If your parents are only going to be gone for an evening, like to dinner, and will be back in a few hours, you may not want to throw a party. The timing would be too rushed, and if your parents decided to come home early from dinner, you will not have time to clean up. If your parents are going away for the weekend or for an overnight trip, this is a perfect time to host a party.
For example, if you want a small get-together, then consider only inviting 15-20 people to make the setting more intimate. If you want a large party for a large living space, consider increasing the list to 30 people and ask everyone to bring additional friends.
For example, sending out a quick text message to your close friends or speaking with them in person is an easy way to inform a small or medium group of people for your party. Alternatively, you can create a private Facebook event online and invite large groups of people that way. Refrain from creating party flyers or paper invitations as these can easily wind up in the hands of a parent and ruin your plans.
You can also note if you want your guests to bring snacks or drinks.
Also, consider asking your guests to park away from your house along an adjacent street or a nearby parking lot. This will keep your block clear of cars and reduce the amount of attention drawn to your house.
If possible, consider locking doors to rooms you don’t want your guests to enter such as your parent’s bedroom or the computer room, or post “Off Limits” signs on the doors. This will help alleviate worry and allow you to enjoy hosting the party.
Take a picture of each room so you have something to look at when you’re trying to put the room back together. This will relieve some of the stress of remembering where to put each item.
Disposable tablecloths and drop cloths can be purchased at a local party or department store, or online with major retailers. Make sure your bathroom is fully stocked with toilet paper.
If you do not have a cooler, then fill a large plastic bowl with ice and place the drinks into the bowl to chill.
If you have time before your party, consider making some personalized snacks. For example, instead of purchasing a traditional party mix, make your own. Make a sweet party mix with pretzels, brown sugar, and chocolate candies, or make a barbecue flavored party mix by using your favorite cereal and barbecue sauce.
Also, provide your guests with plenty of paper napkins or even a roll of paper towels in case someone spills a drink or needs to wipe their hands.
Don’t worry if you do not have fancy or expensive speakers. You can purchase small and inexpensive speakers at a local department store or online with major retailers, and then hook the speakers up to your cell phone or laptop.
If you are throwing a large party, try and speak with everyone who arrives and not just your close friends. If more people start showing up to your party than you initially invited, don’t be afraid to turn them away. You are responsible for the people you let into your home, so only allow people you are comfortable with to join the party.
This is especially important if you have flashing lights set up for your party, as strobing or colored lights will quickly draw outside attention.
This is especially important if you are hosting your party on a weekday. Neighbors will tend to be more forgiving about noise levels on the weekends, like on a Friday or Saturday night. However, since most people work on the weekdays, they might be less tolerable on a Sunday through Thursday night.
If you or a friend has a fun card game, like “Apples to Apples” or “Cards Against Humanity,” have that nearby to play with everyone.
After the party, make sure to check outside of your home for cigarette butts and dispose of them. If your parents see them, it may draw unwanted suspicion.
Don’t be afraid to tell people to leave! If it makes it easier, you can always say something like, “My parents will be home soon, so I need to clear everyone ASAP. "
If you can’t find a ride for your intoxicated guests, allow them to sleep over. Just make sure that you wake them up early enough, so they are gone by the time your parents get home.
Avoid having more than 3-4 friends stay to help you because it might make the cleaning process slower rather than quicker.
Refrain from putting the bags of garbage in your own trash can, as an overflowing or filled trash can will look suspicious.
If needed, open a couple of windows to air out any smells that accumulated in your house. These smells include ones from your party and ones from the cleaning supplies. [20] X Research source Avoid having your home look too clean. If your house normally has items lying around or dust on the coffee table, try to leave it that way. An overly clean house can raise just as much suspicion as a dirty one. Just make sure to put back all of the cleaning supplies where you found them, otherwise your parents may ask why they are missing.
Refer to any photos you took of the space before the party if you are unsure where a particular item goes.
