How to Have a Dance Party

Steps

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 2006".
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.
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.
Setup 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.
Setup decorations related to your theme and put a sign out on the street with the name of your party and light it.
When using 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.
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.
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 $5 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 bodies.
If you have a carpet floor in the dance room, get floor underlayment, plywood or rent a dance floor to dance on. It will save your carpet and be more fun to dance on.

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 dr

Aug 8, 2006