How Freelancers Can Have A Holiday “Staff” Party Like Everyone Else (And Why You Should)

As the winter and holidays roll around each year, many freelancers watch from afar as friends and family attend their respective employers’ holiday staff parties. Some independent or introverted souls may see the lack of a staff party as a positive, avoiding those inevitable awkward moments with inebriated co-workers and embracing the freedom from trying to find the perfect Secret Santa gift for someone you’ve never really spoken to in the office until now. Others, like me, see this absence as one of the few negatives of freelancing and long wistfully for an invitation or try to live vicariously through the morning after stories of our corporately-employed friends.

Until last year.

In late November of last year my wife made the most interesting suggestion: “Why don’t you have a bkmacdaddy designs Staff Christmas Party?”

“But I don’t have a staff! bkmacdaddy designs is a one-man web and graphic design studio. How could I possibly have a staff party?!?” I was intrigued, as usual, by my wife’s seemingly strange thoughts outside the proverbial box.

So as we began discussing her thoughts we formulated a plan, and the 1^st Annual bkmacdaddy designs Staff Christmas Party was born. This year we followed it up on December 9^th with the 2^nd Annual version, and it was even better than the first. In this post I’ll share how we did it, how you can have your own and why you should. Time for a new tradition!

Start With Redefining “Staff”

In essence, the term “staff” is used to describe the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task, or the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business. If you want to be creative (which most freelancers are) you can summarize this as the people who provide support for your freelance business. Think about who that may be in your situation. For me, it is my wife, my family and my friends. They may not do any actual web or graphic design work for me, but they absolutely do help me make it through the rough times, inspire my creative spirit, encourage and challenge me, and help me grow as a person and a freelancer.

These are the people you should be having a party with, don’t you think? I do! My wife and I invited just a few of our closest friends, asking them to come be a part of our “staff”. They joined in the premise and started coming up with titles they wanted to assume as part of the organization, and you can see how it can progress. Soon we were all enthusiastic about the upcoming festivities, possibly more than we would have been in anticipation of what others may call a genuine staff party.

Plan Your Party

This part shouldn’t be too difficult. Make the party all the things you might like best about an office party – food, drinks, games, music, dancing, gift exchange – whatever you want it to be! You may find yourself having more fun with this than you would have had at your corporate gig in the past.

When we get together with our friends, my wife and I enjoy unusual food (like the bacon-topped chocolate and butterscotch pudding shots pictured below), partaking of wine, beer and cocktails, dancing, singing, and talking with the people we love the most. So we planned a party atmosphere and elements that would provide everyone with these opportunities. iPod playlists were created, new tapas and appetizer recipes were discovered, decorations were placed throughout the house, and more. Probably the most key element was the White Elephant Gift Exchange, but I’ll explain more about that later.

Whatever you do, make it yours! The rules are only whatever you make them, so enjoy the freedom of creating a holiday expression of yourself and those you love.

Build The Buzz

Sure, when your friends get over the initial surprise of suddenly becoming part of your staff they will likely assume that this is just another time you are all getting together. How could it be a time that is special or different from the others? This is where you can really get creative.

We used Facebook to set up an event associated with the bkmacdaddy designs page and invited the ‘staff’ to the party. This gives you the ability to keep updating everyone, and for the attendees to see who else is coming. You can build the buzz of anticipation by talking about it on your event and/or Facebook page, providing hints as to what will be happening. Try to come up with at least one unexpected surprise that you can give clues about. This will always build up the enthusiasm before the event itself. Besides, it’s a lot of fun!

Make Your Party Unique

This year my wife and I came up with an idea that turned out to be the highlight of the evening, and we couldn’t wait for everyone to arrive so we could spring it on them. We decided to buy each attendee a small but unusual or funny gift that was specifically related to an employee ‘title’. For instance, the Director of Sales would get the Emergency Bow Tie, a bow tie in a small tin box ready for all social emergencies. The Chief Meditation Officer (CMO) received a large wooden Buddha figurine, while the Assistant to the CMO received a smaller version of the same Buddha. You get the idea. The point was to have fun making up some unheard of titles and then associating gag gifts with them.

Then we added another twist. As they arrived, we had each of our friends draw a pin-on name tag with their new ‘title’ from a Christmas Stocking. They were told this would be their title at bkmacdaddy designs over the next year, until the 3^rd Annual Party. Each of our friends took on the role they drew, from CMF’er to Janitor, and played it up throughout the evening.

But the real fun began when we had the White Elephant Gift Exchange.

The gifts that we had bought were given to each person by title. Before they opened their respective title’s gift, however, they were given the option to steal a gift – and the corresponding title – from any of the previously opened gifts. It became a very interesting, entertaining and humorous part of the party, and many laughs were had by all.

This was just one of our ideas, and it was certainly a hit. You are welcome to use it, but I encourage you to also come up with your own ideas that fit you and your ‘staff’. Have fun with it, and they will too.

Why Freelancers Should Have A Holiday “Staff” Party

Just because you work alone at home doesn’t mean you should miss out on one of the potentially fun social events that your corporate-employed friends enjoy. In fact, I believe it should mean that you can have as much fun as, if not more than, they do! Make time for yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Otherwise, what’s the point of working so hard?

Another reason you should have this party is to express your gratitude to those around you who are there for you all the time as you are working away at being a freelancer. They truly are your support system, and they should be shown how much you appreciate them. Give them a party, a staff title, and let them know how much you value their contribution to your business, whether it’s direct and obvious or more subtle. I know I couldn’t make it without my family and friends, and this party is one of the ways I let them know.

Finally, freelancers often work long hours and find themselves missing out on having what others might consider a normal social life. Taking time to create social opportunities such as a holiday party will only improve your quality of life, your enjoyment of it, and ultimately your freelance business. The happier you (the person) are, the better you (the freelancer) will become. Make it a priority, and I guarantee you will see positive results.

How Do You Celebrate The Holidays?

Perhaps you’ve been doing something like what I’ve described for years. Or maybe you have your own freelancer holiday traditions you can share so others will be encourage and inspired. Please let us know in the comments below – we would love to hear your stories!