How to throw a great and cost efficient College Party

By Ronald Mello

Every student who has been to a college with on-campus housing has at one time in their lives been to either a lame or boring college party and in turn have thought about throwing their own parties in either rented or bought apartments or houses. For those who have turned those thoughts into actions and are currently living off-campus and looking to throw great, cost efficient party this article is for you. .

What day should you have your party on?

First and foremost you have to pick a day of the week and keep that day consistent. If you know a lot of people who don’t have early classes on Friday then have your party on Thursday night. If a lot of people have classes early Friday morning then by all means have it Friday night. Pick a night and stick with it to ensure the party-going masses don’t get confused as to when your party is. Having your party on the same day each and every week ensures the same people are going to come back week after week.

How should I advertise?

The most important aspect of advertising is publicity. You want people talking about your house and the parties thrown in it. Just make sure that everything is off paper and online sites such as Facebook and Myspace. This is because it could warrant unwanted attention by the authorities who will not balk at putting a stop to your party. It’s much better to have people talk about your party and let it be known you’re throwing one through word of mouth.

Kegs Vs. Cans and how much should you charge?

How much you charge will depend entirely on what method of serving drinks at your party. There are two ways of selling beer at parties. One is by having the host charge each guest $5 dollars to enter their house. This includes a refillable plastic cup which can be filled at one of the kegs that can be found within the house.

“To fill a keg costs around $45 dollars,” says Webb Travis, 22, a graduate student of SUNY Plattsburgh who was host to last year’s parties at 92 Court Street. “So basically nine kids buying a $5 cup allows you to break even on a keg, and since your going to have more than nine people at your party you can afford more kegs and still maintain a high profit.”

The second and less commonly seen option is allowing people in for free and selling actual beer cans for $1. Letting in people for free and only selling cans isn’t as efficient as kegs because people will bring either their own beer or liquor and will only purchase from you if they are in need. Still by buying a 30 pack of Keystone or Milwaukee’s best for $15 dollars ensures that as long as you sell half the box you at least break even. Great parties can be thrown using this method and be may be profitable, but just not a nearly as profitable as kegs.

Crystal Gropper, 21, who owns an off-campus apartment, does something out of the norm. She will either charge a small fee to get in or will have people give her money in advance to go out and get beverages. Though not as big as other house parties in the area she stills sees a fair amount of people because of how she conducts herself. She said, “Friends will bring other friends because they know they will have a good time at my place.” She then went on to say that, “interacting with the guests is just as important as not running out of beer and drinks.”

What extra incentives should you have at your parties?

Shots in general are an additional way to drink for those who don’t like the taste of beer and is a quicker way to get drunk for most. Selling shots alongside beer, from either kegs or cans, can be an additional source of revenue.

“We’ve sold shots for $1 each, and depending on the brand of liquor, often make a good $30 to $50 dollars on every bottle,” says Travis.

Roughly 100 Jello shots can be made in under an hour since it won’t be just you doing all the work. By having your room mates help out you can a lot made up quickly and the girls love them. Another thing to have is games whether its beer pong, quarters, or cards. Music and dancing is another crowd pleaser which everyone seems to enjoy.

What do you do about the cops?

One of the most irritating and annoying aspects of off-campus parties is the eventual breakup by police. This occurs nearly every weekend to at least one party and by following these tips you can be sure to keep your party under the radar. Make sure to keep all light in. This means covering your windows with blinds, drapes, blankets, or card board. Another dead give away to a party happening in your domain is people hanging out around your house. Get everyone inside as quickly as possible and when they leave make sure they are on their way far from your house. Fines from the police can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 and can double for each successive offense.

How much money should you begin with?

Throwing a great party doesn’t just happen. It takes time, organization, and planning. A good estimate to begin would be $300. This pays the cost for cups, 4-5 kegs, liquor, or 30-packs. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with it and learn from your past experiences. If 4-5 kegs are too much, get less for the next party. As long as people show up and drink your party will be a success.