Dear Atlas Party Rental Blog Readers,

Did you make it through Christmas and Hanukah? I, and my family, came out of it relatively unscathed.

Here are some of my holiday statistics:

1 spilled glass of red wine on a brand new carpet.

1 slightly over cooked beef roast.

1 slightly undercooked pork loin.

2 smoke alarms going off (one from the previously mentioned beef roast and another from my cousin sneaking a cigarette in the bathroom and throwing the match out in the trash like a smart kid).

3 major arguments over politics.

5 minor arguments over sports (The Jets stink by the way).

8 arguments about whether to argue about politics or sports.

One million little kid temper tantrums.

10 of my grandmother’s spiced rum balls (they are so good).

15 helpings of Rolaids due to the 10 helpings of my grandmother’s spiced rum balls (made with real rum and the fires of hell).

1 more great Christmas in the books.

Now it’s time to turn the sites on New Year’s Eve. Of course this is the time for resolutions, but I’m not going to be that clichéd this time around. I’ve made some resolutions this year that I’ve already broken. I’m sure the rest of you are in that column with me.

New Year’s is the big party night of the year. Other holidays try to get close, but nothing can touch New Year’s for the sheer insanity of it all. I’m still not sure what my plans are this year, but I know of one year in the past that was really great and it wasn’t because of some great drink or awesome location; it was the thoughtfulness and foresight that the event planner took while planning one particular part of their party.

Most of us are adults. . . most of us. It is amazing how sometimes we can make the most boneheaded decisions when we get in the celebratory mood. For many of us New Year’s Eve will be a night of considerable revelry (read: drinking). That’s fine. What is New Year’s without a glass of champagne or twenty?

There’s nothing wrong with having a good time; however, it’s important to make sure that it stays a good time.

This particular event that I attended took into account that on nights like New Year’s it’s important to think ahead. The event planner knew that this not everything goes to plan.

People drive to events. People drink at events. Sometimes, people try to drive home from events after they’ve had some drinks at those events. Every time that is a very bad idea.

A company called RedCap was hired by the event planner (the event planner has a relationship with the company. More information can be learned at http://www.myredcap.com). The whole idea is that they are a car service, but not in the traditional sense. This particular car service gets you home . . . in your own car!

That’s right: In your own car. You get in your car with a friendly (sober driver) and they drive you home. Another car follows behind and when you arrive home they say goodnight and jump in the other car and are off to repeat the process. The next morning, you don’t have to worry about having to go back and get your car; it’s there waiting for you.

I didn’t need the service that particular night. I know plenty of people who did. They were very thankful for it.

This year, no matter where you go or what your plans are, give a second to think about arranging this kind of a service for your guests or fellow revelers.

This way you can have a very Happy New Year’s Eve and an even happier New Year’s Day.

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!

This year my gift to all of you is knowledge. Don’t pout! It’s a great gift. My mother always used to say that it’s great to learn from your own mistakes but it’s a gift to learn from someone else’s!

I implore you to learn from mine!

I am not an event planner. I’ve never claimed to be. I’ve discovered recently that I never will be; it’s a profession that extends well beyond my skill set.

I would imagine that many of us have thrown parties before. I would also wager that those parties may have been limited to birthdays or anniversaries that we’ve put together for family. Family, for the most part, can be forgiving. If the dinner is a little cold they’ll turn to a microwave. If you run out of ice, someone will offer to go get some at the corner gas station. If the hors d’oeuvres (if you go that far for a birthday party) aren’t great, they’ll wait patiently for the cake.

Not so with people you don’t know . . . or people who aren’t your mom and dad.

My uncle is a successful business owner. He has a company with roughly 300 employees. In the past he has hired event planners to throw his company Holiday party. He is also a loyal reader of this blog (family support). He thought it would be a good idea to turn this year’s party planning over to me.

The conversation went something like this:

“Hey kiddo. You’re planning my Christmas Party this year.”

“Thanks Uncle _______, but I’m not an event planner.”

“What? You write about this stuff all the time. How hard can it be? What are you, a dumb @#$&?”

Like I said: Family support.

So that’s the conversation that led to 300 disappointed employees, an upset uncle and proof that I am indeed a dumb @#$&.

It would take too long to go over all the disasters that befell the party, but I’ll hit on the major ones here and give you some things to consider the next time you think you could save money by not hiring a professional event planner.

Did you know that most locations don’t have the necessary power for a DJ’s equipment? I found out that many times a wall socket isn’t going to cut it. Unless of course you want the transformers to blow.

Did you know that you need permits for a generator?

Did you know that 300 people coming to a party don’t necessarily arrive together in a bus but that they may drive their own cars there? Do you know that if you have a tent with a dance floor set up in the parking lot that people can’t park their cars there?

Did you know how upset people get if there are no places to park their cars? Did you know how much more upset they get if they have to park on the street and walk up to three quarters of a mile to get to the party? Did you know that the police don’t appreciate you parking hundreds of cars on the street? Did you know that “the police don’t appreciate” is a euphemism for “the police get really pissed off”?

I could go on, but you get the idea. . . I hope.

Do yourself a favor if you ever find that you are throwing a party or an event that has more than people who love you unconditionally in attendance: hire a professional event planner. There are so many things that go into planning events that it isn’t worth trying to do it yourself. They are professionals who know exactly what they’re doing and what needs to be done.