Party survival tips from Jessi Cruickshank and Dan Levy, hosts of MTV’s The After Show.

Party survival secret?

JESSI: Cranberry juice. It has vitamin C to protect you from that inevitable person in the turtleneck coughing onto the cheese plate.

DAN: Nice matching festive socks. Because more often than not, shoes will be left at the door, and you don’t want to be the guy with the nice suit and the dirty gym socks. 

What do you bring to every party no matter what?

JESSI: Someone I know. The idea of being that person at the party, standing alone at the hors d’oeuvres table with no discernible circle to mingle with, takes me back to elementary school. Not fun.

DAN: A loaf of banana bread. Everyone loves banana bread, and it’s really easy to make.

Favourite party outfit?

JESSI: Anything I can wear with heels. And please don’t make me take them off.

DAN: Jessi, clearly you should take note of my sock suggestion above. Party attire usually consists of a nice pair of jeans and the softest, coziest sweater I own. People like to touch soft things when they’re “feeling the festive spirit.”

Favourite party song?

JESSI: Mariah Carey’s Christmas gem All I Want For Christmas Is You.

DAN: Agreed. Mariah is a no-brainer. And for a more relaxing holiday party song, the Raveonettes released The Christmas Song a little while back. It’s pretty perfect.

Sign of a good party?

JESSI: Inflatable lawn ornaments. Seriously, I have two friends in Vancouver who throw a holiday party every year, and each year they add a new inflatable ornament. People literally show up just to see what that year’s will be. At this point, they have a snowman, two Santas, a Rudolph and a menorah. Last year someone passed out in Santa’s inflatable chimney. Classic.

DAN: I’d say the mark of a good party is waking up in the morning to all your guests asleep all over your house. If you throw a really good party, nobody wants to leave. It’s happened to me a couple of times. 

Sign of a bad party?

JESSI: Party games. My mother cannot throw a party without including some kind of organized group-mingling activity. I have been deeply traumatized.

DAN: The food. The food is a make-or break for me. Good food and I’ll forgive and forget any other party issues. I was at a holiday party last year where the hosts had a baked Brie that was so delicious, I think I finished it all myself.