A simple question—why do we host a party? Most likely, the reasons are-(a) to celebrate an occasion, (b) to socialise, and (c) to network (though one may not say this openly). Often we have asked regular party throwers to tell us what they think are the most important ingredients of a successful party, and 9 out of 10 of them said, it’s the hospitality accorded by the host(ess).
But the sad bit is, all that big talk remains just that—a talk. The popular party throwers may give the right sound bytes, but when it comes to putting them into practice, they don’t practice what they preach. The usual party thrower is primarily interested in the guest list, and that too, in big names. Whether they know them or not is inconsequential. The second most important thing is to ensure P3 coverage. The hosts will go to any extent to invite the city’s most ‘happening’ industrialists, P3 netas, big designers, social bees and supermodels, even if they hardly know them.
Now imagine a party where the host barely knows the guests. The whole thing becomes very impersonal. While the host is busy getting introduced to the elite guests (who don’t mind a free night-out), they blatantly ignore their genuine guests. Nobody is there to welcome them, or to make them feel comfortable, because after getting introduced to the hi-flying set, the hosts are too busy ensuring that the paparazzi captures them when they are clinging on to a hi-flier.
The whole party becomes a mish-mash of unknown people wandering around in few groups, tucking in kebabs and drinking themselves silly. There is no real socialising, no new friends made, no real conversation happening. It’s just a farce!
The other elite party throwers who may not need help to invite A-listers, are so arrogant that it’s below there league to personally welcome guests, or bother to introduce one to another. Here too, the result is a chaos, with no real bonding or socialising. The worst are those who host a party at their weekend farmhouse or a banquet and believe it’s fashionable to arrive later than their guests. "Oh darling I’m so sorry. Amitji (yes, Big B) suddenly dropped in at our house and got us delayed”—there’s your typical excuse.
Hey Delhi, let’s get to see some real partying, real enjoyment with a real guest list, where one doesn’t get lost in the crowd. And playing a gracious host is always appreciated by guests and us, the poor P3 scribes.