Alvin Kissoon brings the entertainment indoors this season and describes some bright ideas for having fun with friends at home
With the weather getting colder, and Christmas approaching, there are plenty of shows and events to attract our hard-earned money. However, with a chill in the air there are certainly advantages of staying in. There are, of course, the standard ideas of a poker night, dinner party or game night. And here's a bit more inspiration.
Murder mystery party
The SIAS event in May had a murder mystery theme, and there are many of these games on the market. The concept is that guests arrive in character at a dinner party, where a murder occurs. The aim is to discover 'whodunit', and it's a great way to experience theatre at home. The night usually revolves around an event (commonly a dinner). Interaction is needed to come up with your conclusion of who is the murderer, so it is very social. It's pretty easy to set up and doesn't require much in the way of decoration. It's also very satisfying to have guessed the murderer correctly at the end.
Race night
This is like a night at the horses or dogs, but at home. You will need to purchase a DVD with pre-recorded races. Each player starts with a certain amount of money and bets on a certain number of races. There could be a form book and odds. It certainly brings out the analytical side. One thing I will guarantee is that on the final race you will be shouting at the screen to see whether that last-minute strategy paid off. This is also a great idea for a work fundraising event - just turn the betting element into a tote and take a proportion for your chosen charity.
Karaoke or dance night
This is certainly the night which benefits most (or least, depending on your opinion) from alcohol. I'm sure many of you have played the likes of SingStar or Dance Central on games consoles. On the plus side, it's less embarrassing than throwing shapes at a club or jumping on stage. It's certainly a good way to bring out the inner pop star.
Dessert wars
The concept here is simple: everyone brings a dessert to a party. Everyone tries each of them and votes on the best. However, I have to give a warning here - this could, and is likely to be, more competitive than it first appears and can result in tactical voting. But it's ultimately great fun, and leads to lots of pudding.
There is a general perception that actuaries are not creative. However, when I've spoken to people they come up with amazingly unique and exciting ideas. A new one to me is 'turn up in whatever fancy dress you want, the theme will be decided once we see what everyone's wearing'.
I hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy New Year.