Decorating hall for school disco

[5MUG]

I am helping to organise a school disco (ages 5-11). Does anyone have any ideas about how to decorate the hall. We have a disco ball already and I will make sure that the hall is darkened, but what about other cheap things to use for decoration?
Thanks all, S

[Penny-lope]

If the hall is being darkened, I wouldn't bother as it will not be noticed, or will get wrecked

We have two discos a year, used to hire a smoke machine till it set off the smoke detectors. We do still hire flashing lights (part of the DJ's set up I believe) but that is it.

[Engineer1]

Some balloons but only because they are fun for the adults inflating then popping along with letting them fly, then Helium balloons for the squeaky voice. The kids probably won't care much but the adults may as well benefit.

[VxDuncan]

5MUG said:

I am helping to organise a school disco (ages 5-11). Does anyone have any ideas about how to decorate the hall. We have a disco ball already and I will make sure that the hall is darkened, but what about other cheap things to use for decoration?
Thanks all, S

Most school halls have some theatre lights. Talk to the drama teacher or technician and see if you can get the lights geled up in funky colours. Hire a smoke machine assume there are no optical smoke detectors (or get them turned off). Get some scanning lights, sorted. Avoid anything too low that can be ripped down, ballons, paper garlands etc etc. Basically think of the mess made when it ends up on the floor at the end of the night, and you are frantically cleaning up while the caretaker is tapping his watch. Maybe do something glittery round the doorway?

[Stevenj214]

5MUG said:

I am helping to organise a school disco (ages 5-11). Does anyone have any ideas about how to decorate the hall. We have a disco ball already and I will make sure that the hall is darkened, but what about other cheap things to use for decoration?
Thanks all, S

Disco ball, disco lights, plastic chairs around the edge of the hall. Done.

[StevieBee]

Best to decorate with the lighting from the DJ but does require a dark room.

Couple of options though:

Buy a few Banqueting rolls (paper table cloth) and use these as temporary "wall paper". Each column alternate with foil wall string (bit like those things you hang over a door in the summer to keep flies out).

If the school as a projecter, hook it up to a DVD player and throw a cartoon onto a wall (picture only, no sound).

Make sure the DJ has a bubble machine - kids love that. Laser too. If the DJ hasn't got one, you can hire them for not a lot.

Smoke machines shouldn't set off fire alarms unless the DJ is trying to recreate an Ibiza trance club, is directly under an alarm or is a naff machine.

[Penny-lope]

StevieBee said:

Best to decorate with the lighting from the DJ but does require a dark room.

Couple of options though:

Buy a few Banqueting rolls (paper table cloth) and use these as temporary "wall paper". Each column alternate with foil wall string (bit like those things you hang over a door in the summer to keep flies out).

If the school as a projecter, hook it up to a DVD player and throw a cartoon onto a wall (picture only, no sound).

Make sure the DJ has a bubble machine - kids love that. Laser too. If the DJ hasn't got one, you can hire them for not a lot.

Smoke machines shouldn't set off fire alarms unless the DJ is trying to recreate an Ibiza trance club, is directly under an alarm or is a naff machine.

Bubble machine is a bad idea....makes the floor slippy after a while (been there, got the crying kids!)

[StevieBee]

Penny-lope said:

Bubble machine is a bad idea....makes the floor slippy after a while (been there, got the crying kids!)

Know what you mean.

The trouble with most mobile DJs is that they go over the top with bubbles and smoke.

All the smoke does (or should do) is to give the lights something to light other than the floor. A quick puff every 30 mins or so is usually enough. Same with bubbles. Less is more but most DJ whack everything up to 11 (Except DJ StevieBee of course!!!)

As an aside, I was told of a local mobile DJ who used to add certain "substances" to the smoke fluid. Not recommended for a kids party though!

[Simpo Two]

What about dry ice? Not slippy and being only CO2, shouldn't set off smoke detectors.

[911motorsport]

I find magnets very useful when decorating halls etc. You can attach them to any areas of plaster where metal strips are under the surface (usually every edge/corner), and to suspended ceilings. You'd be surprised how much decoration you can hang from them! You can get some that have hooks on them as well.


http://www.pushpinmagnets.com/v/Magnetic-Wall-Magn...

Edited by 911motorsport on Friday 5th March 13:47