Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Entertaining while entertaining?

54 replies

Ideclarethumbwar · 07/04/2021 11:33

Another thread just made me wonder...
When you host people for dinner and drinks, do provide some sort of entertainment as well? Or just chats following food and alcohol?

OP posts:
DuchessOfBuggerAll · 07/04/2021 11:57

What sort of entertainment? Dancing girls? Magician? Pianist in the corner?
No. The company is enough surely?

Dishwashersaurous · 07/04/2021 11:58

For children then yes normally would set up a craft activity etc.

Depends on the event really. Eg if birthday party then would plan music and dancing for after dinner.

But if just a few friends over then would just chat

ShabbyNat · 07/04/2021 12:16

For me & my friends, its mainly just chatting/catching-up with music on in the background, sometimes we have food but nearly always have a drinkWineGrinGrinWine
Sometimes we make it an event type thing, where we`ll do a quiz, or something like a themed night like I did once-a Macmillen Murder Mystery NightSmileWineSmile

ComtesseDeSpair · 07/04/2021 12:33

Depends how many people we’re entertaining. A small group of 6-8 and we’ll just talk with background music. If it’s more of a party affair, we have several friends who are hobby DJs who will bring their decks and do the music, we’ll get the hot tub running, and set up the spare bedroom as a quiet space with some board games for people to chill.

I’ve been to theme or activity dinners before and they can be hit and miss, particularly as drink and other intoxicants flow some people’s attention wanes and they just start talking amongst themselves and the game or activity is abandoned.

Shemeanswell · 07/04/2021 13:01

Wow. I thought ‘entertainment’ only happened on Come Dine With Me.

ChelseaCat · 07/04/2021 13:03

@Shemeanswell

Wow. I thought ‘entertainment’ only happened on Come Dine With Me.
Same
crosspelican · 07/04/2021 13:06

Depends. We have some fun games and some of our friends love playing games, so with them, we might suggest that. In fact, I gotmah jong over lockdown and can't wait to have them over to play it!

Others, it's all about the scintillating conversation into the wee hours at the table!

StephenBelafonte · 07/04/2021 13:07

Don't be so daft.

3Britnee · 07/04/2021 13:17

According to come dine with me, you need to put on entertainment. According to everyone else though...Grin

gottenhaitch · 07/04/2021 13:21

Does YouTube count?

Mylovelyhorsee · 07/04/2021 13:21

Lots of wine and lots of food. Like lots. That’s the entertainment. Music is on of course

Dressinggownchic · 07/04/2021 13:23

It varies.
Chat, quiet background music.
Music, bit of a sing along at the piano.
Games like cards against humanity if no kids around.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 07/04/2021 13:39

Music on in the background counts, right?!

Seriously this is a weird CDWM thing - other than sometimes breaking out Cards Against Humanity or similar after pudding, I think a planned entertainment is just awkward, right up there with those terribly tedious magicians you end up having to hide from at weddings...

MinnieJackson · 08/04/2021 00:44

Ooh yeah cards and music but not planned activities. Just let it naturally flow.

DramaAlpaca · 08/04/2021 00:49

No, just food and chat.

Sciurus83 · 08/04/2021 00:54

Yeah just reminds of those CDWM awkward moments of everyone sat with a frozen smile as a flamenco dancer called Susan butchers some traditional dance. Also sometimes unpopular opinion but God I hate board games. I much prefer to talk, waste of good company I.m.o.

normalsaline · 08/04/2021 00:58

@Dressinggownchic

It varies. Chat, quiet background music. Music, bit of a sing along at the piano. Games like cards against humanity if no kids around.
cringing so hard at the thought of a sing along at the piano 😬
Wineat5isfine · 08/04/2021 01:49

Good food, good wine, good music...that’s all you need for a gathering of good friends!

ContentsMayBeHot · 08/04/2021 01:53

Yes, but usually just card, board or video games.

GuildfordGal · 08/04/2021 02:48

cringing so hard at the thought of a sing along at the piano

Confused

We usually have musical instruments around and often guests will pick up a guitar or something after dinner and we'll have a little music/chat/'singing' with more wine until whenever Grin.

Catflapkitkat · 08/04/2021 03:15

Another one who thinks it's a CDWM show off thing. I also remember a really cringe episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when when the cast went round to Yolanda's for dinner - she was married to David Foster and after dinner he sat at the piano and played his hits saying things like 'When I wrote this one for Michael Bolton'. Every time I read that he and his new wife are best friends with Harry and Megan I think of that cringe after dinner entertainment.

JorisBonson · 08/04/2021 06:53

Someone getting pissed and put into an Uber counts as entertainment, yes?

ineedtwoweeksoff · 08/04/2021 06:56

Strip poker or spin the bottle usually

terribleg · 08/04/2021 06:58

I generally give a performance, in the past I've played the spoons, done a pole dance, balloon art, etc.

HugeAckmansWife · 08/04/2021 07:56

There's one group of friends that come over specifically for 'games nights' with a board game planned, around which we eat pizza and crisps but otherwise no it's usually just food and chat, though CaH or What do you Meme are good sometimes

Swipe left for the next trending thread