Thread: 80s Themed Party and live music

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Well, it must be that time of year. My first foray into the forum to start working on this year's party. As usual, the immense pressure of "how do I top last year's party?"

Zombie party crashers idea...

{I will be posting video from that party of the zombie attack in that thread BTW, I promise....}

Well, we have some good friends and party regulars that play in a cool cover band, and I had been considering asking them to play for a few years now, so this is it. I asked them (he plays drums, his wife is a vocalist) and they said they would do it.... although I am not sure if they have spoken with the rest of the band yet or not. I will confirm. I will pay them and we'll work out a pretty light set list, as I know they like to "party"and not "work".

My idea is that they are all set up in a corner, we advertise live music, but they don't start playing until....





Anyone? Anyone?













Yes, the house blacks out. I want to have them work out a good song with a "concert opening" instead of the usual "ease in the live music" they usually do playing bar gigs and such. They have a broad range of music and I know it will be a blast.

The other idea is also a bit of a change; I am going to dispense with most of the spooky/gory/scary stuff this year, and make it a fun 80s themed party, as we are mostly 40-ish folks, and the band knows a lot of 80s tunes (in fact they started playing as a band in the 80s!). Of course the coffin cooler stays, lightening, and a few other things, but it is going to more of a fun theme, than a scary one.

Will do a video and e-vite invite also, that worked well last year.

So, any thoughts or ideas? I want to encourage 80s character/actor/movies, etc costumes. Ideas for props, decorations, invite ideas?

It's almost the end of July, time to get started!!!!

Last year my son and I went as 80s icons... I was Cyndi Lauper, and he was Marty McFly from Back to the Future. (my son was 2 last halloween) Managed to score most of the things needed from the thrift store or the closet.

I think in the invite video, I will do a montage of 80s characters to give people some ideas, maybe to a Cindy Lauper tune or something? There are SOOOO many possibilities.

on the invite if you could find someone with a cassette tape and putting it a boombox and pushing the play button. Oh, the days of ff and rewinding!!

I think Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson and big hair rock bands.

You could hang up 80's movie posters for some decor. I remember girls wearing alot of fishnet and lace gloves.

This is my save the date from last year!

http://youtu.be/6iiYTa59OuU

Out of 45 guests, only 2 didnt come in 80s costumes. lOts of great costumes and everyone had such a great time because there was so many options to choose from.
I had 80s music playing and an 80s horror film on the TV. I had posters up showing different popular movies/shows/music/trends etc. Everything was in neon colors and I even had some Garbage Pail Kids, swatch watch, cabbage patch kids, My Little Pony, etc mixed around in the decor.

Great ideas and great video Addicted! The idea about the cassette tape is a good one, and I will cull Google images for all sorts of 80s characters/styles. Already have some ideas about some movie clips to snag (Stripes/Bill Murray: "I wanna party with you cowboy!"; and Jeff Spiccoli in Fast Times).

Ok, Labor day week end, time to kick it up..... that and I haven't really done ANYTHING so far.

I need to get the eVite done first, so I am looking for some pictures, graphic elements, etc. So, when you think of the 80s, images, Characters, icons, etc. what comes to mind?

Some good ideas already posted, but looking for others......

We're off and running!!



I am using AnyVite this year, I found EVite to be horrible to create a custom invite. I managed a bit last year, but this year couldn't even find the option to upload a custom pic. I like Anyvite so far.

I did get a cassette player from a local freecycle website. Will first edit and post the video from last year's party, then create a promo video for this year with lots of 80s movie clips from YouTube.

Also working with the band on set lists....!!

Looks great! I'm sure the party will be great!!

Well, tonight the band had practice and they sounded great. Everything it set up (music wise anyway). I have a few things yet to build and lots of music editing and light programming to do. But I did finish my "80s Promo Video" and thought I would post it here.

We have about 60-65 RSVP'ed accepts already, a REAL fun group and probably 10-15 "newbies" so I am psyched. The band's equipment has taken up a bit more of the family room than I had thought, but there is still lots of room for people...

Anyway, here's the video I did, it took WAY too long to make, but lots of cool stuff from YouTube...

http://www.viddler.com/explore/johnshenry/videos/6/