Fall 1982, Issue 1

Do your next party the right way

By Pete Newman
Koala Staff

Another summer is over, and the time has come to return to the foil and drudgery of the academic struggle. But first things first...let's party!

Man, or at least college students, cannot live on books and pencils alone. Parties of any size provide a much needed opportunity for bacchanalian self indulgence, or maybe for just a little relaxation. Organizing and running a party can involve many hassles, but with a certain amount of preparation, a good time can be had by all.

This article- is not intended to be the last word in party production, but merely to help you foresee and avoid some of the problems you might have setting up your parties. It deals mainly with preparations and not with the logistics of actually running things on party night (such as security and clean up). I realize that some of you well-seasoned partiers may find fault with my treatment of the subject, but I am the one writing this article and you're not, so I don't want to hear it.

One all the first issues you might consider when you decide to throw a party is the theme. A unifying motif, such as a peculiar mode of dress, a particular style of music, or some bizarre method of imbibing can add a lot to the entertainment value of your event. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination, although the mere presence off a keg of beer has been enough to provoke many thoroughly enjoyable parties.

Unless you want to party by yourself, pay attention to scheduling and publicity A little investigation might save your party from being preempted by some other party or significant event. Advertising as simple as Xeroxed fliers can greatly increase your attendance and, if put out enough in advance, might eliminate time conflicts by forcing other people to reschedule their parties.

The location is another factor that could affect the success of your party. It is vital to try to have at least two square feet of floor space for every person you expect (and some more for people you do, not expect); college students sometimes react anti-socially when forced to imitate canned sardines. Wildly gyrating dancers take up more than their share of room, so if you plat to provide music (a very good idea, but you will have to make more decisions about type and volume), make sure it is located near a large area with no through traffic. Outdoor facilities eliminate many space problems, but off-campus spots, such as the beaches are likely to be in the path of the San Diego Police Department, which looks unkindly on youthful revelry.

Some of the most important considerations are those of supplies: drinks, munchies and money. For alcoholic entertainment, you can provide keg beer and/or mixed drinks. Kegs are rather awkward to move around, and available from only a few places within a reasonable distance from our campus, but they provide a moderately-priced, self-service supply for 20-40 beer drinkers, and you don't have to worry too much about someone picking up your keg and taking off with it. Prices vary only slightly, but some stores might he sympathetic to the plight of a poor, starving student.

Distilled spirits offer a number of advantages not, shared by keg beer. Bottled liquor, to be mixed in drinks or shot straight by some of the less inhibited people, is widely available in a multitude of brands and flavors, and in various quantities. When combined with common soft drinks and other mixers, it yields and endless variety of drinks to suit any person's tastes. Unless you have a particularly well-restrained crowd, however, someone should tend the bar at all times, for there is a certain state o of intoxication where some people will ignore all risks to obtain more alcohol, which they probably do not need anyway

Once you've got your beverage supply, you will need some food to help people soak it up. You could go whole hog and have your party professionally catered, but if you con afford that, you obviously do not need my advice. A far more practical solution is to buy economy size bags of popcorn, pretzels, or tortilla chips. If you or someone you know has a Price Club membership card, you can get huge ten pound hags of these crunchies at very reasonable price. You must, however, be prepared to clean two thirds of the contents of these bags off the floor the next morning, as they are prime ammunition for food fights.

Lastly, we discuss the inevitable issue of funding. This touchy subject has probably determined the success or failure of more parties than any other single factor. It is one thing to find people to help organize a party, but it is another matter to find someone to put up money for it; no one wants to get stuck with the bill if the party flops. If you know who is going to be at your party, you can collect in advance. If not, you or someone else has to front the capital (or simply absorb the cost, if you are generous enough), and you can charge per person or per drink. However you work it, try to make sure that all costs and profits are distributed fairly, is those little green bills can put great strains on otherwise friendly relationships.

To sum things up, think back to all the "good" parties you have been to, figure out why they were good, and try to incorporate all those elements into your party. Then think about all the "bad" parties, isolate the qualities that made them bad, and exclude those factors from your party. Simple, eh? Keep in mind that it is unlawful in California for minors to drink alcohol, so if you see anyone under 21 drinking alcohol at your party, it is your duty to tell them to stop immediately and, if necessary, slap them sharply across the wrist (make them put their drink down fiat). So, if you can keep everything organized, keep people from getting bored, sick, or in fights, and make sure that the male-female ratio is as close to 1;1 as possible (very important!), you, and everybody else, might be able to have a good time. Party hearty!