too long.
00:23:19:11 – 00:23:24:13
Libby Sundgren
Like, people just don’t need to be here that long, you know? I think sometimes don’t know.
00:23:24:13 – 00:23:26:16
Alysse Bryson
I don’t know because I wasn’t on that list and.
00:23:26:16 – 00:23:51:05
Libby Sundgren
You were about, well, then why has it gone out yet? So you might be on it. I think I still sometimes think of hosting an event like I did when I was without kids. And so I think that people are going to want to party for like six hours and like, that’s just not reasonable anymore. You know, just sure, people have other things to do.
00:23:51:05 – 00:24:08:03
Libby Sundgren
They don’t want to, like, move into my house, you know? But I think so. I think maybe I should embrace the time limits and I will try to embrace sending people home. I just that’s going to take a lot of courage.
00:24:08:05 – 00:24:12:12
Alysse Bryson
Well, I’ll come over and we can practice. You can practice kicking me out.
00:24:12:14 – 00:24:13:08
Libby Sundgren
Okay.
00:24:13:10 – 00:24:15:04
Alysse Bryson
You look so uncomfortable right now.
00:24:15:04 – 00:24:26:23
Libby Sundgren
I know I feel uncomfortable. Yeah, well, Nick said something too. That really made me think about our recent interview with Jack, the party scientist.
00:24:27:01 – 00:24:28:13
Alysse Bryson
Of Jack’s party.
00:24:28:14 – 00:25:00:21
Libby Sundgren
Saying he is the best. Jack, the party scientist is so wonderful. But Nick really made a strong case of hosting and parties also being for introverts, which is something that Jack talked about on our on our episode about social connection and socializing being very important for people who are extroverts, but also people who are introverts. And that science shows that that makes people happier.
00:25:00:23 – 00:25:24:19
Libby Sundgren
And Nick talks about that a lot, and how hosting might actually be an easier role for an introvert. Because you have a plan, you have a role, you have something specific to do. That’s probably why I like it, because I can just, you know, buzz around all day, like doing all these things. And then I but I don’t ever actually really like, sit and talk to people very much.
00:25:24:20 – 00:25:27:12
Libby Sundgren
I like having a job. I’ll do it whenever you want me.
00:25:27:12 – 00:25:28:14
Alysse Bryson
To give her a job.
00:25:28:14 – 00:25:29:07
Libby Sundgren
Yeah.
00:25:29:09 – 00:25:39:11
Alysse Bryson
Yeah. Well, I don’t want a job. Like, my only job is to show up and talk. I’m pretty sure. I mean, I don’t know that I can be trusted with too many jobs, a few.
00:25:39:13 – 00:25:41:20
Libby Sundgren
People seeing you. That’s why social.
00:25:41:20 – 00:26:07:18
Alysse Bryson
I tography are good for and. Yeah. And extroverts all capture all the content for you Yeah. That’s when you want me as I’m a good little documenter. Well, I think this is a great book. I think. I think even a seasoned professional will get some things out of it, but I really do think it’s a perfect book for introverts that are looking to be more social.
00:26:07:20 – 00:26:22:21
Alysse Bryson
I think it’s a people, a good one for people that are new to hosting events. I think it was a really easy read. It’s really easy to flip back into, I think this is when you’re going to want to keep on your shelf.
00:26:22:23 – 00:26:43:02
Libby Sundgren
I think so too. I’m actually going to keep it, right here in my little book stack, right by my favorite workbooks. And even as somebody who has been doing events for 15 years, there were still some things in here that I had just never really thought about or.
00:26:43:04 – 00:26:44:09
Alysse Bryson
Okay, what was one.
00:26:44:11 – 00:26:47:05
Libby Sundgren
Like just telling people to leave my house? Oh, never.
00:26:47:05 – 00:26:48:02
Alysse Bryson
Thought about that.
00:26:48:02 – 00:26:53:09
Libby Sundgren
Wow, I know I can’t get over it, which means I probably need to try it.
00:26:53:11 – 00:26:55:05
Alysse Bryson
I really think you should.
00:26:55:07 – 00:26:56:13
Libby Sundgren
Yeah.
00:26:56:15 – 00:27:01:20
Alysse Bryson
Do you? I mean, I can’t imagine you have people that are lingering that long.
