We love to throw house parties and have a great turnout (last weekend was almost 60 people) but our problem is we usually don't end up playing with anyone because we're too busy hosting or mingling with everyone. We always want to play but it just seems it doesn't happen very much when we host. What are some ideas or things we can do to be able to play and host? Is it rude to just take off for a while and play? What do others do?
GOODTIMES4US wrote:
We love to throw house parties and have a great turnout (last weekend was almost 60 people) but our problem is we usually don't end up playing with anyone because we're too busy hosting or mingling with everyone. We always want to play but it just seems it doesn't happen very much when we host. What are some ideas or things we can do to be able to play and host? Is it rude to just take off for a while and play? What do others do?
We've hosted a ton of parties over the years and had the same problem. What we finally did was start to limit the number of guests and make the parties a lot smaller. Also, cutting down on the number of new people that we or any of our friends didn't know well helped us relax a little more and feel more comfortable going off to play at some point during the evening. We found that when there were quite a few guests and/or new people we felt sort of obligated to make sure everyone was comfortable and not feeling left out and thus we were very unlikely to play ourselves. Don't know if that will help but it worked for us. Good luck!
We can easily see how that could, and probably would happen with a large group. We have invited up to three couples and maybe even a single or two to our house for dinner followed with play-time. A small group of people setting around a candle-lit table, eating, drinking and talking, can get enough socializing out of the way, during dinner, to feel comfortable and ready to move toward the bedroom afterwards. It isn't difficult for the hosting couple to play. We always played. With 60 people it would seem nearly impossible. Maybe you can find a willing moderator for the night? Someone who could do host duties, at least while you are playing. Maybe the upside is you are meeting people, who you can invite over for smaller parties, where you will be playing.
We were empty nesters for a bit and we had a spare bedroom, with a California king bed, that we use for the play-times. Cool lighting, bed a bit higher to accommodate certain positions. Those days have been interrupted. We have one more college student and his college student girl friend who have moved back in for a bit, down stairs. Our once upon a time playtime bedroom upstairs, now includes grand children toys, for when our grandchildren come over. It's a different kind of playroom. So we are back to hotel, motel holiday inn, for hook-ups, for the time being.
We were empty nesters for a bit and we had a spare bedroom, with a California king bed, that we use for the play-times. Cool lighting, bed a bit higher to accommodate certain positions. Those days have been interrupted. We have one more college student and his college student girl friend who have moved back in for a bit, down stairs. Our once upon a time playtime bedroom upstairs, now includes grand children toys, for when our grandchildren come over. It's a different kind of playroom. So we are back to hotel, motel holiday inn, for hook-ups, for the time being.
DELICIOUSLYWET wrote:
We were empty nesters for a bit and we had a spare bedroom, with a California king bed, that we use for the play-times. Cool lighting, bed a bit higher to accommodate certain positions. Those days have been interrupted. We have one more college student and his college student girl friend who have moved back in for a bit, down stairs. Our once upon a time playtime bedroom upstairs, now includes grand children toys, for when our grandchildren come over. It's a different kind of playroom. So we are back to hotel, motel holiday inn, for hook-ups, for the time being.
We are empty nesters too so we have 3 extra beds that can be used for play. Eventually we want to make a designated playroom in our unfinished basement that can be locked when the kids/grandkids come over.
We should've just dragged goodtimes4us into another room before we left. Mistake that will never happen again 
Get a willing couple or two that you trust and break it up into shifts. It’s hard to relax and enjoy yourselves with lots of people in your home.
Unfortunately that's the reality with hosting house parties or just about any event. I agree with what was said above though, if your really looking to hook up at your own house Party a small group is best. Especially if you can all play together. After hosting many house parties and many more regular events I will tell you, you better love who you invite and want them to have a good time because the reality is your doing it for them and not you. That's also why you encourage people who attend your party to host one and invite you.
AANDR yes you should have, we're kicking ourselves for not just taking you away sooner before you left!
We had the same issue at D’s birthday party. Because we had a few people spend the night, we had an after party when everyone was gone. Goodtimes4us, your parties are always a blast! Although we didn’t play (I was getting over being sick & didn’t want to accidentally spread anything), we had s great time. Thank you for hosting! In the future, we would be more than happy to take over hosting for a bit if you want to slip away.... unless of course we are the lucky couple. 😜 ~ C