How to Throw a College Party & Hotel Party
College parties range in size and style based on the culture of the school. Schools with a large number of active fraternities and sororities may have a "Fraternity Row," or residential area for fraternities, where frat house parties dominate the weekend nights. If you are looking to throw a party targeted towards college students under 21, rent a hotel ballroom for your event as noise ordinances and drinking laws make campuses and nightclubs poor alternatives. Sell tickets or set a cover charge for guests as they enter to recoup the event's expenses.
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Instructions
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Choose a date and time for your party, and then search for a hotel venue. Look for hotels with adequate parking for guests and space available in ballrooms. A ballroom in close proximity to a side entrance in the hotel is ideal to prevent partygoers from disturbing hotel guests late at night. As many venues rent space in four-hour blocks, choose a prime time to start your party, such as 10 pm.
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Select a hotel and total your event's housing expenses. Ask the hotel's event coordinator for a proposal for the ballroom on the evening you want to throw your party inclusive of food and a DJ. Create a menu of light party snacks, such as chips, salsa, mixed nuts and chicken wings. Your proposal should include the costs of renting a sound system for music and a cash bar for non-alcoholic beverages.
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Select a theme suited to your target party guests. Create an unusual theme such as a graffiti party where all guests wear white shirts and draw on each other with highlighters or colored markers. Add a black light, so that the words drawn on each t-shirt glow. Select a playlist to match your theme. For example, a graffiti-themed party music might include remixes of rock hits from the 1960s and 1970s when a psychedelic culture was popular.
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Determine the pricing needed to be charged for admission to the party for you to break even with your total event expenses by calculating the number of guests expected.
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Use a template in a word processor to create flyers for your party. Offer a discount to guests who present the flyer at the door to encourage attendance. Be sure to include information on appropriate attire for your theme so that guests have an opportunity to participate in the evening's activities. Print the flyers yourself or have them printed professionally.
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Post notices on campus bulletin boards, and on the walls and doors of residential halls. Ask friends to invite people to get the word out about your event.
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Arrive early on the evening of your event to test the sound equipment and ensure that the room's furniture, if requested, is arranged as desired.
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Set up a table outside of the door with a cash box and roll of wristbands to prepare for partygoers.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are expecting college students of all ages and will be serving alcohol, provide wristbands in two different colors. Offer a wristband for guests over 21 and a second color band for underage guests.
Consider that many students will not be able to afford expensive charges as they may not have a source of substantial income. Select an affordable venue in case you get a poor turnout.
References
- Photo Credit dublin, ireland - trinity college image by Kirubeshwaran from Fotolia.com
