Perfect Prom Resource

Red Carpet Prom or Sweet 16

Elegance, Fashion, Celebrities & Photographers are what come to mind when thinking about a Red Carpet Party!

To recreate being on the red carpet at a huge premier, celebration, Prom or Sweet 16 takes a lot of planning!

This blog will cover the parts of planning a red carpet theme party including where you can put your rented red carpet runner, vendors, pictures & ideas for taking an event like this to the next level!

A few things to think about when planning:

• Red Carpet & Paparazzi
• Dress Code
• Custom Backdrop for Photographer
• Food & Drinks
• Cutouts of Celebrities & Decor
• Club Disc Jockey & Club Light Show
• Plasmas & Montages
• Invitations & Favors

Red Carpet Rental 

This is the key to the whole theme, so don't get a cheap felt red carpet.  Get the real deal a 3-4 foot  Official Hollywood Red Carpet, and if you have the budget stanchions & Velvet ropes to make it official!  Many Entertainment & DJ companies will have these.  If not check your local party rental stores.  Beware they will charge a delivery & setup/breakdown fee plus travel.

Dress Ideas!

Dress to impress!! You and your guests should be dressed comfortably fashionable, looking sexy, without being too formal (unless its a Prom). Guests should be allowed to add their own style to the night! This will help them get into the theme. The host should look amazing,  Anything you would want to wear when getting stormed by the paparazzi!

Photographer & Custom Backdrops

Photographers are super important for pulling this off & your Grand entrance. Make sure your friends bring their digital cameras is important as well! Hiring a Professional photographer & Possibly an assistant is an important aspect of the event. Make sure to tell your photographer details so they know what is going on. When your guests arrive have the photographer take a formal photo on your red carpet. A Great addition to the carpet is a Custom backdrop, you can get them with your Club DJ's name on them or even get it customized to say you name & theme, or logo if you have one!  This is True Red Carpet Stuff and will make your photos that much more professional! Make sure you photographer captures the rest of the night & dancing (candid) shots as well as the formal ones!

Menu & Drinks

Food should be Pass-arounds during "mocktail" hour. These can be continued throughout the night. We always suggest a Buffet instead of a formal sit down dinner with teens because it will give them more time to dance. Meals should be avoided until after formal Photos so everyone is looking their best at the beginning of the night!

Drinks are an important part of the red carpet, if you want to go formal then try sparkling apple cider also you can do frozen "mocktails" in martini style glasses at a formal "bar area". Soda & Water can be served at the tables as well.

Decor

Make sure your red carpet is long enough to reach the entrance so once a person arrives they can walk all the way in on a red carpet, make sure you measure the distance before you order the carpet.

Life size celebrity cardboard cutouts can be a great way to have guests arrive & have photo ops with.  Hiring an extra MC from your DJ company to interview guests on the red carpet can be a fun way to create a memorable evening!  If you hired a Videographer make sure they know to catch that as all of your friends arrive.

At a real Red Carpet event, planners place strobes facing the Celebrities to simulate photos being taken. This helps get the energy level up so it always looks like friends are getting their photo taken, & it looks  great! Ask your Dj company to provide these if not you can buy them at party stores!

Stanchions & Velvet Ropes are also necessary to keep your friends & guests in the Spotlight. Have your guests arrive and make their way down the carpet. At the end have them pose for a Picture, pickup a drink, & join the guests to welcome your other friends as they arrive. Encourage them to take pictures & cheer! Then when you arrive, all your guests are ready & waiting right there for you to get the perfect picture & give you an standing ovation!

A Great new Decor Item is Up-Lighting, where you can change the color of your room with LED lights placed around the room, or light up 8 foot spandex columns & have them fade different colors!

Club DJ & Lights

High energy music is the most important factor to pulling off this type of event. Get your entertainment company to setup  speakers outside, and play your music as guests arrive. Hire a Young Club Style Disc Jockey that knows your crowd and is willing to play all the Top hits and remixes!  This will make or break your Red Carpet Party.  If your friends have an awesome DJ and a $10 red carpet what do you think they will remember?  Make sure the DJ has a great light show to set the mood for dancing, many will have club style lights that they can bring in and setup for you.  This will let the venue lower their lights & make the event more realistic.

