Theme parties are back, and this year the budget is running to cricketing heroes and camel rides, writes Rachel Nickless
Theme parties are back, and this year the budget is running to cricketing heroes and camel rides, writes Rachel Nickless.
A few weeks ago staff and clients arriving at KPMG's Sydney office were greeted by disco rollerskaters with afros bearing tiny disco balls. It's not something you'd expect to see in the foyer of one of Australia's biggest accounting firms, but it was all part of a master plan to get accountants into the swing of the festive season.
The firm's state chairman, Chris Jordan, estimates only about half of staff have dressed up for the Christmas party in the past. He hopes this year's "Studio 54" theme party will inspire more people. He'll be leading the charge, eschewing his Santa beard for an Austin Powers costume.
Around Australia, many companies are trying to cut costs on Christmas parties but some corporate giants are happy to buck the trend with lavish celebrations.
The James Gordon Workshop helps put on special events for companies such as Macquarie Bank, Johnson & Johnson, Westfield and Lend Lease. Creative director James Gordon sees a "little bit of a turn back to theme parties this year".
"Last year and the year before it was a sleek, clubby look . . . This year we are doing a French party, two underwater parties, colour parties and fairytale parties."
His event manager, Tingan Emery, says: "As a general trend, over the past couple of years there's been less of the really big-budget parties - although there are still parties out there that have really good budgets."
Citigroup is one company that goes all out to retain its mantle as the best Christmas party host in the finance industry. At its client party in Sydney recently, 1500 finance types in suits bopped to 1980s band The Angels. The "Rock the Casbah" event, a tribute to the 1982 song by The Clash, involved belly dancers, barrow loads of rose petals, a Middle Eastern feast, a fountain and even a couple of camels.
The bank thought the theme was so good it held the same party the next night for its retail bank staff, minus The Angels.
The investment banking division of Macquarie Bank has timed its client Christmas party in Sydney with the Ashes cricket series, setting up a full cricket pitch and giving clients the chance to face a few overs from retired cricketers Jeff Thomson, Allan Lamb, Allan Border, Kerry O'Keeffe and Stuart MacGill.
In the advertising industry, the most sought-after invitation is for Saatchi & Saatchi's Christmas party in Sydney. This year there's a jungle theme. The agency warns that invitations are not transferable. Another big media bash is the Nine Network party on tonight. Staff will be celebrating with a beach party at network headquarters in Willoughby, Sydney. James Packer has already splashed out on the traditional hampers given to all Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd employees - huge polystyrene boxes filled with puddings, wine, chocolates and other goodies.
Ten years ago law firms were the biggest spenders on Christmas parties, then the insurance companies took over. Now the finance industry throws the biggest bashes, according to David Grant, managing director of David Grant Special Events.
These days most law firms arrange their own staff parties, but they are still lavish affairs at the big firms and celebrity is a recurrent theme.
Clayton Utz will hold its "I want to be a rock star" party in Sydney tonight, having already given staff glow sticks and "backstage pass" invitations.
Corrs Chambers Westgarth is holding a "Bollywood meets Hollywood" party in Brisbane and "Viva Las Vegas" bash in Melbourne. The Corrs theme is "jungle boogie" in Sydney and "under the sea" at the Perth party, which is being held at an aquarium.
Freehills is eschewing a fantasy theme this year, holding a black-tie dinner with a touch of glitter in Melbourne and a more casual "white Christmas" themed party in Sydney.
Accounting firm Ernst &Young is also taking a more conservative approach with a "black tie with a splash of colour" staff dinner.
Consulting firm Accenture is holding an "Accenture Goes to Hollywood" bash at the Melbourne Town Hall while Lion Nathan is living its corporate mission of making the world a more sociable place with a masquerade ball at Paddington Town Hall in Sydney.
Party goers appear to be going to new lengths on the fashion front.
"We are up 20 per cent on last year," says Bosie Crawford, a director of The Wardrobe costume hire in Sydney's Chatswood.
"It's not necessarily that more people are walking in the door but people are going all out, head to toe. They want shoes, wigs and accessories as well."
Retro is still going strong, but while the '60s and '70s have been big over the past five years, there's been an '80s revival, she says.
"Also, Johnny Depp is responsible for a massive resurgence in pirates," she says. "If they're male they want to be him and if they're female they want to be his wench."
Lara Croft outfits and police costumes are also popular.
But don't expect to sail on into a pub or club in such an outfit after the office party, Crawford cautions.
"Bouncers are concerned about weaponry."
Rachel Nickless is a leadership columnist and an online news editor. Based in our Melbourne newsroom, Rachel has worked for The Australian Financial Review for more than 10 years. Connect with Rachel on Twitter.
