Would You Hire a Bus Boy For a Party?
Prairie Hive

Parties can be stressful and the headache of doing dishes will always be present. Even if you have a dishwasher, it still takes time and energy that many of us just don't have after a long night. Our friends at Prairie Hive have a different idea — hired help!

Sure you can hire someone in from a company, but the folks over at Prairie Hive have a better suggestion. Why not hire in a friend or family member that might like a little extra cash to come help clean as things happen.

They can help keep the clutter down, the dishes done and things cleared away so you have one less thing on your plate to worry about. In the past I've used the idea for larger gathers and it's worked out quite well, plus the kids we used were more than happy to come help out in exchange for the new video game they've been pining away for or some new shoes.

Would you ever hire in help at a party or are you a lone wold and prefer to work alone? Don't trust anyone else to clean your champagne flutes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

• Read More: Prairie Hive's Party Tips from Prairie Hive

(Image: Prairie Hive)

Comments (20)

If you can afford it, it can be well worth it.

When I was in college I used to hire myself out for just these types of events.

In a hot second!

I totally did this a few times for folks from church when I was in college. I went early to help set up, kept the trays of hors d'oeurves full, cleared glasses and plates, then did dishes, etc. at the end of the night. Easy, fun way to make some extra cash, plus I often got sent home with leftovers. Yum!

Why not hire a friend or family member?

Because they're probably invited to the party...

when i was in high school i often did just this for a family friend. she threw numerous showers, dinners, holiday parties, etc, each year. the host paid me $10/hr to wash her china, pick up plates, wrap up leftovers ... i loved the extra cash, and she loved having someone handle her expensive china with kid gloves. worth it!

Hellz yeah I would, maybe one of my younger sister's friends though to keep it under $50.

It's not that I'm a lone wolf exactly (well, actually I am), but our apartment is so small that inviting over more than one person is already crowding it. I can't imgine taking up valuable space with a person who wasn't there to enjoy the party.

I loved being the hired help when I was in college. It was like being a hostess but without the angst and aggravation -- or having to pick up the bill.

Absolutely. There's nothing better than relaxing a little at your own soiree.

Absolutely but it probably wouldn't be a close friend or family member, just for the reason that they would probably be invited anyway. One of my teenage cousins or a local college kid? Absolutely. Not many of my friends are old enough to have kids of an age to be responsible enough for that sort of job yet or I'd add them to the list too.

My SIL did this (I think it was a coworker's daughters or something) when she hosted my other SIL's engagement party and I can say that as one of the usual default dishwashers in the family, it was AWESOME not to have to do that at the end of the night.

I've done it a few time, especially for a larger gathering. Someone put stuff in and take stuff out of the oven, pick up empty plates/napkins, and clean up. It's been well worth it every time. I don't spend the whole night trapped in the kitchen or cleaning up and even if my kitchen isn't completely up to my standards at the end of the party it's a million times better than without the help. In the past I've used my younger sisters friends or asked one of my restaurant manager friends if there was anyone on their staff that could help me out.

I've been the hired help at a party before. It was fun and I ran around like crazy taking care of things, so I'm assuming I was helpful.

If I was going to spend money on my own party, I would rather have a cleaning service come in afterward than a helper during the party.

Did it last year & it saved me, so my neighbor college girl is hired again for this year's party!

I used to do it for extra cash - now I am the one that hires someone! If you can afford it - it is totally worth it. For me it helps me to enjoy the party more - instead of worrying about hauling in ice, picking up plates, refreshing food. Totally worth it!

I'm all for hiring. But probably not someone I know too well -- I wouldn't be able to watch them work while I sat by...

Thanks for including our party tips on the site! Loving the discussion here... Getting some help (with bar tending and cleanup, hired or swapped for favors) has been one of the best moves I've ever made at parties past! Hope you will all check out the rest of our magazine as well!

Our neighbors did this at a fall open house they had last month. They had a long-time friend of a relative who had done parties and events for their entire family. He tended bar and went around and picked things up, refilled snack trays with appetizers, etc. He was a really personable guy and was able to mingle and joke around with all the guests.

I think I would do this at some point, but would need to have the right kind of person who was able to mix with the crowd.

Definitely hire someone if you can! if you are having a big party, it's the only way you can enjoy your guests