Plasmas & MTV Videos

Most Entertainment companies have Screens or Plasmas they can build into your package.  This is an important element to your red carpet party!  A Few things you can do on the Screens:  Photo Montages, MTV Videos, Live Photo Slide Shows, Live Dance Floor Cams, Video from the Red Carpet, Custom Messages with your name/logo etc, Pictures & Slide Shows!  In 2010 & Beyond Video is an important element at any event! (Be Sure not to lump this in with your Decor or DJ budget)

Favors, Invitations & Giveaways

Custom Favors are amazing try a Photo booth or Photo Printer with a custom printed border! Giftcards can be great or some type of custom glass or favor. Custom Candy can be a great addition as well, buy personalized chocolate bars & put your picture on them! Invitations should have all the party info and be custom made.  Giveaways should fit your theme but can also be glow items, blinkies or LED's

Last Ideas

A Red Carpet themed party can be an awesome event, there is no right or wrong way to do it! The glamor of the evening, fun music, photography, & videos can make it an awesome experience for you & your friends.  Remember, have fun, do it big & be a star for the night!

Other Party Themes:

• Black-light Party
• Glow Party
• Pretty in Pink
• Under the Stars
• Mardi Gras or Masquerade
• Black & White
• Red Carpet Premier
• Hollywood Sweet Sixteen
• Luau

For Red Carpets, DJs, Photographers, Photobooths, Uplighting, Photo Printers, Decor, Giveaways, Plasmas & more for your Sweet Sixteen Click this link!

Wedding Dj's are NOT always great choices for Prom Disc Jockeys!

Wedding Dj's are not always great choices for Prom Disc Jockeys, the Djs are not the same. Yes they are both DJs but all DJs are not created Equal! Walmart & Gucci both make handbags and Kia & Ferrari both make cars, but obviously cater to different people, budgets and have different quality! Will they both get you to school or hold your makeup, yes .. but the difference is clear! Who do you want to host your Prom?

Cher!

 
 

For Younger Club DJ's that Specialize in Proms & Super Sweet 16's Click this Link!

Sweet 16 Tip 4 Family & Friends Party

Ideas for your Sweet 16!

Remember if having a combined party with family & friends that you must decide if you will be playing music for just your friends or for family as well... if you do how much & when!

Make sure to let your DJ know as well!  A Good DJ will ask you for a request list & a DO NOT Play List!

Cher!

Super Sweet 16 Vendors That can make your night Special!

New Vendor Name - Same Great Service for 2010!

NJNYPromDJ.com & NewJerseyPromDJ.us are Now Both Called Awesome Club Prom for the 2010 Season!

The New Name makes it easier for them to run their other offices that are not in NJ.  And makes more sense for clients hiring them in remote locations!

They Currently service: NJ, NY, CT, AZ, CA, NV, PA & Other States by Request!

You May Find their New Website at http://www.AwesomeClubProm.com  877.PROM.DJS

Cher!

New Kind of Prom 2011 Style!

With the economy in shambles EVERYONE is looking to save money & get a better value for their spent  cash!  That does not mean cheap out -- it merely makes individuals think outside the box!  Great things can change when you start to think outside the box and move forward!  Proms & School Dances are stuck with an "old school" (no pun intended) mentality but most are charging in excess of what a 5 star restaurant would! Which is good if they actually put the quality and money back into the event!  Very few do.

Our suggestion is hire a company that specializes in Privatizing your Prom & Other School Dances! 

High school proms have become more like another class rather than like a party. Every year, government school administrators think up new rules to restrict the behavior of students who attend school proms. Strike back against the government's party rules, by organizing and attending a PRIVATE prom that will keep your teachers, your principal, and their ridiculous rules out of your social life. 

A private prom would be organized by a Company that only throws teen events, without your school's assistance. Therefore, your school administrators would not be able to enforce the school's disciplinary code. The prom would simply be a more elegant & elaborate weekend party.

At current school proms, teachers are more concerned about security than about the music. Proms regularly have three levels of security which include off-duty police officers, hotel security, and teachers. All of them regularly inspect the bathrooms, check the parking lot for people that are hanging out, and implicitly discourage all wild behavior & close dancing. Step out of line and you'll be asked to leave the prom and possibly suspended.

"Of course, the use of alcohol is always prohibited at any school event. Individuals involved in these behaviors may be prohibited from taking part in the ceremonies on graduation day, as well as facing suspension," said a letter sent to parents of seniors at Birmingham High School. Montclair High school recently had an entire Limo arrested and processed for arriving drunk at 2009 Prom. These events would also be alcohol free because lets face it everyone is under age, but parents would be notified for violations!

