How to Be the Perfect Guest At Any Party

Have you always gone to parties and felt out of place? Should you have brought a platter? Should you hang up your own coat? Should you snoop around the house? My tips will help you be the perfect party guest.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• finger food dish
• alcoholic beverage
• small gift for the host
• anything else you want to show off

1. If invited via invitation (online or on paper), RSVP ASAP. There's nothing more annoying than waiting to see who will show up to your well-planned party. Even if you're not 100% sure you can come, still say you're coming. The host will understand if you have to bail out at the last minute due to work or some other emergency.
2. Pick out the perfect outfit so you'll be sure to stand out from the crowd. No one likes a boring guest who wears their same-old work attire! Go shopping several weeks ahead of time so you have plenty of time to decide what you'll show up in. **For Couples**: DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT show up in matching outfits. There is nothing worse than this. If I was the host, I'd kick you out for being too corn ball. Even if you think it's cute, most will not.
3. Prepare a tasty dish! I cannot stress how important this is when attending a party. If you show up without anything at all, people will possibly perceive you as a moocher. (You're only there for the free food and booze.) If the host isn't the best cook in the world, bringing a dish ensures that you'll get to snack on something you like. (Be sure to bring the recipe in case anyone asks.) Buy a few of the disposable plastic containers instead of bringing your mother's fine china. That way if you forget to take your dish home, it's no biggie.
4. Don't show up too early or too late. You could be perceived as a HUGE nerd if you get there an hour early. Plus, you'll just be sitting there staring around and it's very awkward. The host said 4 PM for a reason. Not 2:00, 3:30 or 3:59.
   
   Showing up late is a major diss. If you show up towards the end of the event, the host will get the idea that their party didn't mean anything to you. Plus, if you're hungry or parched, all the goodies will be gone.
   
   Show up 10-30 minutes after the start of the party and you're good to go. Making a big entrance is what parties are all about, right?
5. Greet your host, get your food/drinks, mingle, do your thing and get out of there. No one wants you to stay past the party's end.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the host feel good about themselves; tell them how pretty their house is, tell them the food tastes good(even if it doesn't), thank them for everything. Doing this will ensure that you're invited to the next party.
• Don't get wasted! There's nothing worse than a guest who's too drunk to function, pees everywhere, breaks things, and eventually has to sleep on the couch overnight. It's a nightmare for the host and you WILL embarrass yourself.
• Don't snoop around the host's house. Doing this could result in major embarrassment or even the police.
• Don't talk about the host at their party. Once word gets around you'll probably get the evil eye and never be allowed at another party.