| As the spring semester of high school resumes in | | | | overlooked step that many don't spend a lot of time |
| Chicago, many students begin to have prom on their | | | | on. The success of your event a lot of times rides on |
| minds. Prom committees have usually formed at this | | | | the music that's to be played and the DJ that's playing |
| point and a lot of the necessary steps to plan the | | | | it. There are hundreds of Chicago DJ companies and |
| event have already taken place. Planning a Chicago | | | | only a handful of good ones. Make sure you spend |
| prom can be quite a task and can often go | | | | some time when selecting your entertainment. Prices |
| unrecognized and unrewarded. Often times if the prom | | | | can vary greatly; most Chicago Prom DJs are priced |
| dance is a flop the members of the committee will | | | | around $1,000 and go up from there. You'll want to hire |
| take a lot of the heat. So to help avoid some of those | | | | an experienced disc jockey that specializes in prom |
| unnecessary negative comments we've created a | | | | entertainment, not just your average wedding DJ. |
| step by step guide to help aid you in the planning of | | | | 4. Begin discussing decoration ideas. Now is the time |
| your Chicago Prom. | | | | when you'll want to start talking decorations. You'll |
| So where do we begin? When is the right time to start | | | | want to choose decorations that revolve around your |
| thinking prom? The correct answer would one year | | | | theme for the evening. As you plan for you Chicago |
| prior to the date. There are several things that will | | | | Prom you'll be surprised as to all the decorations |
| need to be taken care of that time. Listed below are a | | | | available out there. You can always buy |
| few steps you'll want to take one year prior to your | | | | pre-assembled decorations, but they'll cost you. Talk |
| Chicago Prom event... | | | | with your committee members and see what they |
| | | | can come up with on their own. This can help save on |
| 1. Choose prom committee members and create | | | | the decoration costs. A lot of schools in Chicago have |
| sub-committees. Without the prom committee there | | | | actually cut back on their decorations and have |
| would be no prom, so having the right leaders on the | | | | invested their money into the dinner and the |
| committee can often make or break your event. Your | | | | entertainment. This may be an route you'd like to take. |
| Chicago Prom committee should be made up of | | | | You've now completed most of the important steps |
| advisors and various student volunteers. | | | | towards planning your Chicago Prom. We recommend |
| 2. Set a realistic budget. Creating a realistic budget is a | | | | waiting about 2 or 3 months prior to your prom before |
| very important step in planning a prom. You'll want to | | | | you begin with the next steps. |
| begin by collecting the most detailed information on | | | | |
| how much each element will cost. This will give you a | | | | 1. Order invitations, programs, party items, and tickets. |
| good idea for how much to budget for. You'll then | | | | Now is the time when you'll want to send out for these |
| want to take things into account like how much money | | | | important items. It can sometimes take a few weeks |
| will be coming from fundraising and from sponsors. | | | | to get things printed so be sure to get your final work |
| From there you can then determine how many tickets | | | | to the printers before it's too late. You'll also want to |
| you'll need to sell to break even for the event. | | | | order your royalty party items like crowns, sashes, |
| 3. Set the date. Setting a date for your event can be | | | | tiaras, and etc. |
| very difficult. You'll want to take things into account like | | | | 2. Begin your advertising campaign. You'll want to start |
| holidays, school activities, sporting events, and even | | | | hyping the excitement of your Chicago prom. You |
| neighboring school's prom dates. You'll want to choose | | | | may want to consider hanging posters, placing ads in |
| a date that coincides with all of those things. Nine times | | | | the school newspapers, hand our flyers, and/or even |
| out of ten you probably you won't be able to please | | | | run commercials on your student radio station. |
| everyone with the selected date. | | | | 3. Book a photographer. At this time you'll want to |
| 4. Choose you location/venue. You've successfully | | | | finalize your photographer. You'll want to decide how |
| created a budget and selected a date now it's time to | | | | pictures will be taken that night and where in the venue |
