Extravagant Holiday Office Parties Of Yesteryear

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?

 
daltronator:
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?

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?

------------ I'm making it up as I go along.
 

As is usual, the parties carry on, but the amount the MDs Ds etc... have to pay in increases.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

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.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

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.

Please don't quote Patrick Bateman.
 
DBCooper:

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.

 
youngblood90:

My firm hosts a very nice private party every year

What? Yours aren't open to the public? losers!
"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

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.

 

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.

 

Macquarie is no longer hiring an island in Sydney harbour and having the Foo Fighters play...

You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.
 
nda:

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

speed boost blaze
 

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.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne
 

Arrrrgh! So hungover! Got clapped when i walked onto the floor late. This is going to be a crap day. Good paarday, though.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

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