Condo communities need resident involvement to thrive. As a hard-working property manager, or Board member, you can create thriving condo communities with a few memorable resident events. A condo barbecue presents a wonderful opportunity to get to know the residents living in your condo community, and for them to form lasting relationships with each other. We have compiled some fun ways to spice up your next condo barbecue so it’s truly an unforgettable experience.
Hire Some Entertainment
Keep residents (especially the children) interested with some entertaining guests. Otherwise, the inclination to grab their food and go back to their suites will be too compelling. Hire a professional clown, or an illusionist. Illusionists can entertain guests by performing magic tricks or effects that seem supernatural to the captivated audience. This individual can either do a full performance, or stand near the food table, entertaining residents as they grab their lunch. Another option is to have a face-painter on hand, who can transform your child into a realistic-looking zombie, or princess.
Have a Storyteller Spin a Tale
A good story isn’t just for chilly nights by the campfire. Hire a professional storyteller to entertain condo residents with a good yarn. Storytelling is truly an art. A professional storyteller will spin a tale from memory, rather than simply reading from a book. This individual will engage the audience in a unique way, using body language, actions and animated voices.
Get into Costume
Why not step things up a notch and make it a themed barbecue with costumes! For example, create a Hawaiian theme and invite residents to sport Hawaiian shirts and hula dresses. A prize for Best Costume can encourage residents to participate in the fun. Your cuisine can match your theme of choice. The sky’s the limit.
Make it a Pool Party
If your condo has an outdoor pool, kick things up a notch by making the event a pool party/barbecue. Residents can feel free to swim after grabbing a bite to eat. This will encourage them to stay at the event a little longer.
Organize a Cup-Stacking (Speed Stacking) Challenge
Cup-stacking is a sport that involves stacking nine or 12 specially designed cups in pre-determined sequences as fast as you can. The cups are specially designed to allow for faster times. Participants of sport stacking stack cups in specific sequences. Sequences are usually pyramids of three, six, or 10 cups. Players compete against the clock or another player. Cup-stacking is popular in schools because it helps improve hand-eye coordination and reaction time. Check our www.amazon.ca for good deals on purchasing cup-stacking kits for your next condo barbecue.
Plan a Condo Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts appeal to all ages. Encourage residents to participate in a scavenger hunt that will involve searching for clues outside, as well as inside the common elements of the condo. Here’s a link to a very creative scavenger hunt used by a condo building that involved yellow rubber ducks.
Planning a successful and fun community event is a great way to bring residents together. Canadian Design & Construction Inc. knows the importance of having a thriving and strong condo community. CDC is a member in Good Standing of ACMO (Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario and CCI (Canadian Condominium Institute). Our professionals provide a range of services for condo common areas and units. For more information, please see our website at www.cdcpro.ca.
By Lisa Marie Brennan