Equipment to throw a good party?

[professional_spartan]

My buddy and I (both of us are on this forum) are throwing a party in a few weeks at our place. We have a main living area & a lower level, and we're working on getting some laser lights, fog, keg, and loud music going on.

We probably want to spend a little less than $1000 on all the stuff we'll need. A rack/stand for 1-2 lights might cost $80 each (x2). A laser light might cost $100 (x2-x3). Fox machine $50+ (x2). Plus we'll probably be reusing some of this stuff for future parties.

Does anybody know what are some good things to look into when shopping for this stuff?
Are some laser/strobe lights are sound-sensitive, so they go along with the beat. What is the name of that technology?
We probably don't want to get one of those crazy D.J. controller boards, that's probably too much for what we need.

Thanks for any tips!

 

[CaptainJ]

All that fancy equipment doesn't make for a good party, it's the people and the atmosphere. I say don't bother buying all that strobe lighting and stuff, unless it's cheap then it will be a nifty addition.

All you need is a stereo with large speakers, some CDs, alcohol, a dance area, a casual sitting area and basically the ability to free roam, since cramped parties are sh1t. Let them go into the garden as well, if you have one.

 

[Stud]

You are 24 and do not know what goes in to a good party? I'll answer your question if you explain how this is possible.

 

[muscleman]

Two replies and neither has answered the question. Typical SS ...

 

[Evzone]

Me personally, I'd spend that money on just getting a ton of alcohol.

If you're serious though about the black lights, lasers, and all of that, it might be cheaper if you just rent them for the night. Call around in your yellow pages to local party supply stores, or call up entertainment companies/DJs and see where they get their stuff from.

 

[Julius_Seizeher]

You could hire a DJ for three to four hundred bucks, get a kegerator, and buy a ton of beer but still tell people BYOB.

 

[Tekniq]

BEER
BEER
BEER
BEER

Set up a beer pong table, have an open keg, tell people its BYOB... Invite as many guys as girls, the atmosphere will only be as fun the quality of the people who are there. Normal stereo systems plus and iPod play list can do more wonders than anything. In terms of lighting; make sure the lights are dimmed to a certain extent, then make sure that there are no blue tinted lights anywhere try and keep everything predominately red colored (too much to explain why now). You can do that easily by throwing a red bandanna on the lampshades or something.

Hope it turns out well!

 

[Sofomore]

Here are some tips.

1. Music
2. Lighting
3. Alcohol
4. People
5. Cops

Ok to start: I am a DJ (Disc Jockey) so I have good advice.

1. Hire one that plays music you think people enjoy. Depending on your friends, that could be hip-hop, electronic or country...whatever it is, make sure its the type you like.
This shouldnt cost that much, maybe $200 for the whole night.

2. Spend about 150-200 on lighting. You can find out more about which lights to buy on other forums. Remember this rule with lighting: You get what you PAY for.
Buy a $50 light and it will last you 3 parties. Buy a professional one that costs $1,000 it will last a lifetime. Make sense?

3. Next: Alcohol. Get 2 or 3 kegs. 6 or so handles of hard alcohol for the ladies. The party lasts as long as the alcohol does.

4. People: Invite however many you want? This one is all on you.

5. Police: They will show up if you have loud music. be prepared to talk to them and turn down the music when they warn you.

 

[Ambition Now]

Girls
Beer
Music

 

[Unbridled_Phoenix]

Hire a DJ who brings the lights with him (what kind of DJ doesn't have lights?)

Go to TSC and buy a cattle trough. Fill it with cheap vodka, fruit punch and sliced fruit. It's called Hairy Buffalo, but it should be called Shaved Vag1na, cause that's how the story ends.

 

[rocksoff]

1.Girls
2.Alchohol
3.Finest Kush
4.System/Jams

Thats all you need...instead of the lights buy more alky and weed

 

[muscleman]

Why no blue tinted lights?

 

[synergy1]

The sick parties we threw at college had 15 dollar lights from iParty, and those parties went over great. The biggest thing was always having enough beer/liquor for anyone; its especially key when you are wheeling a hot chick, and you want to make her another drink...its an easy way to isolate from the group!

