Grant Plotkin doesn’t believe in throwing parties without purpose. As the Founder and CEO of meet the edge, an award-winning design studio based in Brooklyn, he has built a career around unlocking creative edge through branding, creative direction, and immersive experiences. His work lives at the intersection of storytelling and strategy, and his hosting style follows the same rules.

Whether he’s transforming a Brooklyn bar into a sand-covered summer escape in the dead of winter or designing interactive games that pull strangers into conversation, Grant approaches gatherings as fully realized narratives. Every detail matters, from invitations to cuisine to the moment that surprises everyone in the room. For Grant, hosting is less about perfection and more about emotion. If guests leave feeling inspired, curious, or just a little changed, the night has done its job.

Q: When planning a gathering in your home, where do you start?

A: My creative process always begins with ideating on a theme in which I can build a robust narrative. That narrative extends to invitations, cuisine, programming, everything. For my birthday celebrations every year, I lean into a storyline that everyone can participate in. From Leather & Lace to Funkytown, where everyone wore a wig, to Tiki Tides and 27 Vibes where we transformed a bar in Brooklyn with real sand to bring back summer for the night in the middle of January.

This is hosting as world-building. The theme is not decoration. It’s the engine that drives every decision.

Q: Favorite ways to break the ice or entertain guests?

A: We designed a card game called I Am On Edge, which features a range of questions that keep you… on edge. For our recent “Meet the Heat” events, we’ve also started experimenting with hot sauce challenges as a social lubricant for those who don’t drink.

Interactive moments don’t just entertain. They give guests permission to loosen up and participate on equal footing.

Q: If you had a limited budget to put together a small dinner party, what would you focus on for the tablescape?

A: I’d focus on making the tablescape interactive. Think black paper overlay with silver ink pens so guests can draw their answers and co-create in the process.

Q: What makes a gathering truly memorable?

A: Thoughtful introductions, curated cuisine, and a magical moment that unites the room.

Q: Advice for hosts feeling overwhelmed?

A: It all starts with a feeling. We’re humans after all. Start by thinking about how you want your guests to feel when leaving your home. Educated, inspired, curious, full. Use that desired outcome to reverse engineer how to achieve it. And use Partytrick, duh!

Feeling-first hosting is the throughline of Grant’s entire approach.

Q: Signature recipe you love to serve?

A: Miznon’s whole roasted cauliflower. Always a crowd pleaser.

See the recipe here

Q: Go-to dinner party soundtrack?

A: Anything by BØRNS (Past Lives is a personal favorite)

Q: What's your favorite party trick?

A: I love incorporating a sense of surprise or mystique into programming. Add something unexpected that becomes a conversation. Keep your guests on edge.

For example, I brought out a Sports Illustrated model at my recent Tiki Tides and 27 Vibes celebration. I’m also looking into finding someone who can work a polygraph machine for an upcoming event. These moments evoke pure joy because they’re tied to curiosity and taking people out of their comfort zone.

Q: What do you love about Partytrick?

A: The easy-to-use templates are a game-changer when pulling together an event last minute.

Q: Most memorable party you’ve hosted or attended?

A: Hosting .JPEG in NYC, where we used projection mapping and the storyline of meeting the story behind the image, was top tier. Guests uploaded a photo that was memorable to www.meetjpeg.com, and we attached “value” to their images with artistic commentary on NFTs.

Through games and on-site activities, participants could increase or decrease the value of their image. It was so memorable we turned it into a series.

Q: Favorite products or brands for hosting?

A: Typeform for registration, Heatonist for hot sauce, and Ghia for non-alcoholic drinkers.

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Grant’s approach proves that the best gatherings are designed, not thrown. When emotion leads and curiosity follows, guests don’t just attend. They participate. Get inspired by Grant’s immersive approach to gathering by following him on Instagram @GrantPlotkin or exploring his work at grantplotkin.com and meettheedge.com.

Feeling inspired to host your own gathering? Partytrick makes it easy to turn ideas into moments. Sign up for a free Partytrick account to explore curated templates, smart guidance, and everything you need to host beautifully, all in one place.