How to Host a Sock Hop
Sock hops are a great way to get people to a fun-filled night of nostalgic dancing. Sock hops are popular for all ages and encourage good, clean fun. Your business or organization could host a sock hop as a fundraiser or just a great community event. Use these steps to learn a little more about sock hops and how to host a great sock hop of your own. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Get a group of people from your company or organization together to work as a committee to plan the sock hop. This should include people in the following areas: publicity, food, activities, venue, entertainment and any other special areas you want to cover.
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Schedule the actual event. Pick a date, find a place and decide whether or not you'll charge a fee to get in. Also decide if you are doing a company or community-wide event and whether or not it is a fundraiser. These are all of the key components to getting your publicity person off and running.
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Work with local businesses to get food, prizes or the things you'll need for activities donated. It is a tax write-off for them and a great way to show their support. You could offer to advertise them in some way at the event as well. Another idea would be to let businesses pay a fee and have a game or food booth at the event; they could decorate and run it. Think of 50s-type booths, such as a kissing booth, a dunking tank or a couples photo booth. Even consider having a dance contest. These are all easy ways to raise money.
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Check with your city department to make sure that you are complying with all city regulations for the event. Ask if you need any kind of permit or licensing. Be clear with them about the activities you have planned so they can advise you accurately.
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Meet regularly with your committee throughout the planning process to make sure everything is running smoothly. Do they have the '50s deejay hired yet? Have they bought or ordered '50s themed decorations? Are there any classic car enthusiasts in your area? (Remember, '50s "greasers" loved to work on their fancy hot rods.)
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Decorate, set up and have a great time the day of the event. Have servers wear roller skates and poodle skirts (girls) or leather jackets and jeans (guys). Remember to do dances like the "stroll" and the "jitterbug."
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage everyone to dress in costumes from the '50s and have a costume contest as incentive.
Require that vendors decorate their booths and dress in costume to carry the theme throughout the evening.
Get the media there to cover it, especially if the event is a fundraiser.
Encourage everyone to get as much donated as possible and to get community volunteers to help with decorating.
Sometimes, it is hard to stop the planning part and just relax at the event, but this is the most important. You want to have fun and enjoy the day that you have worked so hard for. If the event is a fundraiser, have members from the organization receiving the money there and present them with a novelty check. This is a great way to honor them and show everyone at the event how important their involvement was.
Make sure you know and understand all of the rules at your venue, including food, beverages, noise control and anything else that might affect the event.