| book a venue. When choosing a venue you'll want to | | | | will they run their operation. Often times schools will |
| find a facility that will be able to hold your crowd | | | | use their yearbook photographers for the |
| comfortably. You'll also want to look into food and | | | | miscellaneous photos and then hire another |
| catering options at those venues. If you're planning on | | | | professional photographer for portraits. You'll want to |
| having entertainment and dancing, will the venue be | | | | consider several options with your prom committee. |
| able to accommodate those needs? As you search | | | | The time has finally arrived and it's now 2 weeks prior |
| for venues you'll notice a lot of reception halls prefer | | | | to your event. It's crunch time and there are a few |
| not to host school proms on Saturday evenings | | | | other details that'll need to be taken care of.... |
| because they can conflict with their high priority | | | | |
| wedding dates. Make sure you confirm your venue | | | | 1. Send out your invitations and start selling your tickets. |
| early as the longer you wait the harder it'll be to settle | | | | Choose a central location in your school to setup a |
| on the right place. | | | | ticket sales booth. Make sure the kids are aware of |
| After you've done all the steps above you're well on | | | | this location. You may want to sell tickets at normal |
| your way to creating a successful Chicago prom, you | | | | prices for the first week and then raise the price as |
| can now relax and have the next couple months off | | | | the event draws nearer. This will encourage immediate |
| before the next batch of planning begins. Around 8 | | | | ticket sales and will prevent students from holding off |
| months before your prom you'll want to pick up with | | | | until the last day to purchase their tickets. |
| the committee meetings again and begin the next | | | | 2. Confirm your vendors. Now is the time when you |
| stages. | | | | should finalize all the details with your venue, DJ, |
| | | | caterer, and photographer. You'll want to make sure |
| 1. Choose a theme. Choosing a prom theme often can | | | | everyone's timeline is laid out the same and there |
| be one of the most important decisions your prom | | | | aren't any conflicting schedules. You'll also want to |
| committee will make. Choosing the right theme can | | | | confirm your theme song with your Chicago Prom DJ. |
| make your prom stand out from others in the past and | | | | Don't forget to call your chaperones as too! |
| can be that key component in creating a memorable | | | | 3. Setup a schedule for decorating your venue. You'll |
| night. When choosing a theme you'll want to think of | | | | want to assign committee members the task of |
| the mood you'd like to portray that night. You'll want to | | | | decorating the venue. Make sure you confirm times |
| take into consideration whether you'd like to portray a | | | | with the venue and they are ok with you hanging |
| fun mood, romantic mood, or even a mysterious mood. | | | | decorations. You'll want to take time and read through |
| A good Chicago prom theme should revolve around | | | | any instructions kits that came with your decorations. |
| an innovative title, unique decorations, and a treasured | | | | Make sure all the pieces are included in your kits and |
| song. This is when you'll want a lot of input from your | | | | figure out the estimated time it'll take to set them all up. |
| committee members. | | | | 4. Hold nominations for prom court. This job usually falls |
| 2. Discuss fundraising opportunities. Fundraising is very | | | | under your job description as well. You'll want to |
| important in planning a Chicago prom and should never | | | | decide how nominations will be made and who will |
| be overlooked. After adding up the total expenses and | | | | conduct them at the event. |
| dividing it by the number of students attending the | | | | After you've completed the above steps you should |
| event the cost per ticket can many times be rather | | | | be well on your way to create a successful Chicago |
| expensive. Students are usually aware that prom isn't | | | | Prom. As you can see a lot of work and time goes |
| cheap so fundraisers are often appreciated. There are | | | | into planning a big event like this. When it's all said in |
| hundreds of fundraising ideas available on the internet | | | | done though, the students you work with will |
| and you should utilized them when planning your event. | | | | remember this night for the rest of their lives. |
| 3. Book your Disc Jockey. This is another crucial and | | | | |