The most important thing is having enough folks over to establish a base for next time. The first party is always the hardest one, and if that goes off well, the subsequent ones are usually more people and more fun than you can even handle!

Edit: a lot of folks covered most bases, so i'll list the keys our parties which worked out well.

1- Several games going on at once. Have a table for drinking games, and have a table for ruit.

2- Keep the ratio relatively equal. Girls seem to come and go in groups. If they come to a party with all chicks, they will leave quickly. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating a sausage fest, but keep the ratio near 50/50 for the best party.

3- Change the music up. Don't play hip hop all night, throw on some classics once everyone is getting sloppy. People love those classics, but won't start admitting it until a bunch of drinks in!

4- Have fun. I can't tell you the number of friends, and random people alike that just loved being at our parties. We made sure everyone had a blast. People always let us know it, even if it was on the streets and we didn't know who they were!

 

[Tekniq]

Why no blue tinted lights?

Blue lights not only add a poor ambience but when one is shined onto human skin it reveals a lot of the pores and what not. Red lights are more romantic and thus provide a more intimate atmosphere. The pupils widen more under red light and pupil dilation is proven have sexual connotations. Even if its just dudes a red light source is not going to mean make homosexuality haha, it just stimulates a more "romantic environment and better masks skin problems and as well as a when coupled with a low light situation it just adds a cool aura. Its just like the expression... freak when the lights go out.

 

[old married dude]

In addition to alcohol, have some tabs of ecstasy on hand. Things will really get wild then.

 

[Murse]

I threw an iPod party a while back which was great. Everyone brings along their own iPod with playlist and put it on my iPod dock.

 

[Bible_Belt]

Good tips in this thread; the lighting stuff is interesting.

No one mentioned food. Booze is foremost, but food helps to manage peoples' drunkenness. Drunk is good, but puking is not. Having some cheap party food on hand will help.

 

[ENIGMA16]

No one mentioned food. Booze is foremost, but food helps to manage peoples' drunkenness. Drunk is good, but puking is not. Having some cheap party food on hand will help.

For food all you need is snack food (buy a ton of cheap chips; when you're wasted everything tastes good so you don't even have to buy good chips) and when everyone gets wasted just order pizza.

Seriously, parties don't have to be expensive. Like someone else said, all you need are booze, girls and music to have a great time.

1. Booze can be anything from a liquor cabinet with someone acting as a bartender to a keg of Keystone Light. Depends on what kind of party you want to throw (although at some parties my friend had they had a fully stocked bar with one of their roommates acting as a bartender selling alcohol, which helped pay back for the cost of throwing the party). Also, jello shots are great to have because they're easy to make and everyone loves them.
2. Girls. Call them and tell them to invite their friends. Not much to say about this.
3. Music. Just have a sound system or a dj. Most parties I've gone to were just blasting music from an iPod or laptop hooked up to the TV speakers. It works just fine. DJ's can be expensive, but you should get to know one or two anyways (because it has mad perks). If you know one just ask them if they'd be down to spin at your party.

 

[Thatsalotoffish]

Dude if your gonna get lights etc just rent them dont actually buy them, unless your plannin on having a ton of parties it just a waste of money.

Have a ton of booze, as someone said, a party lasts as long as alcohol is there, nothing worse then running out of alcohol and its only 10 pm ....

Have a good amount of people , obviously, try and have alot of different groups of people who have never met before imo its always good that cause what i like about going to parties is meeting new people, its pretty dull having a party just with regular people you know... oh and make sure theres enough chicks to go around, nothin worse then a sausage fest and only one girl who wont put out to anybody.

Good music too, the best music (imo) is trance etc like dance music - Infected Mushrooms, check them out if you aint heard of them, they are great.

Top it off bring people with drugs... always good when someone has E's or weed, means people have more of a choice

 

[BlakeW5]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but invite twice as many girls as you go guys. As a general rule guys will always show up, girls on the other hand flake out, overcompensate by inviting more of them.

Nothings worse than a sausage-fest. It'll be more fun and you'll avoid fights (get a bunch of guys drunk without enough women and it'll happen)

But seriously, just spend the money on booze and cheap snacks. Have a friend bring music, etc.