00:27:01:22 – 00:27:08:16
Libby Sundgren
Well, we host a lot of holiday events. Well, and, you know, during the holidays for one.
00:27:08:18 – 00:27:12:03
Alysse Bryson
Day isn’t a two hour cocktail party that’s like, totally different.
00:27:12:03 – 00:27:23:07
Libby Sundgren
If not, it’s different. See, that’s the thing. We don’t host a lot of two hour cocktail parties. We host a lot of open house style events. So. But I still think there are some good things in here.
00:27:23:09 – 00:27:37:04
Alysse Bryson
Do you think that a two hour cocktail party is too short of a window for, like, a theme party? Because I do. I feel like if you went to the effort to put together your look, your outfits or whatever your theme.
00:27:37:04 – 00:27:40:08
Libby Sundgren
Is for a theme party, at least three.
00:27:40:09 – 00:27:46:20
Alysse Bryson
I don’t know, I kind of think getting just three hours in general, like, I don’t know if I’d be with two hours, but it’s such a short window.
00:27:47:01 – 00:27:54:01
Libby Sundgren
It is a short window. But you know, he also talks about small gatherings and not making them large. So if it’s a small.
00:27:54:02 – 00:27:54:09
Alysse Bryson
That’s.
00:27:54:09 – 00:28:18:15
Libby Sundgren
True event and you know it is two hours is you know, he talks about that amount of time because it’s long enough to make real connections with people, but it’s also short enough that it keeps people wanting to come back again. So if you want to be a serial party host here, this is this has got a lot of really good tips for that.
00:28:18:15 – 00:28:18:19
Libby Sundgren
Yeah.
00:28:18:21 – 00:28:35:17
Alysse Bryson
That’s fair, that’s fair. I guess what I’m thinking about though, I’m thinking that all my friends are so scattered all over the greater Seattle region and that it’s going to take them two hours to get somewhere, but that’s actually that’s just me. I don’t I’m the one who’s two hours away from everything.
00:28:35:20 – 00:28:44:21
Libby Sundgren
It’s true. We don’t do two hour events. We like to hold people hostage. But yeah, it’s true. It’s true. But something to think about.
00:28:44:23 – 00:28:56:02
Alysse Bryson
All right, well, if you had to score this 1 to 5, five being, like, the best book you’ve ever read in your whole life about event planning, what score would you give it?
00:28:56:04 – 00:29:17:16
Libby Sundgren
I think I would give this a four. I think I was surprised at the amount of like information and tips me. It wasn’t the whole book, but there were there were a good amount of things that he said that I hadn’t really thought about or thought that I should try, that I think I will try. What about you?
00:29:17:16 – 00:29:19:02
Libby Sundgren
Well. Or this.
00:29:19:04 – 00:29:48:18
Alysse Bryson
Well, I would give it a solid 3.5. However, I am going to round up to a four because of the cover. Because I love the cover. I love the font choice. I love the name tag. I love the little Sharpie. And I love the illustrations throughout. I’m a very visual person though, so it it it rounds up to a four for me because of the visual, but the content itself.
00:29:48:18 – 00:29:52:01
Alysse Bryson
I was going to give a solid 3.5, but it rounds up to a four.
00:29:52:03 – 00:30:17:10
Libby Sundgren
So the the moral of the story is, whether you’re a three and a half plus a cover point five, or whether you’re just a straight four, this is a great book. We absolutely recommend it to any and all people on the walk of of that life, no matter where you are. This has been enough of the book review with Allison Libby.
00:30:17:12 – 00:30:31:00
Libby Sundgren
That’s a wrap for this episode of Beats Working. If you’ve got an idea or you want to reach out, email us at info at Beats working our show. Remember that every detail matters, every moment counts. And no matter what, the show must go on.
00:30:31:02 – 00:30:34:02
Alysse Bryson
And no matter what, people have to go home.
00:30:34:02 – 00:31:00:21
Unknown
Thanks for listening to beats working, winning the game of events where we explore what it takes to make moments unforgettable. If you’re leaving with a little more inspiration, a little more perspective, and a big side ache from all of the laughing at our funny jokes, then we’ve done our job. Beats working as a work P2P production. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and reviews on your favorite podcast platforms.
00:31:00:23 – 00:31:07:18
Unknown
Your support helps us keep the magic going.
