Lots here finally shaking off hangovers and the reality of "putting it all back". I thought I would start a post where we could all put informative information about our parties here that others, even next year, could read over. Of course every day, every location, every invitee list is different, every year (been doing H parties for 18 years now).
So post some reflective thoughts, I know some had some not so good experiences, others great. What worked, what was a problem, what was in your control, what not. Feel free to paste a summary you already posted if you like (and the mods allow it), some of you have already posted.
So here's mine:
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Hands down, the best party ever. And the one in '06 was real tough to top.
The hotel theme worked well, was fun and people really enjoyed it. But it (like any years) required me to work to build new stuff that took a while. I liked the theme so well however, that I would be willing to use it another year (but see below).
This year I did my usual 3 song mix with opening blackout, SFX and all ("Planet Claire" was a killer intro BTW), then after that I invited people to use the laptop in the corner running "Media Monkey" in "Party" mode to choose songs just like a juke box. It worked well except for the few times when people spazzed and clicked the same song 2-3 times or more... I had to go password unlock it and clear them, but it was no big deal). Only regret, get more song selections next time. I usually am trying to put music together in the last hours before the party. But I did not feel like I spent the whole night in the bedroom where the DJ console was shuffling CDs and missing the party like years past. People came to me with "requests" and I just pointed them to the laptop and said"go see if it is there?".
Reinforcing what I already knew, the people make the party. All the props, SFX, lighting, decorations, food drink, sound, music, etc won't make a party. We all get lulled into thinking it will. We simply had about 48 of the most fun friends we had in our house Sat night and it clicked. People we so pumped by 9:45 with the "Lost 45s" playing on a cheesy CD player in the sunroom, they came to me and said "Hey, what's up with the music... come on!!". See the YT video linked in my thread. It was killer.
Putting the strobes outside this year, blasting through the windows gave an awesome effect. All years past I hung them in the family room overhead. This time when all of a sudden everyone is in a black house, and 2200 watts of strobes blast through the windows across the back an in the front , it was stunning (the fact that the sunroom, where the food was, has nine sets of sliding glass doors helped too).
Now the part I am struggling with a bit. Saturday afternoon when the gremlins were out in full force, and signals not going through wires, extension cords mysteriously bad, etc. I told my wife flatly that this would be the last year. It is really draining. I start building stuff in August, work through Sept usually testing stuff, and Oct is nothing but Halloween. No spare time to do anything. My wife helps, but is not the creative type. And my problem? I can't do small. I can't do less than last year. It MUST be bigger and better each time. So Sat afternoon I was thinking "this all looks like it might be the best ever...." and it was. So what does that say? Bigger mountain to climb next year? I dunno.
I'll think it over. Maybe these are every 2 years now. Maybe I CAN do most of what did this time prop wise and it still just as good. The people, not the props make the party, right? I'm a 47 year old engineer, and things just have to be done right. Period.
One thing I am doing, as I take stuff down and pack up, is ask 2 questions. How hard was this to do, and what was its impact? Some things are really hard, you get all into them, but the reality is the effect is so-so. But somethings, if you look close, really are easy and payoff big.
Anyway, those are my immediate thoughts. I'll shut up now....
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Omenwood Hotel (Night Spa and Funeral Parlor)
My party this year was one of the best if not the best ever. I had about 70 people show and all the costumes were great. Folks really got into it and had a lot of competition for the trophies. All the food didn't get ate, but that's ok, I put the chili in the freezer. Everyone is already talking about next and their costumes, I'm already excited, or really never gotten over any of the excitement yet!!!!
Here are a few pics:
I was really excited to have our party this year on October 31st, I thought we'd have more people show up, we invited over 100, got about 50 yeses, and only 25 people showed up. So not the best turnout, but the ones that did come had fun so I guess that's all that really matters!
The decorations were a bit hit, even with the little ones that came to the door and got a tour of the house! Limbo contest was also a hit as it is every year, and the suck and blow shooters went over really well! Gave us lots of laughs!!!
I've uploaded a few pictures on my profile: Halloween Forum - senorita's Album: Halloween Party 2009
My party was on Halloween night also. It was my first time decorating, and having a halloween party. It turned out pretty well. We invited about 10 people, and about 20 people total showed up (friends of friends, and family). One of the family members brough over a fire pit though, so we had that in the driveway. It really helped to spread the people out, since my house isn't that big. I don't think we had that many decorations outside, but the kids that came to the door all said we had the best decorated house they saw this year. We had the Boxed In prop (Spirit Halloween), a couple of store bought tombstomes (Spirit Halloween), strobe light (Spirit Halloween), webbing (Spirit Halloween), and a window decal of a mummy (Spirit Halloween). Surprisingly the window decal was probably the biggest hit of the year (and one the cheapest).... The Boxed In prop is sound activated, but it wouldn't go off if people are just walking by. I also put a couple of holes on the outside of my house trying to hang it, and it didnt work so I just put it in a tree. Mostly everyone had a great time, except for the few that wanted to drink (we didn't have alcohol at the party since a lot of people were under 21). We did have Monopoly, Checkers, and Battle of the Sexes, though only 1 game of Checkers was played all night. I also had a fog machine outside, but the fog just blew away too fast, so it wasn't thick, so I brought it back in the house.
