Long Live House Parties
How to throw a rager like it's 1999
The inspiration for this post is two TikToks on the subject of parties and the unkliely viral comments that I wrote in reply to them.
The most recent is a viral TikTok created by Roy (@sadd3stnightout). He opens the video talking about the “message written 40 years ago”, 1987 Beastie Boy’s anthem “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party”. The music video is well worth a watch, or re-watch. and why this declaration is so important to embrace. Roy goes onto talk about how now, ‘people think this is the party. I regret to inform you that this is not the party.’ This being TikTok, social media, etc.
Paraphrasing here; look to your left and your right, is anyone next to you? No? That’s not a party. ‘Because parties bring people together.’ Roy rounds out his point talking about indy rock bands of the ‘90s and their dance/party songs. They were writing for the party. Today people are making music alone for people sitting alone.
Here’s my comment on Roy’s viral TikTok:
Many of the replies to my comments were what I assume are young people who replied with so many excuses on why they can’t have house parties.
Most people in their 20s don’t own a house and live in a houseshare with strangers, so it’s just not possible. It’s a shame, I miss them from school and uni.
If I did they’d complain to the landlord lol
I’d love to throw but people are so disrespectful to houses :/
Nooo we need live music venues and clubs to be thriving. Can we support both please
Later I made a TikTok referencing Roy’s post and recounting fond memories of house parties of yore. I threw a party in Brooklyn at the top of 2017 after the first Trump election. I wanted to bring friends and friends of friends together to be together, have fun, and connect. My landlords were crazy cool. They were out of town that weekend and let me borrow their sound system. I had a railroad apartment. I cleared out all the furniture in the weird no-window middle room and that was the dance floor and installed a flashing disco light. My bed became a chill zone for cozy conversations. My house was entirely filled with people. Drugs in the kitchen. Who knows what in the living room. Every room had its rotating mood. The stoop for smoking. It was a full-on rager. Proudly I share – people still talk about that party today.
How to Throw a House Party / Rager 🥳
I’m an anti-theme party thrower. I’m a minimalist party thrower.
A party ultimately needs: House, People, Music, Dance, Refreshments
A house party is not a dinner party, cocktail party. There are no formalities. There’s no frills. There’s some walls, some sounds and people coming together.
Disclaimer: A party and partying does not need to be synonymous with drugs and alcohol. For many years in my early 20s I attended so many rager sXe (straight-edge) parties (my boyfriend was in a hardcore band) Those kids have some pent up energy. Chairs flew out of windows. I’m remembering sXe were also abstaining from sex, yah.
Need:
a home - house, apartment, loft, roof, yards house 🏠
dance floor or space 🪩
music - speakers, sound system 👩🎤
dim lighting - disco, sparkling lights are fun (not necessary) 🕯
refreshments - BYOD is an option. Nice to have seltzers 🍾
invites - can be a text or a flyer if you want to be artsy and cute📱
people! tell your friends to bring their friends and lovers 👯
Respect thy neighbors/housemates:
if you have neighbors above, below or next to you - give them a heads up that you’re throwing a party. Invite them! 💐
Give them your number if they need to get in touch during the party (helps to avoid a cop invasion) 🚨
Ideally you’re housemates are down to party, too. More the merrier! Get them to invite their people
Extras, not necessary but nice to have:
decorations 🎀 flowers, banners, fruits
food stuffs or cigarettes 🚬
disposable cameras to document the events 📸
if you have a yard: bonfire 🔥
a cleanup plan for the morning or hire a cleaning service
Good things can happen at house parties. I’m going to focus on the positive. I met my long term and very kind boyfriend at a rooftop party in Wburg in 2007. You attend parties and throw parties to interact and have fun with friends. You attend and throw parties to interact physically with new sexy people. You attend and throw parties to dance!
Young people, throw a party and go to the party! Summer time is coming, I’m planning to have a rager house warming. Stay tuned, you’re invited.