What's a hostess do for a potluck? lol

TarHeels&Rebels

I'm president of the women's club at school.  The club does a "meet the new members" potluck brunch every fall and all the other officers picked my house for this year's.

If food, beverages, and plates/utensils/et al are on the potluck list, what on earth do I do with myself? lol

Now that I think of it, I've never actually hosted a potluck.

It's Oct 1, so I'll have out my fall decor, flowers and hot cider on the stove.  Should I be doing something else?  Should I have non-lame ice-breakers planned? (If you say yes, you have to suggest one lol.) I feel silly, but is there really nothing to be done?

jdbmjm

I do think that you are responsible for the table cloths, general decor, appropriate seating and tables (or surfaces) for food, and the cider sounds lovely. I think it would also be nice to have foil or plastic wrap for folks to bring extra items home. Of course, you can also sign up for a food or beverage item as well This is the BEST part of hosting a pot luck!

Since this is a meet the new members thing, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have either name cards or something along those lines. Do they already know each other? Are people pretty friendly with each other? Do you usually play games or have icebreakers? If so, you could have a game of some sort, but I can't think of non lame ones. 

Also, I think of your siggy pic all the time because my entire neighborhood is guilty of crepe murder. You would cry at the tragedy of poor pruning I witness daily. 

6fsn

I guess you clean.  I would probably make some name tags.  Maybe put different fall designs on them and ask people to find the person(s) with their same symbol?  Or have the officers each have a symbol and a fact about your club/school.  The newbies have a sheet to fill out with the symbol and the fact and the person that told them the info.  All the right answers go into a raffle with the prize being a centerpiece?  We did something similar for a Christmas party and it didn't suck.

You might offer to do a more substantial hot item that would be hard for someone to bring.  I was thinking eggs or something.

GatorWedsNole

Is there anyone making sure that there's a good variety of items?  So not everyone shows up with muffins?  Maybe you can be in charge of that.

PPs have good ice breaker suggestions.

I would highly suggest that you plan (even if it's just 10 minutes of planning) a nice playlist for background music.  I've always been of the opinion that music can make or break a party.  Perhaps some Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr -type tracks.  Or maybe some cool jazz.  Or if you feeling especially funky, some Samba /  loungue / Budha Bar music.  HTH.

lsgarver

I think your job is more important on the day-of than in planning.  I agree with pps who suggested decor, music, nametags and ice breakers but on the day of you'll be taking coats, greeting people, introducing them, helping them find a place on the buffet for their dishes, helping them with assembly of some dishes, finding serving dishes or utensils if people forget them, etc.  You'll be the one to initiate games and when to begin eating.

I know you'd normally do all these things but at a buffet, where everyone is contributing a little, you'll really need to be the leader to get everyone organized, more so than if you were doing it all and only had to organize yourself.

huber22

If it were me, I'd probably make sure that there was a "basic" meal-- sandwiches or something, just in case someone flaked. Unless that's all on a list.

 

Otherwise, just be a gracious host with a pretty house. I'm certain you can do that