Dinner Party Activities for a Business Dinner

A business dinner often includes ice-breakers and other games for dinner party members to get to know each other better.

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Large and small businesses alike host business dinners to bring together clients and colleagues, to celebrate the company's success, employee promotions or to finalize a business deal. Often held in restaurants, it is important to use ice breakers that encourage conversations and prevent awkward silence among guests that might not know each other well. In addition, dinner games help maintain team spirit after hours.

Related Searches: Interview the Other Guests

Divide the guests into pairs and ask them to interview each other for about three minutes. Each interviewer must find three interesting facts about their partner. Then gather the guests at the dinner table and ask them to present three facts about their partner to the other guests. Give the participants one minute to present their facts, then keep moving until each guest has said something. Ideally, this game is played before dinner, as it encourages conversation.

Fact or Fiction?

Provide each guest with pen and paper, and ask each guest to write three things about themselves that other group members would not know. Two would be true statements and one must be false. Each guest will read aloud the three facts, asking which statement is false. This activity generates conviviality and helps guests and leaders know each other better. However, guests should refrain from revealing intimate details about their lives, to prevent embarrassment in the office.

Ask Questions of Other Guests

To stimulate conversations, give each guest a piece of paper with a series of questions to ask other guests. Questions can include who has the most unusual hobby, the most embarrassing experience, the favorite meal a guest has ever had and where it was or which holiday destination they found interesting. This game may be played before dinner, since it helps the guest to mix, as each guest talks to the other guests.

Message Under a Plate

The phrase game involves printing an interesting phrase or phrases on a business card and placing it under each dinner plate. Phrases such as, “I wish I could go to the moon” or "If I knew then what I know now" or "To the victor go the spoils" are commonly used. Before dinner, ask each participant to memorize the phases under their plates without sharing it with anyone else. Each guest mentions the phrases in a sentence while other guests try to figure out the phrase from the conversation. This game livens up the table and opens up conversations between guests.

ReferencesUltimate Dinner Party: Fabulous Dinner Party Games and Fun Conversation Starters; Kathy Baldwin; May 2009Divine Dinner Party: Funny Party Games and Dinner Table GamesInsight Type Pad: 40 Icebreakers for Small Groups; Grahame KnoxPhoto Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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Activities for a "Mary Poppins" Party

eHow.comFoodHomeStyleMoneyFamilyHealthShiftMoreGardening & PlantsLandscapingInterior DesignHome Improvement This SeasonSimplify the SeasonFriendsgivingTailgating HomeWeddings & PartiesHosting & Throwing PartiesParty ActivitiesActivities for a "Mary Poppins" PartyActivities for a "Mary Poppins" PartyPrint this articleEver since the film was released in 1964, “Mary Poppins” has become one of the most popular Walt Disney movies in American pop culture. The popularity for this movie called for a Broadway musical production of the story, which has seen the stage in New York, London and Sydney. A "Mary Poppins" theme party allows fans to relive the movie experience through games, singing, activities and, of course, watching the movie.

Related Searches: Sing-A-Longs

Some of the most memorable songs from classic Disney movies come from "Mary Poppins." Many of Mary Poppins' songs are ensemble pieces – meaning they are meant for groups to sing – which allows everyone at the party to participate. Some Mary Poppins ensemble songs are “Jolly Holiday,” Let's Go Fly a Kite,” “I Love to Laugh,” “Step In Time,” “Fidelity Fiduciary Bank” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius.” Certain songs are meant for soloists, such as “Feed the Birds” and “A Spoonful of Sugar,” so partiers at a Mary Poppins party may sing these as well.

Costumes

Since the movie takes place in the early 19th century, Mary Poppins parties allow partiers to dress in costumes based on the movie's characters. While many female partiers will probably dress as Mary Poppins, other notable characters from the movie are the bird woman, Ellen (the Banks' housemaid) and Mrs. Banks. Young girls may dress as Jane Banks. Men have the option of dressing as Bert, the whimsical chimney sweeper, Mr. Banks, Uncle Albert, Admiral Boom and, for boys, Michael Banks. Some theaters host Mary Poppins march-along parties, where guests may parade across the stage in costumes from the movie.

