Have a dance party that people will enjoy!Make plans prior, find great music, and figure out what type of food and snacks will be enjoyed.
Step 1
Decide if you want a theme to your party, it doesn't have to be something to dress up to, but maybe you could give it a cool name like "Revolution" or "Heat 2009".
Step 2
Make flyers at least two weeks in advance, a month is best just to give people a heads-up to plan. Pass out handbills and hang posters until a few days before the party.
Step 3
Secure your music collection and make sure you have a way to play it on your sound system. Digital is the way to go, try iTunes or make your own mp3s from CDs.
Step 4
Set up sound and lighting. Borrow equipment from friends and people in industry (roller rinks and clubs are good places to try) if you don't have any.
Step 5
Set up decorations related to your theme and put a sign out on the street with the name of your party and light it.
Step 6
Use a place that doesn't give a good enough 'club' feel to it, black plastic hung on the walls works great. Be sure to leave holes for windows so they can be open when the dance floor gets too hot.
Step 7
Have plenty of cold water and drinks available. When people are dancing they will get hot and you do not want people to become dehydrated. Also be sure to provide snacks with energy, like candy and pretzels.
Step 8
Be sure to provide a place to cool off, relax and talk. Party goers won't be dancing the whole time and having a place to talk really makes a party enjoyable.
Tips
- People really love prizes, if you can afford a $500 gift certificate give it out in a drawing or have a limbo competition.
- Unique things really make a party memorable, but too many unique things can be overwhelming. Stick to themes or just a few unique things.
- Large fans are great to have near the dance floor for cooling off hot bodies.
- If you have a carpeted floor in the dance room, build a hardwood floor on top or rent a dance floor to dance on. It will save your carpet and be more fun to dance on.
- If you are going for a 'Club/Rave' type theme, hire a DJ! Skilled DJs know how to properly blend tracks together without skipping a beat. Professional DJs get the latest hits months before they actually hit the airwaves (if ever), and they also know how to cater to everyone, not just an individual, and most will have professional equipment that far surpasses home 'consumer' equipment.
- Darker lighting promotes dancing. Think back to those high school dances when the teachers wouldn't turn off the lights and hardly anyone dances. Combine dark lighting with moving effect lighting and some smoke/fog/haze to create a danceable atmosphere that everyone will enjoy.
- When using fog/smoke/haze, don't overuse it. Too much can psychologically make people think that they are choking and cough (even though the chemicals used don't irritate them), plus it makes it really hard to see.
- Among other drinks, have some bottled water available to keep your guests hydrated while dancing.
Warnings
- Make sure when you post flyers you won't get in trouble for posting too many or in the wrong place.
- Use open cups instead of 12 ounce cans. Date-rape drugs often give off color, but if it's put into a can it can go un-noticed.
- Strobe lighting can cause seizures for certain people (those with previous episodes, and those who have no previous problems), so use with caution.
