Throw a rock-themed party by creating the right ambiance.
Some party themes inspire homemade cookie decoration contests and board games. A rock party has no such frilly pretenses. The goal of a rock party theme is to elicit each guest's inner Van Halen or Melissa Etheridge. This gritty and raw party theme exudes a free-spirited attitude that can be conveyed with the right costumes, games and, of course, music. Does this Spark an idea?
Playlist
This party theme mandates a rocking playlist that compels guests to head-bang, body slam or, at the very least, sing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Load the music player with rock legends from your generation, be it Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks or Marilyn Manson. Encourage your guests to contribute to the playlist by asking for their favorite rock songs as well.
Costumes
Make costumes mandatory. Josh Sims, author of "Rock Fashion," explains that the clothing worn by rockers varies by the rock genre; Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher, for instance, revived combat boots and parkas as a fashion trend. Thus, guests have a wide variety of costume options. On the invitation, specify that guests who fail to comply with the dress requirements will get their face painted upon entrance to the party. In turn, all guests who receive the black and white face paint of shame will be labeled as "The Kiss Incarnate" group. Encourage male guests to wear blond wigs and eye liner a la Brett Michaels or glitter spandex and a leather jacket to represent David Bowie. Women rockers can just as easily replicate the Brett Michaels look and call themselves Cindy Lauper. On the other hand, encourage female party-goers to wear black pleather tops, fake piercings and to abstain from washing their hair for a few days to replicate the rocker Joan Jett. Design a "red carpet" area and take pictures of the guests as they arrive.
If a song comes on the playlist that's performed by a rock star represented by a guest, encourage them to get up on a chair or stage-like area and lip-sync to the song. If they don't know it, ask them to pull up additional friends who do know the song.
Battle of the Bands
Your party-goers, unbeknownst to them, are each going to be a member of a rock band for the night. Before the party, ask each guest to bring an instrument. When they arrive, write down their names on small slips of paper. Place their names into a hat and draw four teams at random. Instruct everyone that they have one hour to create a wholly original short rock song and place each of them in separate private areas. When the time is up, visit each team with a basic digital camera or recorder and make them play their newly created song. Also record yourself with the team and perform a mock interview. Ask each team facetious questions, such as what inspired their song and which band personalities were difficult to work with. Connect the video camera to the television and sit the party-goers in the living room to watch the "battle of the bands" ensue. Upload the video onto the Internet, or send out the video in an email to serve as a lasting party favor for your guests.
Decor
A rock-themed party needs little more than black walls and overhead stage lights. Place black butcher paper on the walls and, if possible, borrow stage lights from a theater friend, or just buy an inexpensive strobe light. For guests desiring a quieter space to talk or relax, designate one remote area of the house or backyard as the "green room." Let this space serve as a haven away from the madness of the party. Find free couches on craigslist.org or freecycle.org to place in these areas. Keep the area dimly lit by using black lights or fake candles. If alcohol is served for guests of legal age, abstain from using real candles. Place light refreshments in this room, including water, and hang rock posters throughout the space.
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