My dedicated Christmas party attendees,

The company Christmas party season has come to an end.  Some of us might be shouting with joy, others might be shedding a few tears, either way 2009 is coming to an end.

CBB Insight. Take a break this holiday season and enjoy your time with family and friends! Be thankful for the people that matter the most in your life and get excited about the new possibilities coming your way in 2010. 

The Trio Christmas party was a hit.  Although we had a few people joking about the fact that our party would be significantly smaller then most company Christmas party events, we didn't let their comments dampen our enthusiasm.

Our party planner did an excellent job.  We all agreed prior to the planning that we wanted a "mexican" themed party.  The event was completely catered, the venue was vibrantly decorated, and we didn't have to lift a finger the entire time.  The conversation over our meal was interesting. Our topics ranged from future Trio planning to the real purpose and benefit of bunk-beds. 

CBB Insight. When you get us all together there isn't much room for an entertainer!

The best part of the whole party was probably the unexpected dessert.  We had no idea it was coming.  All of us are dessert people.  Nothing tops off a great meal better then a mouth watering dessert.  It probably was the biggest Lava Cake I have ever seen, topped with the biggest scoop of ice cream.

There was a gift exchange, but for the protection of those of us who re-gifted, we thought it would be best not to share what we all received. 

CBB Insight. Knitted Hangers WIN!!!

I hope you all have enjoyed the Awkward Company Christmas Party Games I posted over the last few weeks.  If you missed them be sure to visit www.facebook.com/triowebdesign and look under the discussion tab. 

Only two more days of work and then the holidays! Enjoy your break today.

- CBB

Friends,

It's Friday and I am sure that there are a few of you attending a company Christmas party this weekend.  In celebration of the numerous company Christmas parties taking place, I thought it would be fitting to share with you two awkward games.

Why two games you ask? Well....

Firstly, I feel for you.  Company Christmas parties can sometimes be a drag.  So for those who find themselves wishing they were somewhere else instead of at their party, remember these awkward games and permit yourself to have a laugh. It could be worse. 

Secondly, I am compelled to warn you.  It wouldn't be right to keep these games from you.  I am here for you and I want you to have at least a three minute head start to the exit door before the game commences. 

And.....

Thirdly, you need something to talk about at that party!

Trio is having its Christmas party this weekend.  I have been assured that our party planner isn't going to be using any of these games, but I did hear through the grapevine that there might be a "secret re-gifting gift exchange" happening.  I wonder who will be getting the knitted clothes hangers!?!

Enjoy the weekend Friends. 

- CBB

Game #3: Balloon Stomping

Have each person blow up a balloon and take a bit of string and tie the string to the balloon and then to his/her ankle. On the given command, everyone begins to try and stomp on each others balloon without getting their balloon stomped on.  This is great fun! Caution though, be sure that no one gets carried away with the stomping.  The last person standing with their balloon intact wins.

CBB Insight.  I thoroughly enjoyed the writer's extra excitement for this game.  It sounds like great fun.  Interesting.  I also enjoyed the extra caution.  I could see this kind of a game getting out of hand quickly.  All you need is a few unhappy employees and watch out. 

Game #4: The Grouping

This is a good game to play as a mixer. It is a fun, fast moving game. (CBB Insight.  Again the writer is over excited about this game.)

You need a designated leader and then everyone else collects in one big group. The leader initially calls out a number. The number should be more than half of the number of total participants.

When the number is called out everyone must try to collect in a group that contains that number of people. The group members should be latching arms or have their arms wrapped around each other so that the leader can count the people in the group. (CBB Insight. No thank you. Hugging. Far too close for my comfort.)

If someone cannot enter a group because the number of required members has been reached, he/she is out of the game. As different numbers are successively called out, the number of participants gets smaller and smaller. Eventually, there are less than ten people. The last group, or winning group, should have anywhere from two to five people.

