Plan A Party, And We'll Tell You If You're Introverted Or Extroverted
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Nothing quite separates the introverts from the extroverts like a house party or a crowded night at the bar. While these super intense social settings are what some people live for, they make others shutter at just the thought of it.
Though there are many differences between introverts and extroverts -- which will also vary on a case-by-case basis -- the biggest variance between the two is that extroverts get their energy from others, while social interactions can be extremely draining for an introvert. Therefore, the more people in any one place, the more dramatic the moods of both extroverts and introverts will be affected.
While most people probably know where they land on the spectrum, there are others who have probably never given that aspect of their personality that much thought. So let’s find out together which personality type you lean toward the most by planning a party of your own.
While many introverts avoid parties altogether, throwing your own gives you the chance to finally have things your way, all within an area that you’re totally comfortable in. Meanwhile, you extroverts can throw a get-together that’s just as loud and crazy as you want it to be.
So it’s time to start planning!
Who do you invite?
Easily the best part about throwing your own party is the chance to assemble your own guest list. If you play things right, you shouldn’t have to invite anybody you don’t want to — so long as it won’t cause a rift in your friend group somewhere down the line. So who do you feel comfortable partying with?
What time do you invite your guests to come over?
What time you decide to invite your guests over will large determine the mood of the party. Do you prefer to hang out with your friends during the day so you can still have the night to unwind by yourself? Or do you prefer to wait until it’s dark to hang out, then party all night long?
How would you invite people to your party?
So you’ve got your mind set on throwing a party, now you just need to extend the invite to your intended guest. While opening it up to a Facebook group or groud message might seem like a one-and-done invite, it also means you’ve just opened the floor to other people’s suggestions. So is that a good or bad thing in your experience?
What type of theme would your party have?
With the holiday season upon us, Halloween costume parties and eventual Christmas and ugly sweater parties will largely dominate the next few months. But even if it’s not that time of year, do you still like to attach a theme to your get together? Or do you just like a simple gathering without the gimmicks?
Your boss at work finds out about the party and you know they want an invite. What do you do?
Whether you’re an extrovert or introvert, if this particular scenario plays out in your life, it’s going to be super awkward either way. While some bosses refuse to mingle with their subordinates, others like to think they’re just another one of the guys. And if they get wind of a party at your place, they may desperately want in.
How long do you need to reasonably plan the party?
While some people throw parties every week without batting an eye, for others, it only happens once or twice a year... if that. Since introverts don't exactly lavish the idea of having a bunch of people packed into their personal space, it may take a few extra days to gets plans in order.
Do you tidy up your house/ apartment before guests arrive?
This not only depends on how formal/ casual you want your get together to be, it also depends on whether you’re a neat freak or a total slob during the work week. We’d like to think that everyone would at least do the dishes and stuff your dirty clothes in the closet, but maybe you just don’t care about letting people see the filthy animal that you really are.
You make sure to hide any medicines and prescriptions you might have lying around.
Of course, anytime you go over to somebody's house for the first time, it's hard to not be at least tempted to take a peek in their medicine cabinet. While this is far from an appropriate thing to do, everyone enjoys snooping a little bit. So do you care if people thumb through your things?
What kind of decorations do you put out?
There’s not just tidying up that you need to consider, but there’s also the aspect of making your place look party ready. If you have dimmers on your lights, then you’re already halfway there, but some people really like to go all out for their get-togethers. So do you take a trip to Party City, or simply dig out some makeshift party supplies that you had in the closet?
Did you let your neighbors know you’re throwing a party?
This facet not only depends on whether or not you have neighbors who will hear your party, but also whether or not you care what your neighbors think of you. Maybe you’re in an ongoing battle with them and would cherish the opportunity to keep them up all night. Or maybe you’re on great terms and they already made it onto your guest list.
What song would you play first to set the mood of the party?
There’s no such thing as a party without music. And even if you decided to skip over cleaning and decorating your apartment, you’ll want to compile a party playlist on your phone or ipod before guests arrive. Music will be the entire backdrop of your get together. It can give guests a reason to dance, sing along, or, at the very least, the music will serve as a conversation starter.
How would you greet your guest at the door?
The doorbell rings, the guests have arrived, and now it’s your time to set the mood for the party that follows. If you’ve only invited your closest friends then you probably don’t have to do anything aside from unlock the door. But if you have some new guests over who haven’t been to your place before, then there are some expectations that should be met.
What kind of beer would you serve?
Unless your party is BYOB — which is never a bad idea as far as your wallet is concerned — you’ll want to provide your guests with a wide variety of different drinks, including soda, wine, liquor, and, of course, beer. While you’ll probably end up picking up a few different beers, which one of these brands would be your go-to?
Your friend wants to invite over a few people that you’ve never met before. How do you respond?
Guests who want to bring over their best friend or significant other is an inevitable occurrence. And if you already know the person, then deciding yay or nay won’t be as hard as if you’ve never met them before. Maybe you’re one of those people who can always roll with the punches. Or maybe your someone who will be totally thrown off by another person’s unexpected energy.
What’s you favorite hard liquor?
For whatever reason, most people have extremely strong opinions and theories revolving around hard liquor. People will claim that one makes them happy, while another makes them sad. Or that one gives them fuel to party all night long, while the next puts one them out cold. While there may be some truths to these theories, it usually comes down to which one you think tastes the best.
What artist/ band would be the most prevalent on your party play list?
While it might be odd to play the same artists over and over again — after all, you’re trying to cater to the needs of your various guests — it’s inevitable that your party playlist will also be a reflection of your own interests. So which one of these bands or musicians do you like to listen to the most in a social setting?
What type of drinking game would you offer to play?
