Hello all!

I'm looking for ideas - there's no right or wrong answer - on organising massive social events. Essentially what I want to do is organise first a small scale party (talking maybe 200 people), and then towards the end of 2011, a massive one (talking around 2000 people).

Lately I've kind of feel like I've done the whole 'pickup loads of girlz' thing and moving on to a new challenge which is simply controlling and being the leader of masses of people. So, just like pickup, I have a number of rules (developed only from experience) for controlling large groups of people.

But, I need more ideas! What makes people come to a party? The basics are obviously:

- Cheap drinks
- Hot girls (for guys)
- Lots of friends
- Location; somewhere to crash after; good logistics in general
- Good music
- Unqiue

Just like DJing, a city party should essentially cater for girls. Boys follow the girls. What are other ideas, maybe something unique (theme?) that would pull YOU into a party?

Cheers!

Yeah I think so. I'm not going to hire a performer - I think the numbers can be achieved without such capital expenditure.

But your second point was very good.

One of my key methods is to start by only inviting a very small amount of people, and downplay the event such that it is expected to be small and exclusive. This exclusive group are all close friends who are gatekeepers - either social leaders or very hot or the kind of people that otherwise attract lots of other people. When you are sure this group is coming, you'll find others enquire and you can open up to a few wider social groups. Before you know it, you've multiplied 10 people to 50.

With 50, you can multiply the numbers further - numbers make more numbers.

During these small stages, people come because they see that they can gain some sort of personal value - e.g. friends/girls/performer like you said.

However, the KEY is that you grow your number of attendees due to this personal value, UNTIL the point where there are SO MANY numbers, that the value no longer becomes friends/girls/performer, but the mere fact that there are a lot of people coming. How many times have you heard the conversation:

Bob: "Hey you coming to this party?"
Gill: "Uh maybe who's going?"
Bob: "XX and YY are going"
Gill: "Oh cool in that case I'll give em a call I might come."

That's good, but isn't it even better if it goes like this?

Bob: "Hey you coming to this party?"
Gill: "Uh maybe who's going?
Bob: "Seems like everyone is! I don't want to miss out."
Gill: "Really? When is it? Do I need tickets?"

Value breeds more value, numbers breed more numbers. This strategy alone can get a good 100 people I reckon, depending on your general popularity in life.

Of course, there are other strategies equally as good which I'll divulge, if people give me some good ideas first

The first people are the hardest to get. I am going to assume you don't have the first 10 social leaders already sorted.
You have to give these people a reason to attend. Offer them stuff that other places wont (and if they are the people who bring in the numbers, they will be offered stuff).
Free entry, drinks, tables etc.
For 18-25 the offer of free drinks will probably do it. Don't be stingy here, not 1 free drink but free drinks all night.
Another good trick is make them feel special, everyone likes that. Is it a black suit and tie event? Tell them that VIP's are the only people allowed in who are wearing white. That's 10 people out of 100's that are looking unique, everyone will want to know why and they can proudly say they made this shit happen!

You're fogetting something absolutly crucial to both marketing, sales and business.

You're forgetting a major part of modern leadership and business.

Good drinks helps, so does entertainment and people. What you need to sell to be better than anything else out their is sell the lifestyle.

Make people fell like attending one of your parties lets them buy into the "cool college kid/ sophisticated sociallite/ crazy unique adventurer" image that they think of when they buy anything else.

Think about what your event is selling to people.

Cheap drinks... ... or scummy low class bar.

Inconvienient party in the park... or a chance to be origonal and have a story to tell.

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People uses purchases to identify and expressive themselves, think about that when you're designing a product/motivating people.

Use facebook to market your event.

Make like a pyramid:
Have 10 people you know well, invite 10 people they know well, and let theese
people invite 10 more...
(By not marketing the event to everyone at once people will feel as they are selected and are more likely to attend)


Create some sort of mystery around the event.
Maybe you just say what area, date... more info later
(some sort of hint though about what it is)

Put an awsome DJ somewhere, maybe on the beach (if thats possible) or in some place that its not permitted (people like it when its a bit dangerous)

Of course try to avoid it to be a cocks only party

_________________
Vino, vedi, vici.
I drank some wine, I saw her, I conquered

I find themed parties with prizes (for instance best halloween costume) parties attract the most attention, but definitely not the best crowds. Get a couple people you trust help you organize the event, and the most important is a venue. For instance if there was a 200 person scrappy house party versus a 50 person dining hall event, which one would you rather go to?
Make sure to hint at the fact that there is lots of singles to mingle. The most successful events I've had was a red and green party. Which basically means you wear red if you are taken and green if you are single.

Some very good ideas here.

Thanks Fin for the reality check too.

Of course, people what what they can't have so part of my marketing will be to start exclusive and purposely NOT invite people who will want to come (or else make them feel like they've earned the right).

I will consider a theme. It'll have to be very well considered. Themes can go very well or simply act as a deterrent.

The facebook pyramid thing is essentially the application of my second post - I do it often, it works very well so I'm glad you pointed that out. Facebook and online marketing is so important these days. The facebook event basically acts as the primary signal which shows if an event will be good or not.

Will let you know how things go closer to the date. Of course you guys are all invited (as long as you're not the creepy, too-direct or pervy type of PUA), and I'll even give you free entry if you bring a girl!

Any more ideas of course welcome xx