8 Event-Pro Tricks That Make Entertaining Easier
By: Nils Mossblad
I spend a lot of my weekends at weddings, corporate events, and parties, and one thing I have learned over the years is that the events that feel effortless usually aren't effortless at all.
Someone has thought through all of the little details ahead of time.
Where are people going when they arrive? Where are they getting a drink? Where are they putting their coats? Is there music playing? Is everyone going to end up standing in the same place?
And as we head into Thanksgiving, I started thinking about how many of those exact same ideas apply when you're hosting people at your house.
Obviously Thanksgiving doesn't need to feel like a professionally produced event. That's not the goal.
But there are definitely a few things we do in the event world that can make hosting at home a whole lot easier.
1. Think About Where Everyone Is Going to Go
This sounds really basic, but think about what happens when 15 or 20 people suddenly walk into your house.
Where do they put their coats?
Where do they get a drink?
Where are the appetizers?
Where do the kids go?
And, most importantly, is everybody going to end up standing in your kitchen while you're trying to finish dinner?
At events, we think a lot about "guest flow," and you can do the same thing at home.
If possible, put the drinks somewhere outside of the kitchen. Put appetizers somewhere that encourages people to gather in another room.
You'd be surprised how much of a difference that makes.
2. Turn the Music On Before Anyone Arrives
Maybe I am slightly biased on this one.
But music changes a room.
If your guests walk into a house where there is already music playing, drinks are out, and people are talking, it immediately feels welcoming.
It doesn't need to be anything crazy.
For Thanksgiving, I would keep it warm and relaxed—Motown, soul, some jazz, acoustic music, classic rock, or anything else that fits your family.
And keep it quiet enough that everyone can actually talk.
Save the dance party for later...depending on your family!
3. Turn Off Some of Those Overhead Lights
Lighting is probably one of the easiest ways to completely change the way a room feels.
And this is something we see constantly at events.
You can take the exact same ballroom and make it feel completely different just by changing the lighting.
At home, the same idea applies on a much smaller scale.
Once everyone arrives, turn down some of the bright overhead lighting and use lamps, candles, dimmers, or string lights instead.
Especially once it starts getting dark outside, softer lighting makes everything feel warmer and more comfortable.
4. Do Everything You Possibly Can Before Thanksgiving Day
If it can be done Wednesday, do it Wednesday.
Set the table.
Get the serving dishes out.
Figure out where the drinks are going.
Move the furniture.
Put out extra chairs.
Decide where everyone's coats are going.
The more little decisions you make beforehand, the fewer things you're trying to figure out while also checking a turkey and answering the door.
We do the exact same thing with events.
You want the actual event day to be execution—not figuring everything out for the first time.
5. Don't Put Everything in the Same Place
This goes back to guest flow.
If the appetizers, drinks, desserts, coffee, and everything else are all sitting on the kitchen counter, guess where every person at your party is going to stand?
Spread things out.
Maybe drinks are in the dining room. Appetizers are in the living room. Dessert comes out somewhere else later.
You're basically giving people reasons to move around your house.
And when people move around, you naturally end up with different conversations and different groups throughout the day.
6. Give People Something to Gather Around
You don't need planned activities every 15 minutes.
Actually, please don't do that.
But it helps to have a few things happening.
Maybe the football game is on in one room. Maybe there's a fire pit outside. Maybe there are games for the kids.
People like having somewhere to go and something to gather around.
One of the biggest things we see at events is that if you create an interesting space, people naturally use it.
You don't need to tell them what to do.
7. Don't Schedule Everything Too Tightly
If dinner is supposed to be at 4:00, give yourself some breathing room.
Someone will be late.
Something will take longer to cook.
Someone will show up early.
That's life.
One thing I've learned from events is that even the best timelines need a little flexibility built into them.
You don't want to spend Thanksgiving staring at the clock because dinner is running 12 minutes behind schedule.
Nobody else cares.
8. Remember That You're Supposed to Enjoy It Too
This one may be the most important.
Guests feed off the energy of the host.
If you're running around apologizing because the potatoes aren't perfect and the turkey took 20 minutes longer than expected, everyone feels like something is wrong.
Meanwhile, they were probably perfectly happy drinking wine and talking to each other.
We see this at weddings too.
Something small changes behind the scenes and nobody in the room has any idea.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is just keep going.
At the end of the day, nobody is going to remember whether dinner came out at 4:00 or 4:20.
They're going to remember sitting around the table, telling stories, laughing, eating way too much food, and spending time with the people they care about.
So do as much planning as you can beforehand.
And once everyone gets there, try to actually enjoy your own party.
About The Author: Nils Mossblad
President and Co-Owner of
Nils Mossblad is the President and Co-Owner of On It Productions, a Philadelphia-area entertainment and event production company specializing in weddings, corporate events, and unique live entertainment experiences. A professional saxophonist and entertainer himself, Nils has spent years helping bring unforgettable events to life throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond. With a passion for creativity, music, and bringing people together, he enjoys sharing his experience and insights to help others create memorable celebrations.
To learn more about Nils or book him for your next event, click here.