Howcast

How to Visit a Playboy Club

Howcast — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:54:51 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Find a club Find a club you’d like to visit. Locations include Las Vegas, Cancun, London, and Macau, with additional clubs planned for other international hot spots.
Step 2: Become a member If money is no object, join the Playboy Club in London. Unlike most of the other locations, which welcome everyone, London is a members-only nightclub, making it more exclusive.
TIP: You can also gain entrance as the guest of a member.
Step 3: Dress nicely Dress well. Many Playboy Clubs do not allow sneakers or T-shirts. Jeans may be OK, as long as they’re not ripped. Check ahead with the particular club you’re visiting for its dress code so there are no surprises at the door.
Step 4: Have cash Bring lots of cash or a credit card: Unless you’re at a members-only club, there’s a fairly hefty cover charge, and drink prices are steep as well.
Step 5: Show some respect Be respectful of the Playboy Bunnies: Touching one can get you escorted to the nearest exit. In some Playboy Clubs, you’re not even allowed to photograph a Bunny.
Step 6: Don’t be intimidated If you’re a woman, no need to feel out of place visiting a Playboy Club — the modern versions are much more like inclusive nightclubs than exclusive men’s clubs. Have fun!
FACT: 1,500 women applied for 25 Bunny spots at the Playboy Club in Cancun.

You Will Need

Money Proper
Proper attire
Respect

How to Turn Heads at Your High School Reunion

Howcast — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:01:50 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Go to fitness boot camp Sign up for a boot camp-style gym program that whips people into shape in a short amount of time. If you don’t have one in your area, hire a personal trainer.
TIP: Book yourself a slimming body wrap the day before the event. The results are temporary, but it can take double-digit inches off your figure.
Step 2: Order business cards Order business cards, even if you’re out of work; you can always describe yourself as a “consultant.” No one needs to know you have no clients.
Step 3: Be a spin doctor If there’s some area of your life you’re embarrassed about, think about how you can put a positive spin on it so you’ll be prepared for questions.
Step 4: Wear a well-fitting outfit Wear a well-fitting outfit; have it tailored if needed. Don’t underestimate the body-flattering capabilities of a custom fit.
TIP: Ladies, get fitted for a new bra.
Step 5: Take a trip Take a trip beforehand so that when people ask what you’ve been up to, you can say something like, “Actually, I just got back from the Seychelles.” Can’t afford a trip? Study up on a place until even you believe that you’ve been there.
TIP: Pick a remote place that your classmates are unlikely to have visited
Step 6: Hold your head high Enter the room with your head held high, and a smile on your face. Then head straight for – no, not the bar – someone standing alone. A confident attitude and friendly demeanor will impress your classmates more than anything else.
FACT: A survey found that over 70 percent of adults who attended a high school reunion changed their look in some way beforehand.

You Will Need

Fitness boot camp
Business cards
Well-tailored outfit
A trip
Confidence
Friendliness
A slimming body wrap (optional)

How To Turn Down an Invitation When You Don’t Have a Good Excuse

Howcast — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:46:10 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Be truthful If you’re dealing with a close friend, be truthful. If you don’t want to go, say you don’t want to go. A good friend will understand.
Step 2: Don’t offer an excuse If the asker is not a close friend, say thank you for the invitation. Then, simply say you cannot attend, without offering an excuse.
TIP: Don’t use a lie as an excuse. Lies lead to more lies, and, if you get caught, it can lead to embarrassment.
Step 3: Stand firm If the inviter asks why you can’t attend, simply answer that you’re not free that day. It’s not a lie, but it should satisfy their question.
Step 4: Show empathy Express how you are sorry about missing out on the event.
Step 5: Plan another engagement Explain how you are excited to see them at a different event, or make other plans for just the two of you.
FACT: When Emily Post died in 1960, her book, Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage, was in its 89th printing.

