Free booze! Am-I-right? You’ve worked ever so hard this year so why not get rip-roaring drunk on your company’s dime? I mean, we never get the chance to let our hair down in the travel industry. Ha!
But this one is different. You see, all of the regular travel industry party crew will definitely be there. They would turn up to the opening of a letter if there were free drinks.
The thing is though; everyone else will be there too.
Your company’s Director perhaps – and maybe their spouse.
A bunch of partners from the industry – Reps for example.
Even Susie from accounts is there – and she never comes out.
You see, this is the one night that everyone is supposed to turn up at; and enjoy. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a good time. It means exactly the opposite – you should have a great time – but just make sure that you don’t end up being ‘that guy’.
‘That guy’ could mean a few different things. Here are few common ones to avoid (and avoid being).
The Creeper
This one usually rocks up a bit sauced up already. They’ve got a plan in mind – hooking up with someone. It could be someone special to start with, but by the end of the night and all of their drunken, unwelcome advances it could be anyone.
Steer clear of this one. Just take a seat and watch – and laugh.
The brown-noser
You’ll find this guy in his natural habitat – within five inches of his second higher up bosses butt cheeks. They’ll cackle like an idiot after every lame joke and always volunteer to line up at the bar to fetch drinks all night long. He’ll even scowl defensively at anyone else who attempts to make chitchat with his target.
By the end of the night the boss will be thinking about restraining orders.
The rarely drinks girl
This girl put in a big effort with her outfit. She had her hair did, nails did, new dress on – everything. Her drink of choice is champagne and her shoes of choice are stilettos – which don’t go well together at all. This chick will be legless by 9pm being followed around by her mates making sure she doesn’t cause too much harm.
This girls’ trademark exit is to make a pass at the boss, throw-up and then call her boyfriend/husband in tears asking for a lift before passing out on some grass. All before the bar tab ends.
The table dancer
Later on in the evening when the music is pumping the d-floor will get going. It’ll fill up pretty fast and you won’t want to leave your stockpile of drinks anyways so it’s tempting to hop onto the nearest table to draw attention to your mad skills.
It’s easy to think that security will go easy on you because your company booked out the venue – they won’t. My mate Caleb once famously fell off a table onto a security guard – a move a WWE wrestler would’ve been proud of. He was unceremoniously dragged from the party like a Greenpeace protester at a SeaWorld grand opening – his night was over.
Have fun, be safe and Merry Christmas!