Here are some rules enforced at CURRENT Public & Private School proms:

1. At any school dance, each student may invite one outside guest as long as he or she is responsible for his conduct and almost all schools make you sign a "guest" pass which is like an elementary school permission slip.
2. The mode of dress set up by the group sponsoring the dance shall be strictly enforced.
3. Students exhibiting conduct unbecoming a student of High School will be asked to leave.
4. Students will not be permitted to leave the building during the course of the dance. Students may leave at 10:00 p.m. but will not be allowed to return.
5. Only students in junior and senior homerooms are eligible to attend the prom. Outside guests must be registered with the Prom Committee (and a guest pass, lol).

These rules are more appropriate for a prison than for a party. Do you know of any other party that forbids people from leaving? Why must people register their outside guests?

You won't have to worry about suspensions at a private prom. Private facilities want your business and they want to make sure that they also host the next year's private prom. It will actually be difficult to get kicked out of a private prom, because the owners would not risk future business by ejecting a wild, though peaceful, student. And even if you do find a way to get kicked out of a private prom, you won't have to face additional punishment at school on Monday.

Other things that get put ahead of students good time: Decor, Balloons, Invitations, Food - all on the List before Disc Jockey!  Now to us a Prom is a elegant school dance!  So the first and most important decision should be your DJ entertainment for the evening!  With a Private Company like AClubProm.com running your prom we understand this and the entire theme, and event revolve around great Club DJ's!

Private proms would be an all-day and night event. Many students who attend current proms are forbidden from renting hotel rooms at the hotel that is hosting the prom. But if you attend a private prom, you and your friends could rent a hotel room where you could hang out before, or after the prom.

Private proms would also take one less punishment out the your principal's arsenal. Routinely,  schools control the behavior of students by threatening to bar them from the prom. We wrote about a student in Kansas who ran naked through his school auditorium and now will not be able to attend the prom. His fellow students protested the punishment by staging a parade. However, the ultimate protest would be to organize a private prom.

Gradually, you & your fellow students should privatize all extracurricular activities. Then your  administrators would never be able to ruin another school dance, kick you off the baseball team or bar you from the prom because private companies who don't take orders from the schools would run these activities.This will also prevent 2 other issues embezzlement by prom advisers (see other articles) and saving to help fund school slush funds for cappuccino machines & couches in the teachers lounge.  Get your moneys worth today, YOU DO PAY FOR IT!!

Start fighting back now by making your school's prom the first privatized activity. If you do not have experience organizing parties, then call AClubProm.com. Stay away from Wedding DJ's, party planners, rave promoters, and hotel staff - why you ask?  They have no idea how to plan a prom!  They would take the job on and possibly get you the same or worse results!  AClubProm.com could organize the entire prom with or with out your students!

And don't let your teachers or administrators stop you. You have the freedom to embrace the free-market by organizing your own prom. There is NO laws stopping you from calling AClubProm.com right now and making this the year that makes a difference!

  Some Schools have already done this! Check it out:

A School you may have heard of in Georgia is having segregated Proms (STILL!) how you ask, Parents pay for the one Prom and organize it outside of school, and Just invite the students they want to attend!

Also what about the tons of Homeschool Proms across the country, No school to run them - all Privatized!

Prairie High School Jr. Sarah says: she does not plan to comply with any of the new rules."I as well as many other students will just not go to any of the school dances, we'll have our own dances," she told ABCNews.

Lastly AClubProm.com these guys got sick of dealing with administration ruining school dances & Proms and started to pay out of their pockets to host clean fun events for students!  They can also still come and Run your current Prom within the school but at a much higher success rate!

Now the Ball is in your court will you do it the way its been done forever just because? or will you drag your Prom out of the 1960's and make a difference?

Make the Call now! http://www.AwesomeClubProm.com >>> 877.PROM.123

 

Cher!

Prom the Best Or Worst Experience....

Prom Can be either the Best or Worst experience of your 4 years of high school, depending on how your prom committee chooses to Plan the Prom.

According to searches on Twitter & Facebook during the 2009 prom season 99% of the Prom based searches revealed that prom was going to suck or did suck. (Most teens used much different words)

A few reasons why the Prom experience was ruined for some Prom goers - 2% didn't have adequate money, 5% couldn't find a dress, 5% was so far unsuccessful in finding a date, 5% date fell through, 5% the location was no nice, 5% hair/makeup was not what they wanted, 5% had a zit in a bad place, 5% were upset it was raining, 3% had no plans for after prom. This Accounts for 40% of the Students complaints and problems.