Overall, the party was a hit, and I can't wait to start planning for next year. I want to start building some homemade tombstones, a coffin, get some more animatronic props, another window decal or two (since it was a huge hit), fog chiller, and anything else a newbie can make
PS: Does anyone know if its possible to make/change a prop that is sound activated, to be motion activated? That would of really helped the Boxed In prop.
I'm a new "haunter" but my fiance had a lot of decorations and I figured if I'm storing them, we're using them. My challenge other than this being my first party was the space. A 36 x 44 sq ft barn. It's a great space and used as a garage but it's a huge space.
What did I learn? Here's my top 7 pointers (as a newbie)
1. Like someone posted already, the people make the party. I came to this conclusion the next day when I was packing up. Like many of the people who have posted in other areas, I also didn't get as many people as I invited or for that matter RSVP'd. It's aggravating but I had a great time and then it hit me.... the people who didn't show up, I really just invited to be nice. So my big lesson on that one.... invite more than you expect, count on your friends, and enjoy yourself.
2. Ok, I can never let things go... what if the people thing really bugs you? Here's my plan for next year. Keep the same night, the SATURDAY before Halloween. Many people are tired on a Friday and a lot of people have plans, kids, or commitments on Halloween weekend. Second, send out your invite early, and send out a reminder. It bugs me to but I had a lot of people forget.
3. Ask yourself, who are you decorating for? Sounds like a stupid question but really, you're doing this for you, you just want it to be appreciated. I'm with you, but really, my body shop was for me. Now, the people who came REALLY had great things to say and I felt validated but I was sort of proud at how everything looked for me more than anyone else.
4. Make a budget - oh my god.... $1500 bucks when you add up food, decorations, and alcohol. All those one off trips to the stores really add up.
5. Start early so you can take your time
6. Pick and choose the props you really want to build. For me this was all new so I focused on Blucky Corpsing and got pretty good at it.
7. Use the people online - My knowledge base was all internet. I never knew any of this existed until I started looking and the amount of knowledge out here is huge.
My party was a sucess we had about 50 people. Most in costume. The weather was ok even if it was a little hot. The midnight trip to the cemetary was a big hit with everyone playing hide and seek with the kids that were present. Those that showed up for the first time said that it was great and those that have been before gave all new compliments as the party seems to grow and grow. alot said they are looking forward to next year. I have posted only the decorations in my album of the party as most of my guests and me belong in a profession were they are scrutinized in thier private lives. So to protect them I will not be posting any pics of my guests. after I find out what is authorized I will post some pics. All in all it was a GREAT party and I give alot of thanks to everyone here for all of the great ideas and music that you all have shared. So on to planning for next year!!!!
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"Stand up for what you believe in... Even if you stand alone..."
1) The members who said that its the people who make the party are absolutely right! Since our first party, we've had 2 friends who really seem to get the party going. Both of them had said they couldn't make it this year. One did end up coming but wasn't in a party mood (death of his brother). But it didn't really matter because others stepped up and took over the role of setting the atmosphere for the party and getting things going.
2) My guests are drama lovers. I have to give up control and just set the stage for them to shine!
3) I need to remember to set out more trash cans lol forgot to do that this year.
4) Preparing things ahead of time and keeping it simple allows you to enjoy your party more!
5) Be sure to make clear agreements about who's taking pictures and who's making videos. The guest who usually runs our video camera for us, showed up this year with his camera. Since he wasn't available to shot the video, it kind of left a gap about who WOULD shot the video. And that meant we didn't get much video this year.
MsM
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"A true friend stabs you in the front." - Oscar Wilde
The party was a fiasco. 10 paying customers. 4 of them belonged to the band. 1500 euro expences. 117 euro's in return.
Crap. I don't even know why I'm doing this anymore. IUn one year my company made 5.500 euro's loss. F*#@!
Eeverthing worked out perfectly; although the bands were late like always and when they say they need half an hour to soundcheck, they make 1 and a half hour, so we had to open late, ande the beamer didn't work (so my employee Red has been working for omnths on Vampire-movie video parts for nothing again, likle last year when they couldn't figure out how to work it) and the very expensive sound-guy was smart enough to forget this cable to connect my playlist to the speakers...
