Party

 

A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration of a special occasion. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing or other forms of entertainment. In many Western countries, parties for teens and adults are associated with drinking alcohol such as beer, wine, or distilled spirits.

More occasionally (though often in politics), a party can also simply refer to a group of people with a common objective.

There are large parties called Balls. There are banquet parties, birthday parties, surprise parties, dinner parties, garden parties, cocktail parties, tea parties, reception parties, soirées, dance parties, block parties, costume parties, Christmas parties, baby shower parties, pool parties, mixers, wedding parties, housewarming parties, beach parties, farewell parties, office parties, cast parties and after-party parties.

That was so last year.

Today a party is scheduled as a Zoom meeting. Instead of a handwritten card with an R.S.V.P. request in the mail, you get an email that might get lost in the scroll.

You don’t have to go out to get your hair or nails done because all those stores are closed so you have to do-it-yourself. You can order a new outfit but the deliver may not arrive in time. You certainly have to purchase new shoes.

The host doesn’t have to decorate except for a small space in a room. A green screen or a backdrop will hide any imperfections to your décor. The bathroom won’t require cleaning. A spread by a catering service will not be necessary for no one can reach through the screen to sample. The bar doesn’t even need to be stocked.

The host has to make sure, once all the guests arrive, the microphones are not muted and the cameras are on. This may take a few minutes and some IT assistance.

Now that everyone is logged in, let the party begin.

Unlike a ‘regular’ party where everyone is talking at the same time, one person should start the conversation and each comment at their designated time as not to confuse the sound quality. Just like talking on a telephone. For those having difficulty hearing, they may need to wear headphones.

The ‘new’ parties will be difficult to make a toast and clink glasses together. If it is a birthday party, everyone can blow but it won’t extinguish the candle. Virtual hugs and kisses are the best it gets.

Since each of the guest is still at home they can be interrupt by the children or dog at anytime. Also the sounds, like the toilet flushing, can create a laugh.

Some of your guest may want a quieter more personal conversation with another guest. They can create another FaceTime or email on the side. If this happens they should mute the Zoom party so as not telling everyone in the ‘virtual room’ romantic secrets.

If music is played for background ambiance, beware. Others may not like the song and start playing their own favorite tunes. This could create a new mash-up style or just increase the noise. Everyone can hop around but slow dancing with one another is impossible.

Like every party, the ‘virtual’ gathering may mix the right elements or become a disaster. If time is reserved, then the party will end at a certain time.

 If one of the guests indulges too much and gets a bit tipsy, everyone can watch. Luckily they won’t have to drive home drunk because they are already home.

This is just the next step from where we were headed. How many parties or dinners from the old days were held with people in the same room but all on their devices.

Sign off in 3-2-1