Agency Christmas Parties: How To Throw A Ripper And Why You Should Get Organised Now
Barely a day goes by at the year’s end when adland doesn’t stumble into work with red-ringed eyes and memories of last night they’d rather forget. Chortling with colleagues about the escapades of Monica in accounts and Brian from IT while salivating over the thought of a monster burger from the local pub, the advertising world knows how to handle the Christmas party season.
But who’s thinking about Christmas already? We’ve barely gotten over the fact we need to start our taxes soon. Well venues, caterers and entertainment fill up fast. And now is the time to slap down the company credit card and secure your agency one hell of a time.
There’s a multitude of venues in our capital cities equipped to handle a doozy of a party, but the issue for adland is that many other industries who either have the money already or secure early budgets often swoop in and score the hot spots first.
“By March, every Friday in December is gone in our main venues,” says Jude Knam, meetings and events manager at events company Merivale. “And I’m talking venues that can hold 150 plus people.”
Knam says budget restraints and timing is what hinders adland from securing the illustrious Ivy Penthouse in Sydney, which she says is the company’s most popular Christmas party venue.
“Other companies just have their shit together,” she says. “Agencies miss out because they start calling from now all the way to Christmas and everyone gets told no, it’s already been booked.”
It’s hard to not wait for the budget to come through in the new financial year, but James Granter, sales manager at Sydney fairground Luna Park, says agencies should at least start talks.
“My advice to people looking at booking a Christmas party at Luna Park Venues is get in early!” he stresses.
“And that doesn’t mean you have to wait until you have a budget approved or sign-off from your social committee. That can always take a little longer. It means get in contact with us now so we can give you an idea of costs and get your preferred date reserved in case you need it down the track.”
It’s no cheap endeavour though to throw the sorts of bashes that keep people gossiping for weeks. Many cost well into the tens of thousands, depending on what venue, catering and entertainment the social committee chooses. But if you’re going to fork out enough moolah that will make the CFO look like they’ve swallowed a lemon, you want to make sure it’s a raving success.
No silent night when it comes to agency christmas parties
A steadfast rule to hosting the ultimate Christmas party is think outside the box. “You need to do something different,” stresses Cat Prestipino, JAPAC marketing director for first-party data platform AdRoll.
“I won’t name names, but so many companies hire the same venues with the same food and canapes. You need to have something that hooks an audience and will get them excited.” She recommends thinking of the Christmas party in the same way you would a client campaign. Creatively.
In general, adland is savvier and braver at this than other industries like banks, says Monika Toth, director of event management company, TCM Events. And they understand themes like ‘Great Gatsby’ and ‘Jungle’ are soooo 2014, puts in Merivale’s Knam. Now it’s about being stylish and teaming everything together simply.
Simplicity is a big element here. Prestipino says she’s seen numerous agencies spend oodles on different experiences, rooms and details it just gets overwhelming for guests. “Don’t overcomplicate things!” she stresses.
Music and entertainment play a big part in the overall party vibe. Both Prestipino and Knam say don’t have the tunes too loud and make sure it fits with the type of people along. “You really have to read the crowd,” says Prestipino, “and see what they’re responding to.”
The entertainment also needs to be unique. Bonus points if it’s something people can tweet or Instagram. If saucy is what you’re after, Knam recommends Bath Boy – a half-naked man who splashes around in a bath. Or a big blow-up see-through ball with a woman flailing about inside. AdRoll’s Prestipino said the company’s AdRollerDisco party in 2015 was a big hit because it was different, even if it did render a plethora of flailing spaghetti limbs.
If you want to finish the piece, grab the latest issue of B&T Magazine. Or pop round our offices and we’ll hand you one with a smile.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Advertising Standards Bureau agency christmas parties digital customer merivale tcm eventsLatest News
Former Agency Execs Launch Car Service Summon
Former agency executives Tim O’Neill and Tim Fouhy have launched the auto technology startup Summon. Australia’s first full e-commerce service for prestige cars. O’Neill and Fouhy both worked together at Accenture Interactive, before co-founding Reactive a digital agency bought by Accenture in 2016, now they’ve combined their knowledge and expertise to create Summon. Summon offers […]
Hootsuite Shares The Top Social Media Trends Of The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
To honour the fantastic feats of the Australian Paralympians, Hootsuite has revealed the top trending hashtags and social media data of the Paralympics. The top trending hashtag during the Paralympics period, #tokyo2020, received over 38,000 tweets and retweets, amounting to 1.7M+ impressions, while other popular hashtags included #paralympics, #readysettokyo and #paraswimming. According to Hootsuite’s research, […]
Coco-Cola Australia Unveils New Recipe & New Look
Coke rolls out latest new look & new recipe. Despite having a checkered history of rolling out new looks & new recipes.
So Media Group Acquires Social Media Company Carma The Social Chameleon
Perth-based digital media publisher So Media Group has completed the acquisition of fellow Perth-based social media marketing ag
SCA Appoints ABC Executive Melanie Withnall To Head Of News & Information
SCA snares ABC radio veteran Melanie Withnall who brings with her 18 years' experience & an "I Love Ita" coffee mug.
VCCP Business Acquires Sling & Stone To Create $50m Global PR And Communications Group
B&T tried to get "David & Goliath battle" into this Sling & Stone headline; however, it proved not possible in the end.
CHE Proximity, DDB Sydney, TBWA Melbourne And Thinkerbell Melbourne Battle It Out In YouTube Skippys Competition
Some serious agency heavy hitters vying for YouTube's Skippys competition. Hopefully none will be gracious in defeat.