Sidewalk Chalk Art

In “Mary Poppins,” the character, Bert, introduces the Banks children to the concept of creating sidewalk chalk art. Hosts for a "Mary Poppins" party may consider allowing their guests to express their artistic bent by drawing on their driveway using chalk. Guests may draw whatever they desire, even if their work is not derived from the movie. After the party is over, hosts can easily remove the chalk by hosing down the driveway. In case of rain, party hosts can lay a tarp over the art.

Creating Kites

The last scene of “Mary Poppins” shows Bert and the Banks Family participating in kite flying and singing “Let's Go Fly a Kite.” In honor of this scene, guests at a Mary Poppins party may build their own kite. Do so by gathering a spin and spar stick; these sticks form the cross which serves as the primary support structure for the kites. Create the frame of the kite by connecting the ends of the sticks with strings. Attach the cover (made of plastic, paper or cloth) to the frame; the cover may resemble one of the kites in the Mary Poppins movie. After attaching the flying line, tail and reel, the party guests may fly their kites.

ReferencesAll the Lyrics: Mary Poppins Soundtrack LyricsRegent Theater: Sing-A-Long Mary Poppins"Mary Poppins" film; Walt Disney Productions; 1964Jen's Skratchpad; Go and Fly a Kite; Make Your Own Kite!Read Next:

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Fun Activities That Go Well With a Tea Party for Women

Tea parties are more than just a pretend game for little girls.

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When throwing a tea party for a group of ladies, make it entertaining by including games and activities geared to the age of the guests. Knowing a few things to do at a tea party for ladies can help spark your imagination and decide what is right for you and your guests.

Related Searches: Ice Breakers

Depending on the guests you invites to the tea party, they may not all know each other. Playing games can help the ladies warm up to one another, and make the party run smoothly. The penny game, for example, helps the guests get to know a little something about one another. Give each guest a handful of pennies to start, and place some more in the center of the table. Take turns naming an action, such as going to Europe. If the guests have performed the action they put a penny into the center of the table. If they have not, they take a penny out. Have a prize for the guest with the most pennies at the end. Or explore the personalities of the ladies by posing questions from a this-or-that book. This-or-that books pose questions such as “Would you rather go to Hawaii for a week and never travel again. Or have a one month vacation every year, but have to go to Antarctica?”

Cards

Play card games to keep the guests entertained. Use traditional card games such as gin or bridge. Or, play more modern games such as euchre. For a more hands on game, play spoons. Spoons is a game where guests race to get four of a kind and then grab a spoon from the center of the table. The person left without a spoon, looses. If you have one table of guests, play a game that accommodates all the women at once. Or, if you have several tables of guests, play games at each individual table. If desired, set up a tournament where the winners from one table play the winners at another table.

Food Games and Activites

Because the tea party will already have food and beverages, use these items to create games and activities. Pour different flavor teas into cups. Have the guests try the different flavors and try to identify the type of tea. For a food related activity, let the guests decorate their own cupcakes or sugar cookies using colored frosting.

Crafts

If the ladies you invited have a shared crafting interest, set up a craft for them to perform at the party. For example, have the guests bring their cross-stitch or knitting with them. Offer scrapbooking supplies to make a scrapbook page. Or take the opportunity to teach the guests a new crafting technique. For example, if you felt and the guests have never tried it, give them a demonstration. Or ask the guests to demonstrate their unique crafting techniques.

ReferencesDisney Family Fun: SpoonsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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After-Dinner Activities for Large Dinner Parties

Relaxing activities ensure a fun dinner party continues even after dessert.

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When dinner is over and everyone is full, the last thing you need is physical activity that can tire your guests and even give them indigestion. Instead, you need relaxing games, based more on thought and less on physical effort. So offer each guest a glass of his desired drink and get ready for some relaxed yet mind-challenging activities. You can even purchase small prizes ahead of time for the winners.