Few things can get a party off to a great start as well as a drinking game, and these days, it seems like there’s a new one being made up every day. But for this quiz, will stick to a few of the old school games that never seem to go out of style. So which one would you offer to play with your guests?
What type of mixed drink do you know how to make the best?
Unless your a bartender, chances are that there are only a handful of drinks that you successfully know how to mix without looking the recipe up on your phone first. By default, these will usually be your favorite cocktails as well. So if you’re offering to mix a cocktail for your guests, which beverage would be at the top of your menu?
What type of board/ card game would you offer to play?
As opposed to playing a drinking game, there’s always the option to play a standard board or card game while you drink. While some people may find the idea of a board game at a party awkward, for those that are introverted, adding some structure to the party and conversation will give them a great deal of relief.
What kind of snacks do you have?
But wait! You can’t forget the snack! Not only is drinking on an empty stomach a terrible idea, but you also need to take into account that plenty of people don’t like to drink. Either way, you should give your guests something to munch on. So do you simply take a trip to the nearest gas station to pick up some snacks? Or do you throw on your apron and whip up something special?
What would your party’s main course be?
Unless you're having a cook out or something of the like, it's usually fine to just have beverages and an area of snacks at your party. But if you really want to go above and beyond, you could make (or order) your guest an entire meal. In this case, would you stick with something easy, or pull out all the stops?
Would you get totally wasted at your own party?
Your guests have all arrived and the party is in full swing. Everyone is loosened up and had their fair share of snacks and drinks. You can breathe a sigh of relief and relax for once. The party is a success. But now what do you do from here? Continue to cater to your guests’ needs? Or have yourself a good time? That’s what this whole throwing a party thing was for anyway, right?
You spend the party wondering if your guests are having a good time, as opposed to having one yourself.
If you're an extrovert, you may not even get this question at all. But this may literally be the entire life story of some introverts, who spend so much time wondering how other people are feeling, that they totally forget how to relax, which goes to explain why they often enjoy some much needed alone time at least once every day.
What do you do if fewer guests than expected show up?
They say that you should always over invite guests, since only about 70 to 80% of people will show up anyway. But let's say you invited the perfect amount and only half of them ended up making it. Now, the pressure could be on for you to keep people entertained the entire night. Is this a total nightmare to you? Or do you prefer to do something that’s lower maintenance anyway, like play a game or watch a movie?
What do you do if way more guests than expected show up?
For some people, what’s even worse than having fewer guests show up, is having way too many people crammed into your house or apartment. Drinks and snacks can begin to run low fast. Not to mention that the noise is growing increasingly loud and you're beginning to worry that your neighbors will complain. Or are you someone that doesn’t sweat it? After all, it’s only one night and parties are supposed to get a little out of control.
What do you do when the party is in full swing?
This need not apply to only parties you throw, but how you act in social engagements in general. While some people prefer to hunker down with a few close friends and engage in some complex and thought-provoking conversations about their place in the universe, others are happy with yelling small talk over blaring music before continuing on to the next group of guests.
How would you deal with a belligerently intoxicated guest?
Hopefully, everyone at your party turns out to be as cool as you are. But there’s always the very real possibility that you’ll end up with someone you turns into an unfiltered jerk after a few drinks. With the party being at your place, people may be looking to you to set them straight. But do you have it in you?
One of your guests looks like they drank too much and are about to puke. What do you do?
Hopefully, you’ve only invited people that can handle their liquor. But someone who gets in a bit over their heads is also an inevitable event, and being able to recognize this sooner rather than later can save you a lot of trouble. So do you insist on being the caretaker, or do you pawn them off on someone else so long as they don’t puke on any of your belongings?
Everyone is telling funny stories from their week, what do you do?
Whosever funniest is bound to be the life of the party, and while having a couple of drinks is bound to relax an introvert a little bit, that still doesn’t mean they’re prepared to take center stage and try to tell a funny anecdote. In fact, not totally having your wits about you may end up making you even more nervous when the spotlight is on you.
Someone shows up that wasn’t invited. How do you react?
Whether you’re an extrovert or introvert, this scenario is never ideal. After all, you probably invited everyone that you actually wanted to hang out. But somehow, word has gotten around and there’s an uninvited guest standing on your stoop. So do you suck it up and invite them inside, or stick to your original guest list and tell them to get lost?
Would you let people crash at your place for the night?
Having people over for a planned get together is one thing, but letting them crash in your guest room or on the couch is another story entirely. Now, a one-night event has turned into a two-day ordeal, and you may even have to let the guest shower in the morning before offering them breakfast. So is this cool with you, or do you usher them out with the rest of the guests?
Your crush asks you to dance, how do you respond?
If you’re going to throw a killer party, it would be a total waste not to invite the girl or guy you’ve been pining over. This could be the perfect opportunity to make something happen with everybody kicking back and unwinding together. But what if your crushes first idea of getting closer involves dancing?
You return to your room and hear two guests going at it in your bed. What do you do?
You run to your room to grab that back up bottle of booze that you had stashed under your mattress, only to hear two of your party guests going at it. You could feel anything from totally disgust, to feeling as though your party has been a success. But either way, you know you're at the very least washing all of your bedding come morning.
What do you do when the party is winding down?
Hopefully, the party was a success and your guests are beginning to show themselves to the door after a night well spent. Meanwhile, a few people are continuing to keep the party going. So are you cool with winding down with the stragglers, or would you prefer for everyone to leave at once so you can do some cleaning up in peace before you pass out.
How do you feel after the party is over?
They say one of the main differences between extroverts and introverts is that while extroverts get energy from social interactions, introverts are totally drained by interacting with large groups of people, and need some alone time to recharge. So how would you feel after your party is said and done with?
