How and Why You Should Host a Happy Hour

My friend Nick Gray convinced me to host a cocktail party.

It was more like a happy hour, so I’m going to call it that (even though Nick’s book is called The 2-Hour Cocktail Party).

This was my first party with Nick, in Sept 2020. I’ve since hosted a few more using his unique party formula.

I will tell you about what I learned, and/or why you should host your own party using the 2-hour party formula he describes.

Party in the Park: Washington Square Park

I met Nick through our mutual friend Ben Casnocha.

Nick and I hosted a group of our friends in Washington Square Park, in New York City, during the fall of 2020. We gathered on September 17, 2020 from 6PM to 8PM and it was awesome.

Wow, I look good. Here’s me with some of my friends.

Wow, I look good in this photo, too.

Name tags

Everyone had name tags at our party, which I guess is a little strange? But it is so good.

Name tags are helpful because Nick and I were mixing our friend groups. So nobody really knew each other. Nick’s book talks a LOT about name tags, and he’s very passionate about them.

Here’s Nick Gray wearing a name tag. Obviously.

Will I invest in your company? Maybe. Will there be name tags at my party? Definitely.

The Benefits of Weak Ties, and Parties

We meet a lot of people in life. Especially me, a venture capitalist.

I meet a lot of people! And I’ve found that these parties are a great way to stay connected with my network.

In the time it takes to watch a movie, or to have a long dinner, I can connect with 10-20 people. And the best part is, using party icebreakers and mixers, you can give your friends the benefit of meeting a bunch of new people

When you host a party like this, your friends benefit, too. They meet exciting new people.

Happy Hour for Networking

In 2021, I hosted a rooftop cocktail party for my business in Seattle. It was a mix of personal and professional friends. We had a lot of fun and I learned a lot. I plan to do it again soon.

Conclusion

You should host your own happy hour because:

  1. You can connect with a bunch of people,

  2. Your friends will meet new friends,

  3. It is great to practice these skills.

Check out Nick Gray and his book The 2-Hour Cocktail Party here:

Me and Nick, at our picnic happy hour in New York

Katelyn Donnelly