You should register on Houseparty.com.
http://www.houseparty.com/

It's a great site that works with companies to promote products. They notify you of products to promote and they pick the days (the only negative, IMO) that a houseparty can be held but it's all free. :D
You have to fill out a brief survey telling them about why you would want to host the party for that specific product and then they choose the people to host it (number of hosts selected for the party varies) a few weeks before the date and send you a party package with enough product to share with your guests as well as party favors, etc.

I first got involved when I ordered some Gevalia coffee from the Gevalia website (great coffee :D ). I guess Gevalia gave them customer names and 2 years ago they emailed asking me if I wanted to host a Gevalia party. I got chosen amongst a number of other people across the U.S. (not sure if it's international).
The party package for that specific house party that they sent me included:
-a stainless steel coffee maker ($99 value)
-3 boxes of coffee (included one limited edition flavor)
-2 boxes of pound cake mix
-lots of Toblerone chocolate (mini bars and individual pieces)
-12 paper gift bags with Gevalia logo
-12 Gevalia coffee samples to put in the gift bags for each of my guests
-12 magazine subscription offer to put in the gift bags
-12 recipe cards to put in the gift bags
.....and it was all FREE!!! :D
I went a little further and bought some hor'durves (sp?) and decorations for my living room. It was all coffee themed. I had a great time and my guests loved it. I had this party back in 2006 and last month I got an offer to apply to host a Hershey's Chocolate Bliss! houseparty.

I filled out the application type survey and they notified me two weeks ago that I was one of a number of people they chose to host the party.
I got my party pack yesterday and it includes:
-6 bags of Hershey's Bliss! chocolates (2 bags of each flavor)
-15 white gift bags
-15 Hershey's Bliss! chocolate writing pens for the gift bags
-15 Hershey's Bliss! chocolate magnets for the gift bags
-15 shopping list pads with the Hershey's Bliss logo for the gift bags
- a mini photo album for the party pics
- 15 dessert napkins with the Hershey's Bliss! chocolate logo.

I'm not sure if they sent you the amount of items depending on the number of people you say you will be inviting when you fill out the survey/application form. For the Gevalia coffee one I mentioned between 10-12 people and for this one I mentioned 15-20 people. I like having small intimate parties with my friends and family because it gives me a chance to interact with people more.
The party is on Sunday (04/27/08) and my friends (who also attended the Gevalia party) keep telling me how excited they are. :)

You should all check the site out. It's a great way to hang out with friends.
I know last weekend they held an Aveeno party that I would have loved to host but I already had plans that weekend.

I don't host parties or anything, but this sounds really neat for people who do!

whoa awesome.

my apartment is too tiny to have more than a couple folks over.

Even if you don't or can't host, you can always pass the idea onto friends. :)
I know quite a few people that are always looking for reasons to have parties.
I got another survey/applilcation last week to host a Margaritaville Cargo party for May 25th. I'll know by next week if I get picked. I'm fine either way with this one since it lands on Memorial Day weekend. I'll either have the whole weekend free to do something else if I don't get picked or I can plan a BBQ with friends to go along with the party.

I throw parties all the time for 10 - 50 people. A lot of them I have food brought from local places and they aren't cheap.

But, I have had all of 3 invites in 18 months and got turned down for all of them. People on other sites seem to agree that houseparty is a kind of a rip off even though those who get in get great deals.


Just wanted to give my 2 cents

I agree the site isn't for everyone but I'm not sure how it could be a rip off if out of pocket expenses are never required and they've never asked me for proof that I actually had the party.