And there wasn't enough crew to help people at the start of the haunt, so at least my mom's neighbour never found the place...apperantly he walked around for miles in his costume, then decided to go home again....and the haunt wasn't creepy enough they said...
So, in the end I fixed everything and except for the fact that we opened late, the party was pretty well done and very high service...but it was only for crew & bands and a few lost guests...
Now my company is officially bankrupt. And I really, really wonder if I should buy the bar or not. Maybe I'm just dreaming. Maybe all these years of studying never made me a professional. Maybe I just don't get what people really want out of a party.. I don't know. Sorry for this depressed tone, but I fee llike someone cut out the Hallowe'enspirit in me.
Pictures should be good though, the photographer really made an effort, I payed him 20 euro's (he's a student of photography) and he made pictures of everything, from before the party started, till after people left.. I'll receive them tomorrow by mail, I'll make sure to put them up here...
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Blood...is very precious these days...the warlike days are over.
Just another comment about the "guests". In my experience doing many repeat parties, the guest list has to be cultivated. If people come and have a good time, they WANT to come next year. I know it is a chicken and an egg thing, but once you get a good "critical mass" the thing kind of flies itself. We have a few H-party "groupies" who are 1) fun, 2) always have great costumes, and 3) will come at any cost. One guy is a DJ part time and flatly turns down gigs for the party night so he can come. Others drive 40-50 mins each way to come.
Of course some years something comes up and some people who really want to come can't, but usually by Aug people are asking me about it. One or two dropping out of a critical mass group won't kill the party. Of course every social/environmental/economic and neighborhood dynamic is different.
So again, I am going to
1) Take stock of what went well this year (what effects were the most bang for the buck)
2) Consider asking for help a day or two out.
3) Not let ideas for new stuff in my head take off without first understanding WHAT it will take to pull them off.
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Omenwood Hotel (Night Spa and Funeral Parlor)
Our party turn out extremely well this year. We did it on the 24th because my wife turned 40 on the 25th. We went all out building props this year and I expanded from the house into the garage. We invited about 100 people and had about 50 show up. Of the ones that didn't show up, most were either sick or had sick kids. A lot of the non-sick no-shows are hearing rumors about the decorations and have told me they wished they would have come.
The things that went well:
- Lots of subtle decorations. Up until the end, people were still finding little things to suprise them and calling others over to check it out.
- Having kids banished to the dungeon. They had piles of board games, the Wii on a video projector and a huge stack of kid friendly halloween movies. They also had their own food area and fully stocked refridgerator. We had 15-20 kids and I saw 3 total during the course of the night and that was when they ran out of food and snuck up to steal bowls of chips.
- Catered food. (helps that I own the catering company) Having a crew show up with the food half an hour before the party started let us concentrate on everything else and took out a lot of the stress.
- Lots of rum punch. (3 bottles black rum, 1 bottle brandy, 1 gallon orange juice, handful sugar.) It went down smooth. Maybe a little too smooth.
- Starting early. Party started at 5:00 and was winding down around 10:00. I was exhausted and just getting over a cold, so it was nice to be sprawled out on the couch before 11:00 drinking rum with my wife, and quietly watching the books on the bookshelf slowly fall out and catch themselves at the last second. It was very peaceful after the wild party.
- Having the party a week before Halloween. Helped us to avoid the massive snowstorms and let us go out to do traditional trick or treating with the kids.
Things that didn't go as well:
- Lots of people were home sick. Not much you can do about that.
- Stressed over decorations. I got way carried away with building props this year. Everyone loved them but I'm burned out now. Johnshenry is right. Think about what it will take to pull off that wild idea before you start. Building a 9'x20' bow of a pirate ship in my garage two days before the party was probably not the smartest thing to do...
- Having the party a week before Halloween. We conflicted with a few other non-Halloween parties and people told me they were a little worried about not coming in costume or wearing their costumes a week before Halloween.
- Not sending invitations out early enough. We will also be sending out save-the-date reminders next year.
I agree with what everyone else has said. The guests make the party and once you hit that critical mass, the party really takes care of itself. A couple of my wife's best friends were out of town and it really affected the dynamics of the party. It wasn't bad, but it was different than previous parties.
Not to hijack the thread but Nikita, I understand your disappointment and frustration. Running a business is 100x harder than you ever imagine and you will always need more money that you have. You have to enjoy what you are doing enough to accept the added frustration and stress. I have owned a business for 12 years and if I knew then what I know now, I probably would have run away in fear. Keep at it and become an expert in EVERY aspect of a bar before you try to buy it. And get twice the money/financing you think you will need BEFORE you buy it. Without knowing anything about it, I can guarantee you it will cost more and make less than you are projecting right now. Don't let that discourage you.
2009 Party Reflections- Post yours...
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