Anyone who has done a house party?

[figment3258]

Hey all. I was applying for a house party for kraft foods and just wondering any good or bad feedback on party's that you have been sorcerer for? Did your parts have enough people attend? Thanks

 

[pyrxtc]

always plenty of people wanting to come and most of the times, the stuff you give out if cool.

I used o apply for every party but now I only do the ones I really want.

 

[Shleedogg]

I've had the exact opposite reaction. I've hosted 2 and have had 0 guests. I can never get people to come. I try to tell them it's free, no selling, etc. but people have been really weird about them. I've given away a ton of the yogurts and snacks from the Gerber one and I still have a ton of bags of it left.

 

[Mickey527]

I have applied for so many and finally got invited to one, the AARP party.
Not sure if I will be able to get people to come for an AARP party, but I am having a group of people over during that time and I will pass out all the stuff then. A suprise AARP party for all my over 50 friends.

 

[doclegler]

I've won two party's now and haven't had much trouble getting people to attend. We usually invite close friends and family though.
If it comes down to it though, and no one can come, you can always give away the freebies anyway. I think the companies would rather have you do that, than not do anything at all. And who doesn't want a good freebie?!

 

[Ericandjenng]

Parties are funny whether it's a "House Party" or not. It's just hard to tell what people will or won't show up for. My DS's birthday for example. Last year we had it at a Bounce place and only 7 kids came...? That really surprised me considering how much kids love to climb and jump on those things. But the year before and this year, we had his party at Chuck E. Cheese. The first one had 25+ kids at it plus the parents and this year's had about 15 (I forget the exact #) kids and at least one parent for each.

I got a House Party (the 2nd one I applied for--My Thai Kitchen--only a couple of neighbors came) in the fall and turned down for several. I would have thought our demographic would have been more appropriate for the ones we didn't get (Fisher Price Infant Toys--my DD was about 9 months old at that time and I have several friends with kids the same age), Perler Beads (craft projects for elementary age kids--my DS's age group) and the Halloween one (I had tons of ideas). We had a Halloween party anyway and more than 20 people were there between family, friends, DS's classmates and their families.

We just got the Digiorno Pizza & Hoops Party. I think we're going to let our DS have another sleepover with the families invited for Pizza and games before at dinnertime. Give the coupons and other stuff, then let his classmates spend the night and watch movies. I spent so much time last time explaining what it was, it just got annoying. I also did NOT give anyone's email address this time. If my friends want to go on the website and reply, I'll give them the info but I am not sure whether or how much House Party contacts them through those email addresses.

I am still undecided if the free stuff makes it worth the effort. Some of the ones (especially the Fisher Price one) would definitely make it worth the time but not the ones like the My Thai Kitchen. The reusable bags were nice but the coupons weren't all that great ($1 off 2 items--items are pricey and not readily available in our area) and the place mats were paper. Here is the list for the Digiorno Your FREE party pack will include:

* DIGIORNO Handbook with party tips and free pizza coupons for you and VIP coupons for your guests
* Pizza cutter
* Refrigerator magnet clip
* Pot holder
* Oven timer
* Spatula
* Wet wipes
* Plates
* Over-the-door basketball game
* Inflatable noisemakers
Other than getting the free pizzas for the party...it's kind of so what. I mean it's fun getting free stuff but most of these things I already have. I keep debating whether to continue to apply for parties or not. I have one more outstanding currently and I don't think I want to deal with it. It's the Singer Sewing one but there are alot more restrictions on it dealing with "borrowing" the sewing machine and then maybe getting to purchase it at a discount.

Good Luck!

 

[Piecey]

I've had the exact opposite reaction. I've hosted 2 and have had 0 guests. I can never get people to come. I try to tell them it's free, no selling, etc. but people have been really weird about them. I've given away a ton of the yogurts and snacks from the Gerber one and I still have a ton of bags of it left.

Did they have all the great coupons again?

I got it in May 09 and used a ton of those coupons.

 

[Vijoge]

I had never heard of a House party untilI read it here. Why do people do them? For some free stuff? For fun and just to have something to do? I don't think I know anyone who has ever heard of this either. Is it a regional thing? I looked at the website but it wasn't really clear what the purpose is.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I use the stuff I have at the closest big family function we have, vs having a special "party" for it. I'm not going to take the time to come up with food and favors and all ~just~ for the sake of promoting a product. We'll tryt the samples or play the games or whatever's in the box at grandma's birthday party or the annual summer BBQ or whatever

 

[tinkmom2]

I did the "Just Dance" party for the Wii and only had a handful of people come but I got two free video games. I am also hosting the Zatarains party and got some beads, masks, free coupons for Zatarains mixes, and coupons for my guests, along with mustard, creole spice, and some rootbeer extract.
So far I have about 6 people confirmed. Etiher way we will be having a good time. I love to cook and we will eat the food

 

[mafibisha]

Parties are funny whether it's a "House Party" or not. It's just hard to tell what people will or won't show up for. My DS's birthday for example. Last year we had it at a Bounce place and only 7 kids came...? That really surprised me considering how much kids love to climb and jump on those things. But the year before and this year, we had his party at Chuck E. Cheese. The first one had 25+ kids at it plus the parents and this year's had about 15 (I forget the exact #) kids and at least one parent for each.

