For this year’s corporate theme party, let’s travel back in time to the roaring twenties when prohibition, gambling, and gangsters ruled the world. Try to select a venue for the corporate get together that has a great 20s feel, a genuine art deco kind of location, if at all possible. Otherwise, consider a warehouse look that can be transformed into just about anything you want. As the guests enter the party location, have a big “goon” in a zoot suit who is looking at them through a small window in the door – just like in all the Hollywood pictures they have seen. Choose a fun phrase as a catch phrase to allow passage. Maybe something generic like “Corporate Z is the greatest.” or something with a sense of humor to it like “Mr. X is away and we mice will play.” Regardless, pick something that fits both the company and the occasion. Add some foliage and some low lighting to make it all seem very authentic. Later, when the dancing and gaming has begun, consider releasing a little extra smoke from smoke machines, just to add to the ambience even more.

First rounds of drinks should be delivered in coffee cups or tea cups and saucers. Remind the guests that this is during the time of the prohibition so if the cops are gonna raid your party you want them to see all these goons drinking tea and eating crumpets so they don’t suspect a thing.

For the dinner location, decorate the room in silver, black and white which will pull some of the Hollywood glamour yet keep the authenticity of the gangster theme. Mugshots can make great place markers. Have the ushers and wait personnel wear zuit suits or flapper dresses to add to the feel of the location even more.

For the entertainment of the evening, consider hiring a nice jazz combo either three or five piece to perform during dinner to develop the speakeasy feeling even more. After dinner and the jazz performance, slide out the illicit activities of a full bar, some gambling tables (all fake money of course) and a big dance floor with a nice selection of music.

Party favors can include specially printed gambling chips, dice and or cards for the men and long strings of pearls for the ladies (clapper style) and specially printed matchbooks with the corporate activity imprinted on them.