It is that time of year when home parties are at their peek.
Kids are back in school and xmas is fast approaching.
We can shop for everything from cosmetics,candles,plasticware,and on to a ever growing list of choices.
As fun as the parties can be,You yourself may be finding that you simpley do not have the time to either attend or host these parties.
This is an idea I kep returning to.
A "On-Line Party"
Your co. would invite site visitors to host a on-line party,following much the same format as an in home party.
Your hostess would email out invitations to just about everybody in her address book.(Benifet) A lot more guests there than what would be able to attend her in home party.

Specialize the party,
A Rainmaker Spa party to pamper Sue for her wedding day,(or night)?
A Rainmaker baby shower to pamper Helen?
A Housewarming party for Dave and June?
A Online Stag Party for Mark? Does your site have music,books,photo albums?
Cheese,Wine?

"Guests" visit your site and shop,
I would show a great picture of what the hostess would recieve!
A code or your hostesse's phone number could be entered on the order page to track hostess sales awards.
You deliver to where specified, Directley to the "Guest of Honour"
Can you send it GiftWrapped?
Can you send a card (your Co. Logo on the front of course),to the "Guest"

You could invite shoppers to host a party of their own when at your site.
I know many of my family and friens would be able to attend my on-line party while on their lunch break at work.

I would like to hear your feedback on this.
Direct marketing is huge.(Avon is one of the highest sellers of cosmetics in the world.)
This just opens up a little niche and takes it one step further.
regards,
Tanna

Are you referring to a party online where everyone would sit at their computers at the same time and ... um ... party?

I think that would be pretty sad. A party is all about humans getting together and interacting in a "real" environment. It is where you enjoy the atmosphere, each other's companies, food and drink. You would definitely miss a lot of that in an "online" environment.

I think participating in forums is very fun. There is a lot of interaction with other people on a day to day basis. You also meet and make new friends. But nothing beats meeting the people you know online in a real word environment. This is really why many of us search engine marketers attend the Search Engine Strategies conferences hosted by Jupiter Media. We are able to see in person the people we know online and hang out and party with them! That is the best part of the entire conference.

So if you are asking if online parties would ever work, I wouldn't think so. To much of the elements that "real" parties have would be lost.

Hello David,
You have some very good points,Thank you.

"Are you referring to a party online where everyone would sit at their computers at the same time and ... um ... party?"

No,the on-line "party" would be an alternative.
They would shop at their conveniance for a gift,not all at the same time.

I agree the human touch is missing if you compare it to an actual get together,
I am thinking in the area that hostess gifts are the #1 motivate women hold these parties,and it may be a small way to tap into this market.
Regards,
Tanna

While I agree with David that the idea of "partying" online seems a little solitary, the idea you propose could be the germ of a very interesting activity.

Live web events are going to be enormous once broadband is more broadly accepted, and gets even faster and more available.

Most live web events I have participated in are fast-paced and very active. There are lots of people willing to sit and chat or co-browse-with-docent for the right topic, and I believe people are getting more used to the idea of "visiting" with friends in a text environment, like chatting or instant messenging.

The idea to use a "room" or "house" online, to invite people to join at a particular time for a predetermined length of time, to view products, ask questions, win prizes, connect with others who share a similar interest, tap into a previously unknown resource, and to make the proceedings available for future visitors to participate in in a limited way are all doable now, only requiring the forum, the programming, the promotion and the human host to make them (virtually) real.

MUDs (multi user dimensions/dungeons) have been popular with various subsets of the 'Net public long before there was a World Wide Web, and continue to be populated by a robust set of humans. Look at the online gaming sites for examples of people willing to interact with others in real-time online.

It's a bit depressing, but could add a valuable sales edge in many industries, particularly the neighborhood-based businesses like Mary Kay, Avon, etc. I'll bet a salesperson could even get substantial development support for an idea like this from the right distributor.

Nice and imaginative, Tanna. :)

Hello James,
Thank You,
I think you have seen the context of the post.
I think this is something that could work and attract a niche.
What do you think if someone ventured out by themselves and not depend on the backing of a bigger name like Mary Kay or Avon?
I think these Companys will put this together on their own soon enough without needing me or ? for a middle man.
Where you might have the edge is that these bigger companies would not leave their comfort zone of co. image,profile etc. Yawn.
I think a individual however may be able to offer a faster pace and a bit more of an exciting format.
What if a site put up it's own "On-line Show"
Store fronts could be put up on the site for different stores.
These would be Affiliate links,
You would then have the wonderful edge to choose your own products.
You would package this so your inventory complimented each store right through.
For different showers or parties you would have different themes a hostess could choose from.
Up beat and fast for a bridal shower for a 22 year old,
Soft, gentle for a baby shower.(I can hear Celine's new cd Miricale playing in the background with some of Anne Geddes photos on the screen.)
* Beautiful book if anyone is thinking of picking up a copy.*
Anyone interested in working on a new site with me?
I can do the imagination/idea part if someone is able to hold the tech. end of things!

James I think your word "imaginative" is important.

Who would have though that over 2 million people would sit and watch who would be the last Survivour on an island?
Can you imagine that!
Regards,
Tanna

Hi Tanna,

(I'm still empathising with David about the "down"-side of this idea. For the record. ;) )

I'm a musician, in addition to being an Internet demi-god ( :eek: ), and as a performing artist, the dream of live web events is terribly tantalizing to me. Live theatrical performances performed by actors spread across tiny theaters around the world, bands rocking out with members on stages in three cities, distance learning, and hundreds of other activities have captured my imagination.

I personally believe that ANY creative endeavor can be executed by ANY driven individual.

Sure, the programming for your idea can be modularized and packaged using existing resources. But who rules the road? How far will it go?

How far ... into the d a r k s i i d e ... ? :crackwhip

I'm not a big fan of proprietary tool development, at this point in my life, but let's find a forum (perhaps here?) to brainstorm and put some pieces together.

The usefulness of the content used in the application of the programming is what commands value. The tool should be available to all.

(We gotta try to refocus the sensibility of our commercial sector ... )

Gotta run!

Thanks Jason,
I think I will just add this,
You may not be far off in your foresight.
The #1 site on the Web right now and this past week,
Atom Films
"Acuires exclusive rights to short films,animations and didgital media and secures distubution via television networks,airlines,video,the internet and broadband service."

Their weekly traffic rank is 3,944
^5000 percent.
Now that's entertainment.

Too late to bother going to bed now,
Think I'll go on-line and watch a broadway Play.

Thanks again for adding some good points!
Tanna