5. Water & Snacks
See that kid standing over there in the corner? Yeah, him, the one with his eyes rolled up into the back of his head, trying to drink from an empty Starbucks cup he probably found on the floor? In about ten minutes he will be throwing up somewhere in your dorm room (hopefully the bathroom, but who can really say). The best way to avoid this? Easy. Have some cold water and a few bowls of chips and pretzels around at your party. The snacks will help absorb some of the alcohol in your stomach, and drinking a glass of water for every 2 or 3 drinks you have will dramatically reduce your hangover the next morning…when you want people to be talking about how much fun they had at your party, not kicking themselves for taking that one last shot.
4. Music
Notice this does not say “television” or “a movie.” The entertainment at your party should be provided by you and the other people there, not by Scarface or the USC football game you bet $20 on. The first priority of a party should be to encourage the guests to socialize with each other, and a TV is the easiest way to murder any chance at good conversation. Instead, grab your computer and build a nice iTunes playlist with a good, eclectic mix of songs…yeah, yeah, we know you love Elliott Smith and Built To Spill, but I’m betting the rest of the people there have no clue who they are. Stick with some decent hip-hop and upbeat rock (think Mos Def and O.A.R., not Jim Jones and Maroon 5), or if you want to get a little fancy, dig around for some fun 80’s or 90’s music.
3. Digital Camera
You know that girl from your Intro to Psych class that you invited to the party hoping to score a date with? The one with approximately 8,000 tagged pictures and 1,500 friends on Facebook? Well, she’s going to love you for snapping a bunch of photos on your digital camera and putting them up on Facebook the next day. In all seriousness, though, a camera is a good way to advertise your next party. Just spend 5 minutes a few times during the night snapping some pictures of everybody hanging out and having a good time at your party, and next time you’ll have people begging for invites…you’re not the only one stalking people’s photo albums.
2. Cleaning Supplies
This may seem like an odd accessory to have for a party, but believe me, you will be happy it’s on the list. At some point during one of your parties, someone will make a mess – spilling beer on the bed, puking in the bathroom, puking on the bed, spilling beer in the bathroom – you get the picture. At the last party I attended, there was a girl dressed only in a British flag who passed out on this guy’s white couch with a full glass of red sangria in her hand. Luckily, there were some towels and Oxy-Clean nearby to make a terrible mess look fairly unnoticeable. A party foul like that can suck the air out of a party, and make you, as the host, feel very uncomfortable. So save yourself future cost and hassle by keeping some cleaning supplies on hand.
1. Alcohol
It had to be done. If you want to throw a party, you need to have alcohol. Even if you don’t want to drink, (almost) everyone else will. You’ll need at least a 30, and probably a bottle as well. Beer such as Natty Light and Busch Light are the standard, and you can get them for around $18 (probably less), and a bottle will cost you around $25. All in all, it really isn’t that bad price-wise, and you and your guests will have a great time. Our suggestion is that you keep these things on hand at almost all times: 15 beers in the fridge, a 30-rack in the closet for backup, and a bottle anywhere you want. Have fun, and drink responsibly!
Be sure to check out 10 Accessories Needed for a College Party (Part I)!
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