I got a House Party (the 2nd one I applied for--My Thai Kitchen--only a couple of neighbors came) in the fall and turned down for several. I would have thought our demographic would have been more appropriate for the ones we didn't get (Fisher Price Infant Toys--my DD was about 9 months old at that time and I have several friends with kids the same age), Perler Beads (craft projects for elementary age kids--my DS's age group) and the Halloween one (I had tons of ideas). We had a Halloween party anyway and more than 20 people were there between family, friends, DS's classmates and their families.

We just got the Digiorno Pizza & Hoops Party. I think we're going to let our DS have another sleepover with the families invited for Pizza and games before at dinnertime. Give the coupons and other stuff, then let his classmates spend the night and watch movies. I spent so much time last time explaining what it was, it just got annoying. I also did NOT give anyone's email address this time. If my friends want to go on the website and reply, I'll give them the info but I am not sure whether or how much House Party contacts them through those email addresses.

I am still undecided if the free stuff makes it worth the effort. Some of the ones (especially the Fisher Price one) would definitely make it worth the time but not the ones like the My Thai Kitchen. The reusable bags were nice but the coupons weren't all that great ($1 off 2 items--items are pricey and not readily available in our area) and the place mats were paper. Here is the list for the Digiorno Your FREE party pack will include:

Other than getting the free pizzas for the party...it's kind of so what. I mean it's fun getting free stuff but most of these things I already have. I keep debating whether to continue to apply for parties or not. I have one more outstanding currently and I don't think I want to deal with it. It's the Singer Sewing one but there are alot more restrictions on it dealing with "borrowing" the sewing machine and then maybe getting to purchase it at a discount.

Good Luck!

ITA.
The first two parties I hosted, I gave House Party my guests email addresses because I used the invites from their sites. Three of my friends got so much spam after that and blamed me! NOT cool!

So the last two parties I hosted, I sent out my OWN email invites, or called people. The House party people didn't say anything about it, and I just got another party, so I don't think it was a problem.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I did the Just Dance party in November and had a so-so turn out, which was "recorded" through the houseparty's website/invitation system. It was a fun event, and we invited our whole girl scout troop. Only half showed up, but that's about par for the course for that crew.

Just did the Flatbread HP this past weekend. We just invited family this time, again through the HP site, but no one replied on that site. We had a nice small party, and I posted a lengthy report on the message board. I will take the survey they send out, but I do not forward it to my guests.

 

[Ericandjenng]

ITA.
The first two parties I hosted, I gave House Party my guests email addresses because I used the invites from their sites. Three of my friends got so much spam after that and blamed me! NOT cool!

So the last two parties I hosted, I sent out my OWN email invites, or called people. The House party people didn't say anything about it, and I just got another party, so I don't think it was a problem.

Yeah, I don't know but I did worry about that. It could be coincidence and it might not be.

 

[Ericandjenng]

I had never heard of a House party untilI read it here. Why do people do them? For some free stuff? For fun and just to have something to do? I don't think I know anyone who has ever heard of this either. Is it a regional thing? I looked at the website but it wasn't really clear what the purpose is.

It's purpose is a different kind of marketing. Companies give you a "party pack" and it varies GREATLY by company and party. Usually there are things that are more or less considered "hostess gifts" and there is usually some kind of "party favor" and coupons for the guests. It's basically a very direct style of marketing similar to having a Tupperware party or Mary Kay party only you are not directly selling anything. But because theoretically you are basing the party around the theme product, your guests will go buy the products, like them and tell others. Plus they would like you to complete surveys and have your guests complete surveys afterwards about the party and the product(s).

It's always fun to get a box in the mail with free goodies. I've only seen one where it was not totally free and that's the upcoming Singer Sewing one. They want you to give a credit card guarantee on the sewing machine that Joann's will lend you and then if you wish to keep it, there is supposed to be a great discount to purchase it. I've started the process and from the info I saw initially, this one has an extra step. I don't know that I will go through with this one if I get chosen just because I don't know that I want to have the hassle of going to pick up the machine and then returning it. I just bought a cheap machine when mine decided to do something that I may not want to deal with getting repaired and although I do want to find a better one, I am not in the market now.

 

[pyrxtc]

I use the stuff I have at the closest big family function we have, vs having a special "party" for it. I'm not going to take the time to come up with food and favors and all ~just~ for the sake of promoting a product. We'll tryt the samples or play the games or whatever's in the box at grandma's birthday party or the annual summer BBQ or whatever

you know, that isn't the intention of it nor is that the contract you sign when applying for it. There are lots of people who would love to host it as intended and you are taking that party from them. I hope they realize you are not fulfilling your end and stop you from getting any future parties.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

I love hosting House Party parties! I have even had a news crew at one and a representative from the host company at another. We always have a blast!
When you apply, there are the terms you are agreeing to. I never in my wildest dreams would keep the stuff for myself to hand out at my leisure. If the party date doesn't work for you, you are allowed to change it within a certain time-frame they give you.
Then again, we love hosting parties, and our beach house is the "get together house" for all of our friends.

Happy Hosting!