Given the need for banks to clench up that sphincter tighter than normal this year, most big holiday office parties have been axed.
Business Sheet put together a delightful slideshow of some of the most lavish displays of corporate opulence from the past in holiday office party format:
http://businesssheet.alleyinsider.com/2008/12/bah-humbug-cancelled-corp…
Goldman's party at the BLVD nightclub looked hot. You know Lloyd was there to get down...
Anyone out there still have a sick holiday office party scheduled for this year? I know, we should probably all just be thankful we're at least employed these days, but how else are we going to get drunk and make some bad decisions with that hottie back office chick in front of everyone we work with?
Cipriani
I guess many people would be upset if bonuses are sacrified but Christmas parties not.
News, interviews, advice, forum: http://www.ibankee.com
How about during happy hour? Or during your last day?
We're about to enter a Great Depression. Don't you want a president who's already dressed for it?
Ah, the good old days. I know AQR Capital used to have their annual holiday party at Nobu 57, where all the quants would get hammered on sake and japanese beer. And back in 2006 DE Shaw brought in a cirque du soleil troupe to perform.
I think the BB banks had separate parties for each of their divisions.
Do any companies still throw a good Xmas party? (Originally Posted: 12/10/2013)
My firm used to throw a lavish black tie Xmas party at the Ritz until the recession hit. The lavish excess was toned down to individual groups hosting dinners which has been further diluted into a quick mid-December lunch. Are there any decently sized firms that still host reputable Xmas parties.
I feel like a good Xmas party goes a long way for employee morale...
As is usual, the parties carry on, but the amount the MDs Ds etc... have to pay in increases.
We have a pretty awesome one every year.
Ours have been good since I've been working.
I have friends that work at top prop shops though... now THOSE are Christmas parties.
I've had some pretty good ones. This year's a buyout of a karaoke bar. Drinks and food and giveaways. Not too shabby for a tiny firm.
Never worked anywhere with an Xmas party.
Never worked anywhere that hasn't hosted one. Currently you have to be a social club member, but it's like 10 bucks a month to join. Best party of the year...
Still going strong here. I think the tapering back that happened after the recession was much more about image than the actual expense. Much more so if you were at one of the TBTF firms.
I work for a publicly traded asset manager which probably has something to do with cutting back. The Christmas party passage in "Monkey Business" should be the benchmark for every holiday party on wall st.
My firm hosts a very nice private party every year
Attending my first this week. Probably won't be to exciting..
Can't complain about mine. Open bar and dinner at a nice venue...I'll take it
Started my career in 2002 - no party just town halls for a couple of years. By the time I left they brought them back and smaller teams were expensing the after party at a bar, which is where the magic will happen (cheating, hooking up, puking, blacking out and losing your coat,keys,bag).
Moved to a bank and had something great up until 2009 then it was scaled back and only contained members of my group.
Got laid off and the new place Im at (for the moment) is nothing but a small free lunch next week. doubt it will even be boozy.
4 Seasons, open bar, bands, etc
BB - drinks and hors d'oeuvres paid for mostly by MDs. It was lame as fuhhhhh last year though
My bank hosts a pretty nice holiday party at a great venue, but it doesn't compare to some buddies working on the buyside. Renting out top restaurants, bands, girls, afterparties, etc.
My firm throws a huge firmwide Christmas party each year. e.g. "firmwide" as in literally every single employee of the firm working in New York and New Jersey is invited including mailroom boys, WP people and even security guards. Due to the sheer number of people, we are usually limited to really big venues that can accomodate that many people (e.g. hotel ballrooms, etc.)
Food is typical buffet fare with full open bar. Dance floor in the middle center of the venue with DJ playing Billboard Top 50 and the like.
Mine was pretty decent, pretty good dinner at the local Marriott with an open bar which was surprisingly well equipped with a nice selection of single malts which I sampled extensively. The best part was that anybody senior enough to prompt people to hold back on their drinking, hooking up, etc. was gone by 10pm so the remaining 5-7 hours were a blast. Of course this was Big 4, so it can't really compare to the higher echelons of the finance industry.
I've heard the best christmas parties are at Flashdancers, etc.
Black tie at the Ritz. "Why turn down?"
We're not having one this year. Been told to hold dept outings instead.
Rainbow Room bitches.
Macquarie is no longer hiring an island in Sydney harbour and having the Foo Fighters play...
Best holiday party i've been to is EA in SF. The tech firms have all the fun now...
Had a blast last year free food,booz, and dancing...blacked out and woke up face down on my couch surrounded by french fries.
small free lunch next week
Department luncheon at a large country club. Beer and wine, terrible food selection. Best part was that it was from 12-2 and they told everyone to go home afterwards.
My buddy at a reputable NYC MM PE shop had dinner and drinks at Daniel.
Yes.
My firm this year rented out a venue. Could be good, but I heard that last year the alcohol sucked (though it's still free, so yeah, let's say that maybe there is in the end something like a free lunch).
you pay w/ the hangover/ridicule of your co-workers the next day
I just went to the Christmas lunch for the company I just sold out of. Granted this is a mfg company, so its an employee lunch. I gave a bonus to every one at the company out of my own pocket. I've always done this, lets the people know that someone cares.
However, when I was working at my HF job we had quite a big event. Last Christmas party the partners rented a plane and flew everyone to Vegas for a night. The problem is that in many of the big firms the logistics in doing huge parties is enormous. It takes up a lot of time not just money.
Arrrrgh! So hungover! Got clapped when i walked onto the floor late. This is going to be a crap day. Good paarday, though.
Holiday parties - 2010 (Originally Posted: 12/17/2010)
Are holiday parties getting back to pre-recession levels of extravagance? Or are you finding $20 Dave and Buster's gift cards and bus fare on your desks?
we have ours at the same shitty spot we have had it every year : lol. back in the good ol days we had it at the waldorf astoria in the grand ballroom ABOVE goldman sach's festivities on saturdays
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