YOU GOT GAME
Rev up the action at your next soiree with easy-to-learn,
easy-to-play party games.
It’s a proven Plum Party conclusion that nothing gets
party guests going like a good game—games create alliances,
draw out personalities and give guests a common goal. Trust
us, we’ve seen it happen—suddenly, Miss Wallflower
becomes the outspoken Dictator of Taboo and the sibling rivals
bust out as the greatest Pictionary tag team of all time.
So,
who cares if the your boss booked the cast of Jersey
Boys to carol at his holiday party, the neighbor kid’s
birthday had a full-blown petting zoo, and your cousin’s
bar mitzvah featured a halftime show with the Knicks City
Dancers? You can still compete by, well, competing! Create
your own entertainment and light the competitive fires
with games that get guests mingling and keep energy high.
THE GAME PLAN
-
Choose a game doesn’t require too much skill and
is appropriate for the number of guests and age range of
participants—everyone should feel included.
-
Practice the game with a few friends or family members
before the party. You’ll work out the kinks and make
sure a least a few people know what they’re doing.
-
Choose a game that doesn’t require too much concentration.
If the rules take longer than two minutes to explain, you’ll
lose your guests’ attention before you even get
started.
-
Don’t make a big deal if some guests choose to
sit this one out. Perhaps they’ll come around when
they see how much fun everyone else is having!
-
If your game requires teams, pre-select them according
to your desired specifications (splitting up couples, making
sure teams are evenly matched in terms of age and gender,
etc.) and give each guest a team token upon arrival, like
a colored wristband, kooky hat, or strand of Mardi Gras
beads.
-
Have a backup plan in case a game is not catching on
after a few tries.
-
Bribe guests to participate with the promise of irresistible
prizes.
-
Think beyond the board game. Board games and card games
are tried and true, but feel free to change it up with
other kinds of games that require minimum skill and maximum
silliness. Suggestions below!
ICE BREAKERS
Let’s give them something to talk about.
Two Truths and a Lie
Each guest states two things about him or herself that are
true and one thing that is a lie. Other guests go around
in a circle and guess which statement is the lie. Everyone
weighs in before the guest reveals the truth.
Baby Face
Ask each guest to bring a baby picture and a current picture.
Stick the pics to a chalkboard or poster board and have
guests guess who’s who. The guest who gets the most
right wins.
Identity Crisis
Write the names of famous people on “Hello! My Name
Is:” stickers and stick one to each guest’s back.
Guests will not know their own “identities,” but
instruct them to talk to other guests as if they are the
names on their stickers without revealing those names. Based
on how other guests address them, each guest tries to guess
his or her true identity.
ALL GROWN UP
May not be appropriate for children…but immature
adults are welcome!
TV Show Drinking Game
If you have a regular crew over to watch a favorite show,
or you’re hosting an awards show viewing party, create
a drinking game just for the occasion. Loyal fans of a
show will know what makes them cheer or groan week after
week—make creating the rules a group effort. For
instance:
If 24 is your fave get-together-and-yell-at-the-TV guilty
pleasure, the rules could include:
Drink whenever:
If you’re hosting an awards show bash, think:
Drink whenever:
Grinch Gift Swap
Great for
holiday parties! Each guest brings a wrapped $10 gift and
places it on a table. Gifts can be as simple as a $10 Starbucks
card or as silly as a pink lawn flamingo. Guests draw numbers
out of a hat. Player One chooses a gift to unwrap. Player
Two then has the option to "steal" Player
One’s gift or select a new gift to open. As the Swap
continues, players with higher numbers can choose from
any of the opened gifts or opt for a new gift. Award prizes
for the most creative and most outrageous gifts.
CHILD’S
PLAY
Bubble Wrap Stomp
Play freeze dance on a dance floor coated with bubble wrap.
Let kids go nuts stomping on the bubbles and see if they
can put a stop to the pops when you shut off the music.
Everything’s more fun with bubble wrap!
Musical Gifts
Wrap enough goofy gifts so that there is one for each child
at the party. Have guests sit in a circle and play music.
Put a few gifts in the circle and have guest pass them
around. When the music stops, the child holding the gift
gets to open it, keep it and drop out of the circle. Continue
with more rounds until all of the kids have presents.
FUN FOR ALL AGES
Smell & Tell
Fill little tins or paper bags with things that have familiar
scents like licorice, vanilla, mouthwash, lemons, grass,
onions and Play Doh. Blindfold guests and have them try
to guess what’s in each bag. Keep score—the
guest whose nose knows the most, wins!
Pinata Pop
A good old fashioned pinata creates tons of party
fun, from watching blindfolded pals bat at the air to scrambling
for the goodies inside. Check out our selection— you’re
guaranteed to find one that fits into your theme, from ponies,
shamrocks and pirate ships.
Game on! |