What accounted for the other 60% ??? The Entertainment or DJ ruined the event!!!

Two things happened - either knowing the DJ was the same one that did an event or school dance for  them before, and successfully ruined them.

Or showing up for prom and the DJ sucked, played bad selections, equipment died, did not show up, showed up late, was fat, old, bald or overweight and could not relate to the teens, could not mix the music, could not program the music, or just plain sucked as some of them put it ( again I toned the language down here)

Notice in in a "recession" only 2% ever complained of not having enough money, most parents saved above and beyond to provide this once in a life time experience for their teens!

Now among items that were NOT even mentioned at all in any Prom Post, Blog, Article, Facebook, or Tweet?   Everything Else! Tux, Decorations, Flowers, Limos, Food, Photographers.

Also in 2009 Most Schools dropped the Professional Style Portrait Photographer for a Semi-Pro Candid  or Photo Journalistic  Photographer, why? Reasons varied - but most parents have a Prosumer Canon or Nikon Camera and take hundreds of photos before prom with their teen and all their friends either at the house, park of by the limo.  So they don't need a photo in front of a fake backdrop for an inflated price.  But what the Semi-Pro will capture is the overall experience of the prom - dancing, dance floor shots, buddy shots, table photos and more!

Other honorable mentions in Tweets were Cool Plasmas, Cute Date, Photos on Screens, Fun Dancing all Night, Awesome Light show, Fun After Party (less then 1%)

What can be done about this obvious but huge problem? Smarter Planning! Most Prom committees consist of 99% teen girls & and a woman prom adviser.  The Priories of Planning are just viewed differently, and Entertainment & DJs are last to be booked and are left the least amount of budget.

Why? Girls Like Pretty things and will opt for decor and flowers to be prefect before the actual success of the prom is determined. I know this because I am a Chick and like pretty things as well, but in this case that emotion has to be curbed and DJ should be your 3rd biggest budget item! (Hall & Food is always 1st, Photographer usually comes in 2nd and then DJ should be 3rd) NO EXCEPTIONS!

I hope this helps 1000's of Proms be better for the 2010 Prom Season, because I was literally sick reading and replying to those Tweets. Plus some Prom Goers are paying in excess of $200 per person to be wowed & dance, so you should want to give them the time of their lives!

--- Cher

For Quality Prom Only DJs who are Young, Cool & have all the Radio Edited music for your next School Event check out http://www.AClubProm.com (They Bring NJ & NY Style & Quality to the Rest of the US!)

For Semi-Pro Photogrpahers at a Fraction of a Pro Studio Click Here!

Segregated Proms Still??

Though it may seem hard to believe, as recently as two years ago, the high school students of Charleston, Mississippi (population 2,198), still attended segregated proms—one for black pupils, one for white, each privately planned and funded by their parents.

Read Rest of Article at Oprah's Website here:  http://www.oprah.com/printarticlefull/omagazine/200907-omag-prom-night-documentary

Mississippi Prom Article:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katya-wachtel/huffpost-review-em-prom-n_b_241066.html

Another School in Georgia does the same type of Prom! Here is that article:  http://www.southeastgeorgiatoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=31&Itemid=142&limit=9&limitstart=36

       Cher!

If your Planning your Prom and need tips for your Prom Committee click here for the EXPERTS!

Win $25,000 or a $5,000 Awesome Prom DJ!!

Win the Ultimate Prom Contest has officially begun!

Win the Ultimate Prom (WUP) is an online contest that awards one high school $25,000 to produce the Ultimate Prom. WintheUltimateProm.com is also an interactive, content-rich website full of blogs, articles and tips on living prom all year long.

 

During a two month period from, October 1 through November 30, high schools nationwide will compete to win the $25,000 grand prize. Students recruit family, friends and community members to vote for their school by registering and voting once a day, every day at WintheUltimateProm.com. The school with the most cumulative votes at the end of the contest wins the $25,000.

 

This year, more schools will win!  In addition to the $25K grand prize, WUP has partnered with GradCity, Awesome Club Prom and Buzz Free Prom to award even more prizes.  The second place school will receive an Awesome Club Prom Package valued at $5,000.  BuzzFree Prom, a nonprofit organization promoting safe and sober proms, will give the top 100 schools a BuzzFree Prom Kit valued at $200 each.  GradCity, the Nation's Ultimate Travel Experience for Students, will host mini contests rewarding participating schools and individuals with additional prizes.

