Party hearty

Whether you have drop-in guests or choreographed fests, we’ve figured out how to keep any get-together fun. Follow these snappy tips from Lauren Purcell and Anne Purcell Grissinger, authors of “Cocktail Parties, Straight Up!”

Then, when you have company coming, you’ll find all that’s left for you to do is throw on some party clothes and turn up the music. We guarantee your soiree will be an event everyone will talk about for a long time. Cheers!

DJ by delegation

Hosting a boogie-down production? Invite your guests to bring their iPods along and boost your own solid-gold dance party mix.

Toast of the Town

Forget costly French Champagne and load up on more reasonably priced bubblies like Spanish Cava (we recommend Cristalino) or Italian Prosecco.

Fast Food

Can’t cook? Or just don’t have time? Cut down on kitchen duties by warming up specialty mail-order foods. We like Williams-Sonoma tamales with chicken and mango barbecue sauce, $49.50 for 12, and savory pastry kisses, $36 for 36 (both williams-sonoma .com). Or pick up takeout, like quesadillas or spring rolls, and serve in bite-size pieces. Prepared foods from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods can round out the menu.

Conversation pieces

Introduce your shyest guest to a tray of hors d’oeuvres to help her circulate. We guarantee she’ll make friends fast.

Coffee, Tea or Leave

Inevitably, it comes time to nudge guests along, and the best way to drop a subtle hint is to bring out a tray of coffee. It that doesn’t work, gracefully ending the party may require that you hand stragglers their coats while warmly thanking them for staying until the end.