You Will Need

Manners
A prior engagement
Future plans

How to Party with Celebrities

Howcast — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:32:26 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Be cool Be cool. As US Weekly likes to say, ‘celebrities are just like us!’ Wealthier, prettier, and more popular, to be sure, but human beings nonetheless. So refrain from gawking, giggling, staring, stalking, whispering, pointing, and frantic texting.
Step 2: Put the camera phone away Put the camera phone away. Flashing a camera in someone’s face is not the way to win friends.
TIP: For Pete’s sake, don’t cry. You won’t just look silly—you’ll look unstable.
Step 3: Stay away from clichés Stay away from clichés like, ‘I’m your biggest fan,’ ‘I love your movies,’ and ‘You’re my idol.’ Unless you want to be completely unoriginal.
Step 4: Don’t talk business Keep the conversation off Hollywood. Don’t blather on about your screenplay, ask for advice about breaking into the business, or—God forbid—launch into a Hamlet monologue.
Step 5: Stay sober Drink in moderation. Nothing is less attractive than a drunken nobody falling down stairs and yelling obscenities at inanimate objects. Nothing—except for a drunken nobody being forcibly removed by club security.
Step 6: Just say no Just say no to D-list celebrities. If you find yourself tempted by former child actors or WWE personalities, you’ve no doubt ignored the previous step, and have had too much to drink. Go home now—or hate yourself in the morning.
FACT: Former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Luke Perry reportedly met his ex-wife, Minnie, when she mailed him her bra.

You Will Need

Self-restraint
Composure
Discriminating taste

How to Dress Properly According to the Invitation

Howcast — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:06:08 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Put on your tails If the invitation says “white tie,” men should wear a black tailcoat with a single stripe of satin or braid; a white pique wing-collared shirt with stiff front; a white vest, white bow tie, and white or gray gloves; and black patent leather shoes and black socks. Ladies should wear a floor-length evening gown.
TIP: In Europe, the man’s tailcoat should have two stripes.
Step 2: Get out your tux For black tie, men wear a black tuxedo jacket and matching pants; a pique or pleated front white shirt; a black bow tie; a black cummerbund or a vest; black patent leather shoes, black socks, and no gloves. Women can choose between a floor-length gown or a short, dressy cocktail dress.
TIP: In the summer or on a cruise ship, wear a white dinner jacket and black trousers.
Step 3: Have your pick When the invite reads “black tie optional,” men have the choice of a black tuxedo or a dark suit, white shirt, and conservative tie. Women have three choices: a gown, a cocktail dress, or dressy separates.
Step 4: Be creative For “creative black tie” men can add a touch of whimsy to a black tux, like a colored or pattered bow tie. Women can jazz up their gown or cocktail dress with a feather boa, interesting shawl, or eye-catching jewelry.
Step 5: Go halfway Wear a dark business suit with a white shirt and conservative tie to a “semiformal” event if you’re a guy, and either a cocktail dress or a dressy skirt and blouse if you’re a woman.
Step 6: Be festive Think “bright,” “sparkly,” and “colorful” when the invite says “festive attire,” which is basically cocktail party attire – business suit for men, and a cocktail dress or dressy pants outfit for women – with a holiday-themed accent.
Step 7: Dress kind of casual Men, wear a sport jacket or blazer, slacks, and an open-collar shirt if the invite says “dressy casual” or “business casual.” Ladies, wear a dress, a skirt with a fashionable top, or a sleek pantsuit for dressy casual and a skirt or slacks, and a shirt or sweater for business casual.
Step 8: Look good Look good in whatever you’re wearing and you can get away with breaking some of the previous rules.
FACT: Nearly 40 percent of managers feel their workers dress too casually, according to one survey.

You Will Need

The dress code
Clothing choices

How to Crash a Party

Howcast — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:34:13 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Look the part Pick an outfit that will allow you to blend in with the invited guests.
Step 2: Do your homework Find out some basic information about the event. If it’s a wedding, know the names of the newlyweds. If the gala is to honor someone, know what their achievement is all about.
TIP: Being able to drop an obscure name or two—like colleagues of the guest of honor—will make you sound even more legit. Just Google the honoree.
Step 3: Lose yourself in the crowd Wait outside the venue for a group to arrive, then try to ride that wave into the party.
Step 4: Fake it If challenged, pretend to be part of the event planner’s staff, there to take care of an emergency. Indicate in some vague way that there will be dire consequences if you are denied admittance.
Step 5: Be a long lost relative Once inside, use ‘the long lost relative’ cover. Well of course they never mentioned their third cousin twice removed who is living in Timbuktu!
Step 6: Fess up If busted, switch to suck-up mode—you’ve never, ever been at such a glorious affair.
Step 7: Wait it out So you’ve been tossed. All is not lost. Wait until the wee hours, when the door staff is less vigilant and the guests are tipsy, and try, try again.
FACT: Prince William’s 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle was crashed by Aaron Barschak, a well-known British comedian, much to the embarrassment of royal security.

