3 Apps to Help You Plan a Super-Fun Office Holiday PartyThese iPhone and iPad apps can assist you in organizing the perfect workplace party this holiday season.

ByKim Lachance Shandrow

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

imore.com

As we head into the New Year, you might consider saying "thanks" to your employees by hosting an office holiday party. And, understandably, you'd want this party to be super fun, not a super dud. But throwing an unforgettable workplace bash isn't always easy.

Luckily there are plenty of nifty party-planningappsthat can help take the stress out of orchestrating a killer holiday soirée -- the kind that keeps your hard-working staff happy and you off the Naughty Boss List.

Here are three smart apps to keep up your Secret Santa sleeve to help you plan and host the spectacular yuletide shindig your team deserves:

1. Party Monster - Queueing DJ
One of the most notorious office party downers is playing lame, outdated music. Or worse, violating everyone's eardrums with elevator "Musak." Do your guests a solid and skip both with a little help from Party Monster.

The slick, easy-to-use app lets you play DJ, minus the clunky equipment and cheesy antics. Use it to select which tracks -- from your existing and hopefully exceedingly cool iTunes purchases -- to play when.

Steer clear of awkward playlist pauses and shuffle shame-inspiring songs with an array of customizable options. Then set it and forget it while you mingle. Bonus: The app refuses to play Nickelback.

Party Monster - Queueing DJcosts $1.99 and is available for iPhone and iPad.

2. Pro Party Planner
This all-in-one taskmaster app helps you conveniently organize all aspects of your event from beginning to end, complete with reminders. Pro Party Planner covers everything on your party-planning list, including: invitations, menus, budgets, seating charts (but who needs those?), entertainment, decorations, favors, shopping, guest lists and more.

Theaugmented reality-enabled app's party timeline feature helps keep you on-track and on-task through every step. It even reminds you when it's time to pick up ice to stash those all-important beverages in.

You can also SMS message your guests with important information, like driving directions and last-minute changes. Bonus: Pro Party Planner plays nicely with Google Docs, Excel and Facebook.

Pro Party Plannercosts $4.99 and is available for iPhone and iPad.

3. Speakeasy Cocktails: Learn From the Modern Mixologists
没有服务tipsy-good混合的鸡尾酒office holiday party can be a real buzz kill. Mix, stir and swizzle up some classy cocktails using step-by-step video and infographic instructions from the Speakeasy Cocktails app.

Choose from more than 200 interactive drink concoctions, including 100 original cocktails from some of the world's top bartending pros. Tap on ingredients, tools and techniques throughout the graphics-loaded ebook-style app to soak up a massive collection of informative popup images, definitions and how-to instructions.
You'll be stirring up some liquid networking courage for your party guests in no time. Or, when all else fails, spike the nog. You can't go wrong.

Speakeasy Cocktailscosts $4.99 and is available for iPhone and iPad.

Kim Lachance Shandrow

Former West Coast Editor

Kim Lachance Shandrow is the former West Coast editor at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was a commerce columnist atLos Angeles CityBeat,a news producer at MSNBC and KNBC in Los Angeles and a frequent contributor to theLos Angeles Times. She has also written forGovernment Technologymagazine,LA Yogamagazine, theLowell Sunnewspaper, HealthCentral.com, PsychCentral.com and the former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Coop. Follow her on Twitter at@Lashandrow. You can also follow her on Facebookhere.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

'No Question, We Probably Went Too Far': Delta Airlines CEO Backtracks on Sweeping Changes to SkyMiles Accounts, Sky Club Access

The unpopular changes set to roll out in 2025 were announced earlier this month.

Business News

Jeff Bezos Lost $5 Billion in 1 Day After Amazon FTC Lawsuit News

The lawsuit accuses Amazon of engaging in anticompetitive practices, which has led to a sharp decline in the company's stock value and a substantial reduction in Bezos's net worth.

Business News

Why Barbara Corcoran Chose Her Business Partner After Looking Inside Her Purse: 'Best Hire I Ever Made'

Esther Kaplan served as President of the Corcoran Group until 2000.

Growing a Business

So Your Company Is Talking About Transformation — But Is It Ready? Here's How To Tell.

Transformation is one of a company's many choices — but if a team opts to do it, they have to be sure the business is ready, willing and able.

Business News

凯蒂·佩里是Fighting the Founder of 1-800-Flowers for a $15 Million California Mansion He Doesn't Want to Sell Her

The eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom estate sits on nearly nine acres in the Santa Ynez foothills in Montecito.