The first thing is to be sure you get some help. Organize some of the more social staff members into a committee. Even if you have a large Human Resource department, when you get other employees a chance get involved they will not only give you party ideas, but also have more of a stake in seeing it become successful.

If you normally hold your company party or corporate events at your facility, think about getting away. Move the party to another more festive site. You don't have to have it at a restaurant or hotel. If you're set against that, think outside-the-box and choose a movie theater, a cruise ship, a museum, an art gallery, an ice rink, a roller rink. mini-golf, or other non-traditional locales.

Be responsible. Offer a variety of non-alcoholic refreshments, Water and Soft drinks along with the liquor; serve foods high in protein and carbohydrates, which slow the absorption of alcohol; and close the bar before the party ends. You don't want to find yourself liable if an employee causes an accident driving home from your party. Either set limits for alcohol, provide rides home, or provide rooms for the night.

Consider having a theme party instead of your typical holiday party at the typical holiday times. The holiday season is a busy time for most people anyway AND it's harder and more expensive to throw a party at that time. Everything costs more from the venue, to the entertainment.

Are you inviting employees only? Employees and their spouse or guest? Clients? If it's employees only you can hold an afternoon soiree, but if you want peace in the homes of your employees, you'll find that evenings and weekends will be better if you're inviting families. If you're asking your employees don't expect a unanimous decision. For some an evening out together will be great, for others it's just one more chance to pay for babysitting.

Be sure you have family oriented activities, special refreshments and gifts for the kids!

Be sure you're clear about dress code. Make sure each employee knows. Remember this is an office party with the emphasis on "office." That doesn't mean people can't have fun. They should. But it also means that rules and boundaries need to be clear. Remember that although office parties are intended as social events to reward employees and raise morale, they remain strictly business events. Remind employees that their behavior is probably being watched.

Encourage people to network and schmooze at the party with people they may not see regularly, such as top management, people from other departments, and employees from other locations. A holiday party is a great event to begin building or strengthening business relationships, so let them build their networks. Devote the first 60 minutes (or so) of your event to socializing. Play an icebreaker kind of game where people need to interact, especially between departments.

DJ's always classify music in three categories (listening and dancing - slow and fast.) Here's the chance to play all the "listening" hits. Don't rush your guests to dance, the more guests you have the longer you should take until you start dancing.

At about the 90 minute mark it is time to address the group and say a few words (bring up the president, CEO) maybe give away some prizes or awards. Then start the dancing with the heads of departments; president and vice-presidents; CEO and CFO; Sales and Marketing; Human Resources; etc. If you get some company trivia or info about some of your fellow employees, your DJ can give some prizes away throughout the evening as well.