Q&A for How to Entertain Guests

The card game Apples to Apples is usually popular among teenagers. A more adult-appropriate take on Apples to Apples is Cards Against Humanity. Either game is appropriate for large groups of guests.

Have a dance party, style each other's hair, make funny videos, do a blindfolded make-up challenge, paint your nails, have a fashion show, watch a movie, set up a photo booth (bonus points for handmade props), have a singing contest, or play a board game.

Try and reach a compromise. Take them to one "boring" venue and then suggest what you think are more fun places for your next excursion.

Besides the fact that there's obviously a limit to how many people can comfortably fit in any room, there's also a limit to how many people can watch an event together. If you want to watch say a movie in your room, everyone needs to be able to sit in front of the screen comfortably. So yes, you can have an event watch party in your room, but the maximum number of people will be rather lower.

Throw a pool party, remind them to wear swimsuits, provide towels and be the first one to jump in!

At the very least, show your guest where the bathroom and doors to the outside or other party areas are. If you feel comfortable, you can share the rest of your house with a guest because it can show how open you are and help to build a bond of friendship.

Stay calm, it was most likely an accident, so don't get angry with the person. Excuse yourself and, if you're at home, change your clothes and apply some club soda or stain remover to the article of clothing. If you're not at home, ask the host if they have any club soda and just dab at the stain a little so it doesn't set too much.

Just tell all guests as they come in what rooms are off-bounds by taping signs to those doors and other areas.

That's a great idea. It's also a very specific thing to do, so you'll have to make sure everyone is really into it. Describe how you imagine it will go, already in the invitation: "Hey let's get together in my room to watch football. We'll dim the lights, have some chips and drinks, and we can discuss the game afterwards". If even one person is not into football, that person will get bored and distract everyone's attention. Make sure you all fit comfortably in your room, too.

You would want to make sure that your room is ideal for hanging out. Make sure you have enough seats for everyone, things to entertain people, plenty of space, etc. If you do, then you can just ask everyone if they would like to come to your room for a while.

At formal events, the waiting staff usually takes care of welcoming arriving guests, making sure they're on the list and know where to go. A member of the party, e.g. the groom or best man at a wedding, might then show them to their seats, the staff may do it, or if the seats have name cards, they could do it themselves. At informal events, anyone can answer the door.

They likely assume you know your area best and know which hotels are conveniently-located, as well as the quality they offer. Your guests might fear booking a hotel around the corner from you that's infested with rats, or finding a nice one that promises it's 'in the city center' when it's actually two airplanes away from you. So sure, why not make the reservations for them. Just the reservations though, don't pay for them. Get their credit card details for making the reservations, and let them take care of the payments.

It doesn't matter what your age and gender, a mature host always puts guests' comfort and happiness first. Be considerate of where you seat people so they are next to someone they feel comfortable talking to. Ensure that everyone has some food and drink, and be sure to top up their drink and plates when they run out (always ask first, though). As a host, it is your duty to make sure everything is running smoothly and that there are few lulls in the conversation, so have plenty of topics up your sleeve to re-energize the conversation if needed.