If you’re a sports fanatic (though you don’t have to be one) this is the perfect season to tailgate. Find someone you know with a car and grab some friends, and try out hosting a tailgate before the next sports game! They are an awesome way to spend quality time with others and make some new memories. Keep reading for my top ten tips to ensure that you have an awesome and safe tailgate party with your friends!
1. Make a checklist.
When you’re planning your tailgate party, you’re going to need more than just a car, drinks, and food. Like any other get-together, a tailgate party requires planning and preparation. Start planning a few days in advance. Put together a list to ensure you’ll have enough time to get everything done. Divide your list up into different sections, such as food, drinks, music, etc. By separating everything into a list, you’ll make it easier to divide the responsibilities among you and your friends.
2. Get everyone to pitch in.
Building on the first point, you should have everyone bring something. Don’t let yourself become the person that has to buy/bring all the stuff to the party. It’s unfair to you and way too much work. To prevent this, evenly divide the list between you and your friends. Make sure that each person knows what to bring and that they follow through with bringing it. This is the fair thing to do and makes everything easier.
3. Keep the cooler stocked with ice and drinks.
This might seem redundant, but it’s super important to keep your cooler stocked and full with ice. You want your cooler to keep your beverages cold on that hot summer day, so nothing melts or gets warm on you. That just spells G-R-O-S-S. Your cooler will do its job effectively if you keep it stocked with ice and ice packs. You can purchase ice packs at almost any major health store. Be sure to stick them in your freezer the night before, and don’t put them in the cooler until it’s time to go. With those bad boys in your cooler, your drinks and food will stay cool – guaranteed.
4. Factor in setup time.
It’s just like setting up for any other party. Remember to factor in a setup time when you’re prepping for your event. Chances are that it’ll take you more than a few minutes to remove everything you need from your car and get yourself settled for the event.
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5. Find the perfect setup spot.
You don’t want your tailgate party to be just anywhere. You have to find the perfect spot so that you’ll have the best time and your friends can find you easily. Finding a spot can be tricky sometimes, since a lot of people are gathering in the same location (typically parking lots). Even worse, sometimes the parking lots may prohibit tailgate parties alltogether. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, check online and verify whether or not the parking lot has restrictions.
6. Decorate.
This is a given for any successful tailgate party. Decorate the exterior of your car and wear a fun outfit with your team colours. Don’t be afraid to go all out. The more creative/crazy the better! Use the space however you want. It’s a great way to show team spirit and get pumped up for the game.
7. Use social media to increase attendance.
Never doubt the power of social media! If you want to spread the word to increase attenance, then social media is the way to go. Create a simple Facebook event or make a post on Instagram or Twitter (don’t forget to have your friends share them too) to increase your chances of people coming. Heck, if you want to go even larger, advertise the event on your school’s major Facebook pages; especially the groups that have over a thousand members. That’ll definitely attract people’s attention and quickly spread the news.
8. Join forces.
When you’re setting up a tailgate and you happen to see others doing the same, invite them to join you. Combining forces will allow you to have one epic party! As the saying goes, the more the merrier. The more people you have, the better your tailgate will be. You’ll have more fun, make some awesome memories and possibly meet some future friends.
9. Stay safe.
If you intend to have alcohol at your tailgate party (which is more or less a given at any big sports event), then remember to be safe. If you’re going to be drinking, make sure you have a safe means of transportation home. Make sure that if anyone drove to the event they have a safe ride home or that they stay sober. Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and unacceptable under all circumstances. Keep an eye on your friends and encourage people not to drive.
10. Enjoy it!
This last tip is obviously the most important part. Have fun! Enjoy the event and have fun with your friends! Make this a tailgate party to remember.
