Judge Jules' house party rules
Quiet cul-de-sac by day, hedonistic party scene by night - getting a house party to go off with the right bang isn't easy, so we asked DJ Judge Jules to give us his tips.
Why party at home?
According to our party pro, Judge Jules, small crowds can make a totally different party experience: "It's really important for me to play small, intimate venues as well as large events," he says. "You can always be more experimental with your music, and it's better to be able to see the whites of the crowds eyes."
So, what's the magic formula?
An 8K sound system, lights that would put Blackpool to shame and enough booze to flood the street? Not according to Jules: "The right people with a 'leave your cares at the door' mentality is by far the most important thing to make a party go off," advises Jules. So, get the word out to your party-hard mates well in advance.
Getting numbers right is the next trick - too few and you'll look like a Billy-no-mates. Too many and there'll be no room to move, let alone dance. Before you start inviting every man and his dog, think about how much space you've got at home: how many rooms will you be using and do you have a garden? Get a rough idea of numbers you'd like and then set about spreading the word. Don't forget to keep the neighbours sweet with an invite - that way they're less likely to complain. If you know anyone who can knock up an invite or flyer, enlist their services.
Who's on the ones and twos?
So, you've got a crowd that are ready to shake your front room till dawn. Now you need to make sure you've got the tunes to keep them there. If your mate's playing hardcore trance at midnight when everyone's hungry for uplifting house, the whole thing's destined to flop. Approach DJ friends and work out the order of the line-up well in advance according to the type of music they play and the atmosphere you're after. You could even put them in different rooms according to what they play.
DJs are an egotistical lot, so make sure they're all happy with the slots they've got. Don't pander to their demands too much, though; according to Judge Jules, there's a definite etiquette that DJs should adhere to: "Making it as a DJ is a long, hard slog and nobody's had it easy," he says. "DJs should never overstay their set time on the decks, and they should always show respect to their peers whether or not they play the same kind of music."
The next-best thing
Too scared of having a house party in case someone spikes your dog or you don't recognise your carpets the next day? Worse things have happened at house parties, and it takes a certain type to enjoy it without turning into a bag of nerves. If that's just not you, then you need to find another venue that's unwreckable, like a barn or local community centre. Failing that, hire out a small local club and fill it with your own crowd and DJs - who knows, it could be the start a whole new career.
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