CBB Insight. I'm not sure how this game would be a good mixer.  Firstly, the game is fast moving, so you won't be shaking hands and doing introductions.  Let's be serious you skip the shaking hands and are right on to locking arms.  Awkward. Secondly, you need a leader who can count without a calculator.  Thirdly, you need employees who can count without a calculator.  Fourthly, what if you forgot to put on arm deodorant and people exclude you on purpose.  I think that would be devastating.

Friends in break time,

As promised, I have another awkward company Christmas party game to share.  I still find it hard to believe that companies actually try and get their employees to play these games.   

Remember when reading the game try and imagine your own company playing this game.  It helps if you can envision yourself playing, your co-workers, and of course don't forget the boss! Try not to laugh too loud after reading the game, we don't need your coffee break privileges taken away from you. 

If you are at all confused and wondering how this has anything to do with web design, just refer back to my last post titled "Company Christmas Party Season Arrives!"

Enjoy a few laughs on your break. 

- CBB

Game #2: Dragon Tail Tag

Divide a large group of people into small teams of four or five.  Once the teams have been divided, have the team members link elbows or hold on to each others waists (CBB Insight. Awkward. Full Stop).  Designate one end as the tail and the other end as the head.  The person who is the tail must hang a flag or tail (bandana) behind them or place it in their back pocket.  The person who is the head has the responsibility of leading the team, they are the only ones who can use their hands.  Teams must stay linked to participate. The object of the game is to steal other the tails while avoiding the other teams who are trying to steal your tail. The last team to have a tail wins.

CBB Insight.  This is almost ridiculous.  I personally think I would leave the Christmas party if someone tried to get me to participate in this one.

Merry Christmas Friends!

Tis' the season of company Christmas parties.  Over the next three weeks the majority of us will have the opportunity to attend a Christmas party of some kind.  This will be the first year that Trio hosts a Christmas party.  In an attempt to make our party mega "fun", I thought it would be wise for us to research what it takes to host a mega "fun" company Christmas party.

Well after some thorough searching, all of us discovered that "fun" Christmas party ideas are really lacking, but there is a whole whack of tips out there if you want to host an "awkward" Christmas party.  I thought it would be entertaining to share some of these brilliant ideas with you.

Now, I apologize in advance if you have already planned to employ some of these games at your Christmas party.  You never know, the games could be a hit if you have the right group of people.  I have tried to imagine what that group would have to look like in order to pull these games off without it being awkward, and for the life-of-me I am struggling to imagine it!

So over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you, what I think are potentially "awkward" company Christmas party games.

I will also be posting these blogs on the Trio Facebook Page http://facebook.com/triowebdesign .  Feel free to make comments on any one of my postings.  I would especially like to know if you have been involved in one of these potentially awkward company Christmas party games.  How did it turn out? We have a number of Christmas discussions happening on the Facebook Page, so join in and share your stories with us.

Enjoying a hot Latte on this coffee break,

- CBB

Awkward Company Christmas Party Games

When reading the game try and imagine your own company playing this game.  It helps if you can envision yourself playing, your co-workers, and of course don't forget the Boss!  Try not to laugh too loud after reading the game. We don't need your coffee break privileges taken away from you.  One last thing to remember, companies actually play these games!

Game #1: Noah's Ark

Take the group of employees and divide the group evenly into two different teams.  Have each team go to opposite sides of the room. Now the referee (the odd person out) hands each person a card with a picture of an animal on it. Both teams have the same set of animal cards, therefore they all have a mate.  The trick here is that their mate is on the other team and no one knows who their mate actually is. 

After being given a moment of thought, EVERYONE in the room has to act like the assigned animal and walk across the room in search of their mate.  If the animal crawls, flaps, waddles, etc. you must do the same. 

The major rule here is that NO HUMAN language is allowed! You must stay in character until you find your mate.  Once people think they have discovered their mate, they go to the referee.  The game proceeds until everyone has been mated. 

A CBB Insight.  "Just imagine this game for a moment.  You + Animal + Co-worker.  Very Interesting. Very Awkward. Very Funny"