The party is in full swing. You look about. You move among your guests-conversation is lively; no one looks bored or cross. You leave things just as they are, even if you had made other plans. When you are as practiced as anyone can be at inviting the right guests, you can always let the party run itself. But before you're quite perfect as a party-giver, you will have parties about whose outcome you are not so sure. Sometimes they will surprise you happily by going like a breeze. In that case, you drop all the plans you had made in the event of a dull party and become part of it, attending only to a few mechanical duties-emptying ash trays, supplying drinks and food. You can enjoy your own party to the utmost.

don't push happy guests around
Sometimes after dinner all the guests will have settled contentedly into a conversation and it may look as though you can relax.

Unexpectedly, conversation seems to flag, and people look restless. This is the time for change by introducing either a new subject of con­versation or games. If you have gathered together a group of people who like to play games-and you have discovered one or two new ones in Party Games you think they'd enjoy-this is the time to suggest them.

sing for their supper?
Some of your friends or acquaintances may be professional enter­tainers, and it's always a delicate question whether or not to ask them to entertain at your party.

If an entertainer is a close friend, you'll know or ask his preference. Otherwise, the best principle is never to ask for such entertainment. By what right could you make such a request? You have surely not invited him to exploit him. Food and drink at your house are not pay­ment, and you do not barter your hospitality for the use of his talents. You cannot ask more of him than of any other guest, unless he offers. You are safest in presuming that any professional pianists, singers, magicians, would literally rather not eat than have to sing for their supper.

there are exceptions
There are, however, professionals who like to perform at parties for friends and acquaintances. You won't have to ask them; they can't help it. Nevertheless, it's much better to let them offer than to urge or force them to perform. You will prevent your guests from being too pressing by not coaxing the person yourself.

Sometimes a guest will turn out to be a highly-talented amateur. He can make a party, lie grateful when this happens at one of your parties, but don't expect either an amateur or a professional to enter­tain except in his own way, in his own time.