Early Strategy in Party Tournaments

I'm brand new to this site so perhaps this has been asked before but I couldn't find it anywhere. Anyway, what are the thoughts on your strategy early on in the Party tournaments. I've just started playing them but am thinking that because you only start with $1,500 in chips ($1,000 for lower buy-in tourney) you have to be more agresssive early on and even make a few calls that you may not make later on. With such a small stack to start with and blinds that move relatively quickly it only takes one river beat and you are basically done. Any thoughts?