A Teenage Rave Party can be a huge success that doesn't need to strike fear into the hears of parents, providing the students with an alcohol-free, safe environment, in which they can let loose and just have fun. A Teenage Rave Party, effectively and safely implemented, need not leave a swath of destruction in its wake!
Historical Background
Today’s Raves were first introduced in Britain in the late 1980s as a way to throw an impromptu gigantic dance party. Most often, the Raves were held in abandoned buildings and word of the party spread through an underground network of young clubbers looking for a thrill. The style of dance and music bent towards today’s club beats, with the dancing alternating between vigorous and athletic to downright sexually provocative.
Today’s Rave Concept
- Capture the excitement of a Rave – a large, impromptu dance party – without the negative behavior and consequences of a true Rave, and create a safe environment for teens who want to hang out and party with their friends. This group of young adults – 16 to 20 year olds – is severely underserved by society in terms of meeting venues that are age-appropriate. They are too young for dance clubs that serve alcohol, and the local park districts and community centers generally stop sponsoring purely social events for kids older than middle school.
Set-Up
- Create a large, open dance area, complete with a high quality sound system, funky lighting and decorations.
- Open basements or large spaces withall of the furniture removed can be used for dancing. Bare basement floors can be covered with sheets of cardboard that are duct-taped into one contiguous covering. The cardboard will provide a soft surface for barefoot dancers, will absorb sound, and will protect your flooring. Carpeted surfaces should be protected with clean tarps that are secured at the edges of the space.
- Supplement this main space with a secondary set up for Food and Beverage. Ideally, this space will be located separately from the dance area, to give the guests a respite from the noise and heat generated on the dance floor. Provide some seating areas near the F&B set up. After a couple hours of dancing, your guests will want to rest their feet, and chat with their friends. Supply the simplest of chairs for this need – benches, non-upholstered pieces, even folding chairs are great. The guests will be very sweaty from dancing, and after the Rave, you will appreciate not having your vintage wingback chair holding their aroma of Old Spice Red Zone mixed with teen sweat!
This series will be continued; read on for more about Rave Party decorations, electronics and refreshments.