 

                                          To Participate:

 

                                    REGISTER: At WintheUltimateProm.com

VOTE: Once a Day, Every Day from October 1 to November 30^th

PROMOTE: Tell everyone you know to register & vote

  The school with the most cumulative votes at the end of the contest wins!

Official WUP Disc Jockey & Sponsor for 2010 Proms: AwesomeClubProm.com

 

Sweet Sixteen Parents "Notes"

Parents!

Stop and think.  Who are you doing this for?  Hopefully your interest in planning a Sweet 16 birthday party is to celebrate this major milestone in your son or daughter’s life.  Make them the center of attention - the Guest of Honor!

 If you lose sight of this as you plan for their party, you may find yourself screaming “you never appreciate the things I do for you!” Let your teen make choices right up front.  Begin by asking them:  “What kind of Sweet 16 party do you have in mind?”

A Few Questions to Think About while Planning!

“Shall we invite just our close relatives and a few friends, or do you want a huge party?”  (Start a list right away to give you an idea of how many people you plan to invite.)    

 “Would you like to have a joint party with a friend?” You can POOL your money to throw a more extravagant event, DO NOT do this to save Money !! (It is very common & really doesn't work you just have 2 disappointed girls now instead of one!)

 “Do you have any ideas for a theme?” Themes are popular but not necessary!

 “Where would you like to have the party? - At Home? A Venue? Restaurant? Night Club etc...”

 “What kind of food would you like to serve? Finger foods are a great affordable selection since teens are there to dance  & have fun not eat!”

“Would you like to have a Photographer & A Photo montage on a Plasma or Screen??” - -This is very popular these days! A Paparazzi style Photographer & a Thru the Years Montage!

Select items to display that put your teen in a good light.  They may be funny, but don’t put out photos they don’t like, because they are always feeling vulnerable and impressions are very important!

"Would you like a Hot Club Disc Jockey? or the Cheesy Wedding DJ?" The DJ at a teen event will either make or break your daughters event!  Choose wisely & make sure you both have the same vision for the DJ's or the entire party could be ruined!

As you progress with your party plans, be sure to keep your teen involved in the decision making process.  Let them help select or make the invitation and the invitation list.

Always remember ... this is their Sweet Sixteen birthday. Help them celebrate!

Cher!

The Hottest Club DJ's & Photographers Here!

Prom Official Definition!

In the United States a PROM, short for promenade, is used to describe a formal dance held at the end of an academic year. 

The British synonym for the North American event would be Valedictory Ball, Leavers' Ball, Leavers' Dinner or informally Leavers' Do, closer to the Australian description (see below.) In Canada the terms Grad or Formal are most common and the event is usually only held for those in their graduating year of high school or middle school.

While proms at smaller schools may be open to the entire student body, large high schools may hold two proms, a junior prom for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior prom for those who are finishing their high school or middle school years. The name is derived from the late nineteenth century practice of a promenade ball. The end of year tradition stemmed from the graduation ball tradition.

Boys usually dress in black tie (a dinner jacket and bow tie), sometimes with brightly colored cummerbunds or vests, though any sort of formal wear can be worn. Traditionally, girls gave boys matching boutonnieres to be worn on the tuxedos. Girls traditionally wear formal gowns or dresses adorned with a corsage given to them by their date. Many boys also match the color of their tie to their date's dress. Often, boys and girls will dress according to the theme of the prom - e.g. pastel suits for a Miami Vice-themed prom.

Common prom activities include dining, dancing with a Disc Jockey , the crowning of a prom King and Queen, and socializing. In some cases, high school students accumulate funds for their class prom  through fundraisers over the four years they attend their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, venues such as a pleasure cruise boat & Club Style Dj's. Many students group together to take limousines to their proms. Often costs are cut by using the school gym, which challenges the decorating committee to somehow mask the gym odor and drab surfaces. Music played during the dance portion of the event is normally the genre(s) most popular with the attendees.

Some high school students feel that the prom is the most romantic night of their lives. They may go in a group that includes a person they have known for years; other times, students just try to find a date that they like. Many find it to be just as fun to attend with friends, not worrying about the dating aspect of the prom. The occurrence of inappropriate conduct and occurrence of violence or alcohol/drug abuse is common though discouraged.
Some universities and colleges have proms as well, depending on the size of the graduating class in a faculty or department.

NOTE:  Please Remember that A Prom is by definition a Formal School Dance! Make sure you make entertainment an Priority when you make your budget, or your event will be another boring cheesy dance that cost a whole lot more.

Cher!

For the Hottest Club DJ's Around Check this site out!