10. Pick the right players.
When you are going through you contacts list in your phone be careful in selection. Too many good players and you are going to have to really work to pocket everybody’s buy-ins. Who likes to work? You play poker so you don’t have to right? But too many stiffs and it’s not fun. Bring in some guys who like to splash around chips (and money). Decide up front if you are hosting the game to have fun, ie bring the buddies and let luck decide who’s going to win (fast rising blinds in a tournament structure) or if it’s another night of earnings for you.
9. Bring plenty of food.
Either stipulate everybody bring something (works better when having a friendly game) or pay the extra cash yourself if you got some fish coming over but make sure you have plenty of beer and food. If you rotate games, try and outdo the last guy and set a precedent. Next time if they try and outdo you you’ll reap the rewards.
Take care of your friends and take even better care of the guys donating the money to your monthly bottom line. Don’t break out the food too early if you want folks to stick around for a side game. Give them another reason besides blowing a couple of buy-ins for staying. It’s okay to “comp” at a home game.
8. Have an online option.
Buy a router and let folks bring their laptops. If you are playing multiple tournaments or need folks to stick around until the cash game begins in the corner, give them some entertainment options. What do poker players like to do? Play online poker. Give them the opportunity to play poker online with each other (using their online poker bankrolls not their live bankrolls) until there are enough bustouts to start a second game or tournament.