Cast & Crew Party Planning & Guide

Link for “5 Secrets of a Perfect Party” https://www.madsocietyinc.com/offers/SBWqZ2vA/checkout

Planning a Cast & Crew party is a job that should be outsourced to adult volunteers who are willing to understand the goals for the gathering and take the party planning stress away from the theater club leaders.  This video is a great resource to make that happen…so pass it along and let’s have some epic cast & crew parties!

Cast & crew parties will be most successful if it’s immediately after the final performance because you are guaranteed to have everyone able to attend and it’s so fun to take the rush of adrenaline that comes with performing and stay together afterwards to share the “war stories” and “bloopers” and “triumphs” and laughs while they are fresh on everyone’s minds. 

For this reason, cast & crew parties should only be for the drama club members and leaders.  You might have to remind lingering show guests and family members to respect the purpose for the party and head home. The focus should stay on the drama club members and their amazing accomplishments, not on additional guests.  

My drama club has a big spring play and elaborate cast & crew party each year, and a smaller dinner theater, variety show or talent show in late fall with a simpler cast & crew party.  It’s completely up to you and the people planning the cast & crew party as to how simple or elaborate you want to make the party.  If your club has a participation fee, do your best to provide the cast & crew party with club money and not ask for more.  You can, however, ask for specific things to be donated for the party before you spend club money.  

So how can you ensure that your cast & crew party is epic? I have a free “Perfect Party Planning Guide” you can download…just follow the link in the description of this video and your cast & crew party will be perfect ;) (show the perfect party planning guide) But I’ll tell you quickly that if you follow my guide that takes you through the ways to hit all 5 human senses, your party WILL be epic.

What are the factors that go into how elaborate or simple your cast & crew party should be?

1. Did you get students & adults to volunteer and are they going to be excited and do a good job?
2. What will the fatigue level of the club & the drama leaders be after the performance and how might that affect the party? 
3. What time of day will the party be, also affecting energy levels & venue availability?
4. Will your theater venue already be decorated (or could it be decorated) in a way that could fit the theme of your cast & crew party so it’s already set up?
5. What are some things that you or your club members have access to that will provide unique experiences?
6. What will make the best social media pictures!?!

Some Party Ideas: Have a luau with tropical decorations, Hawaiian music, capri suns, hot dogs, sun chips, limbo and a pineapple pinata. 

Maybe get ice cream, get fast food, or play kickball at a local park. Friendsgiving, costume party (not representing Halloween) themed dinners, themed house parties, celebrate a holiday, attending a festival. Sledding, skiing, beach day, corn maze. Top golf, mini golf, ninja city, jump house facility, bowling, duck bowling, ice skating, roller skating, paint war, food fight, giant slip & slide, minute-to-win-it games, have a dance, karaoke, a cornhole tournament, murder mystery, tailgate dinner or picnic, just to name a few.

I have started making YouTube videos and blog posts on how to specifically provide some of these party themes & ideas, so make sure you find those because much of the work is done for you!

Hint:  If you want to save money on food, you could plan “sack lunches” or dinner that is provided for the students to eat as they drive to the Cast & Crew Party location, or take food into your party venue if they allow (or have a tailgate meal in the parking lot).  Kids and teens are less impressed with food than they are with the activity & unique fun, only further enhanced by the need to brag about it on social media. 

REQUIREMENT: HAVE YOUR PARTY PLANNED, PAID FOR AND EVERYTHING PURCHASE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE CAST & CREW PARTY.  You will be focused on your show performances.  Get that cast & crew party buttoned up and off your mind.

Best case scenario, you will be able to implement your drama club students into the party planning so they can learn leadership skills.

~Coach Baldwin