You Will Need

An event that cries out to be crashed
Nerve
A poker face

How to Be a Good Party Guest

Howcast — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:03:37 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Arrive at appropriate time Arrive at an appropriate time. For a dinner party, that�s within 15 minutes of the invited time. With an all-night bash, you have more leeway. If you�re running late, call to let your host know.
TIP: Don�t arrive early, but don�t be afraid to be on time. Your host may be anxious for the first guest to arrive, and your presence will not only be a relief but it will earn extra �guest points��especially if you offer to help.
Step 2: Bring a gift Never come empty-handed. Unless you know the host�s taste well, consumables make the best gifts. A jar of artisanal preserves is a better choice than, say, a porcelain tchotchke.
Step 3: Mingle Don�t cleave to your date�mingle. Talk to someone you don�t know�or even don�t like. It helps to be knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects and to have read a newspaper that morning to be up on current events.
TIP: Judge the crowd and determine what kind of topics might catch everyone�s interest. Don�t rule out sex, politics, and religion, or even all three at once.
Step 4: Ask questions Ask questions. If you’re stymied by someone who’s shy or doesn�’t seem interested in the same topics as you, fall back on questions that aren’t overly personal, such as, “How do you know the host?”
Step 5: Drink in moderation If the party is even close to formal, drink in moderation. A single lampshade on the head will follow you for the rest of your life.
TIP: Because it can feel awkward to stand around empty-handed, find a drink you like that is either non- or only slightly alcoholic. However clich�, spritzers are a good call.
Step 6: Take pictures Take pictures! If you�ve thought ahead to bring a camera, you�ll do the host a great favor by recording the evening so they don�t have to, and then sharing them soon after the party.
Step 7: Don’t overstay your welcome Leave before the host starts wishing you�d go. If you�re not sure, err on the early side.
Step 8: Thank the host Thank the host the next day. A note in the mail is always appreciated�and particularly appropriate for a formal affair�but, despite what your grandmother told you, a call or email is often just fine.
FACT: The ancient Greek symposium, the precursor to the modern party, featured music, food, intellectual discussion, and wine served by nude young men�those Greeks could party!

You Will Need

An invitation
And a gift for the host
A liberal
though not necessarily higher
education

How to Fake Your Way through a Cocktail Party

Howcast — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:03:50 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Go to a show Use the arts section of your local newspaper to find an exhibit or gallery opening to attend. If the chat turns to art, you’ll be prepared to ask if anyone managed to catch the blah blah showing last weekend.
TIP: If you’re too busy to see an exhibit, just read some reviews online.
Step 2: Read up Select a half dozen recently released, critically acclaimed books (no, Oprah’s latest selection doesn’t count) and hit the bookstore to read the jackets.
TIP: Flip through the books until you find a couple of great lines you can later quote, remarking on their ‘profundity.’
Step 3: Dress up Find a frock at the toniest secondhand shop in your city. If anyone admires it, say, ‘This? Oh, my goodness, Posh/J. Lo/Beyoncé gave it to me when she tired of it; I suspect it no longer fit her.’
Step 4: Sip something sophisticated Once at the party, ask for a classic drink, like a Manhattan, to distinguish yourself from the chardonnay sheep.
Step 5: Use confusing words Declare the drink ‘jejune/tentative/chaotic,’ then enjoy the looks of partygoers as they struggle to decide if you like it or not. You can also apply these words to any artwork, artist, or art genre you’re asked to give your opinion on.
Step 6: Use foreign phrases Pepper your speech with foreign phrases like ‘Quelle surprise!’ (‘What a surprise!); ‘C’est parfait!’ (‘It’s perfect!’); and ‘Bien sur!’ (‘Of course!’).
Step 7: Fake a British accent Make yourself sound like part of the upper class by assuming a pseudo-British accent (think Madonna). Pronounce vitamins, ‘vit-amins’; again, ‘A-gain’; and can’t, ‘cahnt.’
TIP: Sprinkle British words into your conversation, like, ‘I’ll ring you on your mobile,’ and ‘Pardon me, whilst I use the loo.’
Step 8: Name drop Drop the names of famous people (‘Bono is so tiny in person’) and exotic locales (‘For the best caviar, you really must go to the Caspian’). Notice you haven’t actually said you know Bono or have been to the Caspian.
TIP: Speak softly. This forces people to lean in close to catch what you’re saying, and gives the impression to outsiders that you’re so fascinating that no one dares miss a word.
Step 9: Go out strong Leave the party when you’ve just successfully told a joke or had a group mesmerized by one of your stories. Hint that you have another even more fabulous engagement to attend.
FACT: Jay Leno was the top choice of men asked which celebrity they’d like to invite to a party.

