PR Girls Night

One of my favorite things to do since I started working was to mingle with the other girls my age in my field. As young PR professionals, we all had similar goals, mindsets, and personalities - making happy hours always a blast no matter who met up.

But as our group grew from 6 to 10 to 20 (all friends are always welcome!), our ability to successfully meet up for happy hours after work began to decrease. A 6pm happy hour was hard to make it for if work got busy in the afternoons, and the economy downturn affected our desire to go out.

At some point in early 2009, one of the girls decided that instead of having a happy hour at a local bar, we would meet up at her apartment for Game Night. She provided beverages and some starter appetizers, and then we were each to bring something to share, too. She picked out some fun games to play after some social time - board games like Cranium and acting games like Charades. With a 7pm or later start time, we were all able to make it, and it was as cheap a night as we wanted it to be. The only "rules" - come when you can for as long as you can, and no boys :)

Since that first game night, we have swapped around being Hostess each month - a girl or pair of roommates volunteer their place for the next month, and sends out an email invite immediately reserving the date so we can all add it to our calendars. At the game night at my condo in the late spring, we had 17-18 girls show up, and we played a fun round of charades in warm up for the Sex and the City trivia game (warning: for best results, play game after a glass or two of sangria).

From what the others have said, we all really look forward to this monthly get-together, and schedule around it as much as possible. This kind of party could work for any group of friends - the most important thing is to figure out the schedule and type of party that works best for you and your friends.

I'm looking forward to the August game night this month!