Best tips on holiday party planning from Joel Catering and Special Events’ Sarah Hall

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Name: Sarah Hall

Title: President, Joel Catering and Special Events

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Years in industry: 19

Education: Tulane University

Sarah Hall didn’t waste any time getting into the catering business and climbing the career ladder. After graduating from Tulane University in 1999, Hall took a job as an administrative assistant at Joel Catering and Special Events and quickly advanced into the top management position, expanding it into one of the city’s top private catering companies.

With nearly 20 years in the business, Hall says management and staff can enjoy a festive get-together that will create a sense of camaraderie and give thanks for those who have made your business a success.

It’s always difficult getting the entire company to agree on a date and time for a party, especially with so much going on in December. Plus, even after you’ve selected a date there are still people who can’t make it. Any suggestions?

Let’s face it: Finding a time and day in December that will accommodate everyone is going to be impossible, so try your best, but don’t let it stress you out. What you can do to increase party attendance is confirm a date in September, so people can put it in their December calendars. Then once your date is established, keeping it on the calendar in the same spot (like the second Thursday in December) each year will establish your event as a holiday tradition.

Another option is to hold the party on an off-peak day or time such as a Thursday evening. We’ve even seen some planners move on from the idea of a December party and schedule it in other holidays like Mardi Gras. You eliminate the pressure for the planner and employees, and sometimes you can even get a lower rate at your venue.

How can you lessen the bar tab without limiting it to just beer and wine?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a super-secret insider trick for this one- when it comes to the bar tab, you usually get what you pay for! Well, maybe I have one trick- look for the best value. Pretty much every bar, restaurant or venue has a bar package that is a better value than other choices. Sometimes it’s a limited menu, like beer/wine/specialty cocktail, while other times it may be the call or even premium bar. It varies from place to place, though, so you’ll need to do some research and compare prices.

Are there any festive drinks besides eggnog and hot rum toddies?

Absolutely. There are many holiday-inspired drinks, such as a cinnamon old fashioned, mulled wine or a pomegranate martini. Plus, you can reimagine many cocktails with a wintery infusion of cranberry, pomegranate or cloves into the hard liquor such as vodka or gin.

There’s always the dilemma about people drinking and driving. How can we prevent any holiday tragedies and still have a good party?

A good way to relieve the worry of your guests overindulging is to provide options in advance of the party. Some companies will offer rooms at nearby hotels, providing guests with a mini vacation. Another, less expensive, approach is to use an Uber or Lyft account and have the company pick up the tab.

Any new ideas for livening up the party? How can you get people to lighten up without them being lit up?

Venue selection can really help with this. Choose a place with an amazing view, or one that offers more than just four walls and some tables, so that you’re sparking conversation and interest. It is December, but it’s also New Orleans and it’s likely that the weather should be very welcoming. Why not try a place that allows guests to mingle indoors and outdoors?

Providing an activity gets people to loosen up. For one of our company’s parties, we held it at a bowling alley. Seeing your boss throw a gutter ball can actually be great for company morale. Depending on the type of party, invite the kids and make it family friendly. It relieves parents of the pressure of finding sitters (and you could offer an onsite sitter) and kids are usually pretty entertaining.

What about décor? Will the caterer take care of this?

For décor, most caterers and special event venues can take put together custom options, while restaurants tend to keep it simple. If your décor budget is limited, the easiest and most cost-effective option is to choose a space that already has the ambiance you’re looking to create.

Do you select the venue first, then caterer? Or vice versa? 

You usually want to select the venue first due to demand, because there are only so many dates available. If you’ve got the space lined up, catering companies are usually a bit more flexible since they can cater more than one event per day.

What types of new trends are out there for holiday parties?

Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing new ideas emerge for wedding receptions and events, but my advice for holiday parties is to avoid getting too trendy. The holidays are about celebrating traditions — time honored traditions like a gift exchange or simply sharing a meal and raising a glass — and that’s what your guests are expecting and hoping for.

Now that the economy is trending upwards, are you seeing a big change from the recession years of 2007-2010? How so?

Definitely. On many levels, it was hard to hold parties during the recession. Thankfully, over the past few years with the economy on an upswing, the holidays are a wonderful time to honor and appreciate your employees.

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