You Will Need

Art show
Books
Foreign phrases
Faux British accent

How to Mingle

Howcast — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:33:09 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Eat at home Eat before the party. You’re not going to meet anyone if you’re sitting down with a plate of food or constantly have your mouth full. Plus, you won’t have to worry about garlic breath, spinach in your teeth, and sauce on your face.
Step 2: Scope out the room Upon arrival, identify the most uncomfortable-looking person standing alone. Stride confidently up to them, and introduce yourself with a smile. Not only will this get you a warm reception, but it will prevent you from becoming the most pathetic person in the room.
TIP: A simple icebreaker like, ‘So how do you know the host?’ will help begin the conversation.
Step 3: Don’t get too comfortable Don’t get too comfortable with your new friend. The whole point of mingling is to meet new people, so excuse yourself after five or ten minutes of chitchat with a ‘It was really nice meeting you.’
TIP: If you’re speaking to a VIP in the room, it’s particularly important that you move along, so you don’t monopolize their time.
Step 4: Find another target Find another target and begin the process again. Practice on enough wallflowers and you’ll soon have the confidence to approach someone intimidating.
Step 5: Let them talk Let the other person do most of the talking. And really listen—resist the urge to think about what you want to say next while they’re still babbling.
TIP: The key to successful schmoozing is to act like you’re fascinated by the other person, not trying to impress them with your wit and charm.
Step 6: Maintain eye contact Maintain eye contact. Not in a creepy, Hannibal Lecter way; just don’t scan the room for someone more interesting while your conversational partner is talking. That’s just plain rude—even if he is describing his appendectomy in excruciating detail.
Step 7: Welcome others Whenever you find yourself in a group, keep an eye out for loners hovering on the edge. Be gracious and bring them into the conversation.
Step 8: Give a business card Feel free to give our business cards, but be discriminating. Handing them out to every single person you come into contact with makes you look cheesy, not friendly.
Step 9: Leave early ‘Leave them wanting more’ is a good rule not only for individual chats, but for the event in general—especially if you’ve met someone intriguing. Better to disappear after you’ve made a good impression than hang around all night and risk ruining it!
FACT: Thirty percent of women surveyed said they are more drawn to the ‘shy guy in the corner’ than the ‘ringmaster’ of a party.

You Will Need

A little bravery
Business cards

How to Escape from a Bad Party without Offending the Host

Howcast — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:47:13 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Set the stage Set the stage for a possible early exit when you RSVP for a party — especially if the host is a repeat offender in the annals of disastrous soirees. Say you have a previous engagement on that date, but will drop by briefly.
Step 2: Chat her up As soon as you arrive, ditch your coat, grab a drink, and head for the host. Note how charming the bathroom décor is or how tasty the appetizers are to pretend you’ve been at the party for a while instead of having just walked in the door.
Step 3: Make the rounds After talking to your host, make the rounds. You want the host to notice you at different points in different places. It will create the impression that you’re having a lovely time, and register that you were there… more than you were really there.
Step 4: Drop key phrases A few minutes before you ditch, sidle up next to the host and announce something that makes it seem you were there longer than you really were—like, ‘I’m gonna have to make this my last drink!’ (even if it’s your first) and ‘This is my third trip to the buffet!’
Step 5: Bide your time When you’re ready to make a break for it, discreetly gather your belongings and pause at the door. Wait until the host seems engaged in conversation, then catch her eye, point at your watch apologetically, and mouth ‘Thank you!’ Give her a devastated and conflicted look as if you can’t believe you have to leave so soon… then bolt.
Step 6: Keep it vague If your host breaks away from conversation to say goodbye face-to-face, try not to offer any reason for your early departure other than the aforementioned prior commitment, since lies have a tendency to trip you up later. Deflect her attention by lavishing her with compliments about the party.
TIP: If you failed to establish a prior commitment, cough in your host’s face as you say you’re coming down with something. She’ll no doubt be happy to see you and your germs go.
Step 7: Send thanks Send a thank-you note after the party. Not only is this good manners, but it will help alleviate any resentment your host may harbor about your early departure.
FACT: When Lauren Bacall first arrived in Hollywood, industry parties made her uncomfortable, because she was one of the few teetotalers.

