MAN Magazine Winter 2019

CELEBRATIONS
GET THE
PARTY
STARTED
GAMES NIGHT MIGHT BE A
LADS-ONLY AFFAIR, CARDS
AND WHISKY TUMBLERS, OR
CALL OF DUTY, FORTNIGHT
AND NACHOS UNTIL 4AM,
BUT IF YOU’RE HOSTING TO
A WIDER CIRCLE, FOR A FLAT
WARMING, NEW YEAR’S,
OR A SMALL BIRTHDAY GET-
TOGETHER, YOU’LL NEED A
FEW TRICKS UP YOUR SLEEVE.
92
MAN
Y
ou can kick things off with a few
icebreakers, especially if there are a mix
of age-groups and people are meeting
each other for the first time.
Regular games night host, Dan, recommends you “go
for games that you can compete in, with mixed teams,
or one-on-one. If you’re going for board games; 30
Seconds, Balderdash, Pictionary always go down well”.
Dan suggests you “avoid games where it can get
competitive” like Monopoly “it just goes on too long
and can ruin friendships!”. (#Christmasfamilyfueds).
And the other golden rule: The less complicated the
game, the better. Check out these crowd pleasers
and rescue measures that avoid those awkward party
silences.
Like it or not
Super easy – get everyone to write down their
likes and dislikes on a piece of paper throughout
the evening and then pull them out of a hat and
everyone else has to guess who wrote what. Get
a good mix of friends involved – some that you’ve
known for years, they might be easier to guess, and
there might be few surprises in there too.
Sing song ping pong
Drop da mic, or ‘rap it like it’s hot’ whatever suits
your party vibe. Think Slim Shady, 8 mile and you’d
be on the right track (pun intended). This one is a bit
random if your uncle and your best mate are having
an intense on-stage sing-off. Take it in turns to rap
– or sing – the next line using one of the words from
the previous line sung. So if competitor A belts out
a bit of Bon Jovi ‘whooaaa we’re living on a prayer’,
then competitor B might come up with an Aretha
classic, ‘say a little prayer for you’ and the next one
could be ‘get by with a little help from my friends’
and then… ‘help, I need somebody’, followed
by a possible Kings of Leon ‘somebody like you
whaaaooo’ and, you get the idea. Be sure to have
the cameras at the ready.
Charades ‘Drama Queens’
This is great for a family Christmas especially if your
Nan’s been on the sherry. You can’t beat a game of
charades. A real crowd-pleaser for all age groups.
You can tailor the theme to suit the people at the
party such as your best mate Pete’s ‘ex-girlfriends’
theme, or ‘Craig’s stag weekend in Corfu’ theme,
or keep it neutral with, erm … family history.
Weddings, family holidays, “the last time we all
played Monopoly” (don’t do it).
THE LESS
COMPLICATED
THE GAME,
THE BETTER
MAGAZINE WINTER 2019
sevenstarmedia.co.uk