Related Searches: Board Games

Board games are a simple way of gathering dinner party guests and having some quality time together. Ensure that the game is suitable for many players, so you can include all of your guests, or suggest playing in teams rather than individual players. Read the rules of the game out loud -- passing the booklet around so everyone can read it is too time-consuming -- and let the games begin.

Guessing Games

You don't need any equipment for guessing games -- just sufficient space for guests to gather 'round. Twenty Questions is a guessing game in which one player thinks of a specific person and all other guests can ask 20 questions total in a bid to identify her. An alternative is The Famous People Game: trying to describe a famous person without mentioning his name. Each round of such games rarely lasts more than 15 minutes, so everyone can get the chance to pose a challenge to the rest of the dinner party's guests.

Pen-and-Paper Games

Just like guessing games, pen-and-paper games don't require any special equipment. However, these games are more diverse and complicated than guessing games. Such games range from Find the Formula -- a game for math-savvy guests -- to Hangman and your own version of Pictionary. Ensure you provide a surface where guests can lay the paper to write on. A clipboard for each guest can be a costly option, so ensure you can provide a big table, which also has the advantage of bringing guests closer together.

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

The ultimate activity following dinner can be a tournament that includes all guests but ends up with one undisputed winner. A Rock Paper Scissors tournament is suitable for a large dinner party, as it allows pairs of contestants to play simultaneously, as opposed to darts or billiards tournaments. This way, you avoid the hassle of guests waiting too long for their turn. Rock Paper Scissors is a game that everyone knows how to play and many guests may find nostalgic. And don't forget: prizes for the winners make any game more fun.

ResourcesThe Guardian: After-Dinner GamesBarelyBad: 20 QuestionsPencil and Paper GamesPhoto Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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After-Dinner Activities for Large Dinner Parties

Relaxing activities ensure a fun dinner party continues even after dessert.

Flag this photo

When dinner is over and everyone is full, the last thing you need is physical activity that can tire your guests and even give them indigestion. Instead, you need relaxing games, based more on thought and less on physical effort. So offer each guest a glass of his desired drink and get ready for some relaxed yet mind-challenging activities. You can even purchase small prizes ahead of time for the winners.

Related Searches: Board Games

Board games are a simple way of gathering dinner party guests and having some quality time together. Ensure that the game is suitable for many players, so you can include all of your guests, or suggest playing in teams rather than individual players. Read the rules of the game out loud -- passing the booklet around so everyone can read it is too time-consuming -- and let the games begin.

Guessing Games

You don't need any equipment for guessing games -- just sufficient space for guests to gather 'round. Twenty Questions is a guessing game in which one player thinks of a specific person and all other guests can ask 20 questions total in a bid to identify her. An alternative is The Famous People Game: trying to describe a famous person without mentioning his name. Each round of such games rarely lasts more than 15 minutes, so everyone can get the chance to pose a challenge to the rest of the dinner party's guests.

Pen-and-Paper Games

Just like guessing games, pen-and-paper games don't require any special equipment. However, these games are more diverse and complicated than guessing games. Such games range from Find the Formula -- a game for math-savvy guests -- to Hangman and your own version of Pictionary. Ensure you provide a surface where guests can lay the paper to write on. A clipboard for each guest can be a costly option, so ensure you can provide a big table, which also has the advantage of bringing guests closer together.

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

The ultimate activity following dinner can be a tournament that includes all guests but ends up with one undisputed winner. A Rock Paper Scissors tournament is suitable for a large dinner party, as it allows pairs of contestants to play simultaneously, as opposed to darts or billiards tournaments. This way, you avoid the hassle of guests waiting too long for their turn. Rock Paper Scissors is a game that everyone knows how to play and many guests may find nostalgic. And don't forget: prizes for the winners make any game more fun.

ResourcesThe Guardian: After-Dinner GamesBarelyBad: 20 QuestionsPencil and Paper GamesPhoto Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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