You Will Need

Excuse
Sense of timing
Compliments
Thank-you note

How to Get into a Nightclub

Howcast — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:32:47 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Don’t arrive drunk Don’t arrive drunk. Few doormen will let people into a club who are already three sheets to the wind.
Step 2: Dress appropriately Dress appropriately—and by that, we mean appropriate to the club’s unwritten code. If you’re unsure what that is, spend some time discreetly observing how the people who are automatically let in are dressed.
TIP: Wear good shoes. Many bouncers judge you by the quality of your shoes.
Step 3: Divide into smaller groups Divide into small groups—especially if you’re a bunch of men. Doormen want to keep the genders balanced, and they especially dislike admitting gangs of guys.
Step 4: Bribe the bouncer Bribe the bouncer. But do it discreetly. Waving money in his face like he’s a stripper will only make him mad.
Step 5: Become a regular Become a regular—a generous, well-mannered regular. Aside from being a celebrity, it’s the best way to be waved on in.
TIP: To become a regular, start out by going to the club on slow nights, when you’ll be assured admittance. Be friendly, chat up the help, and tip well.
Step 6: Rent a cool car If you’re trying to get into a club with valet parking, rent some pricey wheels for the night so you won’t be rejected on the basis of your old beat-up ride.
FACT: In Manhattan, there are concierge services you can pay to get you into certain clubs without waiting in line.

You Will Need

Appropriate clothing
Good shoes
Money to burn
An expensive car

How to Be the Life of the Party

Howcast — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:48:00 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Wear something tried and true Stick with a tried and true outfit. Wearing something too revealing or uncomfortable increases stress hormones.
TIP: Vibrant colors like red, magenta or royal blue project confidence and draw people to you, according to color studies.
Step 2: Be punctual Show up on time. It may be ‘fashionable’ to be late, but by then, groups will have formed – leaving you out in the cold.
Step 3: Act like the host Act like the host. Offer to take a new arrival’s coat, show them where the buffet is set up, or get them a cocktail. It’s an easy way to break the ice.
Step 4: Fake being popular Fake it! Pretending that you’re the most popular person at the party helps make it so by boosting endorphins and lowering stress hormones — making you the kind of happy, self-assured person others are drawn to.
Step 5: Stay on your feet Stay on your feet. One of the biggest mistakes partygoers make is plopping themselves on the couch, making it impossible to mingle.
TIP: Find a conversational group you’d like to join, stand near them, and occasionally laugh at a joke or agree with someone’s viewpoint. In no time at all, you’ll be absorbed into the gang.
Step 6: Ask questions Ask lots of questions. People love to talk about themselves, and appearing interested in others makes you more attractive.
TIP: Stay away from intellectual words. A Stanford University study showed that people who throw around SAT vocab are perceived as less intelligent.
Step 7: Compliment others Pay compliments. People love them, and they’ll project their happiness onto you.
TIP: Third-party compliments are the most effective. ‘Everyone has been talking about how great you look in that dress!’ packs more punch than a simple ‘Nice outfit.’
Step 8: Use people’s names Use people’s names – a lot. You make a connection, and you prove that you’re listening at least part of the time.
Step 9: End on a strong note End on a strong note. The last impression is even more powerful than the first. Try bringing up something the person told you earlier – more proof that you actually listen!
FACT: Seventy-five percent of people say they’re shy in social situations.

You Will Need

An outfit you love
Confidence to exude
Good conversation skills