How to Plan a Bar Crawl
A welcomed break to the monotony of going to the same bar with the same people is a bar crawl. These crawls are tours of various drinking establishments in a city. Participants imbibe at each stop on the crawl; the beverage of choice is usually beer. Often bar crawls take place near a college campus or in a downtown metropolitan area where the bars are in close vicinity to each other. A bar crawl is a way to share a lively night out with friends and other bar-goers.
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Instructions
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Select a date for the bar crawl. Choose a date that most of your group could likely make. Consider having it on a weeknight instead of a weekend when bars are less crowded. Bars may be willing to offer you a group discount if you pick a night that is not as busy. Check with the local event calendar, as you do not want to have it on a night where there is a large event in the city.
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Determine the number of bars you would like to include on the crawl and how long you would like for the crawl to last. Crawls often go from 7:00 pm until 1:00 am. A good minimum number of bars is six. Find a balance between how many bars and how long you'd like to spend at each one. Thirty minutes would allow crawlers to have a beer and possibly a shot. An hour would be the maximum time you should spend in a bar as you'll want to keep the pace moving.
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Designate a way to identify the participants of your bar crawl. Consider an specific color shirt for everyone to wear. You could also have special matching t-shirts made to commemorate the event. Create a theme for the crawl. Participants can dress in themed costumes. Easily identifying bar crawlers will help keep the group together and assist the bartenders in recognizing who gets a special deal on drinks, if a deal has been arranged ahead of time.
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Select the bars you will visit. Choose bars with space for your group. Select bars with food so people do not have to leave the crawl if they need a bite to eat. Call the owner or manager ahead of time and let them know your plans. They may designate a specific area for your group. When speaking with the bar, ask them if your group is eligible for any discounts or special offers.
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Pick a mode of transportation. If the bars are close in proximity, it is best to walk from bar to bar. If the bars are not close together, consider renting a party bus or a couple of limousines. Have crawl participants pay ahead of time for transportation fees.
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Send the bar crawl map out to participants ahead of time. This sets the expectations of the group and will assist them in locating the group if they get separated. Print and distribute small, foldable maps to each participant at the beginning of the crawl. This will help keep the group together.
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Arrange for transportation home at the end of the night. Set up taxis or a group of designated drivers to ensure the crawlers get home safely.
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Tips & Warnings
Arrange for the first couple of bar crawl stops to be the shortest. This will ensure that participants do not drink too much too quickly.
Do not use taxis as transportation in between bars. There may not be enough when you need them at each stop of the crawl.
References
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