Aussies Can Now Stream The iHeartRadio Music Festival Live
Aussies can now stream the iHeartRadio Music Festival live. Not that it's stopping anyone on a temporary visa either.
We Are Social Launches Insta-Based Cultural Insights Publication, The Feed
Global socially-led creative agency We Are Social has launched The Feed, an editorial Instagram publication tracking digital culture and trends on a global scale.
SOON, Think Tank Giving Insights Into Future Trends, Officially Launches
SOON, a futures think tank focused on human insights, has launched today tracking trends, developments and disruptions across people, products and the planet. Led by internationally renowned futurist, social scientist and trend forecaster Sarah Owen (pictured centre) in partnership with TABOO directors Andrew Mackinnon (right) and James Mackinnon (left), the independently Australian-owned futurist company uncovers […]
Melbourne’s Non-Alcoholic Wine Brand NON SeesInternational Growth Spurt In Just 3 Months
NON is pioneering a whole new category of sommelier-standard 0.0% ABV wine alternatives, manufactured in a completely new way. Despite the lockdown, in 3 months NON has tripled their overseas distribution and begun work on a new NONLab production facility 6 times larger than their current space.
Nina Tsalapatanis And Vince Prochilo Join Orchard In Business Director Roles
B&T asks, is the tedious marketing trope "low-hanging fruit" banned in the Orchard offices?
Deloitte Digital Creative Snares Colenso BBDO’s Dan Wright As Sydney Chief Creative Officer
Deloitte continuing to fish in adland's pool. B&T assumes it's not using worms for bait but rather large pay cheques.
TIME Magazine Reveals 100 Most Influential List, As Harry & Meghan’s “Creepy” Cover Cops A Roasting
TIME unveils its 100 most influential list & mercifully sans any real estate agents, influencers, WAGS or anti-vaxxers.
Experiential Agency GPJ A/NZ Farewells MD Caleb Bush
GPJ MD Caleb Bush announces move to Europe. Has a low-mile 1998 Suzuki Swift on Gumtree if anyone's interested.
New LinkedIn Research Shows Aussies Are Less Hygienic & Have Forgotten How To Banter Due To Working From Home
One notable impact of lockdown has been B&T's desire to cook and then consume an entire roast dinner at 10am.
Aussie TikTok Star & Lockdown Protestor Hospitalised With COVID-19
B&T has gone for "Aussie TikTok star" in this headline. That could've been easily supplanted by "dickhead" or "f@ckwit".
iHeartPodcast Network Australia Launches SAS Australia Debrief Podcast
ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network Australia has announced a new podcast, SAS Australia Debrief hosted by 2020 recruits Merrick Watts and Sabrina Frederick. The podcast is made for anyone that can’t get enough of Aussie celebs putting themselves through the toughest test of their lives on the Seven Network’s hit show SAS Australia. Or anyone that wishes […]
“The Roar Of The Crowd!” How Twitter Is Keeping Sports Fans Close To The Action In 2021
Footy team flop again this season? Well, Twitter now proving the platform for all coach & underperforming player abuse.
Nine’s Upfronts: Here’s What Agency Bosses Had To Say
Sadly, no news of an Ossie Ostrich return, but Nine's annual Upfronts were definitely less bum-numbing than years past.
Wednesday TV Wrap: 10’s Making It Australia Premieres To 474,000 Viewers
B&T enjoyed the Making It Australia premiere last night. Admittedly, we had no compulsion to want to make anything.
Rakuten Advertising Shares Blueprint For Affiliate Marketing
Rakuten Advertising has launched ‘A 5-Stage Blueprint for High-Performance Affiliate Marketing’, designed to educate and inform both advertisers and publishers about the strategic role that the affiliate channel is now playing in marketing strategies. The blueprint is based on input from members of the Rakuten Advertising International Collective (RAIC), comprising affiliate marketing specialists from leading advertisers […]
Study: 42% Of Aussies Say They Don’t Feel Represented By Advertising
Some 42% of Aussies say they don't feel represented by advertising. It was zero per cent for Coles Big Red Hand.
Are Media Highlights The Changing Face Of Beauty In Latest TRENDtalks Series
Are Media research highlights latest beauty trends. Yet no news of the return of the Boy George blush or the fake mole.
Nature Launches New Parental Leave Scheme
Nature unveils impressive parental leave scheme; however, it does carry the caveat of being impregnated first.
EngageTV Launches Metro Connected TV Campaign In Sydney And Melbourne
EngageTV, Australia’s most sophisticated CTV & BVOD service partner, has today launched a Sydney and Melbourne metro Connected TV campaign to help business owners and marketers better understand what can be achieved with CTV.
Buzzfeed Australia Launches Bloom, A Womxn-Focused Vertical
Bloom to cover topics such as sexuality, mental health & relationships. Bad news if you're looking for a sponge recipe.
ARIA Awards Axe Gendered Categories In An Inclusive Move
ARIA Awards announces the end of gendered categories. Which thankfully should shorten the event by a good 40 minutes.
Adland State Of Originality To Return For Nine’s 2022 Origin Series
Nine has announced the return of State of Originality, Australia’s biggest advertising prize, with $1 million again up for grabs to the brand and agency that creates the most original ad in the 2022 State of Origin Series. This year Nine launched State of Originality, challenging Australia’s marketers to help make State of Origin not […]
Nine Uses Upfronts To Reveal Content Slate For 2022
It's all your Nine Upfront news which sadly didn't include an impromptu version of 'New York, New York' by Mike Sneesby.
