5 Tips For Having a Successful Cookout Every Time

You can be that guy that always throws great cookouts.

Let's be honest here. Of course you want to throw a great cookout! Why would you even bother going through the hassle of having one if you didn't want it to be spectacular? No problem, I understand. I been there. Now here's the thing: if you really want your party to be the event that your friends and family look forward to, then make sure to follow these simple guidelines. Like most things in life, all you need is a little advance planning. So take heed to these tips and you'll be fine.

Let me start out by saying that I'm not going to bore you with a laundry list of what supplies you do and don't need. What kind of cups to get and which parts of the chicken to cook are best suited for another post. The thing I'm driving at here is how to go about creating an atmosphere that's fun for both you and your guests. But the guests are my focus (and they should be yours too). Just keep in mind a simple motto that's never steered me wrong in life, and that is to add value. Take the steps to make your guests feel comfortable and happy and you'll never worry about people showing up to your events. Ever.

The most important piece of advice is to have the desire to throw a good cookout. Don't overlook this, because hosting the party, setting everything up, cooking all the food, and being a good host (by taking care of all of your guests' needs) involves work. Obviously, it isn't your 9-5 work but there's still some elbow grease that goes into it. This is why desire is so important. If you want to make sure everything runs smoothly, then your attitude will have to stay positive. Please remember that the gang will take their cues from you - if you're all whiny and complaining, who the hell is enjoying that? Think about it.

Yes, your attitude is paramount. After that, having a clean grill is second to none. I can tell you, I have been to cookouts where this has not been the case and it wasn't cool. Things went from me just going to say 'what's up' to the host at the grill to being totally grossed out and ready to go. That is an uncomfortable situation for everybody involved, so just clean the grill before the food is on it. The ideal scenario is that no one gives it a second thought. This is how it should be. So the lesson is, before you cook, clean the grill.

Now you were a good boy and cleaned your grill, right? Good! Next make sure that you get the right amount of food for the party. Trust me, I know you're not made of money. And people don't expect a buffet line. But make sure to get enough to comfortably feed your guests. Try this little formula for size; each adult guest can be expected to eat 2 burgers and 2 dogs. Every other person will consume 1 steak or 2 pieces of chicken, additionally. And kids will eat 2 hot dogs and 1 burger. Remember, these are estimates. But in using this formula, you'll be good to go. Of course there are times when everyone loves the chicken and that goes first, but as long as there are alternatives (and minimum 3 sides) there will be enough food for everyone. That's all you want.

This next tip is tricky. Are you going to serve alcohol? If so, then this can become its own animal. Let me preface this by saying that serving alcohol isn't necessarily a faux pas, but be careful. Even if everyone coming drinks, bear in mind that less is more. For starters, your backyard ain't a tailgating zone. Having too many spirits on hand is like banging on your neighbors' doors and demanding them to call the cops. Cause that's what will happen 3 or 4 hours in. Also, be mindful that these folks have to drive home at some point. Do you really want to be directly responsible for a DUI -- or 6? My point in plain english is booze can be okay to grease the wheels and keep things sociable. But limit it to everybody having a 'casual' drink or two. That's it. This is the best way to avoid trouble.

Lastly, every great host has the ability to provide the perfect atmosphere for their guests. By great atmosphere, that can mean a variety of things, but most importantly, it starts by defining the party. Are the folks your family? Your team from work? Buddies you went to school with? The classmates from your kid's school and their parents? It's key to define your party so you know how to take care of em. A horseshoe pit is great when its just the guys, but you don't want small kids tossin' horseshoes around your yard. Similarly, your family might be cool with ethnic music but your work colleagues may feel alienated. Pretty common sense stuff. The point I'm making here is that it should be your goal to make your guests comfortable enough to feel free to loosen up and have a ball. That's the point to all of this.

Again, in order to throw a great cookout, you would do well to have great food. But the food alone does not the party make. A great atmosphere goes a long way in ensuring that all of the party people have fun at your home....and are happily willing to come back. When you adhere to these five tips and implement them, you won't go wrong.