THERE comes a point during an office Christmas party when you wonder whether you've stepped into a parallel universe. This is usually somewhere in between your boss attempting his best Elvis impression, wildly gyrating to the Casio keyboard-style karaoke, and hiding in the toilets with your head stuck down the bowl after telling the office joker precisely where he can shove his mistletoe deely boppers. As good an idea as handing over the power of speech to the vodka bottle may have seemed at the time, humiliation is sure to follow on Monday morning when the snapshots come back from the shop. And then it's to late to retract your well-meaning comments about how members of middle management should wash more frequently and try to occasionally force a smile. But never fear, there's a solution at hand to prevent your work's Christmas do from resembling an episode of The Office. An increasing number of businesses are now turning to the experts to liven up their usually dreary gatherings. "Lots of companies say to me that they want something different to the usual - it comes to 10.30 and there are a few people on the dance floor and a few horrible meat pies left on the buffet table, everyone being off in their own small groups. "I think that's a wasted opportunity. People are now realising that parties are a chance to do something special, " says Antony Greenberg, founder of Liverpool-based Tickled Pink Events. The firm, set up to take advantage of the new trend, offers a range of venues and activities, from marquees to mansion houses, fire-eaters to falconry, Saxon feasts to sushi bars. Anthony, 24, worked in the Marriott flagship resort in Orlando, US, after graduating with an event management degree from Leeds Metropolitan University. There he helped organise corporate events for multi-national companies including cosmetics firm Estee Lauder and US giant Coca-Cola, booking high-profile performers such as Britney Spears and Rod Stewart. Returning to live in the Sefton Park area of South Liverpool, where he grew up, he quickly founded Tickled Pink Events and has already planned and run parties for companies and individuals across the country. For Christmas his clients have asked for Cuba nights, with dancers and salsa lessons, bungee jumping from a 200ft crane, ice sculptures and Michael Jackson impersonators. "That's honestly what people are doing this year. They want their Christmas parties to be really mad. "We are seeing a real culture change in terms of the way that companies look at corporate events, not only in Liverpool but nationally. | 
