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March, 2009

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas
St. Patrick's Day Party - 2 fun games
Irish Drink Ideas For March & St. Patrick's Day
 
March Madness plus all the kewl b-ball links.

There are five Holidays each year that are so special that we like to call them "Major Events." They are: Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween & New Years Eve.

Here are a few early ideas for St. Patrick's Day.  This major party holiday falls on a Tuesday this year so with a little advance promotion, you have an opportunity to crate another weekend night & really cash in on March 17th.

Here's a .gif graphic that you can copy/save & use for a flyer.

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

Decorations up by no later than March 1st. That means that you need to begin to pick out & order those decorations right away.

If your state allows, look for a purveyor tie-in. Obvious choices might be Irish Mist or Old Bushmills. Talk to your local rep.

Since St. Pat's Day falls on Monday this year, the weekend before St. Pats is perfect for a St. Patrick's Day Warm-up Celebration with special Irish drinks & some fun activities.

Plan for a week-long series of parties for special groups & office workers, especially for happy hour & early evening.

If you serve food, how about a "Take A Leprechaun To Lunch" campaign for Tuesday, March 17th.

Consider giving out tickets all week-end prior for a door prize to be awarded on St. Pats Day. Get creative, maybe give a trip to Ireland or the likes.

St. Patrick's Day Party - 2 fun games

Hide The Shillelagh In The Briar Patch - One of our all-time favorite parlor games....

During the evening, DJ/mgr./staff solicit & sign up 4 to 8 teams of guy/gal couples.

Men line up on the edge of the dance floor or open area in the room opposite their female partners. Place them approx. 12-15 ft. apart.

Issue the men a mini-broom which they place between their legs at the broom end with the handle pointing out.

Ladies are each given a roll of toilet paper which they place between their knees.

DJ/mc sez "go" & while some fast Irish fiddle music plays, both team members try to move towards each other without using their hands or letting go of the object between their legs.

Object: Men to hide their broom handle (shillelagh) in the briar patch (partner's toilet paper role). The game can be hilarious. Winners get prizes.

Pin The Hair on Shaquille O'Neil - Over the past couple of years, a number of operators have told us they've had fun with this one. Same as pin the tail on the donkey, except you use a poster of Shaquille O'Neil & either a fake wig or a cut-out wig.

The cut-out wig seems to be the most popular. Allows you to offer several outrageous wig types for contestants who are blindfolded & steered to the poster by the crowd.

The key here is the MC. An outgoing person who is good with a crowd. Could be a local DJ or media personality. With the right person, this can be a very funny bit.

And remember, what ever you do, "MAKE EM SWEAT!!"

 Irish Drink Ideas For March & St. Patrick's Day

1. Four-Leaf Clover - 1oz. - Bushmills Irish Whiskey 2 oz. - Orange Juice 2 oz. - Sweet & Sour splash - Creme de Menthe Shake ingredients then strain into cocktail glass. Float creme de menthe on top & serve. 2. Peppermint Patti - 3/4 oz. - Dr. McGillicuddy's Mentholmint Schnapps 1/2 oz. - Green Creme de Menthe Serve over ice in a rocks glass. 3. Irish Bungi Jumper - 1 1/4 oz. - Irish Mist 1/4 oz. - Spearmint Schnapps Mix, then serve up or on the rocks. 4. Irish Celebration - 2 oz. - Bushmills Whiskey 1/2 oz. - Bols Green Creme de Menthe splash - Champagne Shake ingredients well with ice. Strain into glass then top with champagne.

5. Irish "Green Iguana" Margarita - 1 oz. - Midori Melon Liqueur 1/2 oz. - Tequila 2 oz. - Sweet & Sour Mix Blend & pour into a salt rimmed glass. 6. Irish Spring - 1 1/4 oz. - Bushmills Irish Whiskey 1/2 oz. - Bols Peach Schnapps 1 oz. - Orange Juice 1 oz. - Sweet & Sour Pour ingredients over ice in glass. Stir well, garnish with an orange slice & a cherry. 7. Spearmisty - 1 oz. - Irish Mist 1/4 oz. - Spearmint Schnapps Mix then serve up in a pony glass or on the rocks.

More promo ideas.... We’ve just scratched the surface here. If you want to learn more, I’d like to invite you to read more about "Success Management Systems" by ordering our new book, "Bar/Nightclub Management & Marketing - 101 Ways To Make The Cash Register Ring." It's a  powerful tool for creating traffic & increasing sales using proven marketing, promotions & improved operations techniques. Details here.