There is no feeling more rewarding than waking up at 11:45am, with no thoughts in your dusty brain other than “ouch, my head hurts,” followed by: “Did we just host the party of the century?”. Hosting isn't just about shoving every person you know into a room with a JBL and a dream, it's an art. While 21st season has been keeping you busy, many have forgotten what it takes to whip out a good ol’ flat party, and that these two events have completely different codes of conduct. After a year of attending 21st’s it is easy to get caught up in the formalities and forget how to be the ultimate ‘Hostess with the Mostess.’
Fight for Your Date
Fighting for your date is typically the first challenge an event goer may encounter. As weekends fill up and 21st’s are often booked months in advance, the odds are stacked against any poor critter attempting to throw an impromptu rager. Just be sure to hold your ground. Don’t be shocked if you have to play a game of paper scissors rock to decide who gets to host the first weekend after classes end for the semester.
Consider the Overlap
To make sure that this night is as bumpin’ as possible, you need to know that the key players can make it. Take a look at that Facebook events tab (the only reason you still have Facebook). A clash with an acquaintance is doable, just make sure that whoever is clashing with your night has minimal friend group crossover. Double check your competition. Your measly flat party stands no chance against the Law or Politics balls, though lining up your date with Med ball may save you from some unwanted guests.
Start Time
Don’t kid yourself, 6:30pm is not an appropriate start time. We know you are trying to pre-empt everyone’s fashionably late arrival time, but c’mon. Most people haven’t even begun thinking about dinner by 6:30pm let alone getting dressed up for a function. Don’t make your party a chore, or be surprised when you’re forced to small talk with that one punctual acquaintance as you run around the house trying to set everything up. Be realistic. No matter what time you set it, everyone’s gonna turn up between 8:30-9pm anyway. Just invite the real ones over for pre’s beforehand.
A Gimmick
Every good function needs a gimmick. The twist could be anything from a wacky theme to a band playing in your backyard – important to make it unique, memorable, and remove risk of redundancy. We know you’ve been to enough functions with the exact same group of people for the past few months, just at a different house each time. Spice it up so you can pinpoint the night when scrolling through your camera roll in your thirties, trying to remember life before the spark in your eyes died.
Facebook That Shit
Hosting is the only time I’ll bend over and suck it up to the Zuck. Make your function a Facebook event. Your friends are busy bees. They’ve got a lot going on. Make everyone’s lives easier by locking your place into their social calendar. Don’t bother making the world’s largest Instagram group chat to organise an event (pre-empt the mass exodus of punters leaving the gc the day after the event); and God forbid a private Snapchat story (flash back to arriving at the wrong house after the slide with the addy expired).
Dress to Impress
Make sure the dress code is clear in the Facebook invite. Sometimes an unthemed function can be one of the most daunting to attend, but keep in mind a theme too niche can quickly become your downfall. Punters are often left debating whether it will be a hoodie or corset kind of function (worse, a mixture of both). Ensure everyone has the tool kit needed to dress to impress. Sharing in a Pinterest mood board is an easy way to avoid confusion, especially in the cases of a themed event.
Music
One might argue (we are) that the music situation of your host can make or break the party. Not gonna lie, your mate who’s ‘just learning to DJ’ is not the vibe. Having a live band is sick for a multitude of reasons, mainly to #supportlocalbands. However, if you’re relying on a playlist, pick your aux-god well. The best dance music should come at the peak of the host, and you’ve gotta chuck in a chill track every three or so songs and spread out the ABBA to give everyone’s feet some well earned rest. Don’t stick to just one genre, either. Remember, the more you narrow your scope the more you alienate your audience (or friends, as some people call them).
The Chip Situation
Two bowls of chips. One Salt and Vinegar. One Ready Salted. Don’t label the flavours – that is how you start a conversation. Put them to the side of the party. Trust me, it’s worth the $1.50 financial setback. People always remember the effort of the chips.
The 30 ft rule
Walt Disney observed that people walking around Disneyland would hold onto rubbish for 30 feet before dropping it on the ground. Thus, there is a trash can every 30 feet. Consider this when it comes to bin placement around your function by utilising all the storage containers you have got. Get creative with it. Laundry hampers, cardboard boxes, large pots n’ pans are all within the picture. The world is your oyster. I recommend placing one or two cans into each bin during pre’s so people aren’t confused about the status of each chamber.
Vomit
Make sure there’s no dishes in your sink in case of an untimely power chuck. We also recommend keeping an unloved bucket or bowl on hand for this very reason, but for fuck’s sake just go to the bathroom and not the bush.
Good One
Registering your host passes over some basic deets to the local police. While it may sound a little bit like snitching on yourself, it makes your night a whole lot easier. A copper will typically drop by at one point to make sure everything is okay. Though registering doesn't always give you more leniency, having a better relationship with the police officer on duty becomes mutually beneficial.
Big Light Off
Flip off that harsh hospital lighting. Yes the fits are devine, but everyone is self conscious enough. No need to expose your friend who's been holding an empty can of Speight’s for the last 15 minutes because they don’t know what to do with their hands. If you’re deficient in the lamp department you can always stick a New World bag over your light to create the ultimate mood lighting. Think smarter, not harder.
Multi Dimensional Flow
What differentiates a good party and a great one is whether it has multi dimensional flow. This is when each section of the house has a different vibe. Punters can pick and choose throughout the night which spot will feed their energy the most. Typically you will find the dance floor kitchen, the DMC bedroom (always pick the flattie with the best decor for this), the rage cage arena, the bathroom yappers, pass out couches and - the holy grail - the smokers’ area. Cultivating these sections takes a lot of precision, balancing many key elements. One must consider the flat’s layout, potential choke points, speaker placement, lighting, and whether to leave bedrooms open or locked.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you plan to host. Happy raging.