



While DLP is preparing for our Valentine’s shindig we’re compiling a list of Dance Yer Pants Off tunes to set the tone! Playlists are important as they influence the mood and momentum of the evening. Here are a few tips for creating the perfect playlist for your fete!
*Restraint! Don’t start your playlist off with something too loud or overly energetic, you w
ant the momentum to build and excite your guests, not steamroll them. Make sure the music is loud enough to be noticeable, but quiet enough that guests don’t feel the need to shout over each other…save that for later in the evening.
*Eclectic Collection. Weave in your personal favorites and an
occasional wildcard to keep the party’s attention. Playlists can be the perfect conversation starter!
*No Break Up Songs. Just don't do it. Ever.
*Flow. Make sure your selection of songs moves as seamlessly as possible from one to the next. This will enhance the scene you’re striving to create.
*Pandora. If you aren’t comfortable playing DJ, create a Pandora station that fits the theme of your party. It takes the stress out of monitoring your tunes and the occasional jarring randomness of itunes shuffle. Letting your guests “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” songs lets them steer the evening and is often a spark for discussion.
Now you fine young things, make playlist pandemonium!
We’ve all been to that party—the one where you’re sipping out of a red plastic cup and squinting under the hellish bug zapper fluorescent overhead light that make guests appear as Night of The Living Dead extras. Lighting matters as much as the menu! No one wants to feel cake-y, exposed or under a magnifying glass. Here are a few tips to make sure the desired mood of the fete is set and your guests look and feel marvelous:
1) Turn off overhead lights. Overhead interrogation style lights cause harsh shadows and dark circles under the eyes. Instead opt for well placed, low wattage lamps scattered throughout your entertaining space. This will assure your guests are comfortable and glowing for photographs.
2) Use candles. Whether you fill up a candelabra or tuck jelly jar tea lights onto windowsills, the warm, welcoming and potentially romantic flicker of candles can’t be beat. They are appropriate for all occasions; tea for two or formal cocktail affairs.
3) Use colored light. Color sets a tone for your gathering. Pop a few colored light bulbs into preexisting fixtures and watch the wash of color drastically transform a space. When using this technique you can forgo any other decorating if you so choose. Paint with light! Choose champagne based colors like buttery yellows or fresh pinks for a warm glamorous effect.
4) Use the Tube. Sometimes the TV is appropriate—when it is…use it! The silent blue glow of a black and white film flickering in the background can prove to be a dramatic and entertaining light source. If film noir isn’t your piece of cake, bring on the kitsch and pop in a classic fireplace DVD and enjoy the corny vibe of a Maryland ski lodge.
[ On the Importance of Punctuality]
"If you get there after the food is gone and the women
are taken, but before the police arrive…you’re late, okay?"
[On Favorite Party Toasts]
"May the road rise to meet you,
so you don’t have too far to fall when you pass out."
150 pages of sound wisdom on living “La Vida Pepe…with style, with abandon, with someone else’s girlfriend.” Buy it here, okay.