Avast! September 19, 2015 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. By putting together suggestions for a Pirate Tea, I be honoring the day and continuing with ABlueSquash.com’s theme of the month, Pirate!
All Hands on Deck is a fitting theme for a business to thank employees for their efforts or to launch a new project. See tips and activities below – walking the plank is left out.
Same theme. Same menu. Couple of different strategies for family and friends projects.
BUDGET
When planning events and discussing budgets for companies or individuals, I’ve heard comments ranging from, “Um, good luck with that” (Arrr!) to “Make it happen; how much to do you need?” (Aye!)
Set a budget based on what you can afford and set time commitments. Decide what you absolutely can or cannot live without.
Create or download a detailed event / party checklist from the tons available online. Factor in costs of food, beverages, decorations (including centerpieces BTW: real gold coins will break the treasure chest), room rental (if needed), serving pieces, utensils, table coverings (none if you have wood tables) and favors / gifts.
Assign or hire a photographer. Remember to post the images of everyone having a great time on social media sites.
DO IT YOURSELF OR CATERED?
When planning a thank you for family or friends, depending on the number of people involved, you may choose to provide everything yourself. On the other hand (or hook), get out of the galley, have it catered.
Get recommendations and a minimum of three estimates. Give them the suggested menu or work with additional input.
I would never go the potluck route for a thank you or project launch.
MENU 
Unless hardtack, dried beef and a gallon of beer a day appeals to you, I would not suggest eating like a pirate.
For a fun read, check out the National Geographic article Eat Like a Pirate. You might make copies of this for employees and guests.
Serving the crab salad separately accompanied by fixings allows the low carb enthusiasts to enjoy the party without scraping the salad off bread. Arrr!
Rum cake is required. I believe it is one of the pirate codes or guidelines. Bake your own or use my recipe for Ginger Bacardi Rum Cake . If you live in northern Nevada, purchase a rum cake from local favorite Rum Cakes, Etc.
DECORATIONS
And this is why you have a budget. From hiring a Johnny Depp look-alike (swoon) to creating a mock sailing ship where folks literally walk up a gangplank to reach the festivities a person could go nuts with the possibilities.
Boards on a table or planks set across sawhorses, seashells, gold coins, pearls, jewels, wood barrels, swords and cutlasses, red bandanas, sails and sailing ships, eye patches, treasure chests, skulls, netting, flags, cannons, stubby candles, gold chargers, silver and gold bars, ship’s wheels and signs with pirate sayings.
Sand can be annoying in the wrong places. Never use it around food – use brown sugar instead.
PROJECT LAUNCH
When there is a large project to accomplish, bring all the employees together and have the “Captain” launch the venture during a Pirate Tea lunch. Even if all employees will not be involved, describing the project as an overall benefit to the business keeps everyone in the loop and makes them feel like part of the crew.
Email a company-wide invitation that says “Shiver Me Timbers It’s All Hands On Deck.” Ask your graphic designer or one of your creative-thinking employees to design it with a pirate theme or as a treasure map. Include the date, time and for the location put an X marks the spot on the lunchroom or site of the event.
TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY
Get the crew on board by capturing their imaginations with a Lost at Sea survival scenario. The point of this role-playing situation is communication, decision making and helping the team understand that a group of people pooling their knowledge and thinking together generally arrive at better decisions than a person thinking alone.
Click here for Wilderdom’s website page. It includes instructions and four free choices of Lost At Sea exercises with all the information you need for smooth sailing.
FAMILY & FRIENDS
All hands on deck for a weekend filled with chores? Moving day? Painting the house? When the entire family is involved in a project or friends are pitching in to help, it’s a great time to surprise them with a Pirate Tea.
If the crew isn’t worn out from swabbing the deck, choose one of the many games found on the original Talk Like a Pirate website.
Hand out movie, bowling, Community Theater, roller skating or sport event tickets or gift cards for gasoline, superstores, or treats. Say thank you and “Eat up, me hearties!”
© 2013 – 2015 Susan C. Fix All Rights Reserved
