Online parties are a great way to party it up with your friends but away from each other. This guide teaches you how to host a fantastic online party.
Want to spend time with friends and family but remain safe during quarantine? Head online!
Before COVID-19, virtual events represented 01.% of all events hosted on Evite. As of 2020, 70% of events (including birthdays, weddings, and cocktail parties) on Evite are occurring online. That’s only one of the many platforms people are using to host virtual events every month!
Don’t cancel your big events this year. Instead, keep reading to learn how to host an online party. With this guide, you can party it up while ensuring friends and family members don’t get sick.
Read on to learn how to host a party online with these easy tips!
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Choose a Spot
In order to host a virtual party properly, you’ll need a venue. Today, there’s no end to the online platforms you can use for online parties.
For example, does everyone in your social group use iPhones and Mac computers? If so, consider using FaceTime. FaceTime makes it easy for you to set up a video chat with friends and family members.
Once you have your FaceTime app open, click on the “+” symbol. Then, click on the friends you want to add to your group. That’s it!
In 2019, Zoom had 12.92 million monthly active users. Since COVID-19, Zoom added 3.5 times as many users year-to-date.
If you plan on hosting an online party with a large group, consider using Zoom. Zoom is ideal if you want to see everyone on-screen simultaneously. As a result, you won’t have to share screen time between different members of your party.
There’s Skype as well, which is ideal for large groups, too. You can now use Skype on multiple devices, including phones, computers, and gaming consoles.
For smaller groups, consider using Facebook Messenger or Google Hangouts.
Facebook Messenger allows you to access a group using your Facebook account. Thinking of hosting a movie night? Consider using facebook watch party for the evening.
With Google Hangouts, you won’t have to make a new account, either. Just log on from your Google account.
You can also consider using Houseparty, which is great for game night. Play games like Heads Up and Pictionary with friends and family members from the comforts of your bedroom.
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Think of a Theme
Once you’ve selected a platform, consider your virtual party’s theme.
If you’ve recently completed a complicated work project with your co-workers, consider hosting a virtual party happy hour. You can send everyone copies of the same simple cocktail recipe beforehand.
Then, have your guests whip up their own drinks. Take the time to chat, laugh, and share stories with one another.
Happy hour is great for book club, girls night, or the chance to catch up with friends.
Do you have an easy recipe you’ve been dying to try? Consider hosting an online party with a dinner theme. You can cook the same recipe together as a long-distance group or have a contest to see who can plate the best-looking dish.
If you’re planning on a dinner party, consider creating a menu beforehand. Don’t forget to send the recipe ahead of time to let everyone in your group practice.
You can also host a fun costume party! See if you can guess everyone’s costumes. Who has the best one?
If you’re looking for other online party ideas, consider:
- Show and tell
- Book club
- Date night
- Band concerts
- Game night
- Birthday parties
- Anniversaries
- Holidays
- Talent shows
- Show and tell
Try a different theme night every week!
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Plan Beforehand
Don’t send those invitations out yet! Before building a guest list and emailing virtual inventions, have a plan in place.
Think about your theme. What instructions do you need to send everyone beforehand?
For example, if you’re having a dinner party or cook-off, find the recipes you’ll want to try. If you’re hosting a game or movie night, think about which games you’ll play or the movies you’ll watch.
About a third of Americans say they’ve had a social gathering with friends or family online. However, you don’t want to host a party that will fall flat. Make sure to test your platform before the big day to make sure everything works accordingly.
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Invite Your Guests
Once you have a plan and know who you’re inviting, create a fun, eye-catching invitation.
An invitation is far more fun than sending a simple link. Consider using a design platform like Canva for an eye-catching invite.
Add instructions to your invitation, too, and let everyone know they can contact you if they have questions.
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Assign Responsibilities
Are you hosting a themed party or holiday? Consider designating tasks to your guests beforehand.
For example, whose birthday are you celebrating? If they live with family members or roommates, communicate before the virtual party to order a cake and get decorations.
You might want to set rules, too. For example, use headphones to make sure everyone can hear you correctly. When someone else is speaking, make sure to mute.
Assigning responsibilities and implementing rules will keep everyone on the same page.
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Time It Right
Have everyone RSVP for your online party before the big day! Requiring RSVPs will help you determine if you need to reschedule.
When planning your virtual party, make sure to consider everyone’s unique schedules. For example, do you have anyone who lives in a different time zone? If so, you might want to consider when everyone will be up and awake.
Don’t forget to add an extra hour to the schedule. Doing so will help you prepare in case your party goes an hour further than planned.
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Know When to Lead
You’ll want to make sure all your guests are having a good time. In some cases, you’ll need to know when to lead your group.
Is someone taking up too much screen time? Maybe one of your guests isn’t getting the chance to speak much. Invite them to share a story or talk about their day.
Knowing when to lead will ensure every member of your party is having a good time.
Once you’ve used these online party tips for planning and preparing your party, have fun!
Try using your imagination to come up with your own unique theme nights.
How to Host an Online Party: 7 Tips for a Virtual Bash
It’s time to get the party started! With these seven tips, you can learn how to host an online party without fail. Bring your friends and family members together with these seven easy tips today.
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